How to start a fan site like Patreon with WordPress and SureMembers

Creative professionals and enthusiasts from various walks of life are increasingly turning to online platforms to share their work, build a dedicated following and generate income.

Whether you’re a budding artist or an established influencer, having a fan subscription site can help monetize your passion while fostering a close-knit community of supporters.

According to a report by Statista, the number of users of subscription-based services worldwide is expected to reach 1.5 trillion by 2025, up from 650 million in 2020.

If you’re wondering if there’s space for you, rest assured, there is.

In this article, we’ll dive deep into the world of creating your very own fan site similar to Patreon, using the power of WordPress and the SureMembers plugin.

Instead of relying on a third-party platform, you can leverage the flexibility of WordPress to craft a unique and personalized experience for your fans.

By the end of this post, you’ll have a working fan site that looks just like this:

This will give you the one-two punch needed to knock out fan site creation and take control of your online presence.

Stay tuned as we break down the step-by-step process of building your fan subscription site and explore the benefits of using SureMembers over traditional platforms like Patreon.

It’s time to unleash your creativity and pave the way for a thriving fan community that rewards you and your audience!

What is Patreon?

Patreon is a very popular membership platform. It allows creators to earn a steady income by providing exclusive content and experiences to fans, or “patrons,” who support them financially.

It’s a great way for creators to build and nurture their community while generating income from their craft.

According to Patreon’s website, over 250,000 creators have used the platform to earn more than $2 billion since its launch in 2013.

What features does Patreon have that are so appealing?

Patreon has become a popular choice thanks to a combination of features and benefits that cater to the needs of the modern creator economy.

Let’s explore some of the key features that make Patreon attractive:

1. Ease of use: Patreon’s user-friendly interface allows you to quickly set up a page, define subscription tiers, and offer rewards to your patrons. This simplicity enables you to focus more on your content and less on the technical aspects of managing a subscription site.
2. Flexible membership tiers: You can establish multiple membership levels, each with its own set of perks and benefits. This tiered system encourages fans to support creators at a level that suits their budget and preferences. Ite also allows you to offer exclusive content or experiences as an incentive for higher-tier patrons.
3. Recurring revenue: Patreon’s subscription-based model ensures a stable, recurring income for creators, allowing you to plan your finances and grow your business more effectively. This predictable income stream is a significant advantage over one-time sales or ad-supported revenue models.
4. Community building: Patreon provides tools to nurture and engage fan communities, including direct messaging, comment sections, and patron-only posts. These features help you foster a sense of belonging and encourage fans to become active participants in the creative process.
5. Creative freedom: The platform empowers you to retain control over content and artistic vision without the restrictions that may be imposed by traditional publishers, record labels or media networks. This freedom makes it so you can explore new ideas and take risks without worrying about pleasing advertisers or other entities.
6. Analytics and insights: Patreon offers access to valuable data. Analyze audience demographics, pledge growth and revenue projections to make informed decisions and optimize strategies for audience engagement and growth.

What costs are associated with Patreon?

While Patreon offers a valuable service, it comes with some costs:

1. Platform fees: Patreon charges a percentage of your monthly earnings as a fee, ranging from 5% to 12% depending on the plan.
2. Payment processing fees: There’s also payment processing fees that can range from 2.9% to 5% per transaction. Plus a fixed amount per transaction.

Patreon has undoubtedly become a go-to platform for many creators, but it’s not the only option.

As we explore in this article, using SureMembers provides a viable alternative that grants you even greater control and flexibility over your fan site.

It can effortlessly help you create a tailored experience that resonates with your audience.

SureMembers serves as a viable Patreon alternative

SureMembers is emerging as a strong contender in the realm of membership plugins for WordPress.

Combining the power of WordPress with the functionality of SureMembers, you can craft personalized fan experiences while maintaining complete control over the platform.

Let’s explore some of the key reasons why SureMembers is a viable Patreon alternative:

1. Full control and customization: With SureMembers and WordPress, you have complete control over the look, feel, and functionality of your site. Unlike Patreon, where pages must adhere to the platform’s design templates, SureMembers allows for extensive customization. You can align your fan site completely with your personal brand and artistic vision.
2. Lower fees: Patreon charges a fee ranging from 5% to 12% of monthly earnings. In contrast, SureMembers requires an annual subscription for the plugin, ranging from $69 – $149 per year and nothing else.
3. Seamless integration with WordPress: SureMembers integrates seamlessly with the world’s most popular content management system. You can leverage the vast array of WordPress themes, plugins and tools to enhance the features you provide.
4. Flexible membership management: Similar to Patreon, SureMembers allows you to establish multiple membership tiers with varying perks and benefits. The plugin also offers advanced features like content dripping, trial periods, and group memberships, providing even more flexibility in managing fan sites and communities.
5. Robust payment options: SureMembers supports a wide range of payment gateways, including Stripe, PayPal, and Authorize.Net. The plugin also allows for one-time payments, recurring subscriptions, and even pay-per-post options, giving you the flexibility to monetize content in a way that best suits your needs.
6. Data ownership and privacy: With SureMembers, you retain full ownership of your data and have more control over site privacy settings. This is particularly valuable for those who want to ensure the security and privacy of content and subscriber information.

