Terms

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The publishing platform and newsletters offer writers the opportunity to monetize their works in a sensible method. Instead of launching affiliate programs or filling their platforms with advertising writers can do what they love -- writing.

The exchange is mutually beneficial between members and the creators. Writers get paid to create material, and users get the chance to access the content they love, and all the while having an uninterrupted and ad-free experience. Whether you're a blogger, journalist, or even a aspiring writer, this comparison will help you make an informed choice on which platform best meets your needs.

Substack

Substack's principal goal is to empower creators and give them the necessary tools to achieve their goals. Substack offers many features that cater to the needs of independent creators of content. From opportunities for monetization to audience ownership Substack gives writers the ability to control their own creative journey and build a sustainable career.

Pricing and features

The site is advertised as "a platform for writers to write independently," Substack offers writers an opportunity to create an online newsletter to build a community and make money from subscriptions. They claim that zero tech experience is required, and aim to "take care of everything except the hardest aspect (the creating itself)." They promise "true autonomy" where the writer keeps the copyright on all their writing.

How it works is fairly simple. Writers can import existing content they wrote on other platforms like Mailchimp, WordPress, Tinyletter, Medium, Tumblr, and even some custom-built sites, or they can create a brand new website completely from scratch in just only a few minutes. When the website is up and running, the creator selects the posts that are completely free and others are placed to Substack's Substack paywall. Substack will take 10% of the revenue when a creator is monetizing their site, but up to it is totally cost-free. The Substack team claims you can "start with your Substack with breakfast and start earning money by lunchtime." Here's how to do just that.

Dashboard/Posts

The Dashboard page lists any blog content you have already posted, as well as general statistics for the most recent blog article. The stats you see include the number of views total, email recipients, and open rate.

Here you'll also see several buttons you can use for you to begin creating your next piece of content. The buttons allow you to create a new post, a new podcast episode or a new thread. On this page, you will be able to get access to Subscribers, Stats and Settings.

Within Substack newsletters, the posts are called 'posts which are also published on the writer's Substack page for profile. When an account becomes active, Substack automatically creates a initial draft of the post. It will prompt users to sign-up for the creator's paid newsletter and then share the news through social media. You are able to edit or delete the first post that you have pre-populated, or write the following post.

Substack's posts on the homepage

Writing/editing starts with adding a title, subtitle, and an author. You can even invite guests authors to write -- then a rich text editor gives an opportunity to include paragraph copy, headings, images, buttons as well as bold and italic texts as well as quotes and bullet points.

If you click the Settings button you're given the chance to edit the visibility of your post. It is possible to make the post accessible or private, and select to allow comments or not. In this section, you are able to edit the article's date of publication as well as the URL as well as the hidden "draft link" if you want to share the post with relatives or friends (even prior to publication). You can send a test email, or alter the social media preview in order to ensure that the images are perfect before you send it to your followers.

After you've scheduled or published the post, go back to your Posts page where you can check how many readers have seen each one of your posts.

Subscribers

The dashboard for subscribers displays the number of your subscribers and paid subscribers, gross annualized revenue, and subscriber numbers over the last thirty days and 90 days, and all time. The dashboard shows the email addresses of every subscriber along with the type of subscription they have (free or paid) and the date on which they signed up, and revenue per person.

For more subscribers to join to your list, manually add them by the email address they provide or you can export the existing list of subscribers via MailChimp, TinyLetter, Patreon as well as similar platforms to an CSV file. Then, transfer it. Substack's upload tool Substack uploader will load every email address it can find and only allow those that have signed up to your list.

Stats

In the Stats page, you'll be able to learn about the amount of traffic that came towards your website, as well as the quantity of emails you've sent out over a 30 or 90-day period, or after you've launched your newsletter.

The Traffic tab displays the most recent month's web users, and the source. This could be from the post itself or your profile on substack or other social media platforms including Twitter.

The Email tabs shows you detailed information on each post that includes the title, publication date, and the audience (public or private) and delivery stats such as how many opens it has, the open rate, paid or free subscriptions following one day, as well as participation (likes as well as comments).

Settings

You can edit your publication name and description. You can also alter the discoverability settings (such tags) as well as personalize the About page to explain the benefits of reading your magazine and becoming a subscriber.

There are a variety of options to customize the voice and visual brand of your blog, such as your logo, cover image as well as your email banner and the welcome email message (which is sent to readers immediately after they subscribe). Editing your email send options like your sender name, whether you want to receive email replies to your posts and your email address to RSS feeds, such as [email protectedemail protected]. Here you can also connect and disconnect your social media channels and Stripe for processing payments.

