Typical creator membership program attracts less than 0.1% of fans

The world of content creation has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more people turning to platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok to share their passions, talents, and ideas with a broader audience. But as the competition for attention and ad dollars continues to heat up, many creators find it difficult to make a sustainable living from their work from ads, without a creator membership program.

Enter the paid creator membership program, a model where fans can support their favorite creators with recurring financial contributions in exchange for exclusive content, perks, and experiences. It is a win-win: fans get access to exclusive, high-quality content and the chance to engage directly with their favorite creators, while creators earn a steady income and build closer relationships with their audience.

However, in practice, the results have been disappointing. According to our research, paid-membership programs for almost all content creators attract less than 0.1% of their fans. Why is this?

According to our research, most creators attract less than 0.1% of their fans to a paid-membership program.

One key reason is that fans often view these programs as low value. For many, the exclusive content and experiences offered through these programs are not worth the price, especially compared to the free content already available from the same creator. As a result, fans often treat contributions to these programs as donations rather than payments for something of tangible value.

Another reason is that many of these programs built on existing platforms are not set up to be attractive or engaging for fans. They can be uninspiring to use, offer poor fan experience, and lack features that would make them more engaging and compelling for fans. Creators often struggle to create and maintain a sense of community among their members or build a collaboration-based relationship with their fans.

What can creators do?

So, what can creators do to make their programs more attractive to a larger share of their fans? Here are a few suggestions:

Offer distinctive value

To attract more fans, you need to offer members of your program something they feel is worth paying for. It could be exclusive content, behind-the-scenes access, early access to new projects, or unique experiences. Whatever it is, make sure it's something that your fans can't get anywhere else. Hint - offering your content 24 hours before it becomes public usually is not seen as an attractive-enough value proposition.

Offering your content 24 hours before it becomes public is usually not attractive enough.

Build community

Paid membership programs are about more than just content – they're about building a community of fans who share a common passion. Make sure to design your program with community-building in mind, with features like private chat rooms, voting and polling, member events, and opportunities for members to collaborate and connect - with you and with one another.

Work with your members as partners

Let your members collaborate and support your work. Encourage reactions and suggestions. Organize polls and voting. Let members co-host events. Let superfans volunteer and help you with content research, video editing, or even participate in your creations.

Turn brand sponsorship into real value for members

Many creators have brand sponsorships, but fans usually don't see any value or benefits for them. By tailoring the deals to your fans' interests and incorporating the sponsors into your member program, such as bringing special discounts or offers to your members, you can turn these sponsorships into real value for fans.

Offer immersive experience

Build a membership program that excites members to come back often. Promote frequent interactions. Bring the latest news from your niche. Share regular updates on your work, your thoughts, or observations. Build a visual and immersive environment that members find welcoming and unique to your program.

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