17 Rewards for Group Leaders to Provide Their Members on Patreon

Trying to reward your neighborhood for the help they offer you? Advantages supplied by neighborhood leaders differ drastically relying on the neighborhood, which is sensible: In spite of everything, the dynamic behind a non-profit group is hardly the identical as what motivates a cryptocurrency neighborhood.

Even so, we’ve seen 17 advantages that crop up continuously within the communities that use Patreon as a hub for gathering pledges and fostering tight-knit relationships. However, due to the range of neighborhood varieties and management kinds, not each profit will encourage your viewers or be cheap so that you can pursue. It’s as much as you to determine what advantages combine is the perfect for you and your viewers.

For those who’d like additional sources on the subject of advantages, you possibly can learn our articles on reward classes and our launch information for once you’re prepared to begin planning.

1. Unique Group Entry

What do your followers all have in widespread? You, and the hobbies or pursuits that prompted them to search out and comply with you. These shared pursuits imply you don’t should do all of the heavy lifting in your neighborhood. Typically, your followers are desperate to alternate information and help one another. That’s why entry to an unique neighborhood is without doubt one of the hottest advantages supplied by neighborhood leaders.

Many creators supply full neighborhood entry to their patrons, whereas others create teams based mostly on help tiers. As a frontrunner, you possibly can select from a variety of platforms that assist you to keep personal communities.

The World Anvil neighborhood gathers on Discord to collaborate, reply questions, and easily hang around. 

You possibly can supply a sequence of chat rooms as a profit to your patrons utilizing the Patreon Discord integration.

Or, you would supply a web based discussion board as a profit like MCrider does to handle discussions and studying supplies for over 2,000 patrons. He makes use of the Patreon Discourse integration to maintain monitor of patrons’ entry ranges mechanically. Patrons on the $3/mo tier acquire entry to his discipline information; full entry to the boards begins at $5/mo.

Or, you would possibly arrange a patrons-only Fb group like Autistic Not Bizarre. Whereas all his followers can entry Autistic Not Bizarre’s Fb web page, solely patrons can entry the group, which he described as “the friendliest place I’ve ever seen on the Web.”

2. Snail Mail

In case you have 500 patrons, it’s not sensible to ship thank-you playing cards or handwritten notes to all of them — at the least, not on a recurring foundation. Some neighborhood leaders ship out thank-you playing cards to new patrons solely; others ship handwritten notes each month to their most devoted supporters.

It’s value contemplating who you need to ship mail to and at which tier these advantages begin.

Tracey Pizzo Frey posted an image of her daughter analyzing #trailmail that they acquired from BraverMountain.

For instance, Rancho Relaxo begins sending one vacation card per 12 months to $25/mo supporters; Barn Sanctuary does the identical beginning at $50/mo. BraverMountain sends postcards from their travels at varied intervals all year long to all $10+/mo supporters. The husband and spouse duo behind Paranormal Scholar ship handwritten mail to say due to their $25/mo patrons. And the Kyrgyz Area Program sends $16+/mo supporters postcards signed by the women of their program who’re engaged on Kyrgyzstan’s first satellite tv for pc.

3. The VIP Expertise

What would you do for a patron who helps you past your expectations? Some neighborhood leaders present an in-person go to, a enjoyable time for the patron plus just a few buddies, or one-on-one time through a livestream utility.

However weighing the worth you’re providing and the time it will take you towards the tier pledge required is a problem. What’s the magic quantity for you? Would your patrons get their reward straight away, or would you launch rewards on an anniversary?

For Rancho Relaxo, somebody who helps the animal rescue at $250/mo is entitled to a once-per-year meet and greet with the animals. As much as 5 buddies can tag alongside. GameAttack affords a personal sport session for $125/mo patrons. Patrons on the $30/mo stage have the possibility to be on-set extras when Wong Fu Productions is filming (however are answerable for their very own transportation). $50/mo will get you entry to an unique Discord and the power to have one-on-one conversations with AutismFather, who runs a Minecraft server secure for kids with autism.

