Patreon is an incredible platform that allows you to earn an income from your fanbase or supporters. The first Patreon is the hardest to get. Then, the second. Then, the third. Those first 30 or so Patreon’s are likely going to be the hardest that you have to work for. It’s well known that people like to support successful things and that numbers grow numbers. Most likely, you are pursuing your passion and wondering how to get more Patreons….you’re ready to start earning that income!

I published a book about my journey growing and monetising an online community. I also interviewed other community leaders for their top tips. Grab a copy of Gather here!

This is the second in a 3-part series on how to make a significant income using Patreon. In this post, I’ll be covering my top tips on how to get more Patreon supporters to sign up to your page. You’ll also want to check out:

• How to make money on Patreon 
• Top tips & advice from Patreon creators.

How I passed $1,000 a month on Patreon….

I’m Bex Band, an adventure blogger and founder of the women’s adventure community Love Her Wild. My passion became my full-time job!

Starting a Patreon page – which supports my Love Her Wild community – was one of the best things I ever did. Now, with over 200+ Patron’s, it remains one of my biggest and most regular sources of income. (You can see my Patreon page here).

It wasn’t an easy journey to get where I am today, but it really was worth the effort. I’m now my own boss – working remotely anywhere in the world and completely choosing my own hours. Most importantly, though, I wake up every day and get to do something I love.

I actually published a book about my journey with all my top tips on how I grew a community and then monetised (including more details on how I launched a Patreon page). While this blog post will give you an overview, I’d really suggest grabbing a copy of my book, Gather, if you are serious about making a living from your fanbase.

Make sure you also follow me on Facebook and Instagram.

So now on to my top 9 tips…..how do you get more Patreon supporters?

#1 Never ask directly

Usually, if I were advising on promoting something or selling a product, I’d say to send out emails, contact friends and don’t be embarrassed to ask or sell directly. Patreon is different, though. I think it only works because supporters make the decision themselves, pressure-free, to sign up and then to continue that support.

For a lot of supporters, it can feel like they are doing a good thing. Supporting someone they admire and want to help out. If you sell directly, then you are taking away from that.

#2 Mention your Patreon page everywhere

Not approaching people directly doesn’t mean you shouldn’t mention your Patreon page on every source available. Promoting the page means getting it out there and being seen time and time again by your followers. Remember that new followers are finding you all the time, so even if you feel like you’ve mentioned Patreon 100 times this year already, for some, they will be hearing it for the first time.

Add a link to the bottom of your email signature, post it on all social media platforms and mention it in newsletters regularly. Mention it at the end of vlogs or in podcasts you produce.

Via Patreon, there is an option to get a logo that will link directly to your page. Put this on your website and at the bottom of blog posts.

Many marketers believe that people need to see something an average of 7 times before they buy or sign up for something, so your approach should be widespread repetitive cover rather than just a one-off.

#3 Use different content

Don’t keep using the same wording each time you plug Patreon. Instead, try using different approaches to tap into the various reasons people might sign up. Here are some approaches I have taken…

• Describing Patreon as the equivalent of buying me a coffee each month
• Explaining how it will directly support the work I am doing (helping more women to get outdoors), even getting testimonials from those it has helped so it’s not just my voice being heard
• Focusing on the benefits to Patreons (like exclusive discounts and giveaways)
• Listing the pressure-free setup of Patreon – no obligation, cancel at any time, etc
• Thanking existing Patreon’s – showing how they are special and important to me so others might want to be part of that

In addition to this make sure you use different images, varying lengths of text and also try video to be more engaging.

#4 Make it personal

Patreon is a really personal thing. It is someone directly supporting you. So, make sure your responses are equally personal.

I write the names of my Patreon’s on the inside of my diary so I see them every day, and I share this on my social media platforms. It’s my way of showing how important they are to me.

Is there something you could do to show your Patreons how much they mean to you?

#5 Use incentives for new sign-ups

People often need an incentive to sign up for things. If there is no deadline, then it can become that thing that gets continually put off. I get loads of people saying, ‘oh I’ve been meaning to sign up for ages’.

Occasionally, I run a special promotion and give a gift or exclusive offer for any new Patreon signing up. This always works really well.

One thing I will mention is the leaving rate of Patreon’s who signed up with an incentive seems to be higher, so it’s worth bearing this in mind. On balance, though, I end up with more Patreon’s and increased income, so it’s worth it.

#6 Giveaways are great

Running giveaways also provides you with a deadline and an incentive for new Patreon’s to sign up.

All my giveaways are provided free of charge by relevant companies who are just happy to have exposure through my social media channels. It’s literally a case of just contacting a company and asking if they’d provide a prize. I always mention that in exchange, I’ll do a tag and photo on my social media channels and explain how much their reach will be. Never ask for just one prize though….I usually ask (depending on how big the prize is) for 3-10 so I always have a bank of prizes ready to go.

I try to run a giveaway once a month. When it’s a really exciting prize, I promote this saying ‘sign up before the end of the month to be in the prize draw’.

#7 Build a community

Communities are such valuable things. I think it’s nice to create a private space online just for your Patreon’s so you can share things exclusively or run tolls so they feel more involved in the behind-the-scenes of what you do. Facebook groups are the most effective for this.

#8 Keep that gratitude

When you get a new Patreon sign up, it’s important to send them a personal email or message to say thank you. I think it can be easy to lose that gratitude so think of ways you can maintain that sense that they are important. A follow-up email down the line just to remind them you are still grateful is a nice touch.

All this needs to be genuine. It’s important to remind yourself how valuable your Patreon’s are in making your goal or dream a reality. Think…..how can you show them this?

#9 Tap into your existing supporters

Don’t be afraid to ask your existing Patreon’s for their opinions and insight. Ask them what motivated them to sign up or what you could be doing more to make them feel valued. This is much better than just second-guessing.

They will know better than anyone else what it is that enticed them to sign up and what they wish they were getting that you aren’t already doing.

Check out my advice video for growing Patreon’s:

Final Tips for Get more Patrons on Patreon…

As I mentioned in the beginning, growing your Patreon page can feel like a slow process. Keeping positive is key to reaching your target!

If things aren’t working, don’t just give up. Instead, look for more creative ways that you might be able to get sign-ups.

Useful resources to help you with Patreon:

• Grab a copy of my book, Gather, for a full breakdown on how to grow an online community and monetise your audience. It’s packed full of ideas and inspiration!
• Patreon has a load of resources available and also sometimes do meet-ups, events and online webinars to update creators and provide tips
• 75% of Patreon supporters sign up from a social media page….so having a bigger following will lead to more supporters! Check out my tips for growing your social media following
• I’ll mention it again, The Art of Asking is a fantastic book that all Patreon creators should read!
• Another post you might find helpful is How to be a successful blogger
• Read the other articles in my Patreon series: How to make money on Patreon and also Top tips & advice from Patreon creators

I hope these tips on how to get more Patreons have been useful. Do check out my own personal Patreon page and if you have any questions, ask away in the comments box below.

You can stay updated with my adventures and advice on Facebook and Instagram. Or you can subscribe to my YouTube channel. I give all my advice for free on my website. If you want to say thanks, you can buy me a coffee.

Gooid luck growing your Patreon community! 🙂