Does anyone else feel like this year has completely shaken up the blogging world? Major algorithms changed overnight, social media platforms took off and disappeared out of the blue, and of course, travel screeched to a halt.
2020 has made it clear that having multiple income streams as a blogger is wildly, ridiculously, unbelievably important. Many creators, myself included, are trying to find new ways to earn consistently without being so vulnerable to the whims of third party platforms.
Enter: Patreon.
Patreon is a website where fans can pay monthly to support their favorite creators in exchange for exclusive content.
Artists from all genres – writers, singers, bloggers, influencers, podcasters, YouTubers, Etsy sellers, actors, and beyond – have had success on the platform. But even though Patreon seems simple, getting started is harder than you might think.
In this post, I’ll walk you through a new course called Earn Like an Artist by Kate McCulley (aka Adventurous Kate!)
Earn Like An Artist is a step-by-step guide to starting a profitable Patreon the right way so you can make money doing what you love.
But First, What Is Patreon?
Patreon is a membership platform where fans can pay a small monthly fee and receive special, premium content from their favorite artists.
For patrons, it’s a chance to get more entertaining content from the creators they love.
For creators, it’s a way to earn reliable income from the people who already enjoy their work, completely independently of algorithms and rankings. Talk about a win-win!
Why Patreon Is Good For Creators
These days, the blogging world heavily focuses on SEO, sponsored content, social media algorithms, and tactics to grow blog traffic. The strategic side of creative entrepreneurship can be fun (I actually really enjoy SEO), but most people start their blog, youtube channel, podcast, or Etsy shop because they want to make art.
I started my blog because I wanted to write travel stories.
Sometimes I forget that when my brain is jammed full of optimization tips, Pinterest templates, and keyword lists. And it would be nice if there was a way to make entertaining travel content just as profitable as the “business-y” content.
That’s where Patreon really shines!
With Patreon, you can add another pillar to your business that can outlast algorithm changes, dips in traffic, and even pandemics. Here, you can communicate directly with your biggest fans who want to support your work.
Because you have direct access to your Patreon fans in a private environment, you don’t have to worry about fighting for attention in an increasingly loud world. You can create the content that makes you happy and entertains your readers without having to worry about marketing it.
And because Patreon uses a monthly subscription model, you’ll earn with consistency.
Kate, for example, managed to earn back a significant chunk of income that was lost when travel traffic evaporated earlier this year. And she was able to do this by sharing fun personal stories that normally wouldn’t have earned much on the blog.
In Earn Like An Artist, Kate breaks down exactly how she built, launched, and maintains her successful Patreon account while earning recurring monthly income in the process.
Let’s dive in.
What Is The Earn Like An Artist Course About?
This course is about how to use Patreon to connect with your audience and make money on content that would otherwise be challenging to monetize.
It covers everything you’ll need to do to set up your Patreon, plan your content, market it to your audience, price your tiers, and craft an ongoing strategy for success.
Who Teaches This Course?
This course is taught by the fabulous Kate McCulley from the Adventurous Kate Travel Blog. Like most people in the travel industry, Kate’s business took a hard hit earlier this year. But she was able to recover because she launched a Patreon of personal travel stores, behind the scenes updates, and other exclusive content that her loyal readers love.
Patreon kept Kate afloat and gave her a way to make reliable, algorithm-proof income from the people who can’t get enough of her work.
In this course, she shares everything she’s learned about succeeding on the platform and using it to diversify your income as a creator.
Who Is This Course Best For?
This course is for creators with an existing audience who want to use Patreon for consistent monthly income. It’s perfect for any podcaster, blogger, writer, comedian, actor, performer, or YouTuber who wants to make money from creative content without always worrying about SEO and social media algorithms.
This is a unique way to profit from art that normally would be tricky to monetize. If you want to write about something that won’t rank well on Google, for example, this is a financially viable way to do it.
You’ll get the most mileage out of this course if you already have an audience who is excited about your work. Patreon is not a way to find new followers. It’s a way to share special content with your existing followers and fans.
That being said, you don’t have to have a huge following to be successful on Patreon. You just need to make sure that you’re offering content your fans want, which is something taught in the Earn Like an Artist course.
My Earn Like An Artist Review
When I got my hands on Earn Like An Artist, I binged it the whole way through! Before, I knew nothing about Patreon from the creator’s perspective. It was completely game-changing to learn about the potential of this platform.
It only took a few minutes for me to feel so inspired I started jotting down a list of creative blog post ideas. Stories that I’d totally forgotten about poured out of me and the course really got my wheels are turning!
Before this course, I felt like I needed to spend all my energy on creating content that would earn money. I’m still growing my blog so I figured I’d save the personal, story-style content for after my income was more consistent.
I’d occasionally slip in a personal post or life update if I had time, but it was hard to prioritize them.
