Patreon – Platform For Artists & Creators to Easily Earn

Patreon provides the business infrastructure to independent content creators, such as those who create films, music, podcasts, paintings, comics, games, periodicals, and other forms of media for online audiences.

It enables businesses to convert a tiny portion of their larger fan base’s superfans into paying monthly patrons and maintain interactions with those customers across the web.

Patreon aspires to be the dominant platform for creators to develop these membership businesses, from which it may extend into additional products and services for creators.

What is Patreon?

Patreon is a subscription service that connects content creators with their fans and supporters.

It primarily provides financial mechanisms that allow fans to subscribe to projects that provide creators with a consistent income stream as they continue to generate content.

The platform is a contemporary spin on the traditional concept of patronage. Artists such as painters, musicians, and playwrights have historically relied on affluent donors to fund their work. Patreon expands on that core premise by allowing a far bigger audience to fund artists and creators they like at low monthly prices. Patreon is now used by a wide range of artists, including podcasters, YouTubers, musicians, and writers.

About Patreon

Patreon, like many great companies, was created by someone who wanted to solve a problem. Patreon’s history begins with Jack Conte’s internet video productions. He recognized that YouTube monetization was insecure and heavily reliant on an algorithm for views. Conte contacted his Stanford friend Sam Yam and begged for assistance in developing anything that could help.

The concept linked to Renaissance-style patronage, in which artists could freely create while receiving financial assistance. They got to work creating a platform that allowed creatives to request assistance. Patreon was founded in 2013.

In contrast to Kickstarter, which funded huge projects in advance with a single campaign, Patreon allows authors to create recurring high-quality material in exchange for a monthly donation.

In 2021, creators are using Patreon to create a variety of material with the help of their audience. Some are even well-known creators, such as Issa Rae, who went from producing online series to producing HBO’s blockbuster “Insecure.” So, how are content creators getting money to work rather than working to be paid? Let’s take a look behind the Patreon curtain.

How Patreon works

Patreon allows your followers and fans to become your most financial supporters. “Aren’t fans already supporters?” you might ask. But let us dissect that. When you listen to a song by a favorite musician, Spotify pays them less than one penny per stream. Patreon founder Jack Conte might receive millions of views on a YouTube video but only receive $100. Creators were really losing money doing what they loved before Patreon, despite having big audiences.

Patreon now eliminates the middlemen who take the majority of your profits. They put into practice and validated the premise that if you focus on generating material that fans enjoy, those fans would pay for it. This concept liberates you from third-party constraints that limit your creative freedom and take all of your money.

What does Patreon get in exchange? Depending on the perks you want, this might range from 5% to 12% of your sales.

Is Patreon right for you?

Many questions occur when starting started with digital marketing on a new platform. Patreon, like social media, provides methods to communicate with individuals who follow you, but what if you’re concerned that a paywall may drive off supporters? How can you determine if Patreon is a good investment for you? Should you continue to create material on your own?

Here are some indicators that you should join Patreon:

• You have a captive audience. Patreon will not help you acquire new audiences, so you must have your own or have a growth strategy in place.
• Your content is inexpensive. Patreon will barely make a dent if you raise $1,000 per month but require $20,000 to create.
• You require a boost in order to create better content. Patreon provides that external drive by reminding you every month that people want to see what you make.

If the aforementioned sounds appealing, create a Patreon page and invite your followers to join you there.

Remember to include a text and video introduction to what you do when launching a Patreon. Beleaf from Fatherhood is an excellent example of this.

How to start a Patreon

Patreon is completely free to begin with.

In fact, if you never receive a customer on the platform, you won’t have to pay anything.

It is their responsibility to administer your neighborhood.

They aren’t interested in making money if you aren’t. You may learn how to build a Patreon and launch a campaign by following the steps below:

• Begin by creating an account with an email address or an online account.
• After that, go over the questions concerning the type of content you create. Do you produce videos? Community management? Is your content rated 18+?
• Determine which currency your visitors will see when they arrive. You can pay in US dollars, British pounds, or euros.
• Link Patreon to your social media accounts and create a unique URL.
• Include a high-quality profile photo and cover image (at least 256 x 256 pixels) (1600 x 400 pixels).
• Include a text and video introduction to your channel.