4. Behind-the-Scenes

There are two sorts of behind-the-scenes choices:

1. Content material that sheds mild in your course of
2. Content material that sheds mild in your life.

Relying in your viewers, both or each could also be applicable. It’s as much as you to determine what you need to share and the way typically. In case your followers have requested you to share extra about what you do, that’s an indication this is able to be low-tier reward (though some creators do present extraordinarily in-depth, informational behind-the-scenes content material which pushes worth to greater tiers).

Elizabeth Cronise McLaughlin of #ResistanceLive affords $5/mo patrons unique behind-the-scenes movies. C&Rsenal reserves outtakes and bloopers for his or her $10/mo supporters. Blizzard Watch and Kati Morton make all behind the scenes content material out there for $1+/mo patrons.

In case you have numerous behind-the-scenes video content material, have you ever checked out Patreon’s Vimeo integration? With this integration, Professional and Premium creators can supply their patrons entry to unique, behind-the-scenes movies as a tier profit. And the perfect half is, when you arrange your permisions on Vimeo, you received’t have to go away your Patreon web page to add and share the movies along with your patrons.

Right here’s what Patreon creator Epic Rap Battle needed to say concerning the integration:

“The Vimeo integration is each safe and seamless – the best way issues needs to be. It affords a sleeker interface for each creators and patrons to make use of and opens up prospects for utilizing extra video content material on Patreon.” — Epic Rap Battles Of Historical past.

For extra data, take a look at the weblog submit titled, A New Option to Share Unique Video on Patreon with Vimeo.

Or, for those who’re prepared to begin utilizing the Vimeo integration along with your patrons right now, subscribe to any paid plan at Vimeo. For those who don’t have a paid subscription to Vimeo, join their free 30-day trial for the Plus or Professional plans and check out it out. Join now.

5. Precedence

One profit you possibly can supply your most devoted supporters is elevated precedence every time there are extra requests for one thing than you’re capable of simply fulfill. For instance, you would possibly:

• Give patrons precedence throughout Q&A periods
• Prioritize customer support or help for patrons
• Prioritize communication with patrons
• Prioritize patron content material requests.

It’s not troublesome to place into apply, nevertheless it makes a giant distinction in how rewarded your patrons really feel.

The Gauntlet affords RSVP precedence to $7+/mo patrons who need to snag a spot of their on-line video games. Atulya Bingham, who creates content material about constructing mud houses and off-the-grid dwelling, solutions emails from $2+/mo patrons first.

6. Bonus Content material

How a lot of your content material do you need to be free? Is there something you’ll make specifically for patrons? If sure, then bonus content material is an effective way to encourage pledges from the individuals who already take pleasure in your work.

One in every of many McMansion roasts produced by Kate Wagner. Roasting non-McMansions is an exercise she reserves for patrons.

It may very well be extra of the identical, nevertheless it is also one thing simpler and further enjoyable. For instance, #ResistanceLive periodically releases e-book lists on related matters to $25+/mo supporters. McMansionHell releases a bonus roast of non-McMansion structure to $10+/mo patrons each month. Many animal rescues and sanctuaries submit unique photographs of the animals they look after. McSweeney’s Web Tendency shares a patrons-only e-book yearly for $20+/mo; all $5+/mo patrons get entry to a particular column, McSweeney’s Recommends. And Not Forgotten shares video updates, pictures, and different content material with supporters in tiers starting from $25/mo to $250/mo.

7. Unique Information & Motion Alerts

Typically, your patrons simply need to know what’s taking place.

Blizzard Watch sends all patrons a content material roundup, since new articles hit their web site daily. Cryptocurrency Member sends information updates to $5+/mo patrons; upgrading your pledge to $7.99/mo signifies that members get commerce alerts through Telegram.

However motion alerts don’t should be restricted to cryptocurrency: you would additionally ship breaking information updates, sale alerts, or “gameday alerts” just like the Fantasy Footballers do.

For those who select to ship updates through an electronic mail publication to your patrons, it doesn’t should be troublesome to handle: Patreon has an integration with Mailchimp powered by Zapier. It’ll mechanically curate your record based mostly on whose pledges are energetic.

