How Will the New Medium Partnership Program Impact Content Writers and Growth?

Recently, Medium has revised its terms of the partnership program, requiring members to have at least 100 followers to participate. As a fellow member of Medium, Sari Lakkis, I examine the implications of this change from the perspective of content writers and the broader impact on the platform's growth strategy.

Understanding the Change

Medium positioned itself as a space for writers to writers, catering to those interested in creating and sharing high-quality content. As a regular contributor and member of the partnership program, Lakkis shares her concerns about the new follower requirement. Her experience aligns with the common struggle of content writers who prioritize consistency and engagement over follower numbers.

While Lakkis acknowledges the potential benefits of the new program for attracting new visitors, she questions why Medium would emphasize follower growth over new visits. This change appears designed to drive more writers to create content for a broader audience, leveraging Medium’s existing search engine optimization (SEO) capabilities.

Encouraging Follower Growth and Monetization

The new requirement serves multiple purposes. Primarily, it aims to motivate writers to focus on content quality and consistency, which are crucial for building a loyal readership over time. By linking higher earnings (assuming one is part of the program) to a certain number of followers, Medium incentivizes writers to engage more deeply with their audience.

Another angle is to encourage writers to actively promote themselves and their content. Lakkis mentions that writers will likely ask friends and family to follow them, thereby expanding their reach within the Medium community. This approach can be seen as a strategic move to increase the platform's user base, making it more vibrant and dynamic.

Addressing Concerns and Suspicions

Some members question the real motive behind Medium’s change. Lakkis speculates that it could be related to combating bot accounts and preventing manipulation of member data. During the months of July and August, there was a noticeable increase in bot activity, particularly with fake accounts mimicking well-known writers and promoting cryptocurrencies. While this is an educated guess, the suspicion remains that such manipulative activities were targeted by this new policy.

Nevertheless, reaching 100 followers is not an insurmountable task. Lakkis shares her experience with creating a system to achieve this within a week, indicating that it is entirely feasible with persistence and strategic engagement. This approach underscores the importance of community engagement and active content creation in growing one's following effectively.

Conclusion

The revision to the Medium partnership program reflects a nuanced strategy aimed at fostering a more robust and authentic community of content creators. While there are valid concerns about the focus on follower growth, the potential benefits include increased writer engagement, monetization opportunities, and overall platform growth. Whether this change proves to be a positive evolution for the platform remains to be seen, but it certainly prompts a dialogue about the values and goals of content creation communities.

References

Lakkis, S. (2023, July X). Medium's New Partnership Program: A Positive Move for Writers. Medium Blog. URL: [insert link if available]