What is Patreon? The Authors Guide to Making Money in 2022

So your podcast audience has skyrocketed, but that sock trendy ad doesn’t quite cover the rent yet. Or maybe you’re tired of social media algorithms hiding your content from even your most loyal followers. Sign in to Patreon, a platform that makes it easy for content creators to monetize their followers online!

With Patreon, users can launch a personalized, subscription-based website in just a few simple steps, allowing creators to offer exclusive content to subscribers and earn a steady monthly income.

Our in-depth Patreon review will help you learn the ins and outs of this platform and determine if becoming a Patreon creator is right for you.

What is Patreon?

Patreon is a membership platform that allows creators to run a subscription service for their content. Instead of creating their own website and payment platform, creators can easily launch a personalized Patreon page in a few steps.

On Patreon, paying followers are called patrons. Each patron pays for exclusive content from the creators.

Patreon launched in 2013 and has over 3 million monthly active visitors and over 185,000 registered creators. As of spring 2021, Patreon was valued at $4 billion.

Creators can offer subscriptions to various services. Popular content formats include:

• Video (38% of creators)
• Letter (17%)
• Audio (14%)
• Photography (6%)

The Patreon app is also available for iOS or Android.

How does Patreon work?

Patreon allows creators to monetize their content by creating paywalls and charging patrons a subscription fee to access their work. This transparent business model is great for creators and patrons alike.

Creators know when their monthly income will be paid and can rely on that income to support their work. Plus, patrons can see exactly how their subscription is supporting a creator and upgrade or cancel their membership with the click of a button.

So what is Patreon used for? Creators can use the Patreon platform for all types of content:

Writers can share short snippets of stories with their Twitter followers. Then, to get readers on their Patreon, they can let them know the full piece is available by subscribing to one of their membership levels.

Source: patreon.com/raxkingisdead

Photographers who post examples of their work on Instagram can use Patreon as a repository for their content. They can also lure visitors by offering special perks such as physical prints of their favorite images.

Source: patreon.com/adamjwilson

Podcasters can easily interact with their listeners on Patreon. The Community tab functions as a message board where visitors can post and chat with other listeners as well as podcast hosts. Patrons can get early access to episodes or get special content like bonus episodes or take a look behind the scenes.

Source: patreon.com/lovetosew

Musicians can post new tracks before their release date or share b-sides and demos with fans.

Source: patreon.com/pdaddyfanclub

Artists and streamers can also use Patreon’s secure private live feature to charge for online performance.

Source: patreon.com/posts/livestream

Overall, Patreon is a great opportunity for new creators to build a community and expand their reach, while established or famous creators can use Patreon to interact with fans in a whole new way.

How much can I earn on Patreon?

The platform is flexible enough to accommodate creators of all subscribers, so the average Patreon income varies.

How much of your existing audience will turn into Patreon subscribers depends on many different factors, including:

• The type of content you are creating
• Privileges you offer patrons
• Membership fee
• Size of your current audience
• Your marketing efforts

Source: blog.patreon.com/figuring-out-how-much-you-might-make-on-patreon

So how much can you expect to earn? We put together a hypothetical example based on an author with 10,000 followers on Instagram (their main social channel).

If that doesn’t sound like much, keep reading. We have tips to help you grow your fan base and earn more on Patreon.

How to create a page on Patreon?

The process of signing up as a Patreon content creator is simple. Go to patreon.com/create to get started:

1: Choose a category that describes your content

You can select up to two categories:

• Podcasts
• Illustration and animation
• Music
• Communities
• Local business (restaurant, yoga studio, playground, etc.)
• Video
• Writing and journalism
• Games and software
• Photo
• Another

2: Does your work contain 18+ themes such as actual or illustrated nudity?

You will need to answer “Yes” or “No” to this question, depending on the type of content you plan to offer.

3: Choose your currency

Patreon offers 14 currencies to choose from, including US dollars, Canadian dollars, euros, pounds sterling, Australian dollars, and more. Your membership will be valued and paid in the currency you choose.

4. Do you want to offer an exclusive product?

For an additional fee, Patreon can handle product manufacturing, worldwide shipping, and support. This question will require you to answer Yes or No in order to continue. You can always choose “No”at this stage and add items to your plan later. (Don’t worry, we’ll discuss this in more detail later)

5. Want to reserve your own URL for your Patreon page?

To do this, you must connect at least one social network account (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or YouTube) so that Patreon can verify your identity as a creator. This will allow you to set a custom URL for your Patreon, such as patreon.com/hootsuite.

Your Patreon page is almost ready to go!

How to set up your page on Patreon?

After you’ve completed the initial setup, the page editor will walk you through a few more steps to set up your page.

Start with the basics

Once you’ve created your Patreon account and verified it via email, you can start building your page.

First give your Patreon page a name, then create a title. Your title should be a short description of your content, telling people what you do, such as “creating weekly podcasts”or “writing an essay.”

Upload images

Next, you will be prompted to upload a profile photo and cover photo. Patreon requires each account to have two photos. Here are the recommended formats:

• Profile picture: 256 pixels by 256 pixels
• Cover image: At least 1600 pixels wide by 400 pixels high.

Write an engaging “About Us”section

Your About Patreon section is the first thing potential patrons will see when they land on your page, so be sure to paint a compelling picture.

