Patreon is a platform where creators can get paid to create content. With so many people using Patreon, it’s becoming increasingly popular for artists and musicians to use the service as a way of generating income from their art without having to put in too much effort. In this article, we’ll outline how you can start your own business on Patreon!
Patreon is a platform for artists, creators, and businesses to receive monthly donations from their fans. This article will show you how to use Patreon as a patron.
When looking for advice on how to earn money from your interests or how to establish a company from home, you’ll frequently come across the same solutions: create a service business, give your talents as a consultant, sell items on Ebay, and so on.
Today, the internet is a mishmash of both helpful and totally worthless advice, due in large part to a well-intentioned, if sometimes spammy “content marketing” trend, with everyone jumping on the bandwagon to give their two cents. It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack to find anything fresh and actionable.
That’s why it’s worth looking into when you come across something excellent – something unusual. A website called Patreon is what I’m going to speak to you about.
It’s a site that excites me for much more than selfish reasons, in that it ushers in a movement that was successful in the days of kings, queens, and the Royal Court—a return to the days when artists were paid by patrons to create works of art.
This platform is likely to be a treasure for anybody who wants to produce on a regular basis and connect with others who support their efforts. Patreon is the place to be if you have a passion or talent that you think people would pay you to pursue—singing, writing, painting, acting, etc.
What is Patreon? It’s the simplest way to have your passion pay you.
Simply stated, Patreon is a continuous Kickstarter campaign with one major difference: instead of being paid once per project, artists or creators are paid on an ongoing basis by their patrons (you, me, or whomever joins up as a patron).
Patreon promotes itself as a creator-focused financing platform. There simply isn’t a better way to put it.
The firm’s name is made up of two words:
- A patron is a person who contributes money or other resources to a cause.
- Eon – a term that refers to an indefinite or very long span of time, and is often employed rhetorically, as it is here.
These phrases come together to form the term Patreon, which refers to a person who donates money to an artist or a group of creators on a regular basis.
Patronage in the past
If you recognize the word “patron,” you probably remember it from a history or literature lesson. In Europe, monarchs, queens, the nobility, and members of the Royal Court were often patrons of the arts, giving financial assistance in return for the prestige that such gifts typically conferred on painters, musicians, poets, sculptors, and other such creative people. Patrons often utilized these contributions to further their own social positions or political aspirations.
During the Renaissance, Sandro Botticelli was a well-known Italian painter. The strong Medici family backed and supported Botticelli.
Patronage, in fact, can be traced back to the Ancient Romans if you do your homework. It looked a bit different back then, but the goal of endorsement remained the same.
Patreon has done a fantastic job of capitalizing on this tried-and-true strategy. Their mission statement is clearly stated on their website today:
Image courtesy of Patreon
Is it worth your time to support Patreon?
Patreon CEO and cofounder Jack Conte describes the platform as “a return to the ancient concept of patronage, with greater reach and influence than ever before” in a recent email to members.
Patreon fans currently pay approximately $2 million per month to Patreon creators on a monthly basis.
And, considering that they’ve been profitable from the start and just received $15 million in Series A financing from high-profile investors like Alexis Ohanian, Danny Rimmer, Joshua Reeves, Sam Altman, and David Marcus, the company’s future seems bright.
Is it worthwhile to spend your time on this website? Yes, according to their CrunchBase profile!
To add to the confusion, Patreon is partnering with Subbable this summer, so things are likely to grow much larger. You can read more about it here, but the good news is that Subbable is in charge of the transition, so if you get set up on Patreon now, you won’t have to worry about things breaking down later.
Patreon’s Workings
A snapshot from the Patreon page of artist Ben J Adams.
When you sign up to become a Patreonpatron, or simply a “Patreon,” you commit to tip an artist a certain amount—$1, $5, $20, etc.—every time they produce new material, whether it’s a song, a video, a poem, or an artwork.
Because you pay “per creation,” you may establish a monthly limit budget if you’re concerned about an artist producing too much. This way, you’ll never be out of money. It’s truly that easy. All you have to do now is decide how much you want to pay the author, submit your payment information, and wait for the material to arrive.
One of the perks of being a Patreon supporter is having direct access to an artist’s “stream,” where you can interact with them and see material that non-patrons won’t see.
Creators offer extra Patreon packages in return for your support. Monthly Google Hangouts, music production lessons, pre-sale concert tickets, coffee with the artist in your town whenever they’re in town, an exclusive video course on how to construct a classical guitar, or anything else they can give as a thank you.
While Patreon does not charge donors, it does take a 5% commission from creators, and the creator is responsible for paying the patron’s credit card processing cost each contribution, which is often about 4%.
