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At a glance
What it is
Membership platform strategy covering tier design, reward fulfillment systems, exclusive content planning, community perks, pricing psychology, milestone goals, creator burnout prevention, and comparison of Patreon alternatives.
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SKILL.md
532 lines · 2,959 words
Gather requirements. Ask the user clarifying questions about their specific context, goals, constraints, and experience level.
Analyze the situation. Review the information provided and identify key factors, challenges, and opportunities relevant to patreon strategist.
Membership platform strategy covering tier design, reward fulfillment systems, exclusive content planning, community perks, pricing psychology, milestone goals, creator burnout prevention, and comparison of Patreon alternatives.
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Step 1
Send your Chief of Staff this message. It proposes the bot and its role first, and creates it when you say go.
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“Create a bot that uses the Patreon Strategist skill, and show me the plan first.”
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Step 2
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Step 3
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Step 4
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What it covers
When to Use
Process
Questions to Ask First
Tier Design Framework
Reward Fulfillment Systems
Exclusive Content Strategy
Community Perks
Pricing Psychology
Milestone Goals
Creator Burnout Prevention
Patreon Alternatives
Patreon Growth Strategies
Patreon Analytics
Output Format
Example
Edge Cases
Develop the framework. Create a structured approach tailored to the user's needs, incorporating best practices and domain-specific considerations.
Deliver actionable output. Present specific, implementable recommendations with clear rationale, timelines, and success criteria.
Address edge cases. Proactively identify potential issues, alternative approaches, and contingency plans.
Use this skill when:
User needs guidance on patreon strategist
User asks about patreon strategist best practices or techniques
User wants a structured approach to patreon strategist
Do NOT use this skill when:
A more specialized skill exists for the specific subtopic
The request is outside the scope of patreon strategist
Before launching or optimizing a Patreon, clarify these fundamentals:
What type of creator are you? (Writer, artist, podcaster, video creator, musician, educator)
What exclusive content or value can you consistently deliver to paying supporters?
How large is your existing audience? On which platforms?
What is your current relationship with your audience? Do they already ask how to support you?
How much time per month can you dedicate to Patreon-specific content and community?
What is your monthly income target from membership? ($500, $2,000, $5,000+)
Are you looking for patronage (support the creator) or transactional (buy exclusive content)?
What tier structure appeals to you? (Simple 2-3 tiers vs complex 5+ tiers)
How will you handle fulfillment if you promise physical goods?
Have you experienced creative burnout before? What are your warning signs?
Most successful Patreon pages use 3-4 tiers. More tiers create decision paralysis and fulfillment complexity.
TIER 1: The Supporter ($3-5/month)
Purpose: Low-barrier entry for casual fans
Delivers:
- Patron-only posts and updates
- Behind-the-scenes content
- Early access to public content
- Patron-only Discord role
Cost to you: Minimal (content you'd create anyway)
Expected: 60-70% of patrons choose this tier
TIER 2: The Engaged Fan ($10-15/month)
Purpose: Core offering for dedicated supporters
Delivers:
- Everything in Tier 1
- Exclusive deep content (monthly bonus episode, extra chapter, etc.)