Remind individuals of their purpose for being there. Some of your fans may be unfamiliar with Patreon.

• Create tiers for how much money followers can give each month.
• Establish Patreon goals. Tell your followers what your goals are (for patrons or monthly revenue) and what you plan to do when you attain each one. For example, once you hit 1,000 patrons, you might do a live Q&A or release a new EP.

How to Get a Free Patreon Account

To join the Patreon creators, you must have a valid email address:

• Go to Patreon’s website.
• Fill out the registration form with your information (including your email address and password).
• Click the “Sign Up” button on the right.
• To finish the registration, follow the on-screen instructions.

After entering your email address, you must confirm that you are the genuine owner of the email.

If you do not validate your email address, your registration will be canceled.

As a result, check your inbox for a verification email from Patreon.

To fully validate your account, open it and click on the link in the email.

How to Sign Up for Patreon

• Open your web browser and navigate to www.patreon.com.
• Click the “Login” button, and a form will open for you to enter your account information.
• Next, enter your User ID or email address in the “Username” field.
• Then, in the password field, enter your password.
• After clicking on login, you will be able to access and use your account.

You may also sign in to your account using a mobile browser on any mobile device that is connected to the internet:

• Open your mobile browser and navigate to the Patreon website.
• Tap the login button in the upper right corner of the page.
• Enter your email address and password from the registration form.
• Select Login.

If you are unable to log in or retrieve your Patreon account, check to see if it has been blocked or if you may join up for a new one.

To join up for Patreon, go to the website and create a new username and password to access your account.

Choosing a Patreon Plan

Previously, understanding how to start a Patreon did not include deciding on a pricing strategy. Patreon simply provided payment and community management assistance and kept 5% of revenue. They will next launch a Merch for Membership program for all creators in June 2020. This provided them with more pricing structure alternatives.

Choose a Patreon plan based on what you want to offer and the level of help you require.

The following plans are presently available on Patreon:

1. The Lite plan (5%) organizes your customers’ monthly payments.
2. The Pro plan (8%) includes everything in the Lite package plus:

• Tiers
• Analytics
• Special offers
• Workshops
• Unlimited app integrations
• Priority customer support

3. The Pro plan + Merch (11%) has all the Pro features and Merch support.
4. The Premium plan (12%) has:

• Dedicated partner manager
• Merch for membership
• Team accounts

Which one is best for you will depend on how many customers you intend to have, the size of your firm, and the services you wish to provide.

If in doubt, go with the Lite.

You can always change your mind afterwards.

Patreon YouTube

Active. Patreon is utilized by YouTube videographers, webcomic artists, writers, podcasters, musicians, adult content makers, and other online creators.

It enables artists to accept funding directly from their fans or supporters on a recurring or one-time basis.

Understanding and using the Patreon tier system

It can be difficult to identify what to ask for while learning how to build a Patreon and use their tier structure.

You might be wondering how much is too much or how little is too little. What can you offer to make that donation worthwhile? Keep in mind that your supporters are there to support you, not to buy from you. Each tier provides an incentive to provide (referred to as rewards) rather than a product.

Patreon levels are created so that patrons can pick how much they can give each month rather than how much the benefit is worth.

While incentives are nice, they aren’t the primary reason that fans become patrons. Not every tier has to include a substantial amount of material or merchandise. The first or second can just provide access to your Patreon community and unique updates.

If you’re just getting started, try providing your fans one to three tiers to pick from.

The first can range from $1 to $3, the second from $3 to $6, and the third from $5 to $10. As your Patreon grows, add more tiers for people who wish to contribute more. You’d be shocked how many folks want to donate more if given the opportunity.

How do I cancel on the Patreon app?

• Tap the Account icon, then your profile name.
• For the membership, tap the Pencil icon.
• Scroll down and choose Edit or Cancel payment just underneath the update button.
• Choose Cancel your membership.
• To confirm, tap the Cancel your subscription option.

How To Become A Patreon Backer?

You will be able to create an account once you join up for Patreon Free.

