Hi Peridot…
I took a look at you Patreon page. You might want to throw a link up here in this thread so people can do that easily.
I’ve got a few comments for you, but keep in mind they are just comments and do not represent any sort of authority on my part. They’re just things I thought about while looking at what you do have there. (I’m aware you are in the middle of another readjustment of things.)
First, you could do yourself a favor by simplifying your pledge levels. Right now you have 5 of them and four of them seem to be including physical items. Several with multiple choices. This seems, to me, like a lot of work on your part to fulfill all these rewards. I would suggest you reduce that to maybe three, four at the outside, pledge levels. In general $1, $5, $10 (and maybe $20) seems like the way most folks go. Of those, maybe only the $10 (and $20) yield physical rewards of some sort which should be specific to each pledge level. This will reduce confusion over choice and make it easier for you to fulfill the rewards. Also, you may wish to include language indicating that one must be a supporter at that level for a number of months (about 3 I would think) before they are eligible to receive a physical reward.
Additionally, forget the pledge-for-pledge and affiliation thing. You can still do that if you want, but I wouldn’t talk about it right there in the pledge. Also, it’s worth considering if this is really worth doing. I would think it would be better to try to talk family and/or friends into backing you for at least a little while until the ball gets rolling. Additionally, that sort of thing is really only ‘valuable’ if you already have a big audience that people will want access to in some way. Probably best not to even worry about it. Instead, just offer the usual $1 patron awards and let it go at that. People pretty much expect that and it won’t do you any harm.
Spell check everything. Catch as many errors in language and spelling as you can. Put up sharp and clear pictures, as good as you can get them, to showcase your work. This will help encourage people to support you by letting them know you are at least mildly competent and serious about what you are doing.
Remember that you are ASKING for support. Not BEGGING for money. There is a vast difference in tone and style between these two things and your Patreon should reflect that. Your ‘job’ when you write your Patreon blurb is to convince people you are good enough to support, not sad enough to help. (And I don’t mean that as a slight in any way, just that it is the sort of tone your blurb should take).
As for your goals, consider rewriting them so they explain HOW meeting that goal will help you be better/do more/etc.
For example, your first goal of paying your volunteers, consider how the following sounds vs. what you have now: “At $150 I will be able to pay my two volunteers a small, regular amount as they continue to help me They are very kind people who make making my art easier and they deserve a reward for their efforts.” Basically just explain why these goals are important, what they will help you do (make better art? Make different art? Work towards a dream?) and what, if any, benefit to your supporters it represents. The idea here is to convey that you do X and by supporting you they can help you do X even better.
On the backside, you’ve got that thank you message that goes out, right? Why not include in that a one time discount code for one item from your store that supporters can use. (Go ahead and mention that on your one dollar pledge tier). It doesn’t have to be much, say 10% or so, but since you deal primarily in physical items, this can help incentivise things for supporters even at non-physical-reward tiers. I wouldn’t mind getting a small discount in exchange for a monthly dollar of support, and I suspect others would like it too.
Once you’ve done all that and you’ve got it all in place and you’ve maybe got some friends and family to jump onboard at least long enough to help get you started, advertise. I don’t mean take out ads (though you could if you have the wherewithal to do so), I mean tell everyone everywhere you can about your new Patreon, what it does, what they get out of it, and how it helps you. It doesn’t even have to be that intense. The idea is to say hey, here’s what I do and here’s a neat way you can get involved. Once a week facebook posts, occasional messages on Twitter. Instagram, whatever. Get the word out there. Let people know on your Etsy page. “Hey, if you’d like 10% off your next item, head over to my Patreon and become a supporter for as little as $1 a month.” It’s worth the effort if it brings in even one more person. Be nice about it, don’t be too pushy.
Some ideas for additional patron rewards and occasional niceties: Can you write 500 - 1000 words explaining how to do something related to your art? It doesn’t have to be major, maybe just explain a little technique, or a trick you’ve worked out, or a reliable way to do something. People enjoy those sorts of ‘insider looks’. Can you talk about inspirations for pieces you’ve made or why you made a thing a certain way? Recording audio is fairly easy anymore, and posting 5 or 10 minutes of you talking about your art is a great way to engage people in what you do. If you write things down and then speak them into a recording, you’ll have something you can post to your patrons that will take little effort to produce or edit and makes them feel like they know a little bit more about you and your art. Since providing physical rewards can be expensive, time intensive, and demanding, finding other rewards to give will make your Patreon seem worthwhile even to those who maybe don’t want a thing, but just want to help.
Also, it seems like you have a unique challenge making art that others do not. Perhaps opening up and discussing that a bit and how it affects or informs what you do (if they do) or how you overcome those challenges (if any) would be a way to go in terms of rewards for patrons. You’ve got a story to tell. If you are comfortable doing so, people will be interested in hearing you tell it. Again, not playing for sympathy or begging for support, but just being open and honest about what life is like for you, how you’ve met your challenges, and what that brings to your work.I’m interested in it myself, so it’s reasonable to assume others will be as well.
I hope this helps you. The basic intent for you seems as if it will be showing your competence, explaining what the support will do for you, and engaging with your supporters.
You can do it.
Good luck, and have fun.
