Medium blogging

Why This Playbook Works

Medium has a built-in distribution engine. When you publish, your article can be surfaced to readers following specific topics. If it gets picked up by a publication, its reach is amplified exponentially to thousands of subscribers overnight. This is a massive advantage over a personal blog where you start with zero audience and have to build every single visit yourself.

The platform carries immense domain authority (DA 95). This means Google trusts it. By using Medium's 'import' feature, you can republish your existing blog posts. This creates a canonical link back to your original article, telling Google it's the master version. You get the SEO juice on your own domain while reaching Medium's audience--the best of both worlds.

Three real examples

Engage with other articles in your niche. Leaving thoughtful comments on other popular posts is a simple way to increase your visibility and attract followers.

The step-by-step playbook

1. 1

   Step 1: Optimize your profile

   Your Medium profile is a landing page. Use a clear headshot, a descriptive bio, and most importantly, link to your startup's landing page or a relevant lead magnet. This is your primary CTA.

2. 2

   Step 2: Define your content niche

   Don't just write about your product. Write about the problem your product solves. Your niche should be at the intersection of your expertise and your target customer's interests. For a project management tool, write about 'team productivity', 'remote work best practices', or 'running effective meetings'.

3. 3

   Step 3: Find relevant publications

   Don't just publish to your own profile. Your goal is to get into publications. Search Medium for your keywords (e.g., 'SaaS', 'Marketing', 'Productivity') and identify the top publications. Look at their follower counts and the engagement on their articles.

4. 4

   Step 4: Analyze their submission guidelines

   Most publications have a 'Write for us' or 'Submissions' page. Read it carefully. They will tell you exactly what topics they cover and how to format your pitch. Ignoring this is the fastest way to get rejected.

5. 5

   Step 5: Write a high-value article

   Your article must be genuinely useful. Use clear headings, short paragraphs, and add images. Most importantly, it should stand on its own without needing your product. Your product is the 'next logical step', not the focus of the article.

6. 6

   Step 6: Add a non-salesy CTA

   At the end of your article, add a simple, 1-2 sentence call to action. It shouldn't be 'Buy my product!'. Instead, offer a resource. Example: 'If you liked this article on productivity, you might like my free weekly newsletter with 3 productivity tips'.

7. 7

   Step 7: Pitch the publication

   Follow the submission guidelines precisely. Use the script below to send a concise and respectful pitch to the publication's editor. It's a numbers game; don't get discouraged by rejections.

8. 8

   Step 8: Use the 'Import Story' feature for cross-posting

   If you've already published a post on your own blog, use Medium's import tool (found under 'Stories' > 'Import a story'). Paste the URL, and Medium will pull the content and, crucially, add a canonical link. This tells Google the original source, preventing duplicate content penalties.

The Pitch: How to Get Into Publications

Find the publication editor's name if you can. Keep your email short and to the point. Editors are busy and appreciate when you get straight to it.

Subject: Submission: {Article Title}

Hi {Editor Name},

I'm a longtime reader of {Publication Name} and appreciate your articles on {Topic}.

I wrote an article titled "{Article Title}" that I believe would be a great fit for your audience. It covers {Brief 1-sentence summary of the article's main point}.

It's an original, unpublished draft. You can view it here: {Link to Medium Draft}

Thanks for your consideration,

{Your Name}

What to Ask Before You Start

• What is the core problem my product solves for customers?
• What topics are my target customers already reading about?
• Do I have existing content (blog posts, guides) that I can republish on Medium?
• Can I commit to writing at least one high-quality article per month?
• What is my 'soft CTA'? A newsletter, a free tool, a checklist?

The first two questions are the most critical. If you can't map your expertise to your customer's interests, your content won't land.

Recommended tools

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Do it faster with AI Prompts

Mistakes that kill this play

• ×Violating self-promotion rules. Publications will reject you if your article reads like an ad.
• ×Not including a 'soft' CTA. You must give readers a next step, or the traffic is wasted.
• ×Forgetting the canonical link. When republishing, always use the import tool to avoid SEO penalties.
• ×Publishing only on your personal profile. The goal is to leverage the audience of larger publications.
• ×Using a low-quality or generic bio. Your bio is your one chance to direct people to your site.
• ×Ignoring formatting. Giant blocks of text are unreadable. Use short paragraphs, bolding, and bullet points.

Your First 7 Days

• Day 1: Set up and optimize your Medium profile. Write a clear bio with a link to your website. Use a high-quality headshot.
• Day 2: Research 10 potential publications in your niche. Create a spreadsheet with their names, follower counts, and submission guideline URLs.
• Day 3: Brainstorm 5 article ideas using the AI prompt. Choose the strongest one and create a detailed outline.
• Day 4: Write the first draft of your article. Focus on getting the ideas down; don't worry about perfection.
• Day 5: Edit your draft. Check for flow, clarity, and grammar. Add your soft CTA at the end.
• Day 6: Save the article as an unpublished draft on Medium. Pick your top 3 publications and send a pitch email to each one, following their guidelines.
• Day 7: While you wait for responses, use the 'Import Story' feature to republish an old blog post from your company blog to get the hang of the process.

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