The Copywriter Club Podcast - Episode #419: Writing on Medium with Thomas Smith

Release Date: October 29, 2024
Hosts: Kira Hug and Rob Marsh
Guest: Thomas Smith
Podcast Description: Ideas and habits worth stealing from top copywriters.

1. Introduction to Thomas Smith

In Episode #419 of The Copywriter Club Podcast, hosts Kira Hug and Rob Marsh welcome Thomas Smith, a successful Medium writer and the creator of the course "Thrive on Medium". Thomas shares his journey of leveraging Medium as a substantial revenue stream and building a content consulting business around his expertise.

[04:13] Rob Marsh: "Thomas, welcome to the Copywriter Club podcast. Love to start with your story."

2. Thomas Smith's Background

Thomas Smith holds a degree in cognitive science with a focus on AI from Johns Hopkins University. Combining his interests in AI and professional photography, he launched a company in 2010 that uses AI to help archives manage and utilize their photo collections. Over time, Thomas honed his ability to simplify complex technologies, leading him to publish articles on Medium starting in 2019.

[04:36] Thomas Smith: "I developed an expertise in explaining complex technologies in simple terms and started publishing articles about photography and AI."

3. Choosing Medium as a Platform

When asked why he chose Medium over personal blogs or other publishing platforms like Substack, Thomas highlights Medium's built-in audience and its subscription-based model. Unlike starting a blog from scratch, Medium provides immediate access to a large readership, allowing writers to focus solely on creating valuable content without the overhead of audience-building.

[08:17] Thomas Smith: "Medium sends out the majority of its subscription revenue back to the writers who contribute on the platform."

4. Understanding How Medium Works

Medium operates on a subscription model where readers pay between $5 to $15 monthly for access to all content on the platform. Approximately one million paid subscribers contribute to Medium's substantial monthly revenue, which is then redistributed to writers based on various engagement metrics.

[07:55] Thomas Smith: "Medium is a subscription platform where people pay a monthly fee to access all the writing, much of which is behind a paywall."

5. Monetization Strategies on Medium

Thomas outlines five core ways to monetize content on Medium:

1. Partner Program:
   By joining the Medium Partner Program, writers earn money based on the number of reads and the engagement their stories receive.

   [21:23] Thomas Smith: "You get paid for every person who reads that story from literally day one."

2. Lead Generation:
   Utilizing Medium as a lead generation tool by sharing valuable content and including calls-to-action (CTAs) to attract potential clients.

   [24:20] Thomas Smith: "Use Medium to publish about what you do and include a CTA for hiring or subscribing to your newsletter."

3. Newsletters:
   Building and expanding an email newsletter audience directly from Medium stories, enabling deeper engagement with readers.

4. Thought Leadership/PR:
   Establishing authority in a particular niche by publishing insightful articles that can attract media attention and speaking engagements.

   [29:24] Thomas Smith: "I’ve gotten coverage in major publications through writing on Medium."

5. Affiliate Marketing:
   Promoting tools and products through affiliate links within Medium articles to earn commissions on sales generated.

   [31:22] Thomas Smith: "If you write a helpful review and include an affiliate link, you can earn commissions when readers make purchases."

6. Getting Boosted on Medium

A significant opportunity on Medium is the Boost Program, designed to highlight high-quality, human-curated content amidst the surge of AI-generated material. Boosted stories receive exponentially more visibility, leading to higher earnings and follower growth.

[16:32] Thomas Smith: "The Boost Program can amplify your story to about ten times more people than a typical Medium story."

Thomas emphasizes that while the success rate for being boosted is relatively low, the impact of getting a story boosted can be transformative, as evidenced by his own best-performing article garnering around 11 million views.

7. Building and Engaging an Audience

Building a dedicated following on Medium involves active engagement:

• Interacting with Other Writers: Commenting on similar topics and contributing valuable insights to build rapport within the community.

  [12:33] Thomas Smith: "Connect with people on the platform by leaving comments and engaging with their stories."

• Leveraging External Platforms: Sharing Medium stories through newsletters and social media to attract a broader audience.

  [13:05] Thomas Smith: "Share your stories with your external audience to drive more traffic to Medium."

• Utilizing Publications: Submitting stories to established Medium publications to tap into their large followings.

  [15:00] Thomas Smith: "Getting into a publication can catapult your story's reach significantly."

8. Republishing Strategies Across Platforms

Thomas advises that republishing content across multiple platforms, including personal blogs and newsletters, can maximize reach without hurting SEO performance. He suggests:

• Publishing First on Medium: To take advantage of Medium's domain authority and SEO benefits before sharing the content elsewhere.

  [42:56] Thomas Smith: "Publish on Medium first, then republish on your blog or newsletter with canonical links to preserve SEO."

• Avoiding Audience Overlap Issues: Ensuring that republished content doesn't overwhelm subscribers by managing how and when content is shared across platforms.

9. Starting a Medium Publication

For writers seeking to amplify their presence, starting a Medium publication can be beneficial, especially if it involves curating content from multiple writers. Thomas notes that managing a publication requires commitment but can serve as a robust branding tool linked to a custom domain.

[46:07] Thomas Smith: "Only start a publication if you're planning to connect a domain name to it or accept stories from other writers."

10. Getting Started on Medium

Thomas provides a concise guide to launching a successful Medium presence:

1. Create and Subscribe:
   Set up a Medium account and subscribe to the platform to join the Partner Program.

2. Publish Quality Content:
   Focus on writing valuable articles that help readers learn new skills or improve existing ones.

3. Engage and Build:
   Actively engage with the Medium community and consistently publish to accumulate followers and passive income.

4. Leverage Monetization:
   Utilize the various monetization strategies discussed to generate income over time.

[48:34] Thomas Smith: "Start by creating a Medium account, subscribe, and publish your first story. Then apply for the Partner Program."

11. Resources and Further Learning

Thomas recommends his website thriveonmedium.com for comprehensive resources, including a free mini-book on finding clients, a newsletter with optimization tips, and his in-depth course featuring 25 video lessons on succeeding on Medium.

[55:45] Thomas Smith: "Head over to Thrive on Medium for detailed resources and my full course to help you thrive on the platform."

Key Takeaways:

• Medium as a Revenue Stream: With its large subscriber base and Partner Program, Medium offers a significant opportunity for writers to earn passive income.

• Diverse Monetization Methods: Beyond direct earnings, Medium serves as a platform for lead generation, building thought leadership, and affiliate marketing.

• Boost Program Advantages: Achieving a boost can exponentially increase a story's reach and earnings, making it a coveted goal for writers.

• Audience Engagement is Crucial: Active participation and strategic sharing are essential for building a loyal following on Medium.

• Long-Term Commitment: Success on Medium requires consistent effort and a long-term strategy to accumulate followers and monetize content effectively.

For those interested in diving deeper into optimizing their Medium strategy, Thomas Smith's "Thrive on Medium" course is an invaluable resource, offering detailed guidance and actionable insights based on his extensive experience.

This summary provides an overview of Episode #419 of The Copywriter Club Podcast. For a comprehensive understanding and access to resources, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.