5 Simple Steps to Delete and Reprice Your Tiers

If you want to change or increase the cost of joining your Patreon page, what we call repricing, you’re in the right place! 

They’ve served you well, your patrons have loved them dearly, but just like you, it’s natural for your tiers to evolve. It can be hard to say goodbye, so we’ve made this guide to help you successfully change your tier price(s) as smoothly as possible for you, and your patrons. 

Things to know before we get started: 

• If patrons are currently subscribed to your tier(s), you won’t be able to just change the tier price. Instead, you’ll need a strategy to create new tiers and phase out your previous tiers – this guide will help you build that plan!
• If you use the “select tiers” option to set post access, new tiers will need to have access manually added for your backlog posts. 
• This is only available for creators on the Premium and Professional program

5 simple steps to repricing tiers:

1. Build your plan
2. Give new tiers access to your posts
3. Unpublish former tiers
4. Delete former tier(s)
5. Following up with "no tier" patrons

Find answers to frequently asked questions about repricing tiers in the FAQ section below.

#1 Build your plan

When you want to change your price(s), a transition path for your patrons can be key to retaining their memberships. Patrons won’t receive email notifications about changes made to your tier(s). For this reason, we highly recommend letting your patrons know about any changes far in advance. 

Not sure how they’d react?

Publish a poll post to gather feedback from your patrons. Give them examples of what you’d like to change, and ask which they’d prefer. Including an “I’m happy with what I have” option is a great way to learn if the majority of your patrons prefer no changes. You can also send out a Google form to get the ideas flowing. 

Patrons appreciate feeling like they’re part of your process, and you’ll feel more confident in your game plan if you collect their input.

Example: If you want patrons in your $5 tier to join a higher, new tier, be sure to make your new tier price at least $5.50!

Give your patrons time to adjust

Give your patrons enough time to switch to a new tier. The amount of information you share with your patrons is entirely up to you, you know them best. Trust your gut on what information will make for a smooth transition.

We recommend letting them know: 

• The reason for the change
• How this change benefits them
• A timeline of when they can expect changes (i.e. when the current tiers and associated benefits will no longer be available)

Here’s an example note you can start teasing patrons with:

Hi lovely Patrons, I’m so excited to announce my new [ NEW TIER ] tier! This tier will be available for you to join starting March 1st. [ FORMER TIER ] will no longer be available to join starting March 10th, and will be completely deleted on March 25th. Be sure to select one of my new tiers between March 1st and 25th!  Special offer alert! If you join [ NEW TIER ] tier by March 25th you get a limited edition sticker! If you’re still in [ FORMER TIER ] when it’s deleted, you’ll still be my patron, but you’ll be a “no tier” patron, and won’t have the same access as you currently do. Here’s how to select a new tier: How do I edit my membership? Have questions? Thread them in the comments!”

Create your new tier(s)

Armed with insights from your patrons, you’re now ready to create your new tiers with your updated prices. To create a new tier:

1. While logged in to your creator account, click on the My Page button from the left sidebar navigation
2. While on your page, click on the Page controls or “…” button 
3. Click the Edit Tiers link from the page editor menu
4. Click the Add tier button and create your new tier 
5. Click the Save button to save your new tier in our system. The minimum information you can add to save a tier is a tier name and price; you can fill out the rest later  
6. Once saved, you can hide your new tier from your page, by clicking Edit tier button and scrolling down to click the Unpublish button. This will ensure that no patrons join this tier while you finish setting it up 

You can set up a special offer by clicking Page in the creator menu > Edit page > Advanced > Offers. You can have one special offer running at a time. 

• Setting up a Special offer
• Special offers handbook

Special Offers are available for creators on Professional and Premium plans. This feature cannot be used with per creation billing. 

 #2 Give your new tier access to posts

We highly recommend doing this step before publishing a new tier. Giving new tiers access to your post backlog is ensures that existing patrons have uninterrupted access to your posts. If you publish posts without specifying tiers and opt to publish them as “Patron only” then you can skip this step! Your posts are unlocked for all patrons regardless of tier level, and they’ll be available for new tiers as well.

If you share your posts using the "Select tiers" access option, new tiers you create will not automatically unlock access to these posts, and you’ll need to add your new tiers to back catalog posts manually.

You can give tier access to individual backlog posts with the following steps: 

1. Click the Create button from the left-hand side of your creator menu
2. Select Published from the list 
3. Click the Edit link for a post
4. Under “Select which tiers have access,” check the box for your new tier(s)
5. Click the Save button 
6. We've created this guide to help you with editing your posts: How do I edit or delete a post?

