Photo by Antoni Shkraba: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-woman-sitting-by-the-table-while-writing-4348078/
If you’re an artist on Patreon who isn’t well known yet, you’ve probably gone to a lot of work to make your Patreon sign-up page as beautiful as possible, showcasing your art. This is a mistake. Well, not completely. Yes, people definitely want to see your gorgeous art. But guess what else they want to see: you! It’s a well-known fact that people have much more trust in something when they can see the person or people behind it. And trust is key to getting patrons. You need to let your self shine through so people will trust you and become patrons. Scary? Maybe, a little. But with a few tips you’ll be able to do it with confidence and reap the rewards of audience trust.
One quick win: video
Trust is the secret ingredient to getting patrons. The quickest win to gain your audience’s trust is to post a video in the About section of your Patreon landing page. Introduce yourself. Show examples of what people will get for subscribing. Talk about what kind of art you do, who it appeals to, and why you’re passionate about it.
Just talk?
Talking about your passion for your art in a video is magical ✨ for at least three reasons:
- It’s the fastest way to put yourself at ease on camera. Before you know it, you won’t be sweating about how you look and all that. You’ll be feeling that drive to share your passion with others who feel like you do.
- People who share your passion will love watching you talk about it! Nobody understands a passion quite the way another person with that same passion does. And nothing creates trust in another human being faster than making them feel understood.
- You’ll be marketing without even trying. Marketing is about learning what an audience cares about and using the same words they use to describe it. Well, you already know those words! Congratulations, you’re a marketer and didn’t know it.
Make sure you’re on camera, unless you have a deeply important reason not to be. Just using voiceover atop video of your art is the next best approach. But if you can be on camera, do so. Let your personality show, even if you’re an introvert. If you’re an introvert, other introverts will immediately relate and feel a connection to you. Non-introverts are typically charmed by introverts. So you can’t lose.
I can’t think of anything to say!
If you’re not sure what to say, you can use a tried and true format from journalism: “Who. What. Why. Where. When.” Who are you? What do you do? Why do you do it? Where do you do it (not your location, necessarily, but maybe where online you share your work)? And when did you start (alternatively, how often do you post)? If you only hit the who, what and why, you’ll still have a great video.
Can I do more than just talk into the camera?
It’s really effective and not difficult to make a video that’s more than you talking into the camera. Give visitors something in the video that they haven’t yet seen on your socials. Maybe it’s a better view of your workspace. Maybe it’s your cat. Maybe it’s your favorite park where you go to get inspiration. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering, just new to that visitor. This creates interest and also makes your Patreon feel like a special place for insiders.
How long should my video be?
You’ll like this part: keep it short. Two minutes is plenty and one minute is enough. You don’t need a full-scale production. Plan out the basic points you’re going to hit and have it right in front of you, in large type so it’s easy to see.
Let’s look at a couple of examples:
Yuumei
This office tour by Yuumei is a perfect example of giving visitors something extra with that insider feeling. This probably took an hour or two to create. It’s a quick look at the their space and something else they’re passionate about: their huskies. It’s clear they aren’t attempting to be a professional speaker or anything like that. This feels a lot like a video they’d make for friends or family who live far away. Bonus points for goats! The music is a nice touch, but it’s also not necessary. Don’t kill yourself trying to find music unless you really really want it in your video.
Lucy Bellwood
Lucy Bellwood’s video is an example of what you can do if you’re comfortable in front of the camera and want to use the editing process to be creative. She manages to add a lot of visual interest by just editing in shots of herself holding up examples of her work. As you watch this, though, think about the fact that her video would still be effective if she hadn’t done any editing. Just seeing her, hearing her story and experiencing her energy creates trust.
I’ll make a video next week… or next month
Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good! Sit down today and record a 60 second video of yourself saying hello. Put it on your Patreon sign up page immediately. You can always replace it later with something longer or fancier. But don’t wait. Every day that you go without an intro video is a day you’re missing the opportunity to create trust and grow your patronage.
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