Grow A Patreon For Recurring Revenue (Even Small Creators!)

While many bloggers are busy chasing likes and views, Patreon—a platform that makes it easy for fans to support your work directly—is helping savvy creators build an engaged community and earn recurring revenue in the process.

In an age of incessant algorithm updates and AI threats, moving your audience into a space you control, like Patreon, is a smart business move.

Luckily, our guest for this episode, successful Patreon creator Julia Menez, has mastered this.

Julia helps her audience optimize miles and points to travel luxuriously on a budget, and she has taken those relationships to the next level through a thriving Patreon community that has allowed her to turn her expertise into a predictable revenue stream.

Today, Julia will share how to:

• Structure your Patreon tiers for profits
• Promote your Patreon without being overly salesy
• Grow on Patreon with a small audience
• Manage your Patreon workflow without burning out
• Keep members engaged and subscribed
• And more!

1) Can you share more about your creator business and how you got into Patreon?

Before starting Geobreeze Travel, I was an actuary, doing deep math modeling as my day job. After completing my actuarial exams I was full of energy, and my husband suggested I find a hobby.

That is when I dove down a rabbit hole of personal finance blogs and eventually discovered the world of points and miles.

By the time the pandemic hit, I was deep into travel hacking but had nowhere to go, since nobody was traveling during this time.

I started reaching out to people for Zoom calls just to talk shop, which evolved into the Geobreeze Travel Podcast.

It was never supposed to be a business, but listeners started asking for one-on-one help. I eventually realized I could help more people—and earn more predictably—by moving to a group coaching model on Patreon.

2) What is Patreon, and why is it a smart option for creators looking to grow and monetize?

Patreon is a platform that allows for monthly recurring subscriptions, which means more predictable revenue.

Here is what makes it so great for creators looking to monetize:

Downsell opportunities: We use it as a downsell for people who aren’t ready for high-touch concierge services but still need expert guidance in a small group setting.

Format flexibility: While people use it for everything from essays to art to cinematic videos, we use it as an educational hub for group coaching.

Higher ROI on time: By answering everyone’s questions once a month in a group coaching session, I ended up making more money than I did with one-on-one calls, especially since the entry price for members is so much lower so I can help more people.

3) For creators thinking about starting a Patreon, what are some important considerations they should keep in mind to decide if this is actually the right move for their business right now?

It isn’t about hitting a specific follower count; it’s about having a validated offer that people actually want to buy.

Don’t just create what you want: Instead, you have to figure out what your audience actually wants and is willing to pay for, and deliver that.

Identify the “pay-for” gap: People don’t usually pay for secrets and tips. They pay for access to you, personalized help, community, and accountability. If your audience is already asking you questions about a topic, you have an idea of what they need help with and what they see you as an expert on.

Market research is mandatory: Don’t build in a vacuum. Ask your audience what they are struggling with and build your tiers around those specific pain points.

Audience size vs. audience depth: You don’t need a massive following to start a Patreon; however, you do need to know your audience well enough to know what transformation they are seeking.

4) When it comes to monetization, Patreon allows creators to offer tiered memberships, where each tier includes different offerings. How did you do about structuring your tiers, and what advice would you give to creators who are unsure about what to offer?

The most important thing to keep in mind is the relationship of fulfillment. The more work it takes from you, the more it should cost (and vice versa).

Low-fulfillment vs. high-fulfillment: If it’s a PDF, it’s a lower tier. If it involves you personally looking at their specific award search (in my case) or giving feedback, it’s a higher tier.

Donation tiers vs. value tiers: While a “support my work” approach can work for creators with deeply loyal audiences, it’s going to be hard to scale that for most. Personally, I prefer to give people a clear reason to join so they feel they are getting outsized value.

Simplified fulfillment: In my case, I offer group coaching. Members can submit specific questions, which I then answer in a monthly batch of tutorials. This keeps the value high without me needing to be on-call 24/7. I recommend trying to keep your fulfillment as simple as possible, as well.

5) Are there any other ways to monetize beyond the tiers—such as weaving in affiliate marketing, product sales, sponsorships, or something else?

Patreon is one piece of a larger ecosystem. We use it to build trust and then bridge members to other helpful offers.

Strategic affiliate promotion: We teach members how to use their points on Patreon. One thing we did in the past is we’d also offer free credit card consultations utilizing affiliate links to help them earn the points they need for those trips.

The CRM approach: Treat your Patreon members as a high-value segment of your community. Once they are in your ecosystem, you can better identify who might eventually need your higher-ticket consulting or other digital products.

Patreon Shop: While I don’t personally use the Shop feature because our model is focused on group coaching, it is a great option for creators who want to sell individual digital products—like one-off guides, presets, or templates—to both Patreon members and non-members.

Master one revenue stream first: Don’t try to implement too many monetization strategies at once or you’ll get overwhelmed. Instead, implement one at a time and, once it’s profitable, move on to the next one.

🎁 Don’t forget to grab your free Grow & Monetize A Patreon Cheat Sheet inside Travel Blogger Resource Library! You’ll also get access to 75+ resources that can help you grow your traffic, email list, and income.

6) When it comes to audience growth, what have been the most effective ways you’ve grown your Patreon community?

The most effective way to grow your Patreon is to build your presence on external social platforms and then funnel that traffic inward.

Organic funnels: I focus heavily on growing my Instagram and then using those followers to build an email list.

