How I Made $5,000/Month on Medium (And Why I'm Abandoning Ship in 2024)

**1. The Golden Era: When Medium Was a Writer’s Paradise**

**From $5 to $5,000 in West Africa**
In 2020, I woke up to a life-changing notification:
**"You’ve earned $5,000 this month on Medium."** For context, I was living in **Ghana, West Africa**, where the average monthly wage is **$200**.
That $5,000 wasn’t just money—it was **freedom, opportunities, and a ticket out of the 9-to-5 grind**.

**How Did I Do It?**

- **Niche Domination:
** I wrote exclusively about **side hustles in developing countries**—a topic Western audiences found "exotic" and relatable.

- **The 30-Day Challenge:
** I published **one article daily** for 6 months. By month 3, my earnings snowballed.

- **SEO Hacks:
** I targeted low-competition keywords like *"make money online in Ghana"*—this brought **consistent external traffic**.

At its peak, my Medium income **covered rent, healthcare, and investments**. But by 2024, everything collapsed.


**2. The Fall: Medium’s Betrayal of Its Writers**

**The April 2025 Ultimatum**
In March 2024, Medium emailed writers:
> *"Remove all ‘meta’ stories about Medium from the paywall by April 1, 2025. These articles will no longer earn money."*

**Why This Is a Disaster**

1. **Retroactive Punishment:
** Stories that earned for **years** were suddenly demonetized.

2. **Killing a Sub-Niche:
** Writers like **Justiss Goode** built entire brands teaching Medium strategies. Now, that’s banned.

3. **Hypocrisy:
** Medium claims to value "authentic writing," yet bans **authentic critiques about its own platform**.

**Medium’s History of Broken Promises**
- **2021:
** Launched a **referral program** (writers earned $5–$50 per signup).

- **2022:** Scrapped it abruptly, leaving creators stranded.

- **2023:** Algorithm changes **slashed earnings by 70%** for top writers.

- **2024:** The "meta content" ban—the final nail in the coffin.


**3. The 5 Platform Alternatives (Tested & Profitable)**

**1: Vocal Media — The Best Medium Replacement**

**Why It’s Better:**

- **Higher Earnings:** Vocal pays **$3.80 per 1,000 reads** (vs. Medium’s ~$2.50).

- **Bonuses:** Their **"Top Story" awards** pay up to **$1,000 per article**.

- **Fewer Restrictions:
** Write about **anything**, including platform critiques.

**Pro Tip:** Join **Vocal+** ($9.99/month) to **6X your earnings**.

**2: Substack — Own Your Audience**
**How It Works:
- Readers pay **$5–$10/month** for exclusive content.
- **No algorithm**: Your subscribers see EVERY post.

**Success Story:** Writer **Lulu Cheng** earns **$250,000/year** from her Substack on career advice.

**3: YouTube Automation (Faceless Channels)**

**My Exact Workflow:**
1. Convert Medium articles into **video scripts** (use ChatGPT).
2. Hire editors on **Fiverr** ($20/video).
3. Monetize with **AdSense + affiliates**.

**Earnings:** My faceless "Make Money Online" channel nets **$1,200/month passively**.

**4: LinkedIn Newsletter**

**Why It’s Underrated:**

- **B2B clients** actively hunt for writers here.
- **Viral potential**: One post landed me a **$8,000 consulting gig**.

**5: Your Own Blog (The Ultimate Goal)**
**Tools You Need:**

- **Domain + Hosting**: $3/month (Namecheap + Hostinger).
- **SEO Plugin**: RankMath (free).
- **Monetization**: Mediavine (requires 50K sessions/month).

**Key Advantage:** **No bans, no demonetization—full control**.


**4. My 2024 Income Blueprint (Exact Numbers)**
Here’s how I’m **replacing Medium’s $5,000/month**:

| Platform | Monthly Earnings | Time Invested |
|----------------|------------------|---------------|
| Vocal Media | $1,800 | 10 hrs |
| YouTube | $1,200 | 5 hrs |
| Substack | $900 | 6 hrs |
| LinkedIn | $600 | 4 hrs |
| Freelancing | $500 | 3 hrs |

**Total: $5,000/month (28 hours/week)**


**5. The Harsh Truth About Platform Dependency**
### **Why I Lost Everything (And How You Can Avoid It)**
In 2021, **80% of my income** came from Medium. When they tweaked the algorithm, my earnings **dropped to $800/month overnight**.


**The 3 Rules of Online Income:**
1. **Never Rely on One Platform** (Diversify or die).
2. **Own Your Audience** (Build an email list).
3. **Adapt Fast** (Pivot before crises hit).

**6. Final Advice: What You Should Do Today**

**Immediate Actions:**

1. **Backup Your Medium Content** (Use Google Docs).
2. **Repurpose Articles** for Vocal/Substack.
3. **Start a YouTube Channel** (Even if you hate being on camera).

**Long-Term Play:**

- **Buy a Domain** (YourName.com).
- **Learn SEO** (Follow Income School on YouTube).
- **Network on LinkedIn** (Comment on 5 posts/day).

*"What’s your take?*

- **Are you staying on Medium or leaving?**
- **Which alternative excites you most?**

*Drop a comment—I’ll respond to everyone personally!"*