Occasionally, as digital literature enthusiasts, we keep a keen eye on writing platforms, curious about their evolution. Medium, with its sleek design and user-friendly interface, is one of the giants in the digital world, boasting approximately 63 million registered users, including bots, fake, and inactive accounts. It’s no surprise that it has become a popular choice for writers eager to share their thoughts with a broader audience. However, like many other writers (also known as content creators), we’ve found that gaining readership and engagement on Medium can be akin to catching fish with bare hands. In this brief tandem pAIce, we share our perspective on why finding an audience on Medium is challenging and provide some information about alternative platforms (and [sadly] — we don’t use any affiliate links — you can go directly to the content).

The Vast Binary Ocean

Medium’s dominance in the writing platform space is undeniable. With a user base exceeding 63 million, it offers a polished and user-friendly environment that naturally attracts writers. However, several factors contribute to the difficulty of building an audience on Medium:

1. High Competition: The sheer volume of content on Medium can make it difficult for individual voices to stand out. With so many writers vying for attention, it’s easy for your work to get lost in the sea of articles. As we frequently experience.
2. Algorithmic Barriers: While Medium’s recommendation system is designed to surface engaging content, it often favors popular topics and established writers, making it harder for niche or emerging writers to gain visibility. And remember: fresh content is preferred.
3. Monetization Hurdles: Medium’s Partner Program heavily relies on member engagement and reading time. This model can be unpredictable and challenging for writers who are just starting out. It offers a highly challenging pathway to earnings. For us, this was expected, but we did not anticipate the long-term psychological burden. It often feels like we are constantly paying to work for Medium, only to receive a minimal return.

So why not think about cheating, since the grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence? We haven’t done it out of laziness, but we are considering it, especially since republishing is allowed by Medium if you retain your rights.

Feel free to skip the following section if you like, but we couldn’t resist posting it. Remember, duplicates — such as multiple accounts with the same content or copycats — are a very bad idea.

From Mediums Terms of Service:
You retain your rights to any content you submit, post or display on or through the Services.

Unless otherwise agreed in writing, by submitting, posting, or displaying content on or through the Services, you grant Medium a nonexclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, fully paid, and sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, publicly perform and display your content and any name, username or likeness provided in connection with your content in all media formats and distribution methods now known or later developed on the Services.

Medium needs this license because you own your content and Medium therefore can’t display it across its various surfaces (i.e., mobile, web) without your permission.

This type of license also is needed to distribute your content across our Services. For example, you post a story on Medium. It is reproduced as versions on both our website and app, and distributed to multiple places within Medium, such as the homepage or reading lists. A modification might be that we show a snippet of your work (and not the full post) in a preview, with attribution to you. A derivative work might be a list of top authors or quotes on Medium that uses portions of your content, again with full attribution. This license applies to our Services only, and does not grant us any permissions outside of our Services.

Beautiful Fish in the Sea? Here are some of the alternatives to consider: Substack, Vocal Media, Steemit, HubPages, LinkedIn, write.as (we might extend the list in the future).

Substack: Direct Reader Engagement

Link: https://substack.com/

Substack is a beacon for writers who want to build a direct relationship with their audience through newsletters. It allows you to monetize your content via paid subscriptions, providing a straightforward path to revenue.

Pros:

• Direct engagement with readers.
• High monetization potential through subscriptions.
• Simple, user-friendly interface for newsletter creation.

Cons:

• Building a substantial subscriber base takes time.
• A 10% fee on earnings from paid subscriptions.

Substack’s model emphasizes community and content value, making it ideal for writers with a strong voice and niche expertise.

Vocal Media: Monetize Your Reads

Link: https://vocal.media/

Vocal Media is designed to help writers monetize their content through various means, including earnings per read, tips from readers, and participation in writing challenges with cash prizes.

Pros:

• Multiple monetization methods.
• Engaging community with active reader interaction.
• Ad-free reading experience.

Cons:

• Lower earnings per read compared to some platforms.
• Consistent effort required to build readership.

Vocal Media’s diverse communities and monetization options make it a versatile platform for writers across different genres.

Why did the content writer start seeing other fish in the digital ocean?
Because they needed some fresh catch-phrases!

Jokes from hAIr

Steemit: Earn Cryptocurrency

Link: https://steemit.com/guide/@steemitblog/steemit-a-guide-for-newcomers

Steemit blends social media with blockchain technology, allowing writers to earn cryptocurrency (STEEM) for their content. Its decentralized nature offers greater freedom and less censorship.

Pros:

• Potential for high earnings with viral content.
• Decentralized, offering greater freedom of expression.
• Engagement rewarded with cryptocurrency.

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve for new users.
• Earnings depend on the fluctuating value of STEEM.
• Technically challenging for an casual audience.

Steemit is perfect for tech-savvy writers interested in cryptocurrency and decentralized platforms.

HubPages: Ad Revenue and Affiliate Marketing

Link: https://discover.hubpages.com/

HubPages allows writers to earn through ad revenue and affiliate marketing. It’s a well-established platform where writers can cover a broad range of topics and monetize via Google AdSense and Amazon Affiliates.

Pros:

• Multiple monetization options.
• Established platform with a large audience.
• Supportive community for new writers.

Cons:

• Slow accumulation of earnings.
• Requires significant traffic to generate substantial income.

HubPages’ blend of ad revenue and affiliate marketing offers a stable income stream for diligent writers.

WordPress: Ultimate Flexibility and Control

Link: https://wordpress.com/de/create-blog/

WordPress stands out for its flexibility and control, allowing writers to build their blogs or websites with extensive customization. You can monetize through ads, affiliate links, memberships, and more.

Pros:

• Full control over content and monetization.
• Scalable and customizable.
• Extensive plugin and theme ecosystem.

Cons:

• Requires more technical knowledge.
• Initial setup can be time-consuming.

WordPress is ideal for writers seeking to establish a personal brand and control every aspect of their online presence. Publish your content on the internet without necessarily relying on the surrounding social network ecosystem.

LinkedIn: Professional Networking and Content Sharing

Link: https://www.linkedin.com/

LinkedIn is an excellent platform for professionals to share content and expand their network. It provides opportunities to publish articles, share updates, and engage with a professional audience, making it a valuable tool for writers focusing on business, technology, and professional development.

Pros:

• Access to a professional audience.
• Networking opportunities.
• Ability to showcase expertise and thought leadership.

Cons:

• Not primarily a writing platform.
• Monetization options are indirect.

LinkedIn’s professional focus and networking capabilities make it a great choice for writers looking to establish themselves as thought leaders in their fields.

Write.as: Minimalism and Privacy

Link: https://write.as

Write.as is a minimalist platform focused on privacy and simplicity. It’s designed for writers who value a distraction-free writing environment and prioritize privacy.

Pros:

• Clean, distraction-free interface.
• Strong focus on privacy.
• Easy to set up and use.

Cons:

• Limited monetization potential.
• Not ideal for professional blogging.

Write.as offers a serene space for writers to express their thoughts without the clutter of ads and distractions.

Note: We somehow like their catch phrase “Type words, put them on the internet.”,we do that continously.

Further Reads (“our internet references”)

Let’s see how long these links remain accessible on the internet.

• Authority Hacker: Medium Alternatives
• Niche Pursuits: Best Medium Alternatives
• SEO Chatter: Medium Alternatives
• Beebom: Medium Alternatives
• Milyin: Medium Alternatives