Creating content isn't as lucrative as it used to be, but Patreon wants to help creators convert free subscribers into paying members.
Patreon is changing
In a blog post on Tuesday, Patreon announced a number of new features coming to the platform that it hopes will help content creators grow their free membership base and convert it into paying subscribers. Two of the features, a new way to publish your work and the ability to grow your community, are designed to help you create and grow the connections you make with fans. There are also a number of planned improvements that are more business-specific.
According to the blog post, creators have gained 30 million new followers since Patreon created free memberships, and “more than half of all free members (52%) say they’re interested in upgrading to a paid option.” Those interested in upgrading to a paid membership, of course, tend to be the most active and engaged in their chosen communities.
To capitalize on this, Patreon plans to introduce a system for dropping new content, with a countdown clock and a live chat that you can share with your fans (both paid and free). The company also plans to open community chats to all members, and offer options to share posts with only free members or only paying members.
