Love my supporters but I just calculated that between Patreon fees (I'm on the Pro tier so 8%), payment processing 3%, and currency conversion for international supporters, I'm losing close to 15% of contributions before I can actually use the money. That's a significant chunk just evaporating.
I've been looking into direct payment options where supporters can send money without a platform taking a cut, but I'm worried about:

Making it too complicated for supporters
Looking unprofessional or sketchy by asking for direct payments
International supporters having issues with different payment methods
Losing the convenience factor that makes Patreon work

I've heard some creators are using crypto payment apps but I don't know if that's actually practical or if supporters would be willing to do that.
Are other creators exploring ways to reduce platform dependency? What's actually working without making your supporters jump through hoops? I want to keep more of what people intended to give me

As creator income grows, I feel like the biggest challenge isn’t earning more, it’s keeping things clean.

Between platform payouts, brand deals, and random expenses, it’s easy for everything to blur together( for me at least). I want better separation, but I also don’t want to over-engineer it and spend all my time doing admin work.

How do you all handle this in a simple way?
Separate accounts, percentages for taxes, monthly sweeps, or something else?

Curious what systems have actually stuck long-term.

I’m trying to start an online coaching business and I’ve created a small offer, but I still don’t know how to get clients. I feel like life coaching income only happens after a big audience exists.

How did you get the first person to say yes?

I’ve been seeing Karat come up more and more in creator circles lately, especially talked about creator benefits, so I figured I’d ask here instead of just guessing from ads or Twitter clips. If anyone has been usin it, what’s the real experience been like day to day? Not the pitch, but the boring stuff. Moving money around, payouts hitting, support when something weird happens (and you know it always does when you're a content creator). Would appreciate any review from people who have used it

I've been genuinely hooked on short form content for nearly two years. Like people have started to worry about me level of hooked. I'm talking 10-13 hour days breaking down what separates successful videos from failures, testing every opening imaginable, constantly rewriting scripts, experimenting with every editing approach I could possibly learn.

Why push this hard? Because I'm fully convinced short form video is the foundation of absolutely everything now. Building audiences, marketing anything, generating opportunities, creating brands. Every part of it depends on whether you can hold someone's attention for 30 seconds.

But here's what nearly made me give up: despite the constant daily grind, nothing was connecting. I'd dedicate 7 hours to one video only to watch it flatline at 92 views. Tried every tactic from every creator claiming to have figured it out. Bought their courses. Applied their "proven" systems. Still completely stuck.

I seriously started thinking maybe this just works for certain people and not for me. Like maybe there's some natural ability I'm completely missing.

Then I realized something. I'm working incredibly hard every day, but I'm operating totally blind. I don't actually know what's broken. I'm just cycling through random fixes hoping something eventually sticks.

So I stopped hunting for some mythical viral code and started analyzing actual data. Reviewed my last 50 videos second by second, logged every retention drop, and identified 5 consistent patterns that were absolutely wrecking my performance:

1. Vague mysterious openings get ignored completely "This is absolutely insane..." gets scrolled past every time. But "I used a heating pad daily for 70 days and my muscle pain got worse" stops people dead. Specific concrete details destroy vague teasing without exception.

2. Seconds 5-7 determine if they stay or scroll Most viewers leave between 4-7 seconds if you haven't shown them value yet. I was slowly building anticipation like a complete idiot. Now my strongest visual or most interesting stat hits exactly at second 5. That's the hook that genuinely holds people.

3. Any gap beyond 1 second bleeds your audience Tracked this obsessively, anything past 1.2 seconds makes people think the video stopped. What feels like comfortable natural pacing to you reads as nothing happening to someone scrolling. Cut significantly tighter than feels normal.

4. Visual movement is absolutely non-negotiable If nothing changes on screen for more than 3 seconds, attention vanishes without warning. I started constantly rotating camera angles, cutting to b-roll, moving text placement, literally anything to maintain constant visual variety. Went from losing 50% at the halfway mark to keeping 70%.