But this course opened my eyes to a new way to earn from the creative posts so that they don’t have to be an afterthought.
What Will I Learn?
In Earn Like An Artist, you’ll learn the ins and outs of Patreon, starting with the basics. The modules cover everything from logistics to ongoing content planning strategies. You’ll learn about pricing, surveying your audience, marketing your Patreon, and so much more.
The course also comes with workbooks for each module and a supportive facebook community.
Let’s take a look at the modules.
Module 1: Introduction To Patreon
In this section, you’ll get an overview of the Patreon platform. You’ll learn the history behind patronage and why it can be profitable for creators with engaged audiences. You’ll also get examples of successful Patreon accounts you can look at for inspiration.
I’ll be honest, I spent about an hour down a rabbit hole reading these Patreon pages… there are some seriously cool creators out there!!
Module 2: Creating Your Content
Next, you’ll dig deep to figure out which kind of content you should create for your Patreon. You’ll only make money on Patreon if your readers are excited to join. This means you need to figure out what kind of content they actually want.
Earn Like An Artist explains exactly how to figure out what content your followers are most interested in. This will help you create a program that they’re excited to join.
Module 3: Making Money With Patreon
This section is all about the numbers. How much should you charge your patrons? What should your pricing tiers be? What are the Patreon fees you need to be aware of?
You’ll also get eye-opening examples of how changing your pricing slightly can impact your bottom line. Nailing your pricing is make-it-or-break-it for your Patreon, and Kate helps you work through what’s right for your audience.
Module 4: Creating Your Patreon Page
It’s time to let your creative juices flow to create your Patreon page! This section covers how to write a bio that converts and what you should say in your pricing tiers to encourage higher-level enrollments.
Module 5: Organizing Your Content
Now that you’ve built the framework for a successful Patreon, it’s time to organize your content so that you stay consistent month to month. Patreon is a long-term game and you’re more likely to be successful if you have a plan.
Kate teaches tips for creating a realistic content strategy and shares about a zillion ideas for things you could make.
Module 6: Launching And Marketing Your Patreon
You’ve poured a lot of love into your Patreon, so now it’s time to launch it. This module teaches you how to get lots of sign-ups right out of the gate.
You’ll get a detailed launch roadmap as well as advice for pitching your Patreon to your current followers.
Module 7: Managing Your Patreon
Next, you’ll learn all about running your Patreon day-to-day. This module focuses on communicating with your patrons and how to troubleshoot common issues.
Module 8: Growing Your Patreon Long Term
In this concluding section, Kate breaks down long-term Patreon strategies for success. You’ll learn how to consistently provide content that your patrons love, how to encourage patrons to upgrade to higher tiers, and even how to revamp your page as you grow.
How Long Is The Course?
This course is 8 modules long and each module contains 2-4 video lessons. There are also detailed workbooks with each section.
Kate is good about keeping the material concise and fluff-free, so the course is very digestible. You can work through it at your own pace and you’ll always have access to the content after you’ve enrolled.
When Is The Earn Like An Artist Course Open?
This course is open for enrollment now and it closes on October 15, 2020 at 11:59pm EST. Make sure to grab it while you can!
How Much Does It Cost?
Earn Like An Artist costs $397 USD if you pay in full.
You can also enroll in the payment plan which is four monthly payments of $112 USD.
This course is an investment that will teach you how to add another revenue stream to your business. You’ll save a ton of time and start earning faster by having an expert guide you through the process.
Why You Should Invest In Earn Like An Artist
During times of uncertainty (cough cough, 2020), your biggest fans will still be there for you. Overnight, social media platforms can disappear, Google can change the algorithm, and travel content can basically disappear.
But the people who really connect with your content won’t go anywhere.
Kate proved this when she suddenly lost 90% of her travel blog income but was able to recover thanks to her readers.
Patreon is still a relatively small platform. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before swarms of people jump on the bandwagon, but if you get started now you’ll be way ahead of the game.
Most importantly, Patreon allows you to make some money creating the type of content that got you started in this business in the first place – the kind of content that you find hilarious, moving, creative, just plain joyful.
That’s what you’ll learn to do in this course. That’s why this is so exciting.
How Do I Join?
You can join Earn Like An Artist by clicking the button below. You’ll be taken to the sales page where you can read more about the program. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you can enroll in either the full payment or payment plan.
Earn Like An Artist Review Final Thoughts
Earn Like An Artist teaches you how to use Patreon to connect with your biggest fans and monetize your most creative work.
Patreon gives you a way to make reliable income creating content that your audience really wants, and this course covers everything you need to know to build a system that lasts.
If you’re looking for a platform that brings value to your followers, helps you make a living, and can last through any turmoil the world might throw your way, Earn Like An Artist might be a great fit for you!
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Cover Photo by Estée Janssens on Unsplash
