How Creators Make $200k/mo with Paid Communities

How Creators Make $200k/mo with Paid Communities

step by step how to create one

Grace Lemire

June 18, 2024

Hey.

Some creators are making nearly $200k/month from their paid communities…so today we’re diving into what they are and how you can create one.

In today’s newsletter:

What is a Paid Community? What Does it Entail?

A paid community is a closed, exclusive community only paid members have access to. Typically, they’re hosted on a platform like Patreon or Skool, where members can interact with one another.

Paid communities, also called memberships, may include exclusive content like group calls and bonus resources.

What Creators Make from Paid Communities

We did the math on some paid communities (# of members * monthly price) and here’s what creators are making:

Anyone else looking at these numbers like….what am I doing? 🤠

Me rn without a paid community… Gif by nbcthevoice on Giphy

How to Create a Paid Community

If you want to experiment with a paid community, here’s what you’d need to do.

1. Decide on the Content

Before creating a paid community, you might want to ask your audience what they’d want. Some communities have a general theme (like productivity), while others are super niche (like Halal investing).

2. Decide on the Value You’ll Provide

Paid communities need to provide value. But how much value you provide depends on what you want to price the subscription at.

For example, a $147/month membership should include more than a $5/month one. Keep in mind that what you advertise as being included, you need to follow through with. Don’t promise more than you can deliver.

Here’s what some popular paid communities provide and their price points:

VoiceOver School by Jesse Carroll ($47/mo)

Weekly live Q&A, auditions and demo feedback, coaching sessions; Weekly live “watch me work” sessions; Interviews with industry pros; Giveaways

Movementgems by Andrew Elkhouly ($14/mo)

Premium workout app access; Workout programs; Exercise library; Weekly accountability challenge to win $200

ANIME SHREDS by Nate Belmar ($22/mo)

Exclusive workouts; Tutorials for various health protocols; Accountability partner network; Apothecary “potions”; Meals and recipes; Member-only IRL events, & more

3. Pick a Platform to Host It On

Patreon had its moment a few years ago, but there are more robust platforms you can use now. Skool is one of the best we’ve found.

They have one pricing option: $99/month to host 1 group. This comes with access to all the features they offer, unlimited courses, unlimited members, and a 2.9% transaction fee.

You can activate a free 14-day trial to get a feel for the platform before forking over the cash.

Alex Hormozi endorses Skool (and he does very few endorsements) Gif by jordankruk on Giphy

4. Market the Heck Out of It

Once you’ve got your paid community set up on Skool, let your audience know they can sign up. Talk about it often, convey the value people get inside the group, and create FOMO where you can.

We can do a whole newsletter issue on marketing strategies for products like this. If you’d like to see that, hit Reply on this email and let us know.

5. Maintain the Community

If you agree to provide exclusive Zoom calls or resources, make sure to deliver on that. Skool also shows your activity publicly, so people can see whether you’ve been active in your group before deciding to join. With that in mind, it’s smart to log in and engage with your community for at least a few minutes a couple times a week.

Example of Skool activity for one creator.