Compatibility and integrations

The most significant feature of Substack's offering is the possibility to import content from many different platforms. This can save you time because you do not have to copy and paste your content on every platform you use. Substack allows you to import content from such platforms as mailchimp service, WordPress, TinyLetter, Tumblr, website RSS feed Podcast RSS feed Stripe and much more.

However, a lot of Substack's work is tracking and data, so you can add a Facebook Pixel ID, Twitter Pixel ID, Parse.ly Pixel ID Google Analytics Pixel ID, Google Tag Manager ID, Google Site Verification as well as Facebook Site Verification.

These pixels allow for monitoring your readership/engagement levels and some create an integration with advertising platforms. In the case of Facebook, for instance, if connect the Facebook Pixel ID (found on your Facebook Business Page) to your Substack, Facebook can track the audience for ads that are relevant to them.

Medium

Medium, on the other hand it is a content-creation and publishing platform which houses an array of content from various authors. It serves as a community-driven platform for discovery, where authors can reach a large public and connect with users and publications on the web with similar preferences. Medium offers a simple interface, extensive social features along with a built-in distribution network.

Pricing and features

Medium.com provides a variety of tools and functions to readers and content creators. Medium.com has evolved into a preferred platform for individuals and organizations to share their thoughts as well as stories and information to a worldwide audience.

You can easily create and format articles using a simple and intuitive editor. Medium is a free writing environment with essential formatting options like headings, lists pictures, embedding multimedia content. After you've written your article, you are able to upload it and be accessible for the general public, or you can limit it to specific audiences.

Unlimited access costs $5 USD/month if you pay each month or $50 USD/year if an entire year's cost is paid in advance.

Dashboard/Home

Similar to social media platforms, Medium offers an extensive audience of followers and readers who are constantly looking for interesting information. Thanks to the algorithm and curation mechanism, which includes an editor's preference' newsletter, the articles can gain recognition and reach a huge number of people. It can assist creators and writers connect with the public, establish an following and boost their impact in their specific areas of expertise.

Medium boasts a vast user base, providing writers with an opportunity to reach a wider audience and gain recognition for their work. Medium's vast reach guarantees that your content has the potential to be discovered by those who have an interest in the subjects.

The features of the platform that are curated help present your content to readers who are interested which increases the likelihood of engagement and visibility. By leveraging these discovery mechanisms You can take advantage of Medium's distribution network and maximize the reach of your posts.

Post editor

Medium offers a broad array of tools to create content, including advanced formatting options as well as embedded media support that includes images and video, and the possibility of adding customized code fragments. Medium allows writers to produce visually attractive pieces that contain rich media which makes it ideal to digital writers who want a more visually engaging approach.

With Medium's flexible post editor, writers can customize the appearance and style of their content to be in line with their own personal branding. Medium supports the integration of multimedia, allowing for the seamless inclusion of images, videos, and interactive elements. If you're looking to show off your photographic skills or share information through visuals, Medium allows you to produce captivating media.

Network effect

Medium encourages the sense of community by offering features like remarks, highlights and guidelines, that allow authors to engage with their users. The tools for engagement facilitate deep discussions and create a supportive setting for writers to interact with their audience.

The network effect of Medium plays a important role in increasing the reach of writers' content. As readers engage with articles through claps, comments, and shares, the algorithms of Medium observe the interaction and present the article to a broader public. The network effect allows writers to gain exposure to a wider audience than their current followers and attract new readers who have an interest in the subject matter they write about.

How to make money: Medium's Partner Program

Medium uses a unique method of monetization that is known as Medium Partner Program. Medium Partner Program. Writers can join this program to earn money according to the engagement their articles receive which includes claps (Medium's equivalent to likes) and time spent reading. (While earning potential exists on Medium, it's possible that the earnings is less certain compared to Substack's subscription-based system.)

The Medium Partner Program encourages authors to focus on creating engaging and thought-provoking content that resonates with readers. By rewarding articles based on reader feedback and interaction, Medium promotes the development of content with high-quality that engages and has the ability to inspire its viewers. The model offers the chance for you to earn income by maintaining a completely free and accessible publishing platform.

Conclusion: Medium vs Substack

Substack and Medium offer different things to cater to different creators -- the best way to choose the platform for you is to consider what you want to get out of your newsletter/publishing platform. Substack empowers independent writers with monetization options along with audience-owned content, as well as a simple yet focused writing experience. However, Medium offers a vast audience, include features for discovering, and a strong feeling of belonging.

In providing unique and valuable information to your readers You can earn money and continue to pursue your creativity. Both options serve a different function, but it's up to you to decide which is best for you and your audience. Enjoy writing!