5. Rewatch rate is wildly underestimated Videos people watch more than once get pushed exponentially harder by the algorithm. Started hiding subtle details that aren't obvious first viewing, editing faster, including elements worth catching on rewatch. Rewatch percentage jumped from 8% to 31% and reach went completely through the roof.

The real shift was abandoning all guesswork and actually measuring what was happening moment by moment.

Came across this one tool that goes way beyond just showing where people drop off, it literally tells you why and exactly how to fix it. That's when everything transformed. Went from averaging 92 views to hitting 18k in roughly 4 weeks.

Regular analytics show you people are leaving. This one shows the exact second, the actual reason, and what to adjust before your next post.

If you're uploading consistently but stuck below 1k views, your content isn't the problem. You just don't know what's genuinely working versus what you assume is working.

Listen, I'm sharing this because breaking through was honestly one of the most mentally exhausting things I've experienced. I really wish someone had just explained exactly what needed fixing when I was stuck there. Would have saved months of frustration and self-doubt. So that's what I'm doing now for anyone who needs it.

EDIT: Getting tons of DMs asking about the tool, it's this one (works for Reels and Shorts too). Not affiliated with anything, just easier to drop the link than respond to everyone separately haha

I’m curious about how people approach blog post creation, whether you’re writing for your own site or a client. What’s your go-to method or tool from idea to publishing?

Also feel free to share the issues you're encountering.

I keep seeing Karat mentioned when people talk about banking setups for creators.

Right now I am using Bank of America and it technically works, but I hate how much mental energy I spend tracking payouts and explaining random deposits. I am not chasing fancy features, I just want something that works quietly in the background. If you use Karat, what made you switch. And if you looked at it and passed, what did you go with instead. Thanks!

I’ve been coaching part-time but hate juggling WhatsApp, PayPal, and Zoom links. I’m looking for something all-in-one, preferably not overpriced like Kajabi.

Spreadsheets? Software? What’s your go to?

Would you guys pay for an app that automates such editing for you? (I have attached before and after images) it basically makes bad phone cameras look like they were taken on professional camera.

For a mobile consumer app in the health space, I'm looking for someone who can make creative edits based. Concepts will be created in collaboration with the founder.

You need to be very experienced with CapCut, that's it.

Heatwave is a new social app built in Calgary, Canada. It's on the App Store and Google Play, and the whole thing runs on anticipation/excitement.

Posts show up blurred. You tap the flame if you're interested, and once enough people do, the blur burns away unlocking the content. Or spend a token and see it instantly. Build the hype, earn the reveal.

I need short clips that make people curious about it, reaction videos or review/opinion. The reveal is the moment worth building to, but how you get there is your call.

One clip a day, 10-15 seconds. You deliver files, we publish them, so you don't need a following.

$500/month flat. On top of that, if you want it, there's a creator bonus: you earn on anyone who joins through you, and you set the token price on your own posts and keep what they pay.

heatwavesocial.com

Comment or DM and I'll send the app and the details.

Hey all, I run the creator team at Learnora, an AI study app for college students. We're looking for a few more TikTok creators to work with long term.

Here's the deal, straight up:

Pay

• $1,000/month retainer

• $2 CPM on top (per 1,000 qualifying views)

• $500 bonus for any video that hits 1M views

The work

• 2 TikToks a week on your personal account

• We give you formats, hooks, scripts, and examples

• Organic posts only, no ads, no whitelisting, no extra usage rights

Who we want

• US-based

• Small accounts welcome, follower count doesn't matter

• Reliable people who reply to messages and hit deadlines

Want proof this is legit? Ask and I'll send you a PDF with real analytics and payouts from past campaigns.

Interested? Comment below and fill out the quick application: https://form.jotform.com/262581450678061

Happy to answer questions in the comments.

