Making Patreon Work 🤔

Community Inspiration
21

Huh.

Well, I guess I’ll find out what happens. So far, it’s an awesome idea and I hope someone signs up so I can SEE IT IN ACTION.

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22

This recent Patreon blog post was a fun read because I hear more and more stories of YouTube creators losing the ability to earn from the YouTube ads program.

YouTube exists to make money and they’d be smart to empower their users to earn in a reliable way, but from my observation, seems like that’s becoming less and less a reliable option.

It’s always best to “own your list”, but sites that exist to fund creators like Patreon are fantastic because they are built to make money for their users, not the other way around.

Here’s that link again to the blog post: https://blog.patreon.com/monetization-strategies-bitcoin-pub/

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23

YouTube makes me money just fine.
And my YT income is growing leaps and bounds over what I make on Patreon. And it’s because people have an easier time sitting through adverts than shelling out money every month.

I think the problem with YT is the exact same problem that Patreon has - they both promote and support their biggest, baddest and best earners.

Before we go and blast YT for ‘not making us money’ I could say the same thing about Patreon.
How long have creators been asking for a real search function? And we still don’t have one?

This is great for inspiration and all. But Patreon, you guys are doing the same thing as YT.
It’s difficult for anyone first starting out to make any headway when you’re basically undiscoverable until you’re making 4 digits or more.

So, we can complain about YT and be inspired that Patreon lets us earn on our creations. But it could be so much better.

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24

I think you bring up a good point here about it YT working for many: from my viewpoint, the stories of YT income not working out tend to be more public than the examples of it working out and never being publicized.

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25

It’s almost always from new channels that have yet to be vetted.
If you’re creating content, or you plan to, set up a YT account immediately. It takes some time before you’re approved as an advertising partner, so get your channel set up ASAP even if you have no content.

This is largely a problem for channels that grow exponentially, and very quickly.
Then the creators get upset because YT hasn’t approved their partnership quickly enough. Which results in very vocal complaints. But this is a small sliver of the YT creators, and certainly a very small section of the community that succeeds so rapidly.

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26

Thanks @andrewnicoletta for the notes! LMK if you have any questions!

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27

FWIW, I had a very successful show run for two years on YT and…

I have not seen a DIME from them since 2016. Not a dime.

I think it’s perfectly fair to blast YouTube for not supporting middle-class creators. YouTube sucks.

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29

Like you said… “Wow.”

30

There is absolutely no need to be like this. If this information didn’t help you, then try looking elsewhere at other people’s experiences and perspectives and find something that works for you. Giving someone flack over their attempt to help others because they may have some advice or tips to share is extremely rude. Some of this information does help other people so don’t discredit the poster like you are the speaker for all.

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31

Actually I think I’m doing a service here to the community. You see, I don’t believe the poster had an intention of helping. It was just a brag fest on top of just “here’s my story” type of thing. There is really no attempt to help others.

32

There are other people here who didn’t find it useful (and many who did), but you’re the only one being an uncivilised self-inflated jackass about it. Do shut up and move on.

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33

If anything, this shows you what market to tap - investors.

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34

Looking at your channel Kate, I think it’s because of the average number of views on your videos.
An average of 200 views or less (based on what I saw) won’t make you even pennies.

I get around 1-2k views per week, maybe more, and it pays, with more steady and solid growth than Patreon. Perhaps share the videos around a bit more?
I’m not sure what to say, aside from in the same amount of time as you (2 years) I have quadrupled my income on YT in that time. However, I share my videos on every social media platform, and several specialized forums and sites having to do with what I do.

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35

I have been on YouTube for a very long time and have no interest in continuing to be on YouTube. I had a very successful show but it still didn’t make me nearly the amount that it should have made me. YouTube is a garbage platform.

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36

“Shut up, jackass” is so much better and classier than my original post LOL

37

I certainly agree.
But what other free options are there?
That’s really what’s garbage - that Google can monopolize such a thing.

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38

It certainly is. Nothing classy about spouting manure and pretending it’s "service to the community”.

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39

For vloggers? Nothing.

For filmmakers, Amazon is marginally better with payouts.

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40

Patreon’s latest blog post is on topic to our discussion here: https://blog.patreon.com/youtube-and-patreon-suede/. Took some time to translate his YT audience to Patrons but at least in this example, the earning potential is unmatched.

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41

Thanks you, this post is usefull :slight_smile:

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