A good About Us page will have the following basic structure:

• Introduce yourself. Who are you and what do you do?
• Explain what your Patreon is for. Why do you use Patreon to support your creative career?
• Explain how the funds will be used. How will you use the money you earn from Patreon to keep creating? Patrons value transparency, so be as clear as possible.
• Thank you readers for checking your Patreon. Share your enthusiasm for the future of your work!

You can also insert an image or add an introductory video to this section. Visuals are useful because they allow visitors to see exactly what they will get by subscribing.

Select levels

Start by choosing a fully customizable entry level set based on the type of content you offer (videos, music, podcasts, visual arts, writing, local business, all authors).

Patreon will then recommend starting levels based on your choice. These levels are fully customizable and can be tailored to your preferences.

For example, these are a few recommended levels for illustrators and comics. Patreon has a custom starter kit for every content type.

Decide if you want to offer merch

Patreon can also help you offer exclusive products to your followers.

The platform allows you to customize your items (like stickers, mugs, bags, clothes, and more!) and choose the tiers that exclusive items will receive. Patreon then takes care of manufacturing, shipping, tracking, and support.

Connect your social networks

Linking social media accounts to your Patreon helps verify your identity so your patrons can follow with confidence. You can link Patreon to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Set up payment

As a creator, this is probably one of the most important steps. Let’s make sure you get paid!

You will need to provide the following billing information in order to receive Patreon payouts:

• Payment schedule (monthly or per creation, depending on your plan)
• Your currency
• Payout settings (how you want to receive payouts and tax information)

Select page settings

Almost done! Patreon requires a few more pieces of information to get started.

In this step, you’ll add basic account information, such as your legal name and country of residence. This account information will not be displayed on your public page. You’ll also set a few visual options, such as the color you want to use for links and buttons on your page.

This is also where you determine how transparent you want to be as a creator. You can make your income and number of visitors visible to all page visitors. Patreon recommends making this information public, but it’s up to you.

You will also be asked if your work contains any adult content. Patreon allows adult content on the platform as long as it complies with their terms of use. Just be aware that if your page is tagged as adult content, it won’t show up in Patreon search results.

View your page and then hit the start button!

Congratulations! You have officially launched your Patreon.

Note. Patreon previews your content on startup. Verification usually takes a few minutes, although verification of some materials may take up to 3 days. You can continue editing your page after launch.

What can creators share on Patreon?

You can create the following post types:

Each post type allows you to add tags to it so that visitors can easily search by category (such as “monthly update”or “bonus episode”). You can also choose who can see this post (public, all patrons, or individual levels).

You may have special or urgent content to share with your patrons. In this case, you can create an early access post to allow selected levels to see it before everyone else. You can even add special fees for accessing a specific post if needed.

Extended message types include:

How much does Patreon cost?

For authors

Creating a Patreon account is free for creators, but once creators start making money from Patreon, there is a fee. Creators can expect to be paid out between 5% and 12% of the monthly income they earn on Patreon, depending on their plan type.

At the moment, Patreon has three plans: Lite, Pro, and Premium.

Payment processing fees also apply.

For patrons

Creating a Patreon account is free. However, the monthly subscription fee will vary depending on which creators patrons subscribe to and what level of membership they choose.

Creators set their own structure for membership levels. Some authors charge a flat fee:

Source: patreon.com/katebeaton

Other creators use a tiered pricing structure that offers more perks to visitors who pay higher fees:

Source: patreon.com/lovetosew

Backers can upgrade or downgrade their subscriptions at any time. It’s also pretty easy to cancel if they no longer want to access the content.

How can I make more money on Patreon?

If your Patreon needs a little help getting off the ground, it’s time to get into strategy. Here’s how to increase your income on Patreon using a multi-pronged approach.

Expand your total target audience

Start by focusing on growing your following on other social networks (such as Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, etc.).

If you don’t have a multi-platform presence, now is the time to get started! Expand your marketing strategy to reach as many potential subscribers as possible.

Don’t know where to start? Check out our guide to the latest social media apps and platforms for inspiration.

Increase the percentage of “engaged”subscribers

Create a video or text post to tell your story and make a personal connection with your followers. Explain how maintaining your Patreon page benefits you as a creator, and describe how your Patreon income allows you to create more content or gives you more creative flexibility.

Drive traffic to your Creator Page

Mention your Patreon page everywhere: include a link to your social media biography, use it in a podcast or interview, or include a link in your monthly newsletter or email newsletter. Repetition will help drive traffic, and increased traffic can lead to a higher conversion from a potential subscriber to a buyer.

Use free content to convert traffic into visitors

Free content is a great way to reach potential customers. Give visitors a quick look at your Patreon content so they know what to expect if they become patrons.

Create some public (free) posts to give potential subscribers an idea of ​​the type of content they can expect. You can also run giveaways or special promotions to draw attention (for example, “register before the end of the month to enter the raffle”).

Increase the average value of each visitor by creating more membership levels.

Having multiple membership levels can encourage existing customers to “upgrade”and pay more for their monthly subscription. Create special benefits or rewards tailored to your content type and add value to your patrons. Be sure to distinguish between levels so that visitors can easily see what they’ll get when they upgrade.

Keep learning!

The Patreon poll feature is a great way to get feedback from your loyal customers and understand why they subscribe to your content so you can figure out how to grow your follower base.

The Patreon Blog is a great resource for creators who want to learn more about running and growing a creative business or stay up to date on Patreon updates and new features.