I mentioned this in an unrelated thread, but I want to mention it in its own topic.
Every once in a while, I search Patreon for people who are doing something similar to what I’m doing.
Then I approach the person about a content trade. I’ll post something of theirs exclusively to my patrons. (Something they’ve already offered to their patrons.) And they can post something from my Patreon archive exclusively for their patrons.
(This works best with exclusive content — something that folks can’t get outside of Patreon.)
It’s a win-win.
We both get content that we think our patrons will enjoy. We both get an opportunity to expose our work to the people pledging to the other person.
I know the fear. “They’ll like the other person better, and ditch me in favor of them.”
I can tell you from experience, I get a lot of new pledges who are continuing their pledge to the other person. (I know, because I always click that button to see who else they’re supporting.) For me, it has been a “rising tide lifts all boats ” situation.
As proof, I recently polled my backers asking them how they found out about my Patreon. (And a link to the ongoing poll is included in my welcome material.) Those content exchanges are the third-most-popular — after the site itself (Evil Inc) and Patreon discovery.
I can’t recommend this strategy strongly enough — especially if you’re doing exclusive content.
