Do you utilize Patreon for your websites?

[Ravenfreak]

Patreon is probably the most popular subscription platform that's used by many Youtubers. Do you use Patreon for your websites? If so, does it work better than placing ads on your forum? I know adsense only pays out if you get a number of visitors and that can be quite difficult to achieve on forums these days.

 

[Tracy]

One is going to have to have some REALLY coherent and concise data to really perform well. I know several bourbon/whiskey YouTube channels that do well.. in fact one of them so well they were able to build their own distillery based upon their Patreon channel/users.
Me personally.. my information at my site is provided free of charge.

 

[Arantor]

I know a few YouTubers that basically make a living out of it via Patreon and it's not 'super coherent' (in one case it's a rant comedian, multiple others are video game commentators in their own way), but the premise is quite straightforward: they have channels, they build communities around their channels by way of their personality and the Patreon is the net reward for doing it.

Me personally, though, I've not done the Patreon mostly because historically I've given away my time, software, knowledge etc. for free.

 

[Tracy]

(in one case it's a rant comedian, multiple others are video game commentators in their own way)

but both utilize a coherent methodology of delivery... even the "rant comedian".
That's my point, they are fairly consistent in their delivery of information. If your "rant comedian" suddenly went to giving serious news on topics at unexpected times, or something like that, their "amusing" factor would drop, as would their traffic.

 

[Nomad]

I have never used Patreon, let alone using it on blogs. When I was new to blogging, I added PayPal/crypto donate button and I received donations which I used for site maintenance. I am not sure if I can actually have paid subscription for my blogs.

 

[Arantor]

That's my point, they are fairly consistent in their delivery of information.

Ah, I see what you mean in terms of coherence; I was thinking about the channels that do things a bit differently but still have a whole lot of audience.

What I do find interesting, though, are some of the conversations I've had with the rant comedian on his Discord about Patreon - he's always so surprised when he hears how little other Patreon creators engage, like he's out there putting out content twice a week sometimes more (but always pretty consistently so), and engages with folks both on Patreon and Discord, but other creators might not put out content for a month at a time, and he's always so confused by this. He takes the view that 'well, if they're giving me money, the least I can do is say hi'.

 

[Jason]

I have looked into it for my drumming site. However, despite quality content, it's very tough to reach a crowd of middle class or rich patrons of the arts. That's a battle I keep fighting.