Frustrated With Growth? Discover How Giving the Gift of Medium Can Catapult Article Revenue

The Gift That Actually Matters#

(And It’s Only $50)

When was the last time someone showed up for you?

Not the performative “great post!” comments. Not the follow-for-follow crowd. I’m talking about the person who reads your work at 2 AM, leaves thoughtful feedback, and circles back weeks later to see how you’re doing.

The one who’s been your personal support animal on this wild Medium journey.

Medium’s running a seasonal promotion: $50 for an annual membership.¹ But this isn’t just about saving $10 off the regular price. It’s about recognizing the person who’s made this platform feel less like screaming into the void and more like an actual community.

Here’s the thing most people miss: giving someone access to unlimited reading isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s an investment in the ecosystem that supports you.

Why Generic Gifts Miss the Mark#

(Especially for Digital Creators)

Let’s be honest about gift-giving in the creator economy.

You can buy someone a coffee mug with an inspirational quote. You can send a generic “thank you for your support” message. Or you can do something that actually changes their daily experience.

A Medium membership isn’t just access to articles. It’s:

• Unlimited learning across every topic imaginable
• Support for writers they care about (every read counts)
• Friend links to share premium content with others
• Ad-free reading without distractions
• Access to the global conversation happening on one of the web’s most thoughtful platforms

The regular membership costs $5/month or $60/year. But right now, through Medium’s gift program, you can give a full year for just $50.¹

That’s less than most people spend on a single dinner out. And the impact lasts 365 days.

Medium’s $50 Annual Gift: What You’re Really Buying#

(Spoiler: It’s Not Just Articles)

Medium’s gift membership program lets you buy an annual subscription for someone else, include a personal note, and schedule delivery for any date you choose.¹

But here’s what you’re actually giving:

For Readers:

• Full access to Medium’s entire library across all devices
• The ability to engage with the global community of writers
• The satisfaction of supporting writers they read most
• Connection to ideas that might change their perspective

For the Community:

• Financial support for quality writing
• Stronger bonds between readers and creators
• Validation that thoughtful engagement matters
• A sustainable model for independent publishing

When I look back at my Medium journey, the moments that mattered most weren’t viral posts or big paydays. They were the readers who showed up consistently, offered genuine feedback, and made the work feel worthwhile.

Those people deserve more than just a “thanks.”

Why Community Beats Commerce Every Time#

(The Ripple Effect You’re Not Seeing)

Here’s what most people get wrong about Medium: they think it’s transactional.

Write article → Get claps → Make money → Repeat.

But that’s not how sustainable success works on any platform. The writers who thrive long-term aren’t gaming the algorithm—they’re building genuine relationships with readers who care about their work.

This connects directly to what I wrote about in The 30-Second Rule. The platform rewards genuine engagement over quick clicks. It’s designed to support writers who create content worth reading, not just content optimized for scanning.

When you gift a Medium membership to someone who’s been genuinely supportive, you’re not just being nice. You’re:

Creating a Reciprocity Loop:

• They feel valued and seen
• They’re more likely to engage deeply with content
• Writers notice and appreciate meaningful engagement
• The quality of discourse improves for everyone

Strengthening the Ecosystem:

• More paid members = more revenue for writers
• Better revenue = higher quality content
• Higher quality = more engaged readers
• More engaged readers = sustainable communities

This isn’t the “follow for follow” hustle that pollutes most platforms. It’s genuine community building—a pay-it-forward mentality that creates value for everyone involved.

As I explained in Why I Became a Friend of Medium, the best strategy isn’t manipulation—it’s authentic investment in others’ success. When you support readers who support you, everyone wins.

How to Spot Your Biggest Fan#

(It’s Probably Not Who You Think)

Your biggest fan isn’t necessarily the person with the most followers or the one who claps 50 times on every post.

The real MVPs are harder to spot. Here’s what to look for:

Quality Over Quantity:

• Comments that engage with your actual ideas (not just “great post!”)
• Questions that show they read the whole thing
• Thoughtful disagreements that make you think
• References to previous pieces you’ve written

Consistency Over Intensity:

• They show up regularly, even when you’re not going viral
• They engage with your “weird” experimental posts
• They’ve been around for months, not just weeks
• They disappear sometimes but always come back

Genuine Support vs. Transactional Engagement:

• They share your work without being asked
• They tag you in relevant discussions
• They defend your ideas in comment threads
• They offer constructive feedback, not just praise

Look at your analytics. Who’s reading multiple articles? Who’s spending real time with your work? Who’s been clapping thoughtfully rather than spam-clicking?

Those are your people.

The person who deserves your gift isn’t always the loudest cheerleader. It’s the one who shows up when you’re not trending, reads your rough drafts, and treats your words with respect.

Athena’s 2025 Gift: Why Tasha Earned It#

(Real Recognition for Real Support)

Snip-it of Tasha’s profile taken by the author

This year, I’m giving my gift membership to Tasha.

She’s not a massively popular influencer. She doesn’t run a huge publication. She’s just a genuine human being passionate about natural health and horticulture, who consistently demonstrates the values that make Medium worth being on.

