Start a new Patreon or incorporate into my old one?

mcoorlim · 2018-07-17T03:41:03+0900

I'm spending more and more time devoted to my game dev "hobby" and I figured I might as well try to see if I can get it to pay for itself through Patreon. As it is, however, I already have one for the books I write and the podcasts I produce. My first impulse was to just add game development as an aspect to the Patreon page, but I'm not certain that my current patrons (largely fans of my writing) would be interested in the games I'm working on, or that anyone who finds me through my games is interested in supporting my writing and podcasting. Then again, it's more effort/overhead to maintain multiple platforms, and I'd be splitting my audience. Should I maintain a separate game dev patreon, or just promote my game stuff on the already-established one I've already got?

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Started by mcoorlim Jul 16, 2018, 06:41 PM 3 posts View original ↗

mcoorlim

#1 Jul 16, 2018, 06:41 PM Source

I'm spending more and more time devoted to my game dev "hobby" and I figured I might as well try to see if I can get it to pay for itself through Patreon. As it is, however, I already have one for the books I write and the podcasts I produce. My first impulse was to just add game development as an aspect to the Patreon page, but I'm not certain that my current patrons (largely fans of my writing) would be interested in the games I'm working on, or that anyone who finds me through my games is interested in supporting my writing and podcasting.

Then again, it's more effort/overhead to maintain multiple platforms, and I'd be splitting my audience.

Should I maintain a separate game dev patreon, or just promote my game stuff on the already-established one I've already got?
Gabrelik

#2 Jul 16, 2018, 07:21 PM Source

I would recommend separating them out, but make a link and post about it on your current Patreon. In this way, fans of your writing who might also be interested in your game projects will be able to support you there as well, while those who are more writing inclined would not be inundated with out of character content. You'll eventually develop two entirely separate fan bases, with some wonderful overlap. :)
VioletSpark

#3 Jul 17, 2018, 05:55 PM Source

Gabrelik said:
I would recommend separating them out, but make a link and post about it on your current Patreon. In this way, fans of your writing who might also be interested in your game projects will be able to support you there as well, while those who are more writing inclined would not be inundated with out of character content. You'll eventually develop two entirely separate fan bases, with some wonderful overlap. :)

This sounds like an excellent idea.

For me personally, I get bored/annoyed when a creator goes off on a really out-of-genre tangent.
(for example, "I thought I was supporting your enjoyable horror fiction, but now it seems like all you do is this boring podcast where you and your musician friends talk about stuff I don't understand.")