Quit Your Day Job: How to Turn Your Followers into Funders

For most creatives, having a day job is a fact of life…but does it have to be? While there are a million and one guides on how to build your social media following, there’s a lot less information on how to turn your followers into funders. The past few years have seen an explosion of services that help individuals build fanbases that fund their creativity. In fact, there are so many that it might be confusing to figure out which service is best for you.

Crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter are pretty common for projects, but you can also use crowdfunding and donations to fund your career as a creative. There’s a difference between crowdfunding for a project and creating a basic level of income, or even just adding a little bit more revenue on the side. Where do you fit in?

Ko-Fi

Best For: Newbies, Writers, & Artists Cost: Free, or $6/month

If you’re new to asking for money, Ko-fi is a simple, sweet way to build confidence and income. The idea behind it is that supporters can donate as little as a cup of coffee to the creators they love. They can donate monthly, or just once, making the platform extremely powerful without being overwhelming. That being said, small, one-time donations mean it might take a while for you to earn reliable income.