Before I start — making money on Medium in 2025 isn't what it was in 2018.

Back then, you could post almost anything, and views (and dollars) poured in.

I mean, it doesn't pour, but still, it was way easier to make more money, only dependent on the partner program.

Today?

Competition is at its top. The algorithm is pickier. Readers are more selective.

But here's the thing…

Medium still pays — if you know how to play the game.

And the "game" isn't about luck. It's about writing in a way that works specifically on Medium.

Headlines Are 80% of Your Success

If your headline doesn't make someone stop scrolling, nothing else matters.

Most Medium writers spend hours perfecting their article… and 30 seconds on the title.

That's a Big mistake.

What works on Medium right now:

• Use numbers or specificity: "5 Lessons I Learned from Publishing 200 Articles"
• Use urgency: "Most Writers Will Fail on Medium — Here's How to Avoid It"
• Promise transformation: "This Changed My Writing Career in 30 Days"

Make sure to do more trial and error and find out what works the most and what doesn't, because that's how you will know what does and what doesn't.

You have to go through a lot of practice and need to undergo the process of analyzing headlines that worked and those that didn't.

I mean you need to write good content as well, but having said that, I have seen excellent writers who have great content not getting enough traction.

Write for Readers, Not Other Writers

One of the easiest traps on Medium is writing for the wrong audience.

Medium's top-earning stories often answer specific, relatable questions:

• "How do I fix my finances?"
• "How do I write better without spending years learning?"
• "How do I stay consistent with habits?"

The truth:

If you're only writing about writing, you're competing with thousands of others.

I mean, when you are writing, you need to mold your writing in such a way that you are not limited by the niche you are in.

Of course, you wouldn't be writing about cooking, but make everything a storytelling so people will know that you are someone who has a lot to deliver, and you have the opportunity to connect with a diverse community and write freely as well.

I myself have doubled the Income on Medium So Many times

Make Every Sentence Pull the Reader Forward

Understand a little bit of human nature here.

When you are writing and before publishing the article, you need to have an idea of whether the article will go viral or not.

People don't read online the way they read books.

• They skim.
• They scroll.
• They have TikTok attention spans.

fun fact recently knew about human now have a short attention span of less than 8 seconds, which is less than a goldfish.

If your intro drags, they're gone. If your paragraphs are long, they're gone.

Keep it tight:

• Short paragraphs (1–3 lines)
• Clear sentences, no fluff
• Hooks at the end of each paragraph so they have to read the next one

Example: Instead of saying,

"Writing on Medium is a way to reach an audience and share your voice, but it's challenging to gain traction…" say,

"Most writers never make it past their 5th post. Here's why — and how you can avoid it."

Medium isn't dead.

But the "post anything and get paid" era is gone. If you want to earn here, you need to:

• Master headlines
• Write for actual reader needs
• Keep them hooked
• Build consistency in topics
• Treat it like a serious platform, not a hobby

Do that, and you won't just make more money — you'll build a body of work that grows your name, not just Medium's.

Before you go

I share insights like this every 1–2 times a week — ones that help you break free, write freely, and live with purpose. (Escape The Ordinary ) — Join with 700 + People to break loops and live intentionally.

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Thank you for reading — truly.