SureMembers is a WordPress plugin that, combined with SureCart, provides a comprehensive solution for creating a fan subscription site.

With it, you can build a fan subscription site that rivals the functionality and appeal of Patreon.

All while retaining greater control, customization and cost-effectiveness.

Start a fan site like Patreon using SureMembers and SureCart in 7 steps

Creating a fan site like Patreon using SureMembers and SureCart involves a series of logical steps.

They will take you from the initial setup of WordPress to customizing your site with themes and plugins.

Follow these detailed steps to get your fan site up and running quickly:

Step 1: Install and configure WordPress

First, you’ll need to set up a self-hosted WordPress website.

Follow these steps to get started:

1. Choose a domain name: Select a memorable and relevant domain name for your fan site, and register it through a domain registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy.
2. Select a web hosting provider: Sign up for a web hosting plan from a reputable provider like SiteGround, DreamHost, Ultahost, or GreenGeeks. Ensure that the hosting plan you choose is optimized for WordPress.
3. Install WordPress: Most web hosts offer one-click WordPress installation. Follow your provider’s instructions to install WordPress on your domain.
4. Configure your site: Log in to your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Settings, and configure your site’s title, tagline, and other essential settings.

Step 2: Install a WordPress theme and customize it

There’s no shortage of WordPress themes that are designed specifically for fan subscription sites.

Choose a theme from the WordPress directory or purchase one from a third-party vendor and install it on your site.

We recommend using Astra in conjunction with the Starter Templates plugin to create an immersive experience.

Let’s take a look at the setup steps.

1. Install the Astra theme: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance > Themes > Add New. Search for “Astra,” install the theme, and activate it.
2. Install the Starter Templates plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Starter Templates,” install the plugin, and activate it.
3. Choose a template: After activating the Starter Templates plugin, navigate to Appearance > Starter Templates. Browse the available templates and select one that best fits your vision. Good options might be the Disc Jockey template or the Food Blogger & Influencer template. Import the template into your site by following the on-screen instructions.

1. Customize your site: With the template imported, you can now customize your site’s design and layout. Go to Appearance > Customize to access the WordPress Customizer, where you can modify colors, fonts, headers, footers, and other design elements. You can also use a page builder of your choice (several Starter Templates work with Elementor or Beaver Builder) to edit the layout and content of individual pages.

Step 3: Install and activate SureMembers and SureCart plugins

After setting up WordPress, you’ll need to install and activate the SureMembers and SureCart plugins:

1. Purchase SureMembers and SureCart: Visit the SureMembers website, purchase the plugin and download the files. Then go to the SureCart website and download that plugin as well. It’s free to set up basic subscriptions. After that, pricing for SureCart starts at $99 per year.
2. Install the plugins: With the plugins downloaded, your next step is to upload them to WordPress. In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New > Upload Plugin. Upload the SureMembers and SureCart plugin files separately. Once uploaded, click Install Now.

1. Activate the plugins: Once the installation is complete, click Activate Plugin for both SureMembers and SureCart.
2. Add your license keys: Head over to the SureMembers website and copy the license key for your plugin from your account. Go back to the WordPress dashboard and select SureMembers. When asked, paste in the copied license key into its designated area. Do the same for SureCart.

That’s it for installation. The plugins install and activate the same as any other and, aside from license keys, can be handled from within WordPress.

Step 4: Configure SureMembers settings

With the SureMembers plugin activated, you’ll need to configure its settings to match your fan site’s requirements.

Go to SureMembers > Settings in your WordPress dashboard and complete the following tasks:

• Configure payment gateways (e.g., Stripe, PayPal, Authorize.Net) for accepting payments.
• Customize content protection settings to ensure only members can access restricted content.
• Set up email notifications for new member registrations, subscription renewals, and more.

Take the time to explore all of the available settings in SureMembers, as these will significantly impact your fan site’s functionality and user experience.

Step 5: Create membership levels and content

Now, it’s time to create membership levels and add content to your fan site:

1. Create Access Groups: With SureMembers, you can create Access Groups that are tailored for your fan site. You can assign a name, an appropriate price, and duration of access – even free trials when necessary. But it doesn’t end there; with SureMembers, you have the authority to decide which content each group has permission to view.
2. Add content: Create posts, pages, or custom post types for your premium content. Spend time making sure you’re offering good value to your fans.
3. Select the content to be protected: Once you’re done creating an initial batch of exclusive content, you’ll next need to protect it. To do this, go back to the Access Group you completed in the previous step and select which posts, pages, or taxonomies you’d like to protect.
4. Set up drip content: You can decide when and what content to release over a set period of time to keep your fans engaged. Schedule when members should have access so that they continue to be engaged and feel as though the membership fee you’re charging is worth it.

Creating content will be an ongoing process but the steps above will be relevant to every type of content you create.

