There are many ways for content creators to generate income from a community of like minded followers. Two common ways are to have a subscription model that uses Patreon or a WordPress Membership Plugin. These can take monthly or annual fees from a subscriber and provides a content creator with control over when and how to drip feed content into their private member area.
This brief blog covers a few of the key benefits of using Patreon vs WordPress for the subscription management.
- Patreon:
- Great Starting Point: Patreon serves as an excellent entry point for creators looking to monetize their content. It’s user-friendly and straightforward to set up.
- Monthly Income: By using Patreon, you can start generating consistent monthly income. Supporters pledge recurring payments, providing stability for your creative endeavors.
- Customizable Pricing: You have the flexibility to set your own membership levels and subscription prices.
- Built-in Communication Tools: Patreon offers communication features, allowing you to engage with your patrons directly. It provides a suite of community-building tools, such as Patreon-only chatrooms and private messages with supporters. By using these features, creators can foster a close connection with their followers and build a strong support system.
- Ease of Use and Setup: Getting started on Patreon is relatively hassle-free.
- Every creator’s content is presented in the same way restricting freedom of look/feel. Patreon is designed as a one-size-fits-all platform, which can limit customization options and branding for creators. This means that creators may struggle to distinguish their offerings and create a strong brand identity on the website.
- Patreon uses a chronological feed for content display, which can make it difficult for creators to properly organize their content and showcase their best work to potential supporters. This can limit the platform’s ability to showcase a creator’s growth and achievements.
- Some users have reported problems with Patreon’s charging and refunding of pledgers. This can lead to both creators and supporters experiencing confusion and frustration due to billing inaccuracies.
- WordPress Membership Plugin:
- Complete Control: With a self-hosted WordPress membership site, you have full control over your content and revenue. You’re not tied to a third-party platform.
- Customization: WordPress allows you to customize the design, layout, and functionality of your membership site according to your brand and vision.
- Content Gating: You can gate specific content or create different membership tiers with varying access levels.
- Flexible Subscriptions: Unlike Patreon’s one-size-fits-all approach, you can tailor your subscription plans to meet your audience’s needs. But there are costs to the various software add-ons required to run these, typically paid for annually.
- Direct Access to Your Audience: Since it’s your own website, you have direct access to your audience without relying solely on Patreon’s interface.
In Summary:
- Patreon is ideal for creators seeking simplicity, community building, and a quick start.
- WordPress Membership Websites offer more customization, control, and scalability but require more setup effort.
Consider your long-term goals, audience preferences, and the level of control you desire when choosing between these two options.