- Monthly Q&A or community call
- Input on upcoming projects (polls, votes)
- Name in credits/acknowledgments
Cost to you: Moderate (1-2 extra content pieces per month)
Expected: 20-30% of patrons
TIER 3: The Superfan ($25-50/month)
Purpose: Premium experience for biggest fans
Delivers:
- Everything in Tiers 1 and 2
- 1-on-1 interaction (monthly DM, voice note, short call)
- Physical merch or prints (quarterly)
- Custom request or commission (limited)
- Shoutout in content
Cost to you: High (time-intensive, limit seats)
Expected: 5-10% of patrons
IMPORTANT: Limit seats (e.g., "Only 20 spots available")Podcasters:
$5: Ad-free episodes + bonus mini-episodes
$10: Extended interviews + monthly patron hangout
$25: Choose a topic + name in credits + annual merchVisual Artists/Illustrators:
$3: WIP posts + process videos
$10: High-res downloads + monthly wallpaper pack
$25: Request a sketch + signed print quarterly
$50: Monthly custom illustration (limit 10 patrons)Writers:
$5: Early access + draft previews
$10: Exclusive essays/stories + writing process posts
$25: Manuscript beta reading + monthly craft discussion
$50: 30-minute monthly call + personalized feedbackVideo Creators:
$3: Behind-the-scenes + bloopers
$10: Extended cuts + patron-only vlogs
$25: Early access + name in video credits
$50: Submit video ideas + quarterly 1-on-1Musicians:
$3: Early access to releases + studio updates
$10: Unreleased tracks + stems/instrumentals
$25: Monthly exclusive song + request a cover
$50: Personalized song/performance (limit 5)| Reward Type | Effort Level | Scalability | Patron Satisfaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital content (posts, files) | Low | High | Medium |
| Early access | Very Low | Very High | Medium-High |
| Behind-the-scenes | Low | High | Medium |
| Community access | Low (setup) | High | High |
| Live events/calls | Medium | Medium | Very High |
| Physical merchandise | Very High | Low | High |
| Personalized content | Very High | Very Low | Very High |
| 1-on-1 time | Very High | Very Low | Very High |
WEEKLY
Monday: Post patron-only update or BTS content
Wednesday: Share WIP or process content
Friday: Early access release (if applicable)
MONTHLY
Week 1: Exclusive content piece (bonus episode, essay, art pack)
Week 2: Community event (Q&A, live stream, hangout)
Week 3: Patron poll or input opportunity
Week 4: Recap + preview of next month + ship physical rewards
QUARTERLY
Month 1: Physical merch fulfillment (if applicable)
Month 2: Community feedback survey
Month 3: Special project or collaboration with patronsPatreon's native tools: Post scheduling, drip content (unlock back catalog on join)
Zapier/Make integrations: Auto-add patrons to email lists, Discord roles, etc.
Discord bot integration: Auto-assign roles based on tier level
Content scheduling: Batch create and schedule patron posts for the month
Email automation: Welcome sequences, tier upgrade prompts, renewal reminders
PUBLIC PATRON-ONLY
|-------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|---------|
Free Early Extended Exclusive Personalized 1-on-1
content access versions content content access80% of your best content stays free -- this is how you grow your audience and attract new patrons. The Patreon pitch is not "pay to access my work" but "you love my free work -- here's even more."
20% is patron-exclusive -- this is the bonus, the extras, the deeper access. It rewards supporters without punishing free followers.
Written:
Extended essays that go deeper than public posts
First drafts with annotations
Reading lists and resource compilations
Personal reflections and unfiltered opinions
Exclusive serialized fiction or non-fiction
Audio/Video:
Commentary tracks over public content
Unedited "director's cut" episodes
Q&A recordings
Studio sessions and jam recordings
Creator journal vlogs
Visual:
High-resolution files for printing
Process timelapses
Template and resource packs
Alternate versions and colorways
Patron-suggested pieces
Interactive:
Polls deciding upcoming projects
Live creation sessions
Co-working streams
Feedback and critique sessions
AMAs with specific guest experts
Server Structure for Patrons:
PUBLIC CHANNELS (everyone)
#general
#announcements
#your-content-topic
PATRON CHANNELS (Tier 1+)
#patron-lounge General patron chat
#patron-announcements Exclusive updates
#early-access Links before public release
PREMIUM PATRON (Tier 2+)
#inner-circle Deeper discussion
#feedback-requests Share work for feedback
#monthly-call-chat Event coordination
VIP (Tier 3+)
#vip-room Direct access
#request-channel Custom requests| Event | Frequency | Tier Access | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patron-only live stream | Monthly | Tier 1+ | Medium |
| Q&A session | Monthly | Tier 2+ | Low |
| Watch/listen party | Monthly | Tier 1+ | Low |
| Collaborative project | Quarterly | Tier 2+ | High |
| Patron meetup (virtual) | Quarterly | All tiers | Medium |
| Annual celebration | Yearly | All tiers | High |
The most popular Patreon tiers globally are $3, $5, and $10. Price points matter:
| Price | Perception | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| $1-2 | "Tip jar" | Symbolic support, minimal expectations |
| $3-5 | "Coffee money" | Easy decision, most common tier |
| $10 | "Meaningful support" | Engaged fans who expect real value |
| $15-25 | "Premium" | Dedicated supporters, significant value expected |
| $50+ | "VIP" | Must deliver substantial personalized value |
| $100+ | "Superfan/Patron" | Strictly limited, highly personal |
Anchor with a high tier: Even if nobody buys the $100 tier, it makes $25 look reasonable
Per-creation vs monthly: Per-creation works for infrequent, high-value content. Monthly for consistent output.