You can then select to become a Patron or a Full Member. A Patron is someone who has made a financial contribution to the site and will have access to all of the advantages of a Patron account, such as:

• Full access to patron material and discussions
• The ability to vote on project proposals
• Financial management skills
• Access to special patron-only content
• Access to creators’ private messages
• And so much more! A Full Member is someone who has pledged money and will have access to all of the benefits of a Full Member account, such as:
• All of the benefits of a Patron account, with the exception of:
• Access to special patron-only content
• Access to creators’ private messages

What Are The Benefits Of A Patreon Account?

• You can make a monetary donation to your favorite producers!
• You will be able to obtain exclusive stuff from your favorite producers!
• You may assist the makers of your favorite material in producing more of it!
• You can communicate with other admirers of the same material!
• You may directly support your favorite content makers!
• You get to help increase interest in their stuff!
• You will get access to patron-only stuff!
• You can communicate privately with the creators of your favorite material!
• You’ll be able to access patron-only stuff!
• You can communicate privately with other fans of the same topic!

What to offer as Benefits

You may choose to provide rewards to your patrons in order to thank them for their continuous support. There are a few go-to patron benefit alternatives that creators adore. Among these are:

• Early access
• Physical prizes (similar to Patreon items)
• Votes on future material
• Recognition (a mention in your newsletter or video)

You can be imaginative with your offerings.

If you offer coaching or advising, develop a huge tier that offers a monthly session to a restricted number of followers as a perk. Give them a digital download for the first or second tier if you’re an artist. If you’re a community leader, Patreon has a comprehensive list of services you can provide, including courses.

You can choose what goods you want to provide and what designs you want to utilize if you have a Pro plan + Merch or a Premium plan.

You can choose whether to ship the product after three payments or every three months. Patreon will inform you how much each item will cost to give you an idea of what tier you can attach that reward to.

Rancho Relaxo’s Patreon uses levels to provide supporters with alternatives and varied rewards.

Setting goals on Patreon

Visitors to your Patreon page can view your tiers and your objective (s). This can be perplexing for those learning how to build a Patreon. We’ve discussed the tiers and how to use them, but how does this relate to your goals?

On Patreon, your goals can be how many patrons you want to reach or how much money you want to earn each month.

You can set many goals and events to them.

For example, you may make your first goal $50 and announce that if you meet it, you’ll perform a giveaway or have a special guest on your show.

These objectives encourage new patrons to join and contribute to your success.

As you complete them, you can set new goals to keep you and your community moving forward.

Types of content to post on Patreon

Patreon is all about making your patrons feel appreciated.

This can include offering supplementary content and providing early access to upcoming projects for creators.

What types of content are included in these categories?

Here are a few examples:

Content from behind-the-scenes

Tell us about your experience running your organization or business.

For example, perhaps you create family content on YouTube, similar to Beleaf in Fatherhood. People have become so invested in you as a result of your tale and the success of your channel. Sharing behind-the-scenes content gives them the opportunity to learn and see more. Don’t underestimate how much that means to others. Beleaf has around 800 patrons who provide anywhere from $5 to $100 per month.

Bloopers

The majority of material released online has been expertly edited and polished to appear and sound ideal. But what about the awkward moments and amusing antics that didn’t make it into the finished product? Use your Patreon to share those funny moments with your audience.

First look at new work

Writers with a following frequently release upcoming work chapter by chapter on Patreon.

Indeed, many writers have urged their followers to assist them in leaving their full-time jobs.

This is the situation with science fiction author N.K. Jemisin.

She has around 1,500 followers with whom she shares regular updates and exclusive fiction, such as side stories on the characters they love.

Bonus Episodes

Podcasters have benefited from sharing content on Patreon as well.

If you’re thinking about using podcasting as a marketing tool, you could use Patreon to provide your listeners with more content.

If your show’s listeners tune in every week, they’ll appreciate having an extra episode to listen to.

Exclusive blog posts

It’s customary on Patreon to share blog pieces and updates that your supporters wish to see.

Rancho Relaxo, for example, is a non-profit animal rescue that frequently posts wonderful news.

Their supporter-only posts share the story of recently arriving rescues, reconnecting fans with the reason they donate in the first place.

How to promote your Patreon

So that’s how to start a Patreon out of the way.

You must now direct traffic to it.

Given that you most likely already have a following, try utilising marketing tools for this aim.

