Referrals: Should We All Just Cancel and Resubscribe?

The times have changed for those in Medium's partner program.

As of August 11 the platform we've all come to love and hate has introduced new rules governing the way you've been earning that monthly coffee allowance for your work. 

Aside from that chump change now being bound by deadline-looming new criteria, there's also a new method of earning which could allow writer's to afford an extra shot or, hell, maybe even oat milk in that morning joe.

Spread the Word

That new method works a little bit like this: Medium writers enrolled in the partner program now have their own landing page which, when linked within a story, looks a little bit like this.

And, each time a reader clicks through that landing page and becomes a paying member, the writer will earn exactly half of that membership minus fees.

This is how it'll work in Medium's exact words:

"For every reader who a Partner Program writer converts to a paying Medium member, the writer will receive half of that reader's membership fee, net of standard payment processor fees."

Tell Me More

The program of course begs a few questions: firstly, how long will it last?

Well, indefinitely, according to Medium:

"Referral earnings are recurring as long as the reader's membership plan remains active, and will be in addition to Partner Program earnings based on member read time."

If that sounds good, then you might like the look of the fee and payment structure.

In the four years since Medium opened its partner program it has paid some $28 million to writers. Given the rising number of paying members and new referral method, that figure will no doubt rise quickly.

Is There a Catch?

Potentially. In June this year Medium announced a bid to crackdown on spam accounts aptly titled "Keeping Medium Authentic".

Medium warned its users that with the new move, which it assured would not affect distribution or earnings, they may see a decline in their following.

"We want to ensure that your follower and following counts only reflect quality users," the statement read.

Follower counts are particularly important now given new criteria rolled out alongside the partner program update.

Medium writers are now required to maintain at least 100 followers be a part of the partner program. For those already enrolled but unable to meet the new requirement, Medium has given an end-of-year deadline.

Time For a Revolution?

Now, time for the question that everyone has been thinking but few are willing to ask: should we all just cancel our subscriptions and resubscribe via each other's landing pages?

While that is a great idea, sadly there will be no GameStop-like moment for the writers of Medium. There's a little fine print within Medium's statement crushing any dreams as such:

"Referred Memberships are for new Medium members only, so if you are a current member, you cannot direct part of your fee to a specific writer."

So, Where to From Here?

Sadly, it'll be straight back to the drawing board for most us —albeit with the bittersweet hope that new readers considering a membership will take up that method via one of our god forsaken landing pages.

Have you a better idea? Share it in the responses below.