Is Medium a Good Platform for Monetizing a Technical Blog? A Deep Dive

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 The world of technical blogging has changed dramatically in recent years. With AI-generated content flooding the internet and the competition for attention fiercer than ever, bloggers looking to monetize their expertise must carefully choose the right platform. One of the most popular platforms for monetization is Medium, which offers the potential to earn through the Medium Partner Program (MPP). But is Medium the right choice for a technical blog? Let’s analyze the pros and cons, what it takes to succeed, and what kind of results you can expect.

How Medium Monetization Works

Medium allows writers to earn money through the Medium Partner Program (MPP), which pays authors based on the amount of time paid subscribers spend reading their content. Unlike traditional ad-based revenue models, Medium does not place ads on articles. Instead, it works on a subscription-based model, where Medium members pay a monthly fee ($5/month or $50/year), and Medium distributes a portion of that fee to writers based on engagement.

To join the Medium Partner Program, you must:

  • Have at least 100 followers.
  • Publish at least one story.
  • Reside in an eligible country (not all countries are supported).
  • Enable metered paywall access on your stories (non-members will only be able to read a few free articles before hitting the paywall).

What is Paywall-Based Monetization?

Paywall-based monetization is a revenue model where readers must subscribe or pay to access content beyond a certain limit. On Medium, this means that free users can read a limited number of articles per month before they are prompted to sign up for a paid membership. Writers who participate in the Medium Partner Program agree to put their content behind this paywall, making it accessible only to Medium members beyond the free limit.

Why is it Good?

  • Higher engagement from dedicated readers – People who pay for content tend to value it more and engage with it more deeply.
  • No reliance on ads – Unlike ad-driven models, paywalls allow creators to earn directly from reader support without cluttering their content with ads.
  • Encourages high-quality content – Since earnings are based on reading time, writers are incentivized to create more engaging, valuable content rather than clickbait articles.

Why is it Bad?

  • Reduces visibility for non-paying readers – Some readers may hit the paywall and leave without ever engaging with your content.
  • Less discoverability – Paywalled content is harder to share widely compared to free content, which can limit organic growth.
  • Not ideal for technical tutorials – If your blog relies on open-access educational content, a paywall may discourage readers who are looking for free, easy-to-access information.

Copying Blogger Posts to Medium: Benefits and Risks

Many authors who already run a technical blog on Blogger (or other platforms) consider republishing their posts on Medium to expand their reach and monetize content. However, doing this requires careful planning to maximize benefits and avoid risks.

Potential Benefits

  • Increased Exposure: Medium has a built-in audience and can drive significantly more traffic to your articles than Blogger alone.
  • Better SEO: Medium’s high domain authority can help your content rank higher on Google searches compared to a Blogger-hosted site.
  • Monetization Opportunities: By moving content behind Medium’s paywall, you gain access to the Medium Partner Program, allowing you to earn based on reader engagement.
  • Potential for Virality: Medium’s recommendation system and curation allow for organic discovery that can result in much higher readership than a standalone Blogger site.
  • Cross-Promotion: You can leverage Medium to promote your Blogger site by linking back to it within your articles.

Potential Risks and Downsides

  • SEO Issues (Duplicate Content): If you copy an article word-for-word, search engines may penalize your Blogger site for duplicate content, causing it to rank lower in search results.
  • Medium’s Paywall May Reduce Readership: If your audience is accustomed to free access on Blogger, they may be frustrated by Medium’s limitations and stop reading your content altogether.
  • No Control Over Medium’s Monetization Rules: Medium can change their Partner Program at any time, meaning your income is never guaranteed.
  • Risk of Content Lock-In: If you gain a following on Medium but later decide to leave, you may lose a significant portion of your audience since Medium controls the platform.

How to Properly Copy Blogger Posts to Medium Without Issues

If you want to repurpose your Blogger content on Medium while avoiding SEO penalties and maximizing exposure, follow these best practices:

  1. Use Medium’s Import Tool

    • Medium has an official import tool that automatically adds a canonical tag, telling search engines that the original version of the article resides on Blogger. This prevents duplicate content issues.
    • To use this tool, go to Medium, click "New Story," and select "Import a Story" from the options. Paste your Blogger article URL, and Medium will format it for you while keeping SEO intact.

  2. Rewrite and Optimize the Content

    • If you want to avoid any risk of duplicate content, consider rewriting or updating parts of the article before publishing on Medium.
    • Optimize for Medium’s audience by making the introduction more engaging and structuring the content for better readability.

  3. Add a Link Back to Blogger

    • At the bottom of the article, add a statement like: "This article was originally published on my Blogger site [Your Site Name] and has been republished here for a wider audience."
    • This drives traffic back to your Blogger site and can help maintain readership across platforms.

  4. Experiment with Free vs. Paywalled Articles

    • Some of your Blogger audience may not be Medium members, so consider making some posts free while paywalling exclusive, high-value content.

  5. Monitor Performance and Adjust

    • Track readership stats on both Medium and Blogger to see which platform performs better.
    • If Medium significantly outperforms Blogger, consider shifting more of your focus to Medium while still maintaining an external presence.

Medium is Not the Best Choice for Monetizing a Technical Blog

After considering the benefits and drawbacks, Medium is not the best choice for monetizing a technical blog. While it provides a built-in audience, clean formatting, and easy monetization through the Medium Partner Program, it comes with severe limitations.

The paywall system significantly reduces readership, especially for technical content, which relies on open access and search engine discoverability. The unpredictable payout structure and Medium’s ability to change monetization rules at any time make it an unreliable long-term solution. Additionally, because you do not own the platform, all your content and audience growth remain tied to Medium’s ecosystem, limiting your ability to scale outside of it.

If you are serious about monetizing a technical blog, the better approach is to build your own website using WordPress or Ghost, leverage SEO, affiliate marketing, and sponsorships, and use Medium as a secondary platform to drive traffic back to your site. This way, you get the benefits of Medium’s audience while retaining full control over your content and monetization strategy.

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