Starting Patreon - luck or matter of time?

[VermillionWorks]

I will just add that Patreon can also take some patience on top of things. My first year with it was slooowww and I considered just dropping the whole thing for a little while there. XP Just avoid jumping ship too quickly if things look bad! But yeah, you definitely have to keep helping it along by mentioning it regularly.

And since Tapastic will be dropping their Support Program soonish, you may start seeing more and more Tapastic supporters moving over to Patreon to support Tapastic artists.

[joannekwan]

I would just stick with it. It takes a while to gain a web presence and those webcomics @shazzbaa listed have been around for a few years plus. Absolutely advertise your work first in as many places as you can (facebook, tumblr, deviantart, instragram, whatever you're on). Be patient and you'll find your audience.

Not sure about what you mean by your subs dropping, like people unsubscribed to it and stopped reading all together because you were offering extras for supporters? Or it could just be something in your story that turned people off, I don't know since I don't have access to your stats and such.

As for my own Patreon, I think most people just want to support me and my work, they're not in it for the extras.

[AffectedMind]

Not sure about what you mean by your subs dropping, like people unsubscribed to it and stopped reading all together because you were offering extras for supporters?

Yup pretty much. I locked the episode using a picture I made since I was on the Patreon and people were like: You thug your fans to pay you to read for one page! (which is not 1 page btw) And the subs were dropping dramatically, at least 20 or more of them left for sure. Unsubscribings happens but you know it's normal if you will lost 1 or 2 a day.
When I was in support program I was locking episode too and everybody was okay, that's why I just post a little banner after the update just like @VermillionWorks or other artists I came across.

[AffectedMind]

Oh okay, thank you ^^ I actually thought, that if it won't move after a year I will quit.

And since Tapastic will be dropping their Support Program soonish, you may start seeing more and more Tapastic supporters moving over to Patreon to support Tapastic artists.

I didn't know, wow, that's some news.
Also why people are hating Patreon? There was even an argument that it looks ugly. It is no argument why the site sucks...

[joannekwan]

Oh jeez, sorry to hear that, sounds like those people were really petty.

[brunoharm3]

I am a little annoyed at the emphasis on rewards for supporters. Mainly because I don't have the extra time to make stuff outside of my comic itself. I'm not trying to make "pay for content" stuff, I just want people to enjoy what I'm doing, and help out if they can. Patreon doesn't want to hear that. They want to hear how you are going to entice people to spend money.

[AffectedMind]

I am a little annoyed at the emphasis on rewards for supporters. Mainly because I don't have the extra time to make stuff outside of my comic itself. I'm not trying to make "pay for content" stuff, I just want people to enjoy what I'm doing, and help out if they can. Patreon doesn't want to hear that. They want to hear how you are going to entice people to spend money.

Dear sir, once again it's not Patreon it's people. Here you had milestone rewards, I didn't use, but my point is, you can set a reward on Patreon saying "Thank you for your support and help, I appreciate that" Many artists have that, and it's just 1$ pledge, they don't offer anything extra. You can do that as well, set a reward, that is not a reward and if people will like your work and want to support you they will pledge this one or more : ) The alternative is set an early access or just sketches from your comic, this way extra time isn't needed. If someone is a hardcore fan he will pledge more for some gadgets, but most people support you because they want to help and they pledge this one symbollic dollar.

[meriamber]

I've been thinking about getting on Patreon for a while, but I don't feel comfortable jumping on. I feel like it's one of those sites where you really need a following first. That's been my main reason for avoiding it. There's a lot of logic in building it up slowly as well, but I think it'll be easier to get people to part with their money if they see you've got a following and there's social proof that other people are willing to give up their money too!

[AffectedMind]

I feel like it's one of those sites where you really need a following first.

