Content creation is a generally new and budding market, one that’s drawn heavy interest from the youth entering the workforce. While the demand for entertainment and content reaches a new peak every single day, as a new labor department, the world is still figuring out how to best generate content, disperse it, and compensate creators for the content that they put out.
Making a living as a content creator
There are tons of different avenues for an aspiring content creator to take, across several different types of mediums. For videographers, there are Snapchat, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other platforms in which a person can earn money based on the engagement they acquire from fans and viewers. Each site has its own pay structure, but generally, the amount that one earns is based on how their content performs.
The same goes for writers on sites such as FanSided, Medium, and other blogs. Twitter recently announced ad revenue sharing for its top users, as well. Podcasting and music also work this way on streaming services such as Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, where each individual artist, creator, and band earns money depending on how many listens they accumulate.
Consistent revenue difficult to find as a content creator
Of course, it can be difficult for a content creator just starting out to rely on this kind of revenue stream solely, as it can vary wildly from day to day for someone who doesn’t have a strong, consistent fanbase to ensure that they’ll earn enough to support themselves and their families. These revenue-sharing pay structures can even be predatory depending on the platform, as the sites can profit off of the labor of their creators without paying a dime out of pocket to support them.
As such, creators tend to seek different sources of income for their work to support themselves, and one of the most popular options for doing so is Patreon. For those asking what Patreon is, the site describes itself as [a place that] lets creators sell digital products directly to you, their most valuable fans. However, the model has also enriched content creators who are already in the public sphere, with rappers such as Joe Budden taking to their platform to crowdfund their artistry.
How Patreon benefits content creators
More specifically, Patreon allows content creators to offer a subscription-based platform for them to upload all different types of intellectual properties, whether it be podcasts, videos, articles, and even music. Patreon allows creators to venture into various mediums and upload them into one space for their fans to access and enjoy. The growth of the platform has also led to a number of Patreon affiliate services, such as Fanscout, that pop up, which in turn generate further organic visitors without Patreon having to do any advertising themselves.
Not only does Patreon offer more versatility for its creators, it also gives them a better sense of financial security, as they can better estimate the amount of income that they’ll generate on Patron as opposed to other platforms. As Patreon is a subscription-based model, each creator can track the number of subscribers they have month to month and accurately calculate how much money they’ll receive from their fans each month, regardless if they actually listen to, watch, or read their work.
Creators on Patreon can also offer different subscription levels and exclusive content to those who pledge higher amounts. This enables them to draw fans and audiences from their work on other platforms while giving a strong incentive to subscribe. Patreon also gives creators’ fans and their staunchest supporters a way to contribute to their favorite talents directly and many subscribers pledge money as a donation.
It’s no surprise that more and more creators are joining the Patreon bandwagon with the financial security it offers, as well as the flexibility it gives its talent. Any writer, podcaster, or videographer that has accumulated a solid fanbase would be wise to offer a subscription on Patreon and develop a more stable source of income for themselves. With Patreon taking as little as 5 percent of its creators’ revenue, they can earn much more with even a modest subscriber base than they would on other platforms.