We’re inviting the world’s leading publishers to apply to be part of the Medium revenue beta group. By taking part, you’ll access all-new monetization tools to support your writing so you can focus on moving thinking forward.
We’re already working with publications like The Awl, Pacific Standard, The Ringer and Electric Literature – and now, maybe you! Medium’s team will review every application, and we’ll select partners based on three primary criteria:
1) Content: You should consistently produce meaningful, original content
2) Readership: You should maintain a high volume of loyal, engaged readers
3) Revenue: You should demonstrate a passion for experimenting with digital revenue
Although publishers are not required to have an existing presence on Medium before applying, it’s strongly encouraged. To guide you through the application process, we’ve included more details below.
Content
Publishers admitted to the revenue beta should create unique content that delights and engages readers, and consistently keeps them coming back for more. Specifically, we’ll look for content that is:
- Original: You don’t just aggregate, syndicate or cross-post. You create content that readers can’t get anywhere else, with a distinct voice or subject matter focus.
- Consistent: We expect publishers in the beta to publish continually. You should have an established cadence, and a track record of sticking to it.
As we expand the program, we may prioritize certain publishers based on content verticals (e.g. sports, technology, entertainment).
Readership
Publishers using our revenue beta tools should have robust or highly dedicated readerships. We’ll prioritize publications that maintain at least 1 million page views per month, although it’s not a requirement.
In addition to audience size, we’ll also consider engagement. To measure that, we will be focusing on primary on-platform measurement of total time spent reading, as opposed to impressions or clicks. On Medium, we encourage readers to highlight, recommend and respond to your work, which exposes it to our larger network. You should demonstrate that same commitment to pushing beyond page views alone, and creating content that readers love.
Revenue
Publishers in the beta should be excited to experiment with revenue, including advertising, sponsored content and direct audience support. We’re looking for publishers who have a track record with at least one of these revenue streams already.
We’ll work together to build a monetization strategy that aligns with your editorial approach, and we’ll constantly be improving our tools as we learn more about how readers respond. We hope you’ll learn with us!
And Remember...
These guidelines are just that — guidelines! We want publishers on Medium to be as diverse as our users, so we’re always interested in hearing from those who can make a strong case for why their content belongs on Medium.