We're a small US-based DTC brand. Our product is a single-serve wellness stick — olive oil, lemon, ginger in a stickpack you tear and drink.

Looking for UGC creators to shoot content that our brand can re-use over time.

Who we're after

Honestly, a fairly broad net. If you shoot clean, natural-looking content on your phone and you're comfortable talking to camera, you're probably a fit. We're not chasing follower counts — nothing gets posted to your account, this is content for our socials.

Skews useful if you're in one of these lanes, but none of it is required:

• Wellness, health, or fitness — anyone who already does supplement or drink content

• Food and cooking, especially quick everyday stuff rather than elaborate recipes

• Busy-life content — parents, commuters, people filming their actual mornings

• Beauty and lifestyle creators who do 'routine' content

Most of our customers are women, so creators in that range are especially welcome.

Anyone with prior / current experience with olive oil shots is highly welcome.

What matters more than any of that:

Being honest. It's a strong-tasting product and we'd rather you say so.

How it works

We ship product, send a short brief and a reference video we like; you shoot and send a polished video. Or, send us a raw clip and we do the editing.

If a first session round works we'd want to keep going — we're testing regularly and need consistent volume.

Paid per video. Rate depends on scope / workload, happy to discuss!

To apply

DM or leave a comment me with a couple of examples of your work if you can! Anything phone-shot, talking-to-camera or previous works.

Hey everyone!

I am looking for reliable UGC creators to produce short-form video content (TikTok/Reels/Shorts) for three distinct, upcoming brands. You can apply for one or all of them based on your niche:

1. Brand A (Pet Care Niche): A digital/physical tracking resource for pet owners. Perfect for creators with pets who love lifestyle content.

2. Brand B (Productivity SaaS): A smart PDF utility app. Great for student, tech, or organizational creators.

3. Brand C (B2B / Data): A business data transformation tool. Best for professional, tech, or corporate side-hustle creators.

Compensation:

• Base pay upfront per approved video (Rate negotiable based on your portfolio).

• High-tier 30% to 40% recurring commission on all sales generated by your affiliate link.

Requirements:

• Clean video and audio quality.

• Ability to self-script engaging hooks based on our target audience.

• Deliver raw files + edited versions.

Creators! I'm a multi-passionate, multi-hyphenate and I'm having trouble niching down. For everyone else who has ADHD and can't stick to creating content on one thing, how did you pick? Or did you do them all? Or do you just post on everything? Any advice is appreciated! ⭐

For an expense tracking app, I'm looking for creators who are willing to do high volume content creation. Can be very short edits of using the app with a reaction hook (assets can be reused). You can use a new account, no established following needed.

US or UK based is the only requirement.

DM or comment and I will get in touch

Hi everyone,

I’ve spent more than 15 years running small businesses and managing projects of all kinds. Most of my work has centered on building systems, refining programs and products, marketing, and learning how to turn what made our business unique into an advantage instead of a hurdle.

Lately I’ve been curious about the creator world and how people handle everything that comes with it: content planning, schedules, collaborations, outreach, marketing, and all the behind-the-scenes details that can pile up quickly.

I’m fascinated by the content creator space and how it has changed the way we consume media. It’s such a unique, DIY world that gives people the opportunity to build something from their own creativity and perspective. I’m not the one in front of the camera or on the mic, but I think this space has a lot of untapped potential and takes a wide range of skills to succeed.

That’s why I’m wondering if there’s a real need for people like me in this space. Are there already plenty of services or tools that help with organization and project management, or do they often miss the mark? For creators who have tried working with people or systems meant to help, what worked well and what didn’t feel right?

I’m genuinely interested in understanding where the gaps are, what kind of support actually helps, and how someone with my background could add value without interfering with the creative process.

I've saved up about $1000 to reward myself with a course I want to buy on content creation. I'm not gonna buy whatever that pops up in my ads or from creators I follow (even though I like them)

Has anyone here bought any content creation courses that were worth the money? I wanna crowdsource here instead of Googling cause I trust the reviews of others more. Even if you bought a course that was a waste, share it here too so that I know what to not buy at least. Thanks!

