Why Freelance Writers Should Be on Medium

I don’t know if you’ve heard of Medium, but it is getting a lot of attention lately. Content marketers, especially, are taking advantage of Medium to achieve their goals.

What is Medium?

It is a platform where anyone can write and publish articles. More than merely publishing content, however, one can give and receive feedback on the fly. In that sense, Medium is a collaborative venue for writers.

Another unique thing about Medium is that the popularity of the writer does not count as much as his or her ideas and the quality of the content. If your topic is discussion worthy and written in a way that elicits discussion, then you are as likely to get attention as the big names in blogging.

Here is a good infographic that gives a quick overview of Medium.

Source

While it focuses on content marketers and the benefits they can reap from Medium, there are points that freelance writers can capitalize on.

Medium for freelance writers

So why consider using the platform?

1. Gain exposure. We’ve talked about writers needing a portfolio, and Medium can be part of that. It’s not your own blog, but your name is out there, and if your pieces are good, then you’ll have more people leaving comments and giving feedback. If this happens, your content can easily spread – as the infographic says – like wildfire.
2. Make connections. As you get exposure and people discover (and like) your content, you have the chance to create connections. This is good not only because you may find potential clients, but connecting with like-minded people will stimulate creativity and inspire.
3. Get links to your blog. People probably won’t admit it, but creating content on Medium is one way of getting backlinks legitimately. You can link to your online portfolio, your own website, or to a specific blog post you want to promote. As long as you do not use Medium for this sole purpose, and the content you publish is not fluff, linking back to your site is totally above board – at least in my opinion.

Back to you

Have you ever considered using Medium? After reading the above, would you consider using the platform?

For those of you who are already on Medium, what can you say about it? Do the points above make sense?

You might also want to read: 5 Online Portfolio Platforms for Freelance Writers