Career
January 11, 2023

Publishing blog posts on Medium vs your own website

Publish a blog on Medium or your own website, depending on your goals and priorities.

Introduction

Writing a blog is a great way to share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences with the world. It can also be a great way to build your brand, establish yourself as an expert in your field, and even make some money through advertising or sponsored content. There are two main options when it comes to publishing your blog: on Medium, or on your own website. Each has its own pros and cons, and the right choice for you will depend on your goals and needs.

Medium is easy to get started with

One advantage of writing a blog on Medium is that it is a well-established platform with a large audience. This means that you have the opportunity to reach a wide range of readers and potentially gain a lot of exposure. Additionally, Medium has a built-in community of writers and readers, so you can easily connect with other like-minded individuals and engage in meaningful discussions. But that's what they tell you. In my case most of the readers of the blog posts I posted from Medium came from search engines. Let's look at some examples:

1. Solidity Ether.js VoidSigner cannot sign transactions fix

Only 7% of views came directly from Medium! 93% came from search engines. Of course, the blog subject matters, but In this case I'm bringing users to Medium and helping the platform build their brand, not mine.

Solidity Ether.js VoidSigner cannot sign transactions fix medium stats

2. How to become a web3 developer in 2023

We see a similar pattern on one of my other articles, early 60% is coming through search engines.

How to become a web3 developer in 2023 Medium stats

The views number is still relatively low, but nonetheless, those same views could have been used to build my brand and traffic to my own website instead of Medium.

However, there are also some downsides to publishing on Medium. One of the main drawbacks is that you do not have as much control over your content. Medium has its own set of rules and guidelines that you must follow, and if your content does not meet their standards, it may be removed or flagged. Additionally, because Medium is a third-party platform, you do not own your content and you have to give up some of your rights as a writer. This means that you may not be able to republish your articles elsewhere or use them to promote your own brand or business.

Publishing on your own website helps you build a brand

Publishing a blog on your own website, on the other hand, gives you complete control over your content and your platform. You can design and customize your website to fit your personal brand and style, and you have the freedom to publish whatever you want, as long as it is legal and ethical. Additionally, because you own your website, you have the ability to monetize it in any way you see fit. You can sell products or services, display advertisements, or even use it as a portfolio to showcase your work.

Most importantly, publishing on your own website helps you build a brand. You can have users subscribe to your email list and grow an audience. You are in the mercy of another platform that can choose to delete your content or kick you out whenever they see fit.

The main disadvantage of publishing a blog on your own website is that it requires more work and resources. You will need to set up and maintain your own website, which can be time-consuming and expensive. Additionally, you will need to do your own marketing and outreach to attract readers and build an audience. This can be challenging, especially if you are starting from scratch and do not have a large following or network to tap into.

Conclusion

In conclusion, whether you choose to publish your blog on Medium or on your own website depends on your goals and needs. If you are looking for a quick and easy way to get your content out there and reach a large audience, Medium may be the right choice for you. However, if you want complete control over your content and the ability to monetise your blog, a self-hosted website may be the better option. Ultimately, the best choice for you will depend on your specific goals and priorities as a writer.