That implies that, on average, a creator will see 90% of the money they earn from their supporter. It’s not bad.
If you’re concerned about the details, visit Patreon’s thorough FAQ page to learn more.
Who is Patreon for, exactly?
Well, it all depends on your level of creativity. The true issue is whether or not you do something that people would pay you to do again. Are you, for example, an artist or a video producer? Would you be able to finance your works with that kind of continuous support?
Musicians, youtubers, writers, bloggers, photographers, animators, authors, podcasters, video producers, fashionistas, indie games, online comic artists, and even individuals who make jewelry may all benefit from Patreon, though you’ll have to be a little more creative if that’s your aim. Perhaps allow your audience to have a say in your work?
Why should you become a Patreon supporter?
There are many advantages for creators:
- You’ll get paid on a regular basis, allowing you to continue doing the job you like.
- Through the activity stream, you may interact with your top fans and—followersthe individuals who really believe in—you.
- You have the opportunity to thank people who support you by offering incentives based on how much a patron supports.
- You provide a chance for individuals who love art to give back to you!
There are many more reasons to support the arts on Patreon:
- You have the chance to personally support and sometimes even influence the work of your favorite artists.
- You have the opportunity to view things before anybody else in the world or on the internet.
- You motivate and enable artists to work full-time on their projects.
- The creators you sponsor reward you with prizes. The prizes vary based on what a creator believes they have to give — handwritten lyrics, a video showing how they created it, a mail-in trinket, and so on.
Whether you join the platform to become a creator or a patron, the reality is that you’ll be joining a community of creators and those who want to support them. It’s a very upbeat and enthusiastic atmosphere that allows anybody with a voice to make a career doing what they love.
How to Create a Successful Patreon Campaign
If you don’t want to listen to my explanations, sign up for the site. The explanation videos are fantastic (and super short). The best practices video may be found here, but I’ve also summarized it below.
Step 1: Create a vlog and post it on your Patreon page. Are you unfamiliar with the terms? A vlog is a video blog, which is essentially a short video explanation of what Patreon is and why you’re running a campaign by you. That’s straight counsel from CEO Jack Conte, and it’s good advice given the platform’s continued success. Use Patreon’s if you’re searching for the words. Explain to your audience that the website is essentially a running Kickstarter project. Tell them they may establish a monthly maximum budget if you’re feeling really inspired and decide to make 100 items in a month. After all, not everyone will want to contribute to that!
To get you started, here’s a fantastic explanatory video example from comic artist Zach Weinersmith:
Step 2: Complete your profile, or as Tony puts it, “blah blah blah.” The point is, this is very critical. It’s your site’s byline, and it explains exactly what someone will receive if they join a Patreon.
Here’s one I’m working on right now:
Step 3: Let others know you’re on Patreon! Hello, and welcome to marketing 101. It’s almost impossible to develop a product without promoting it. Even well-known businesses that release similar goods must continue to promote them. After all, if something is out of sight, it is out of mind. You should promote yourself all over the place.
Ask for help and be upfront and honest. Tell them that your material is still free and that you are not charging for it. You’re just requesting their help. Tell them a little bit about what they’ll receive in exchange for their help. Some of the individuals here are extremely inventive!
Step 4: It’s all about the activity stream. It’s where you can interact with your customers, speak to your followers, and keep people interested in what you’re doing. Patreon features its own activity stream, as well as a separate profile page. Examine theirs, and if all else fails, join someone else’s Patreon to see what they’re up to in their own feed. Isn’t a $1 a month well worth the risk?
The Patreon activity feed
Who is the person behind the website?
Jack Conte and Sam Yam, co-founders, in San Francisco.
Watch the Patreon business video if you don’t already understand the idea. Seriously. It’s really funny.
Jack Conte and Sam Yam, cofounders of Patreon, established the company in May 2013 in San Francisco. According to their CrunchBase page, they have raised $17.1 million in financing as of today.
You may locate them on Twitter @patreon, or send them an email via their Patreon activity stream.
Is this the kind of ‘actionable’ content you like reading? Please let us know so we can provide you with more of the good things and hopefully none of the bad stuff – ever!
Patreon is a website that allows people to create a page where they can share their work with the world. You can also use Patreon to start a business from home. Reference: how to use patreon for youtube.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I start a business on Patreon?
A: You start your Patreon by going to a website like www.patreon.com and creating an account, which takes just a few minutes of time
Do I need a business license to use Patreon?
A: No, you do not need a business license to use Patreon.
Can an LLC use Patreon?
Related Tags
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