Annual option: Offer annual billing at 15-20% discount (locks in revenue, reduces churn)
Founding member pricing: First 50 patrons at $X get that rate forever
Price increases for new patrons only: Grandfather existing patrons at their original rate
Goal: $2,000/month from Patreon
Scenario A (Low price, high volume):
$5/month tier x 400 patrons = $2,000
(Requires ~20,000-40,000 total audience)
Scenario B (Mid price, moderate volume):
Mix: 200 x $5 + 50 x $10 + 10 x $25 = $1,750
(Requires ~10,000-20,000 total audience)
Scenario C (Higher price, lower volume):
Mix: 50 x $10 + 30 x $25 + 5 x $50 = $1,500
(Requires ~5,000-10,000 very engaged audience)
Patreon takes 5-12% depending on plan, plus payment processing ~3%
Effective rate: ~85-92% of gross to youMilestones create shared purpose and momentum. They should be:
Specific: Clear deliverable, not vague
Achievable: Next milestone should be 20-40% above current
Exciting: Something the community genuinely wants
Feasible: You can actually deliver it
25 patrons: Monthly bonus content (additional episode, extra essay)
50 patrons: Monthly community event (Q&A, live stream)
100 patrons: New content series or format
200 patrons: Patron-commissioned special project
500 patrons: Upgrade production quality (better equipment, editing)
1,000 patrons: Hire help (editor, community manager) to improve quality
2,500 patrons: Physical merch or annual patron gift
5,000 patrons: Major project (documentary, book, album, conference)Display milestones prominently on your Patreon page
Update progress regularly in patron posts
Celebrate when milestones are reached (dedicated post, event)
Deliver on milestone promises promptly
Let patrons vote on the next milestone after one is achieved
Content dread: You feel obligated rather than excited to create patron content
Fulfillment anxiety: Reward promises feel like a second job
Guilt spiraling: Missing one post triggers guilt that compounds
Quality decline: You're shipping mediocre content just to meet commitments
Resentment: Feeling underpaid for the effort required
Isolation: Creator-patron dynamic feels transactional and draining
Over-promising: Taking on more tier rewards to increase revenue, creating unsustainable workload
Design for Sustainability from Day 1:
Before adding any tier reward, ask:
1. Can I deliver this every month for 2 years?
2. Does this energize me or drain me?
3. What happens if I'm sick for a week?
4. Can this scale from 10 patrons to 1,000?
5. Is the price worth my time at current scale?The Minimum Viable Patreon:
Start with fewer rewards than you think necessary
It's easier to add perks than to remove them
Underpromise and overdeliver beats the reverse every time
Your patrons are supporting YOU, not just buying content
Communicate openly: Tell patrons you need to adjust. They almost always understand.
Reduce tier rewards: Cut what's unsustainable. Offer refunds or tier adjustments.
Batch create: Produce a month of content in one session rather than weekly scrambles.
Take a scheduled break: Announce 1-2 week breaks quarterly. Pause billing if needed.
Delegate: Hire help for fulfillment, community management, or content editing.
Restructure tiers: Move toward lower-effort, higher-value offerings.
Build a buffer: Stay 2-4 weeks ahead on content to reduce pressure.