8. Recognition

Martin Berkhan posted a foolish photograph of his cat as a part of his method for exhibiting thanks and motivating patronage.

Bragging rights — and feeling good about supporting somebody you comply with — are a robust motivator. Typically, all you’ll want to do to encourage patronage is to say “Thanks.”

You possibly can:

• Tweet due to higher-value tier members
• Keep a Wall of Fame in your web site
• Ship a certificates of appreciation to patrons
• Put patron names on the finish of your e-book/course/movies/and so forth.
• Give patrons a shout-out in your present.

And people are only a handful of prospects. There’s no finish to the inventive concepts you should utilize when exhibiting your patrons how a lot you admire them.

Rancho Relaxo begins sending certificates of appreciation on the $50/mo mark. IndigenousX begins sending Twitter shout-outs at $30/mo. All patrons of McSweeney’s get their title memorialized in a wall of fame.

9. Programs & Different Studying Content material

For those who’re main a neighborhood, there’s a motive. Likelihood is that you just’re a subject skilled. And for those who weren’t once you began, you’ve in all probability change into one.

In case your neighborhood is concerned with studying supplies you create, why not supply them these as a profit? Irshad Karim’s whole Patreon marketing campaign is constructed round providing classes and different studying content material. Leangains affords academic content material to all $10/mo members. $10+/mo supporters of Fantasy Grounds Faculty can request a lesson on their matter of alternative; higher-paying patrons obtain one-on-one instruction.

10. Merchandise and Digital Items

Mailing merch to your patrons is a superb incentive for pledges. That mentioned, it’s additionally numerous work. For those who’re up for the problem, there are many choices to select from. You’ll must determine if you wish to present recurring shipments, merch based mostly on milestone (similar to six months of patronage), or one-time entry to merch within the hopes of getting new patrons.

Group leaders on Patreon supply gadgets similar to…

• Bumper stickers
• Pins
• T-shirts
• That e-book you revealed (or are going to publish)
• Coupon codes
• Shock field each month
• Coloring books.

Ted-Ed sends printable coloring books to patrons on the $3+/mo tier. IndiginousX sends $50+/mo patrons a T-shirt and a sticker. $50+/mo supporters of BraverMountain get their e-book. Twist of Destiny Sanctuary offers their $10+/mo an eco-friendly tote bag.

A Twist of Destiny Sanctuary tote is obtainable to $10+/mo patrons. However anybody can purchase it on their WallyHawk retailer.

11. Q&A/AMA Periods

As you in all probability know by now, being the chief of a neighborhood means everybody involves you for questions. And whereas you will have some superior members who pitch in to reply questions, typically your followers simply need to hear from you.

If that’s the case for you, then internet hosting common Q&A or AMA (“Ask Me Something”) periods would make an incredible reward for patrons. You possibly can reply questions stay, submit an article, or file a video; it is determined by what makes you comfy.

Wong Fu Productions does a month-to-month Q&A video for $5+/mo patrons. McMansionHell additionally affords a Q&A session for $5+/mo patrons, however does it utilizing the Patreon Crowdcast integration. Ariane Arsenault runs an AMA submit the place $10+/mo patrons can remark with their questions throughout a 24-hr time span.

12. Early Entry

Early entry is a reward that doesn’t take numerous effort however nonetheless helps your patrons really feel rewarded for his or her help. Actually, Patreon has an early entry instrument to limit submit entry based mostly on time in order that solely patrons of the suitable tier see it earlier than everybody else.

Setting early entry posts is simpler with Patreon’s early entry instrument. 

Ted-Ed offers early entry to new “secret store” gadgets to all patrons, and $4+/mo patrons get sneak peeks on upcoming content material. Liz Gipson shares sneak peeks with $3+/mo supporters. The Paranormal Scholar shares previews of content material with all $1+/mo patrons.