Why Tasha?

Over the past year, she’s been the kind of community member everyone wishes they had more of:

• Thoughtful engagement: Her comments aren’t generic. She engages with the ideas, asks real questions, and adds her own insights.
• Consistent presence: She’s not chasing viral content. She reads what interests her and supports the writers doing meaningful work.
• Authentic voice: She writes about what she cares about—natural health, horticulture, saving money—without trying to game the system.
• Community values: She treats other writers with respect, offers genuine encouragement, and builds people up rather than tearing them down.

This connects to everything I’ve learned about what actually works on Medium. The platform rewards authentic human connection. It’s designed to support communities built on mutual respect and genuine interest.

Tasha embodies that. And she deserves to be recognized for it.

The $50 gift membership is my way of saying: “I see you. Your support matters. Thank you for making this community better just by being part of it.”

That’s worth more than any algorithm hack or viral post strategy.

The Challenge: Tag Your Champion#

(Let’s Start a Movement)

Here’s where this gets interesting.

I want to challenge you to do the same thing. Not because it’s trendy or because everyone’s doing it, but because recognizing genuine support creates the kind of community we all want to be part of.

The Challenge:

1. Think about who’s been your biggest supporter over the past year
2. Gift them an annual Medium membership ($50 through the gift program)
3. Write an article (or at minimum, a comment on this post) explaining why you chose them
4. Tag them so they know they’re appreciated

Why This Matters:

When we publicly recognize authentic engagement, we’re signaling what we value. We’re telling the algorithm, the platform, and other readers: This is what good community looks like.

It’s the opposite of follow-for-follow schemes or engagement pods. It’s genuine appreciation that creates ripple effects:

• The person you recognize feels valued and validated
• Other readers see what authentic engagement looks like
• Writers learn what kind of community behavior to cultivate
• The platform becomes less about gaming metrics and more about real connection

This connects to the broader strategy I outlined in How Wayfinder’s Revenue Skyrocketed. Success on Medium isn’t about tricks—it’s about building real relationships with people who care about your work.

Drop a comment below and tell us:

• Who are you gifting a membership to this year?
• What made them stand out as your biggest supporter?
• How did their engagement impact your work?

Let’s normalize celebrating the readers who make this platform worth being on.

Ready to get serious about building community on Medium? Subscribe to Wayfinder for proven strategies that prioritize authentic connection over algorithm hacks.

Your biggest supporters are waiting to be recognized…

The Long-term Impact of Recognizing Support#

(Why This Creates Sustainable Communities)

Gifting a Medium membership isn’t just a nice gesture. It’s a strategic investment in the kind of community that makes long-term success possible.

Here’s what happens when you publicly recognize genuine support:

Immediate Effects:

• The recipient feels valued and seen
• Your relationship with that reader deepens
• Other readers see what you appreciate
• You model community behavior you want to encourage

Medium-term Ripple Effects:

• The recipient is more likely to stay engaged with your work
• Other readers notice what gets recognized and adjust their engagement
• You attract more readers who value genuine connection
• Your content reaches people who actually care about the ideas

Long-term Community Building:

• You create a core group of supporters who champion your work
• Quality engagement attracts quality readers
• Your platform becomes more resilient to algorithm changes
• You build sustainable success based on real relationships

This is the opposite of most “growth hacking” advice you’ll find on Medium. It’s slower. It’s harder to measure. It doesn’t promise overnight viral success.

But it works. And it creates something that lasts beyond the next algorithm update.

As I discussed in my journey with the Friends of Medium program, the moments that changed everything weren’t about tactics. They were about finding genuine connection in a digital space that often feels transactional.

When you recognize your biggest supporters, you’re not just being nice. You’re building the foundation for long-term success on a platform designed to reward authentic human connection.

Comment Bait: Who’s Your Unsung Hero?#

(Time to Get Honest About Who Shows Up)

Let’s talk about the people who show up for you when no one else is paying attention.

I want to hear your stories:

• Who’s been consistently supporting your work over the past year?
• What’s the most meaningful comment or engagement you’ve received?
• Have you ever received a gift membership? How did it feel?
• What makes someone stand out as a genuine supporter vs. just another follower?
• Are you planning to gift a membership after reading this? Who’s getting it?

Here’s my challenge to you:

Don’t just read this article and move on. Take five minutes and actually identify your biggest supporter. Look through your notifications. Check your comments. See who’s been showing up consistently.

Then tell us about them in the comments. Tag them. Let them know they matter.

Because here’s the truth: the algorithm doesn’t care about you. The platform doesn’t care about you. But the readers who show up week after week, who engage thoughtfully with your ideas, who treat your words with respect—those people care.

And they deserve to be recognized.

Drop your answers in the comments. Let’s build a thread of genuine appreciation instead of the usual “great post!” noise.

TIP

The takeaway: For $50, you can give someone a full year of unlimited reading, learning, and community access on Medium. But more importantly, you can recognize the person who’s made your journey on this platform worthwhile. That’s worth more than any viral post.

FAQ: Gift of Medium#