Here are several possibilities:

Create a landing page

Gather those that enjoy your stuff but are unsure about supporting you right now.

Send them to a landing page that explains all of the benefits of what you do and how much effort you put into it.

You can either request that they convert right away (become patrons) or request their email instead.

You’ll be able to offer free stuff to their inbox and communicate with them more effectively with an email.

You can include a call to action (CTA) at the bottom of each email to access patron-only material on Patreon.

Remind current fans via email

If you already have a list of your followers’ addresses and want to keep in touch with them, try using an email marketing solution like Constant Contact.

As previously stated, you will then have the opportunity to drive traffic to your Patreon with each email sent.

Create “fear of missing out” by discussing all of the extra content patrons receive, provide photographs of stuff if you have it, and how the Patreon audience can engage with you more.

Share your Patreon on social

Social media is most certainly one of the most successful strategies to gain new followers.

It is now also one of the simplest ways to gain new customers.

To increase awareness, share your Patreon page on social media or employ paid social media marketing tools.

Use solutions that allow you to create your social media presence and automate posting if you need assistance.

Pros

• Continuous crowdfunding for creators
• The platform promotes award distribution
• Fewer content limitations than other crowdfunders
• Several membership plans are available

Cons

• No built-in promotional tools
• Some authors claim problems collecting donations
• A large frequency of public complaints

Make a post on the Patreon app

Using the mobile app, you may make posts for your customers while on the go.

On the app, you’ll find many of the same editing and composing capabilities that you have on your desktop.

If you charge patrons per creation, read this page before you publish your piece.

How to make a post on the Patreon app

1. Sign in to your Patreon account and tap the Make a post icon.
2. Select Make a post.
3. To make your post, tap the appropriate symbol in the top bar.

You can select the Text option for a text-based post or the Link option for video and audio links (poll posts are currently only available on mobile web and desktop)

• You can also include inline images when composing a post by tapping the image icon in the bottom format bar.

4. When you’re satisfied with your post, click Next
5. To bring up your options, tap Who may see this post: public, all patrons, or only certain tiers
6. After you’ve enabled post access, click Publish to make it live.

Who are the top earners on Patreon?

These are some of the most well-paid Patreon accounts, earning more than $50,000 per year:

• True Crime Obsessed.
• Chapo Trap House.
• DarkCookie – Summertime Saga.
• Jeff Wittek.
• You’re Wrong About.
• The Tim Dillon Show.
• Flagrant 2.

How do I become a successful Patreon?

5 Data-Backed Tips for Patreon Success in Your First Month

• Think about having more than one aim.
• Think about having more than two benefit tiers.
• Complete at least three unpaid posts in your first month
• Send a few texts within your first month…
• Get the word out on social media.

FAQs

How much does Patreon take from each subscription?

This cost includes access to Patreon’s membership platform.

The platform cost for legacy founders is 5% of processed payments.

This means that we will only accept payment if the developer is making money.

Check your creator account settings to see if you have the founding creator 5 percent plan.

What does a Patreon do?

Patreon is a membership platform that allows creators to easily get compensated.

Patreon is a method for creators to get compensated for the things they already make (webcomics, videos, songs, whatevs).

Is Patreon safe?

Patreon is completely safe to use as a subscriber.

This is a reputable, professional company that is eager to assist artists and other creatives in being able to focus on their tasks.

Subscribers can pick between three subscription levels.

Your basic subscription will be the lowest-priced tier.

Do you pay taxes on Patreon?

Does Patreon deduct taxes from my payments?

No, aside from our fees, Patreon does not deduct anything from your Patreon earnings.

We are required to add, collect, and remit sales tax and VAT on top of some pledges, but those funds are not counted as ‘profits’ elsewhere.

How do I get paid from Patreon?

When you withdraw your Patreon balance, it usually takes 1-3 business days for it to reach your PayPal or bank account.

Please keep in mind that you can only withdraw money once every 24 hours.

If you try to pay out again during this timeframe, you will receive a message with the precise time and day that you can next payout.

Conclusion

Patreon is the finest method to show your appreciation for your favorite content creators.

They offer numerous advantages, such as unique content, private chats with the artists, and access to patron-only content.

Being a Patreon supporter has numerous advantages. You can also obtain access to patron-only material created by others!

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