Step 6: Configure SureCart subscription product settings

Once you’ve created an Access Group, you can create a premium subscription product that fans can purchase.

To set up a subscription product, complete the following steps:

1. Go to SureCart > Products and press the Add New button.
2. Add a name for your subscription product then click Create.
3. On the edit product page, you can set a price for your subscription. To do this, click Add a Price.
4. On the next page, select Subscription under Payment Type.
5. For Price, input the amount you’d like to charge.
6. Next to Repeat payment every, select how frequently you want your fans to be charged this subscription fee (monthly, yearly and so on).
7. When finished making changes, click Create Price.
8. To connect the product to the SureMembers Access Group, click on the Add New Integration button. Then select SureMembers from the pop-up dropdown. The Access Group you previously created should be listed. Select it then click Add Integration to complete this process.
9. Click Save Product to finish your subscription product’s setup.
10. Rinse and repeat for as many access groups you create.

That’s most of the basic setup complete. You can take it much further if you want to, but you now have a fully functioning fan site.

Step 7: Test your fan site and launch

Before launching your fan site, it’s essential to thoroughly test its functionality. You want to be the one that discovers an error or omission, not your fans!

1. Test membership registration: Sign up for each membership level using a test account and verify that the registration process works smoothly. Ensure that the correct membership perks and access restrictions are applied.
2. Test payment processing: Conduct test transactions to confirm that payments are processed correctly. Make sure users are automatically assigned to the appropriate membership levels after payment.
3. Test content access: Log in as a member and ensure that you can access the premium content associated with your membership level. Verify that content is protected according to your membership settings.

Once you’ve tested your fan site and are satisfied with its performance, you’re ready to launch!

Promote your new fan site to your audience and start building a thriving fan community.

Marketing your new fan site: Strategies for success

After building your fan site, the next crucial step is to promote it and attract a dedicated audience.

In this section, we’ll explore several marketing strategies to help you grow your fan base and ensure the success of your site.

Leverage your existing audience

If you already have an established following on social media or through your content, take advantage of these channels to promote your new fan site.

Your existing fans are likely to be your most ardent supporters and can help spread the word.

• Announce your fan site on social media: Share the news about your fan site launch across your social media channels, and encourage followers to check it out and subscribe.
• Promote your fan site in your content: Include mentions of your fan site in your blog posts, podcasts, videos, or other content, and highlight the exclusive benefits that members will enjoy.

Collaborate with other creators

Partnering with other creators in your niche can help you attract new fans interested in your content.

• Guest appearances: Collaborate with other creators, such as guest blogging, podcast interviews, or YouTube collaborations. Use these opportunities to promote your fan site and showcase your expertise.
• Cross-promotion: Partner with other creators to promote each other’s fan sites. Share each other’s content on social media or mention each other in your content to expose your respective audiences to new creators.

Utilize email marketing

Building an email list is an effective way to stay connected with your audience and promote your fan site.

• Create a newsletter: Set up a regular newsletter to share updates about your content, fan site news, and exclusive member benefits. Encourage your audience to subscribe for full access to premium content and perks.
• Offer incentives for signing up: Provide incentives for joining your email list, such as a free piece of premium content, a discount on membership fees, or early access to your fan site.

Engage with your community

Fostering a strong connection with your audience can turn casual fans into dedicated supporters who are more likely to subscribe to your fan site.

• Be active on social media: Respond to comments, answer questions, and engage with your followers on social media. Building relationships can create a loyal fan base that’s eager to support your site.
• Host live events: Organize live streams, webinars or Q&A sessions to interact with your audience in real-time. Use these events to promote your fan site and showcase the benefits of becoming a member.

Offer exclusive content and experiences

Creating exclusive content and experiences can entice potential subscribers to join and help retain existing members.

• Behind-the-scenes content: Share behind-the-scenes content or works-in-progress that give your audience a glimpse into your creative process.
• Member-only live events: Host exclusive live events or workshops for your members. Give them access to unique experiences that are not available to non-members.
• Early access or discounts: Provide members with early access to your content or offer discounts on merchandise, tickets, or other products as part of their membership perks.

By implementing these marketing strategies, you can effectively promote your new fan site, attract a dedicated audience, and ensure the long-term success of your subscription-based platform.

Build a fan site like Patreon on your own terms with SureMembers

Building a fan site using WordPress, SureMembers, and SureCart offers numerous benefits over relying on platforms like Patreon.

With full control over your site’s design, functionality, and monetization, you can create a truly unique experience that aligns with your personal brand and vision.

Moreover, by employing effective marketing strategies, you can grow your audience, attract dedicated supporters, and generate a steady income from your content.

There are countless ways to promote your fan site and ensure its success. Try leveraging your existing audience and collaborating with other creators to offer exclusive content,

Embark on your creative journey today, and empower your passion with a custom fan site tailored to your needs and aspirations.

With the right tools and strategies in place, you can build a thriving fan community and turn your passion into a sustainable, rewarding career!