Exclusive Online Entertainer
Scrolling away the vastness of the internet. I find it ironic, we pay to watch each other.
We are no stranger to the feats humanity can perform. From voices of angels, movement of our bodies, or dangerous feats of human abilities. It could make a child dazzle in awe or scream out of fear. However, being stuck at home prompts us to seek solace in the entertainment world, as a way of distraction from the crisis of the real world. In what better way to see it, through the comforts of our home and the doors of the internet.
Everyone has something to share: their passions, hobbies, or knowledge about anything under the sun, and these are shared on the internet. The best part of the internet is that most of it is for free. We could honestly scroll the internet the entire day. Imagine getting all the quality content, I may learn a thing or two or finally learn a hobby (I was able to learn crochet in this way). It would be nice if creators are paid for their services and this is how I came across content monetization.
Content Monetization
To put it simply, content monetization is using your content to earn money from your online engagements. These online engagements include your views, likes, and comments.
The formula content monetization seemed simple: Increase online engagement = increase in monetization.
Increase online engagement = increase in monetization.
Now it leads to the question of how to do it. Because we know that we aren’t a celebrity or famous figure. Our reach may only be a grandma (We still love you, grandma).
You can indeed tap into a whole variety of people around the world. That would mean engaging in all kinds of content and it may paralyze you from even starting.
A good tip I found was to focus on a particular niche. This would allow you to focus on, who your audience is and what content you can create around those parameters.
Well after deciding on the niche, I should just post once and the money will come in, right? NO!
You have to spend time on the platform and run your content there. Think about it, the reason you watch someone is to invest your time towards consuming their content.
Let’s use an example of two companies, let’s say you have money to invest in Amazon or Company X. It is obvious that you would place your money in Amazon because you know the business is always evolving and earning money, who wouldn’t want to be part of that?
So you’ve been doing all those so the money should roll in right? Well, that’s right! but which way do you want?
There are three ways to monetize your content:
- Direct payment
It is where you sell your content or to be. These would come in the form of online courses and subscriber-based access.
2. Selling to your audience
These are usually through live streams, where people would sell their products to an audience.
3. Affiliate links
The most common ways are through pay-per-click(PPC), affiliate marketing, and product placement to receive monetization from third parties.
The challenge of content monetization would be are those who follow us. It is not a lie when I say, there will be people that are more loyal than others. Because of these people, creators can let the audience pay access to the content by providing exclusive content.
Exclusive Content
A content creator cannot always provide free content, and exclusive content is present to guard its availability. Being able to limit the availability of content makes use of scarcity, and hints to the customer the need for it, especially when only a selected number know about it. If more people know about it, then the content won’t be as exclusive, and the audience will build in a number.
The reason why it works is that everyone wants something others don’t have. It makes them believe that they have a special secret only they know. In this way, the client who wants the content can purchase it through a paid feature. It would resemble a membership fee for the content. Moreover, it is a good strategy for a creator to protect themselves from unwanted spam.
There are four benefits with exclusive content:
- Brand Building
With a concentrated audience, it will allow the creator to focus on their brand. It also allows the creations of interactive content for the audience.
2. Subscriber Attraction
Being able to offer content for subscribers for the audience to return and establish a list of people.
3. Sales support
It allows items to be personalized and tailor to each client.
4. Rewards
Because these people are always coming back there should be perks for doing so, this means bonus content to delight the subscribers.
Some examples of platforms that utilize this concept of monetizing exclusive content are Only Fans and Patreon.
Only Fans
Before you click away, I will be focusing on the platform itself, as creators provide exclusive content. Only Fan is a pay preview site that charges their clients a monthly subscription, which is a minimum of $50 a month. It allows clients to view exclusive content, and the creators aren’t restricted on content.
The top earners on the platform already have an existing fan base on other platforms such as Instagram that continue to support them. The company only takes 20% of the income earned by the creators, and the creators can take 60%, and it includes the transaction fees and bank charges
Patreon
Patreon is a crowdsourcing income model and based on rewards and incentives. An average of 70 patrons can earn an average of $1000. It is a membership platform that allows creators to get paid, through patronage and that idea has been around for a long time. These patrons pay the creators to create works to brag about them to their friends, enjoy their work, and support their favorite creators with an income allowing them to take creative control.
Your profile included all your social media. Your bio is considered, as your sales pitch. To convince anyone that comes upon your page to invest their money into your creative product. The difference between Patreon from other platforms is that you get to choose tiers for your audience. These tiers could be reward tiers, where you can write a personalized thank you message. Other examples include behind the scene content. Creators need to set up goals for people to help them reach them for example, a 24-hour stream for a $1000 a month goal. It allows creators to earn a monthly income by giving exclusive rewards and perks through their subscriptions.
Conclusion
Everyone can be an entertainer as long as there are people who watch them. When you post it on the internet, it is free for all those to see. However, there is content that stands out better than others and I believe they can monetize from it. The catch is the continuous creation on the platform to earn through this lifestyle.
There will be followers that are willing to pay extra to view your content. This extra fee is done through a subscription service, and it allows the content consumer to access secretive content that comes with the service perk. Some examples of these platforms are OnlyFans and Patreon.
Thank you for reading! Leave a clap and comment, it will really help me improve my craft.