I think it's yes and no. Depends on people and advertisment. Someone who's fanbase is 3k for example, can earn on Patreon more than someone with 5k readers/fans. Many of my readers are underage or students, and didn't really ad my Patreon that much. But it certainly takes a lot of time till you start earn money you can spend. Most of artists say average time is 1 year.
And you know, support program is going away. It will be easier to encourage people to migrate to other sites. I don't think you will be able to make a living from ad revenue program, unless Tapastic will think of something else.

[AffectedMind]

@joannekwan @VermillionWorks @shazzbaa Everyone get in here XD
Since I don't really want to start new topic, just to ask one question I will just refresh this topic a bit.
First of, big success on my latest announcement of Patreon, none unsubbed! xD
And second, I try to advertise my Patreon on Tapastic (on my wall), facebook, twitter. The last two have small fanbase for now and announcements from Tapastic don't deliever to everyone. I have this small little banner under every update like @VermillionWorks and few other people, I have a little call for action on my banner and my question is: Should I (from time to time) add a little announcements in the episodes section or it will be too much and just stop on what I'm doing now?

[hannahmcgill]

Even if you only have one follower you must continue to update and interact with that follower. I dropped out of someone's Patreon that I absolutely LOVED because they posted nothing for three months. : ( I assume due to their perception that nobody was interested enough.

I assume that talking to other creators and supporting them makes you look good too.

Also I hear having a video helps oodles, instead of just a static image.

[realSean_Murphy]

It probably takes a matter of time. Start by telling people to check out your series, and if they like it, ask them and see if they would like to support you on Patreon. Getting noticed can be quite hard, but start small and continue from there.

[maripazvillar2004]

You definitely need a following first, the bigger the better. Have in mind that, from the amount of people that are subscribed to your comic, only a... 5%, maybe less? will support you on Patreon or wherever. Among other reasons, most readers are teenagers with no money/Paypal account, so...

[maripazvillar2004]

I did that. Nobody reads the posts, so it's the only way, I guess.

[VermillionWorks]

I don't think it would bother anyone as long as it's just occasionally.
Also, I recommend not watching your sub numbers too closely. I personally never look at that them, that would drive me crazy. XD

[AffectedMind]

You know I don't want to throw wall of text that says: I have Patreon blah blah, this is what you get for support blah blah blah. I would want to do it in more friendly way, like a mini comics that not only tells I have patreon but also explains how it works and why : D
And as I mentioned I have this little banner and I know for sure people always see it, but none really even followed me on Patreon xd

Also, I recommend not watching your sub numbers too closely. I personally never look at that them, that would drive me crazy.

I just watch them when I'm making post about Patreon XD It's so silly, I always imagine this people in front of their screen: What? I need to pay for something? UNSUBSCRIBED! I don't like the story anymore.

[joannekwan]

I've added a little announcement at the end of the first episodes of this month, but I'm not going to repeat them since I feel they would become annoying after a while. I think I'll just add a little Patreon logo to my series banners after the Support Program completely shuts down. I'd rather advertise on my tumblr and reblog an announcement post every month or so.

[AffectedMind]

but I'm not going to repeat them since I feel they would become annoying after a while

Nah, many people do the same and none really pay attention that much, I would say this tiny banners are the most "safe" way to advertise your Patreon. And I think other safe way is tiny mini comedy comics. To show people Patreon is not only a place that gives you money, but gives you more opportunity to make your comics. Who wouldn't want it to be your job? Making comics is my whole lifu! \ovo/

[nobody]

Also I hear having a video helps oodles, instead of just a static image.

Do you mean using a video to present yourself and what you do on Patreon to make people subscribe is better than having just text and images describe it? Or did you mean it helps to sometimes add content that is video based, like...I don't know, speed painting process or something?

I'm not in the process of starting a Patreon right now, but I'm thinking that I might want to later when I start working on bigger comic projects, so I'm trying to take notes on what methods will give the best results. Any information helps!

[hannahmcgill]

A video to present yourself and your project is what I mean. Something that explains where the funds go, at least.

Any kind of content helps too, people like seeing activity.