The power of email: Growing an email list is important. Not only is it an asset you own, but it is where the highest conversions tend to happen. In my case, it’s where I can nurture my new subscribers through helpful newsletters, showcase my expertise, and then invite them to join my Patreon.

Instagram Collaborations: Use the “Collaboration” feature on Instagram to work with other creators in related niches (like an accountant if you talk about business travel). Collaborating with other creators is a great way to grow quickly, even if you don’t have a huge audience yet.

🎥 Tip: Not sure what to put in your newsletter to nurture your audience? Here is a 20-minute newsletter strategy that works:

7) A struggle for many bloggers is selling themselves. How do you promote your Patreon to your audience without feeling overly salesly?

You don’t have to overly sell if you are demonstrating enough value for free to make the paid version feel like a logical next step.

The 4:1 ratio: Aim for four pieces of high-value, free content where you’re not asking for anything, followed by one post where you mention your Patreon or another paid product.

Make the benefit clear: When you do pitch, frame it as: “If you want this faster, better, or more personalized, we have a paid option for that.”

Information vs. implementation: Between my Instagram and podcast, I put all of my travel hacking tips out there if my audience wants to do everything themselves. However, the way I frame my marketing is the accountability, access, and community I mentioned above. For many people, this is necessary to actually get things done, which is where joining my Patreon would be helpful.

Human effort: When you show the real work you do for current members, others will naturally want that same level of expertise applied to their own travel goals. For instance, I show the work I do for current members by publicly sharing case study wins and sneak peeks of the custom tutorials I record.

8) One of the biggest fears creators have is that Patreon will become a second full-time job. How do you manage your workflow so you aren’t constantly on a content treadmill?

To avoid Patreon becoming a second full-time job, you have to be very clear about what is—and isn’t—included in your tiers.

Batch release content: I don’t answer requests one by one every day. Instead, I batch-record the tutorials and release them at the end of the month.

Set hard boundaries: If someone DMs me for one-on-one help but they are in a group tier, I politely redirect them to the monthly group coaching call or an upsell for a private consultation. When doing this, I recommend making it clear why this is beneficial for them so it feels helpful vs overly salesy.

Outsource where possible: Once profitable, hire people to manage group coaching links or handle administrative posting so you can focus on content and marketing.

Automation: Use tools like ManyChat on Instagram. If you post a tip, tell people to “Comment [Keyword]” to automatically receive the link to join your Patreon. You can also use ManyChat to promote opt-in freebies that get people onto your email list and into your sales funnel.

🎁 Click here for 30 days free of ManyChat’s Pro Plan!

9) How do you decide what stays free versus what goes behind the Patreon paywall?

I actually don’t believe in gatekeeping. I share all of my information freely across social media because, in this day and age, secrets don’t really exist. Someone can always find the information elsewhere for free if they look hard enough.

The divider for me isn’t the information itself; it’s the customization and hand-holding. My free content provides the “what” for my audience, but Patreon is where I provide tailored solutions for a member’s specific, personal situation and small-group coaching.

Again, these are the types of things that people are often willing to pay for over tips and advice.

10) Getting someone to join your Patreon is great, but getting them to stay is what really creates that recurring revenue. How do you keep churn rate low and encourage people to stay a member?

Retention is about consistency and managing expectations from the very beginning.

Annual subscription options: Offer and encourage an annual subscription tier. This provides you with upfront revenue and encourages long-term commitment from your community. For instance, to encourage members to opt for annual, I offer my highest tier annual subscribers personalized award search tutorials sent within four days.

Consistency is key: People don’t leave if they are still getting the value promised. Churn happens when a creator goes silent or becomes inconsistent with their delivery, so make sure to create an output schedule for yourself that is sustainable, even if it’s only once per month.

Provide an inner circle feel: Make your sessions or the content you provide engaging so members feel they have access to something special.

11) What common mistakes do people make when launching a Patreon?

The biggest mistakes creators on Patreon make are:

Lack of consistency: Don’t post 10 times in the first week and then go silent. Members pay every month, so they expect value every month.

Over-promising tiers: Don’t offer a tier that requires five hours of your time every month for only $10. You will burn out and eventually quit.

Skipping market research: If you launch a tier that nobody asked for, don’t be surprised when nobody joins. Instead, you need to create something that people will truly find valuable.

12) Thank you so much for sharing your Patreon tips! Where can people find you?

• GeobreezeTravel.com
• Patreon
• Geobreeze Travel Podcast

Recommended Tools For Starting A Patreon

ManyChat (get 30 days of their Pro Plan free). Automate your Instagram DM marketing using keyword triggers in posts to instantly funnel social media followers into your community or email list.

Kit (includes 30 days of their Pro Plan free). Growing an email list is essential as a blogger, and Kit is one of the top-rated email marketing platforms. Along with newsletter templates, landing pages, smart automations, and a platform for selling digital products, they have unique features like a Creator Network for collaborations and a referral system to help you grow faster.

Mailerlite. Another popular email marketing platform option, though with a few less creator-focused features than Kit (at least at the time of writing).

YouTube. If your Patreon offerings involve video content, you can use YouTube to host unlisted videos for free and still get access to YouTube’s detailed analytics to better understand your members.

Bonus Monetization Strategies

Learn how to:

• Monetize your content in 9 ways
• Create a resource page that grows your blogging income
• Increase affiliate conversions for more passive income
• Land high-ticket brand deals (even with a small audience)
• Become a profitable travel vlogger on YouTube & Instagram

➡️ Click here for the full Profitable Travel Blogger Podcast episode list!

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