Exploring My Journey with Vocal Media: Earnings and Insights
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I once pondered whether it was feasible to earn a significant income through online writing. My curiosity led me to research extensively, where I encountered numerous articles from individuals claiming to have made substantial sums—sometimes even hundreds of thousands. I won’t dispute their claims, as I believe it’s entirely possible with the right approach.
In a previous article, I shared how I joined the Medium Partnership Program within a month. I had discovered Medium long before but hesitated to join. Eventually, I found Vocal Media, a platform that allowed me to earn while I wrote.
Throughout my ventures in online business, my passion for writing remained a constant source of joy, even if I wouldn't label myself a professional writer. The excitement I felt upon discovering Vocal Media was immense, as it promised a wealth of opportunities. However, I did find myself anxious at times, wondering if my stories would ever reach an audience.
As of now, I have successfully withdrawn around $80 from Vocal Media, which might seem modest at first glance. Nevertheless, this amount has fueled my motivation to pursue my writing ambitions. While financial gain is not my sole focus, it certainly serves as a strong incentive.
Though my journey with Vocal Media is just beginning compared to those who joined earlier, I remain hopeful. I firmly believe that hard work and commitment can lead to significant progress.
After careful consideration, I’ve decided to dedicate the next 2 to 5 years to content creation as my main profession. My objective is to cultivate an engaged audience, which will ultimately reflect in my earnings—after all, bills need to be paid!
For those considering joining Vocal Media but feeling uncertain, I aim to share my experiences and insights to help you navigate the platform. Let’s dive in.
What is Vocal Media?
Vocal is a blogging platform designed for creators—from writers to photographers, musicians, and artists. It provides essential writing tools and fosters engaged communities, allowing creators to share their work and connect with their target audience, ultimately supporting their creative endeavors.
One of the appealing aspects of Vocal is that you can republish existing content to monetize it. This could include articles you've previously shared on other platforms, as you retain ownership of your stories once published on Vocal Media.
Compared to Medium, Vocal is relatively new but boasts a vast number of creators and impressive monthly engagement figures. The platform primarily rewards creators through a pay-per-view model.
Just like Medium, your ability to earn and withdraw funds is contingent upon your country’s support by Stripe. You can check the list of supported countries on their site.
I appreciate Vocal's ongoing efforts to enhance the platform for both readers and writers, with improvements in functionality and user interface, as well as the introduction of new features like commenting.
Another feature I admire about online writing platforms, including Vocal and Medium, is the ability to sell products—both physical and digital. Some writers operate e-commerce stores, embedding links to their products within their articles, making it convenient for readers to purchase directly.
Promoting an e-commerce store through Vocal Media is a smart move, offering limitless potential. I came across an article by Jonathan Sim, a top-earning writer on the platform, who shared his story of earning over $10,000 from a single article.
It's remarkable to think that someone made such an impressive sum from one piece of writing!
At this point, I can confidently assert that online writing is a burgeoning opportunity. While some users may not be focused on monetization, many seek entertainment, knowledge, or inspiration. If you fall into this category, there are various niche communities to explore, emphasizing the importance of publishing your content in the right place.
Personally, I enjoy browsing the beauty community, but there are numerous others covering a wide range of topics from motivation to sexuality and beyond.
I continuously find valuable lessons in the plethora of articles published daily, which also means I am contributing to other writers’ income as I engage with their work. Why not support fellow creators while expanding my own knowledge?
Let me now share more about my experience with the Vocal Media platform.
How to Write an Article & Story Guidelines on Vocal
To create content, click on “Create a story,” then add your title and subtitle. You can upload an image or source one from Unsplash. After reviewing your story, save it and submit it for publication.
Articles should be over 600 words to be accepted, while poems must contain at least 100 words. Currently, stories must be in English, as other languages are not yet supported.
Publishing in the correct community significantly increases the chances of reaching your intended audience. For example, if your article is about makeup, it should go in the beauty community, not a general one like "Earth." However, moderators will often move articles to appropriate communities if necessary.
It's important to note that free members cannot edit their stories after publication. If you need changes, you must email the Vocal team at [email protected] to request unpublishing, after which you’ll need to resubmit your story for approval.
How to Get Paid
Vocal’s payment structure is straightforward: $3.80 for every 1,000 views, and Vocal+ members earn $6 per 1,000 views. The platform uses Stripe for all payments. You can request a withdrawal once you reach $35 if you’re a standard member or $20 for Vocal+ members.
There’s a transaction fee of 2.9% for Vocal+ members and 7% for non-members. Tips from readers will also incur fees from Stripe before being transferred to your account.
You might wonder if the $10 monthly fee for Vocal+ membership is worth it. If your stories attract a large number of views regularly, upgrading could be beneficial.
Bonuses
Here are some bonuses to be aware of, though they are privileges and not guaranteed:
- $5 for liking 15 stories from other creators.
- $5 when your story is featured among the top stories on Vocal Media's main page.
- $50 for posting 50 stories on Vocal.
- $5 when your story is shared multiple times on Vocal’s social media.
- $5 after reaching 1,000 reads.
- $10 for publishing ten stories.
Joining Vocal is free, meaning you can engage in activities without any cost. These bonuses can help you accumulate $50 or more each month. To accelerate your earnings, consider participating in Vocal's writing challenges.
Vocal regularly hosts various writing challenges, some exclusive to Vocal+ members. If you enjoy writing fiction, participating in these challenges could lead to grand prizes ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 or more.
My Experience
I joined Vocal Media in December 2021 and quickly opted for the Vocal Plus membership at a discounted rate of $4.99, along with a $10 welcome bonus.
In my first week, I published six articles, earning a $5 bonus for my efforts. By the second week, I had written over 14 articles and received another $10 for my ten stories.
I was thrilled when I received a $1 tip from a reader and later a $20 tip from a family member. These moments made me feel like I could achieve anything! (For clarity, tips are voluntary and go directly to your Stripe account.)
As I continued, I achieved around 650 reads, which translated to nearly $4. Once I hit the 50-story mark, I received a $50 bonus, bringing my total earnings to approximately $104.
Most of my income stemmed from bonuses and tips rather than views alone.
Typically, it takes up to 24 hours for moderators to approve stories for publication, though it can occasionally take longer. I’ve experienced delays of over five days at times, necessitating follow-up emails, which can be a hassle for timely content.
One of the features I appreciate about Vocal is that writers can earn from both internal and external views. Consistency is key to success, and many creators have learned to optimize their articles for search engines, leading to continuous organic traffic.
You can also join Vocal Media Creators' groups on Facebook, where you can share your stories and gain visibility. These communities not only help you reach new readers but also provide quick answers to your questions from fellow writers.
If you’re interested in joining Vocal and reaping these benefits, now’s the time to sign up and join the ranks of fantastic content creators.
What are you waiting for?
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Thank you for reading, and I look forward to sharing more insights with you soon. Until next time, stay blessed.
- With Love, Amarachi