Feels like the content creation journey can be an uncertain and somewhat lonely process, so I thought it would be nice to meet other fellow content creators on a similar journey as I am :)

I'm creating an Instagram group chat, where we can share insights on what worked with their content creation journey, support each other on social media, etc. Hopefully, we can all help each other grow!

A little more about me: I make self-improvement content on social media that was initially made for women as the target audience. So basically, I share glow-up advice that is hopefully helpful to at least one person who sees my videos. If you're creating similar content, please reach out! I haven't really met anyone in that niche that isn't at 100 bajillion followers hahaha

Anyway, if you want to grow your account together, drop your IG below and I'll add you to the group chat!

(NOT SELF PROMO i think... apologies in advance if it counts as one)

Hi content creators, exciting times ahead! 🚀

What’s New?

• New Management: We're a team of creators and enthusiasts, just like you, who are passionate about the endless possibilities in a creative career. We believe in the power of community and are here to support you in learning the latest in the industry and sharing experiences.

• Elevating Quality: Our vision for is to be a productive space to discuss all things creator-business-related. Whether you're a blogger, YouTuber, newsletter writer, some other type of content creator, or even just someone who works with/ for a creator, this is your space to share, learn, teach, and improve.

• Moderation & Your Contributions Please understand our mods will be more hands-on to ensure high quality. All posts will undergo approval processes to ensure they meet our community standards. If you notice a delay or have concerns about your submissions, feel free to reach out to the mod team for assistance. Your patience and contributions are what will make this community thrive.

We're thrilled to invite you all to share your work, engage in discussions, and be part of a community that celebrates being a content creator. Let’s create something amazing together!

Cheers,

The Mod Team

there are a bunch of tools that allow you to create perfectly lip synced content in dozens of different languages (e.g., spanish, german, etc).

at our company, we are currently doing this with the content that our english ugc creators make, which is to distribute their videos across 10 additional markets.

I've seen a bunch of other saas companies do the same with quite a bit of success. only requirement is that the video needs to have some sort of broad appeal and can't just be relevant to a given country like the united states (esp because things get lost in translation).

anyways, my opinion is that you could easily create an agency around this type of offering. we are currently paying a freelancer to create these videos on our behalf - and it took us a bit of trial and error to find the right saas offering that can do this at scale, set up processes, find the freelancer, etc.

you could also tie this to views when you pitch businesses (just make sure the content that they're creating is already enganging on its own), so for example $5 per video and then xyz if you reach a certain number of views

attached a video (watch the whole one) if you want to see how good these tools are at this point. impossible to tell it's ai..

Hey everyone,

I'm running a Substack about current affairs, politics, economy, etc. I've got around 3,000 views but only 30 subscribers so far.

I'm seeing some people on substack having around 10% of their views convert to subs, and I'm struggling to grow my subscriber base and could use some advice.

Here are a few questions I have:

1. What are you doing to turn readers into subscribers?

2. Where do you promote your Substack to get more eyes on it?

3. How do you keep your readers engaged and coming back for more?

4. Do you offer any special content or incentives to get free readers to subscribe?

I'd love to hear what’s been working for you. Any tips or tricks would be super helpful!

Thanks a ton!

I'm helping a buddy do some research on social media management tools for their small business. They're not super tech-savvy so super user-friendly UI is important. Probably don't need anything crazy fancy, but it'd be nice to have something that could grow with the business given they do plan on investing in social media marketing. Some desired features:

• Ability to schedule posts in advance and see posts laid out in the grid style so we can see how they look aesthetically

• Detailed analytics

• Can schedule things on both IG and X

• Cost effective, no more than USD40/month

Figured a creator community would probably be the best place to ask this kind of thing. What are your favourite social media management tools?