a single source, nothing corroborates it

Let supporters pay what they want for the same thing

Several membership prices unlocking identical perks lets people who want to give you more simply give you more, and one very cheap tier can out-earn an elaborate ladder once the audience is large. Access to a private room is a cheaper reward to deliver than more content and converts better. Where output is lumpy, bill per unit of work rather than per month, and publish a funding milestone tied to a specific promise so supporters have a reason to push you past it.

The method

1. 01

   Offer several membership prices that all unlock exactly the same perks, and let the people who want to support you more simply pay more.

2. 02

   A single one dollar tier can out-earn an elaborate pricing ladder once the audience is large enough, so do not assume you need tiers at all.

3. 03

   Bill per unit of work rather than per month when your output is lumpy, so supporters pay for the thing they actually wanted.

4. 04

   Publish a funding milestone tied to a specific promise, so supporters have a concrete reason to push you past it.

5. 05

   Sell access to the room rather than more content: a private chat channel or group is a cheaper reward to deliver and converts better.

What it returned

• $5

  Atlas Obscura runs monthly memberships from $5 to $50 and annual ones from $50 to $500, and its membership FAQ states every member gets identical benefits whatever they pay.

• $40,206

  Jim C. Swim took $40,206 a month from more than 40,000 patrons on one $1 tier, which unlocked 36 videos plus a pair of articles. Pet Foolery reached $13,914 a month from over 13,000 patrons paying $1 each before adding a $5 option.

• $7,485

  Tefler is paid $7,485 per chapter and has reached chapter 162 despite never having written a novel before, which Glen Allsopp notes beats any book advance. Gone with the Wynns take $3,592 or more per video, Citation Needed $3,913 an episode and Opening Arguments $4,385 an episode.

• $25,000

  Fraser Cain committed to stripping every ad from Universe Today at $25,000 a month. Lisa Clough promised a better camera at $7,500 a month. The Bowery Boys committed to 25 episodes a year while holding $3,500 a month. Rancho Relaxo's goals bought a piece of land and the next one funds a barn.

Sources

• 54 of the Biggest Earners on Patreon (And What They're Selling) - Detailed.comGlen Allsopp · detailed.com · Jim C. Swim: $40,206 per month · 2023-01-04
• 20 Successful Blogs And Their Latest 2024 Revenue Numbers - Detailed.comGlen Allsopp · detailed.com · Atlas Obscura : $21M in 2022 Revenue · 2022-01-23