It’s becoming increasingly popular in the gig economy to make a living as an independent content creator, but which content monetization platform should you choose?

So Covid-19 is proving to be more stubborn than we’d hoped, and you’re almost sick of switching between worries about your job, boredom at home, and fear of strangers when it’s your turn to leave the office.

Since you’ll be spending more time at home anyway, it may be time to turn a crisis into an opportunity with a part-time job as a content creator. It will be a great way to keep boredom away, channel pent-up energy, and maybe even earn a pretty penny or two.

Plus, there are sites like Patreon to help you find audiences and fans, so now seems like the right time to jump in!

Before you hit Buy Now on the ring light in your shopping cart, however, it may be worthwhile to learn more about how content monetization platforms and websites actually work, and which ones are right for you.

How do content monetization platforms work?

Content monetization platforms offer you the opportunity to generate income from your work, be it creative output such as art, music, animation or novels. Expertise and knowledge such as courses, guides, webinars, and podcasts; and even entertainment like live streams of video games.

They usually also include some tools and features to help you analyze and understand audience behavior so that you can better grow successful content.

These platforms may charge a monthly subscription fee or take some of your generated revenue. Regardless of the fee structure, they offer a much cheaper option compared to mainstream channels like YouTube, which benefit from adding ads to your videos and giving you a skimpy cut.

The ability to generate healthier income with a more equitable and transparent model is attracting YouTubers to content monetization platforms. Fans and content consumers are also increasingly drawn to the idea of ​​directly supporting the creators they prefer.

And of course, the opportunity to enjoy content without annoying advertisements ruining the experience every other minute is also very welcome.

Below we’ve outlined five popular content monetization platforms, their different features, and the types of YouTubers they’re recommended for.

Best monetization platforms for content creators

platform Pricing Recommended for
Patreon From 5% to 12% of monthly income plus payment processing fees (both incoming and outgoing) Storyteller, artist and music maker
Subscribestar 5 percent of each pledge plus payment and withdrawal fees Artists, entertainers, vloggers, educators and coaches
Buy me a coffee 5 percent of income, plus payment and withdrawal fees Anyone who works creatively
Rubber road From 8.5% + 0.30 USD (0.40 S $) per transaction S. Software and tools, online courses, digital creations, e-books, short videos, products
Mixcloud Pro $ 15 per month DJs, music producers

1. Patreon

Fee: 5 to 12 percent of monthly income plus payment processing fees

Perhaps the best known and most successful monetization platform is Patreon. On YouTube, you will come across a lot of content creators trying to get you to switch to their Patreon channels and seduce you with exclusive content and other goodies.

That’s because Patreon has a refreshingly different model that ties their success to that of their creators.

It’s all in the revenue sharing model. Patreon does not charge an upfront fee if you want to publish your content on the platform. Instead, it requires a cut in the income that you receive through the platform every month.

The revenue share is 5 percent, 8 percent or 12 percent, depending on which plan you choose. More expensive plans also come with a range of tools and privileges, but these are more geared towards those determined to make a living as content creators.

[[nid:493061]]]

In addition to revenue sharing, you will also be billed for payment processing fees for incoming and outgoing payments.

Commitments (meaning what your fans pay you) are subject to 5 percent + $ 0.10 for payments under $ 3 and 2.9 percent + $ 0.30 for payments of $ 3 or more.

And then when you request a withdrawal from your Patreon account to your bank account, you will be billed with withdrawal fees based on the method or gateway you choose.

Since you can set your own membership levels (essentially subscription plans with different fees and levels of access to your content), you might end up paying some of the processing fees if you’re not careful.

2. Subscribing star

old

Fee: 5 percent of each pledge plus payment processing fees

Another platform for monetizing content that is taking the revenue sharing path is Subscribestar.

Only a flat rate is offered here – 5 percent of every commitment you get from your fans – plus payment processing fees. This in turn applies in both directions – for incoming pledges and for a transfer to your bank account.

Creators are free to set their pledge levels from as little as $ 1 a month, but there’s no way to narrow your content beyond certain pledge levels. In addition to the regular subscription, fans can also send you a one-time tip of any amount.

In addition to its transparent pricing model, Subscribestar is also attractive for its hands-off policy when it comes to content. All legal content is allowed and the platform promises to preserve your independence as a creator without “micromanaging, overreacting or judging”.

3. Buy me a coffee

old

Fee: 5 percent of income, plus payment transaction fees

As a content creator, you likely have a Facebook page, Instagram account, personal blog, portfolio … and maybe a YouTube or Vimeo account.

Rather than trying to monetize each of these channels separately, Buy Me a Coffee (BMAC) gives your fans a handy way to give you tips while staying up to date across all of your different channels.

You can set up a BMAC page to showcase your creations and include links to your blog, YouTube channel, or other content page. Your fans can also give you tips directly on this page.

[[nid:527116]]]

You can also embed BMAC badges right on your blogs and websites so fans can share tips with you on your work as they discover and enjoy them while browsing the web.

Instead of asking for cash directly, tips are presented as cups of “coffee” at a cost of $ 3, $ 4, or $ 5, respectively. Fans can buy you as many cups of coffee as they want once.

If they want to support you regularly, they can sign up for a monthly membership for a fee you set.

BAMC also added a feature called Extras that allows creators to sell downloads, webinars, and the like directly to their audience.

4. Rubber road

old

Fees: From 8.5 percent + $ 0.30 per transaction

Gumroad works more like an e-commerce marketplace where you can set up an online shop to sell your works. This can range from business courses, software and digital tools, to digital creations like novels, animations and videos, to physical products like bespoke t-shirts.

The platform offers a free account and reduces every transaction you make. You can also upgrade to a paid account that charges a flat monthly fee based on how many customers you have (starting at $ 10 for fewer than 1,000 customers).

If you’re looking for a steady income, the recently launched membership feature lets you sell monthly or annual subscriptions in exchange for exclusive content or all-access passes to your fans.

For an additional fee, you can use the Discover feature to promote your e-shop to grow your audience and generate more sales.

5. Mixcloud Pro

old

Fee: $ 15 per month (first month free)

What sets Mixcloud apart from other monetization platforms is how it provides DJs with a direct source of income while paying the necessary royalties on their behalf.

[[nid:520939]]]

This allows garage DJs and show creators to concentrate fully on their music without worrying about paying for music labels, takedowns or other legal issues.

As a Pro member, you have access to a range of tools to help promote your music.

Mixcloud listeners who want to support their work can subscribe to your channel for a monthly subscription fee that you can choose freely – starting at $ 2.99 per month.

You receive a small part of the monthly fee; with a minimum charge of $ 2.99, that’s about $ 0.54 per subscriber.

But if you start building a following and increasing your fee, you can make pretty decent money while indulging in your love of music.

This article was first published on SingSaver.com.sg.