Memberships for Publishers
Medium is developing a suite of tools for engaged readers to support their favorite publishers directly. We’re building these tools based on industry-leading examples, active input from world-class publishers and years of experience studying how readers interact with quality content.
Initially, we’re launching a membership program that allows readers to contribute a fixed amount every month toward their favorite publications on Medium. Publishers will be able to set a membership price and “lock” certain stories, creating exclusive premium content that only paying members receive. In time, we’ll continue to work with publishers to develop an even more diverse suite of reader-support products.
What is membership?
It’s pretty simple. At Medium, we believe that monetization should be closely tied to building a loyal audience. That’s why we created membership.
Our product allows readers to contribute a fixed amount every month toward their favorite publications and writers — like you! You’ll be able to set a membership price and offer exclusive benefits via “locked” posts and emails.
How does membership work?
It’s designed to fit your unique community. You create the pitch — whether it’s about enabling readers to fund important journalism or providing them with access to an exclusive series. You can choose to lock a single post, a weekly newsletter, a particular vertical or your entire publication.
And it’s not just about content. Members-only posts could include invitations to private Slack channels, event promotions or notes from your editorial team — and almost anything else you can dream up!
“On top of being an ad-minimal oasis for our content, Medium offers us a number of ways to better serve our readers. Today, we’re introducing memberships: an opportunity for you to contribute directly to the success of our publication and to get up-close and personal with your favorite writers.”
— Neil Miller, Founder, Film School Rejects
Will members-only posts appear across Medium?
A preview of each members-only post will appear in the Medium feed and on your publication’s homepage. Readers will see a lock icon and simple instructions for joining. Only members will be able to see the entire post, and only members can highlight or leave responses.
How does pricing work?
You can offer one monthly membership plan at a time. You can choose to set either a fixed price (in $1 increments) or a minimum.
You will be able to change your original price by adding a new plan, but readers who have already joined will not be opted into new plans. A reader who initially paid $3 will continue to pay $3, even if you add a $5 plan. At this time, we don’t offer tiered pricing.
We work with Stripe to process credit card payments. Stripe processes billions of dollars in payments every year, from 24 countries around the world, and your information will be secure.
Payment will be deposited once per month into a bank account that you designate.
Are there fees associated with membership?
Stripe retains a small per-transaction fee that depends on the price you charge. As your membership price increases, the fee decreases. At $3, the fee will be 11 percent. At $5, the fee will be 8 percent. At $8, the fee will be 6.5 percent.
If you charge a fixed price, Medium will apply a 20 percent flat fee beginning when you accrue 500 members — this will be inclusive of Stripe’s fee. If you have less than 500 members, you will only pay Stripe’s fee.
Our fee schedule is subject to change as we continue to develop the product and add a wider range of features to benefit your readers.
How can I promote my membership?
When you set up your membership program, we’ll prompt you to create three brief in-product messages:
- A sign-up prompt that appears on every locked post
- A thank-you message that appears after sign-up
- A confirmation note that is sent to members via email
Publishers can also use Medium posts to elaborate further on the benefits that readers receive by becoming members. For examples, take a look at Film School Rejects, Electric Literature, the Boston Institute for Nonprofit Journalism or Latterly.
“Latterly believes vulnerable people around the world aren’t getting a fair shake. We set out to report on these issues, commissioning dozens of stories from journalists in the field. Our business model puts readers in charge, free of any interest except positive, solutions-oriented journalism.”
— Ben Wolford, Founder, Latterly
What information will I receive from Medium about my members?
Publications will be able to view the total number of members they have at any given time, as well as total income. You’ll also be able to download a CSV that includes your members’ Medium handles, their email addresses, the amount they’re paying and the date they joined (or left).
How can I communicate with members?
In addition to using the email addresses that we’ll provide in the CSV, you can use Medium’s Letters feature to communicate with all of your members via the platform.