Week 1: Batch create all patron content for the month (1 focused day)
Week 2: Community engagement and events
Week 3: Public content creation (grows audience for Patreon)
Week 4: Admin, planning, and buffer building
This means Patreon-specific work = ~2 days per month, not daily obligation.| Platform | Best For | Fee Structure | Key Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patreon | All creators | 5-12% + processing | Largest creator audience, established |
| Ko-fi | Simple memberships | 0% (Gold: $6/mo) | No platform fee on free plan |
| Buy Me a Coffee | One-time + memberships | 5% | Simple, friendly branding |
| Memberful | WordPress integration | 10% or $25-100/mo | Embeds in your own site |
| Substack | Writers | 10% | Newsletter-first approach |
| YouTube Memberships | Video creators | 30% | Built into YouTube |
| Twitch Subs | Streamers | 50% (Affiliate) / varies (Partner) | Built into Twitch |
| Circle | Community-first creators | $89-399/mo flat | Full community platform |
| Ghost | Writers/publishers | $9-199/mo flat | Newsletter + membership |
| Gumroad Memberships | Product creators | 10% | Combine products + membership |
Consider alternatives if:
Patreon's fee structure significantly impacts your revenue
You need more community features than Patreon provides
Your audience is primarily on one platform that has native membership
You want full ownership of the member experience
You're building a business, not just a patronage model
If moving platforms:
Communicate the move 60 days in advance
Explain the benefit to patrons (better experience, more features)
Offer migration incentive (bonus content, locked-in price)
Grandfather existing patrons at their current rate
Run both platforms simultaneously for 30 days
Provide step-by-step instructions for the switch
Follow up personally with patrons who haven't migrated
Audience (social media, YouTube, podcast, blog)
--> Awareness: They know you exist and enjoy your free content
--> Interest: They see patron-exclusive content previews
--> Desire: They want the exclusive content / to support you
--> Action: They become a patron
--> Retention: Ongoing value keeps them subscribedMention Patreon in every piece of content (brief, natural mention)
Show patron-exclusive previews publicly (first paragraph of an exclusive post, 30-second clip)
Create milestone excitement (community rallying toward a shared goal)
Launch events: Occasional promotions (first month free, limited founding member pricing)
Cross-promote with other creators: "If you support [friend's] Patreon, you'll love mine"
Patron testimonials: Share why patrons support you (social proof)
Public thank-yous: Acknowledge patrons in your content (incentivizes others to join)
Consistent delivery: Never miss a promised update without communication
Personal touch: Thank new patrons individually (DM or comment)
Patron surveys: Ask quarterly what they want more of (and less of)
Anniversary acknowledgments: Celebrate patron milestones (6 months, 1 year)
Exclusive patron community: Active Discord/community prevents silent churn
Annual billing option: Reduces monthly decision to cancel
Content quality: This is the foundation -- everything else is secondary
Average monthly churn rates:
Healthy: 3-5%
Concerning: 6-10%
Critical: 10%+
Common churn reasons and solutions:
| Reason | Solution |
|---|---|
| Financial constraints | Offer lower tier, understand this is not your fault |
| Not enough value | Increase content quality or frequency |
| skipped they subscribed | Regular engagement and communication |
| Found alternative | Ensure unique value proposition |
| Creator went quiet | Maintain consistent posting schedule |
| Reward fatigue | Refresh rewards periodically |
Patron count: Total and by tier
Monthly revenue: Gross and net (after fees)
New patrons: Where they came from (if trackable)
Churned patrons: How many and from which tiers
Patron engagement: Post likes, comments, poll participation
Content performance: Which posts get the most engagement
Pledge-to-patron ratio: Average pledge amount
Lifetime value: Average months a patron stays x average pledge1. Revenue: Did I hit my target? Up or down from last month?
2. Growth: Net patron gain/loss? What drove it?
3. Engagement: Which content performed best? Worst?
4. Fulfillment: Did I deliver all promised rewards on time?
5. Sustainability: How am I feeling about the workload?
6. Next month: What will I do the same? What will I change?Deliver the response as a structured document with clear headings and actionable content. Use tables for comparisons, numbered lists for sequential steps, and bullet points for options. Include specific examples where applicable.
[Patreon Strategist deliverable]
1. Context and objectives
2. Analysis or framework
3. Specific recommendations with rationale
4. Action items with timelineInput: "Help me with patreon strategist for a mid-size project."
Output: A complete patreon strategist framework tailored to the specific context, with actionable steps, relevant considerations, and measurable outcomes.
Incomplete information: Ask clarifying questions before proceeding rather than making assumptions
Conflicting requirements: Identify trade-offs explicitly and present options with pros and cons
Scale mismatch: Adapt recommendations to match the user's context (individual vs. team vs. organization)
Domain crossover: When the request overlaps with other skill domains, address what falls within scope and reference specialized skills for the rest
SKILL.md
532 lines · 2,959 words
The text of SKILL.md is shown as it downloads, under the Apache-2.0 license, by Ferrox Labs. The license is the one in the file's own frontmatter.
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