13. Sponsorship

Sponsorship isn’t for everybody, however some neighborhood leaders collect important help from sponsors. So long as you’re capable of stay unbiased and unbiased, most of your neighborhood shall be completely satisfied to see that you just’re being compensated for all of your exhausting work.

Take IndigenousX, for instance: Their platform affords recognition to $1000/mo sponsors. However you don’t should “go massive” to snag a sponsor. BraverMountain lets $100/mo patrons “sponsor” one of many Huskies on their dogsled group. And Nathan Rabin lets patrons sponsor particular person articles for $27+/mo.

14. Advert-Free Content material

For those who run advertisements in your web site, then giving your patrons an ad-free expertise is an effective way to say thanks.

For instance, Universe Right this moment thanks $3+/mo patrons for his or her help by eradicating advertisements from the positioning. Funnyjunk covers internet hosting prices by providing anybody who ever pledges $10/mo to their Patreon marketing campaign a lifetime ad-free expertise. And $3+/mo supporters of the Sox Machine expertise their podcast with out advertisements, together with some bonus content material.

Universe Right this moment removes web site advertisements for patrons. 

Advert removing may even work as an commercial to your Patreon. As proven above, Universe Right this moment advertises their Patreon marketing campaign (and the chance to take away advertisements) of their sidebar. To make that simpler, Patreon affords a free integration with WordPress that permits you to present an unique expertise for patrons visiting your web site.

15. Dwell Chats, Hangouts, and Webinars

Not each hangout and stay chat is an AMA (though it may be, if that’s your fashion). Whereas some neighborhood leaders use them to reply questions, others use them as an opportunity to hang around with followers, dish on what’s been taking place, or current additional content material.

Hangouts and webinars might be advantages for decrease or greater worth tiers, relying on the expertise you need to curate. For those who’re interesting to a big viewers, a decrease bar of entry is sensible. In case your supply is for a handful of super-dedicated supporters, the next value is extra applicable.

Diana Davison of The Lighthouse Mission works to teach the falsely accused on their rights. $50/mo patrons can all take part in a month-to-month hangout. 

RMNB, a hockey neighborhood, affords a once-per-month hangout to all $10+/mo supporters. Oshay Jackson of The Negromanosphere affords a hangout for all $20+/mo patrons, however reserves one-on-one requires $100+/mo supporters. The Lighthouse Mission opens up a one-hour lengthy session with Diana and different members on the $50+/mo stage.

16. Voting

Voting is a superb profit to supply if you need enter out of your most devoted followers on what you must do subsequent. Most creators on Patreon discover success by giving patrons a listing of pre-vetted choices to select from (i.e., no open-ended questions). Whether or not it’s voting on the following merch launch or on what matter you’ll cowl subsequent, it’s useful to know what your patrons assume. Within the meantime, they love that their opinion issues.

Voting isn’t a standalone profit; it’s typically mixed in a tier with a number of different advantages. Chipperish Media makes it a $1+/mo entry-level profit together with Discord entry and a Patreon-only information feed. Patrons of Language Switch get votes in keeping with the greenback worth of the tier they selected. And voting is only one of 5 advantages that the Riley Household Farm Rescue affords to $1+/mo patrons.

17. The Feels

Providing advantages is commonly a greater enterprise technique than merely asking for help. However in uncommon circumstances, it makes extra sense to supply emotional incentives quite than concrete advantages. For instance, the DNA Lounge runs a Patreon to help its continued existence. Patrons don’t obtain extras, however every tier has a compelling description that compares the month-to-month tier value to one thing club-goers would purchase frequently with out hesitation.

Add that to an outline of why the Lounge issues and what they’re doing that cuts down on their income, and you’ve got an emotionally invested viewers able to help the Lounge. 

Whereas a no-benefits technique isn’t an incredible match for many Patreon campaigns, it’s all the time a good suggestion to have colourful descriptions and good homepage copy to your marketing campaign.

Conclusion

The usefulness of the advantages above rely closely on why you’re a neighborhood chief and how much content material, if any, you create. But when you choose a handful that make sense to your schedule and your viewers’s pursuits, you’ll be nicely in your solution to a powerful marketing campaign.