#3 Unpublish the tier(s) you won’t need

Potential patrons will only see published tiers on your page. Unpublishing a tier, ensures that no new patrons can join and your existing patrons have time to switch without an interruption to their post access. 

Existing patrons pledged to an unpublished tier will be tied to that tier until they edit or cancel their membership or until you delete the tier altogether. While a tier is unpublished, you can still make posts to target patrons in that tier and encourage them to switch tiers. 

Once your new tiers are ready, follow the instructions below to unpublish former tiers: 

1. While logged in to your creator account, click on the My Page button from the left sidebar navigation
2. While on your page, click on the Page controls “…” button
3. Click the Edit Tiers link from the page editor menu
4. Click the Edit tier button 
5. Scroll to the bottom of the tier editor and click on the Unpublish button > Click Unpublish to confirm 

You’ll know that your tier was unpublished when you see “Unpublished at [ DATE ]” for that tier.

There is no time limit on how long you can keep a tier in an unpublished state, so we recommend waiting until a good number of your existing patrons have switched to one of your new tiers. If you’re noticing a lag in patrons making the switch, pick up the messaging work with plug-ins posts and private messages – some people just need a friendly reminder. 

#4 Delete the tier

To delete a tier:

1. While logged in to your creator account, click on the My Page button from the left sidebar navigation
2. While on your page, click on the Page controls “…” button 
3. Click the Edit Tiers link from the page editor menu
4. Click the Edit tier button 
5. Scroll to the bottom of the tier editor and click on the trash can icon next to the unpublish button 
6. Click the Delete button to confirm – this is it, so check your list twice to make sure you’re ready for this step!

#5 Message any patrons with a “No tier” status

Once your tier has been deleted, you’ll want to continue your patron outreach for any patrons who still have a “No tier” status.

You can bulk message any patrons with this status in your Relationship Manager (RM). Here’s how:

1. Click the Patrons button from the creator menu 
2. Click Relationship Manager from the submenu. Your RM will default to your Active patrons as of today
3. Click the Filters button and check the box for “No tier.” You can also set the Pledge amount to send a message to no-tiered patrons in a particular payment range, so you can give them a tailored message for the tier that’s closest to what they’re already paying. Once applied, the filter(s) will be reflected in your RM list 
4. Click the Message button to bulk message all patrons who are both active and have a “No tier” status
   

FAQ

My patron says they’ve lost access. What should I do?

Check your RM. You’ll be able to search the patron’s email address or profile name to check which tier they are in, or if they’re a “no tier” patron. If they have a “no tier” status in your Relationship Manager, send them this guide to help them with switching to another tier: How do I edit my membership?

Why do I have to edit every post to grant access to new tiers?

There’s currently no way to grant new tiers access to back catalog posts automatically. With the way that post access works, only the tiers you’ve selected will have access. Because your new tier(s) did not exist when you first published your post, they have to be granted once the tier is created.

Why can’t I move my patrons to my new tier for them?

It’s a security issue. Only patrons can decide which tier to join and, more importantly, how much they’d like to be charged. We don’t want any surprise charges for patrons, and it can create a lot of confusion and frustration if their membership changes without their consent/action. 

How do I get patrons to move tiers?

Giving your patrons a clear timeline of events is the best way to get folks to move to a new tier. Today, it's easy to dismiss notifications and plan on reading messages "later." This is normal, so it's best to have a communication plan– giving patrons a month prior to the next billing cycle is optimal, and be prepared to remind them. Including a Special Offer with your new tier(s) is a great way to incentivize patrons to move fast. 

What's the difference between unpublishing and deleting a tier?

Unpublishing a tier only hides the tier from your page. Patrons who are in that tier, are still technically in that tier even if it's unpublished. Deleting a tier, completely removes it from your public page and your account.

How do I make the announcement?

We recommend making announcements in any spaces that your patrons are likely to find it– making a post is a great way to ensure all patrons have access to the information, and sending private messages with bulk messaging via your Relationship Manager adds a personal touch that can often inspire patrons to take action sooner. 

How much time should I give patrons?

A month's notice before the next billing cycle is optimal, so in the first few days of the month, after payments have been processed. This gives both you, and your patrons time to prepare. 

If I retire my tier, what should I price my new tier at? 

You know your patrons best, and you know what it costs you to continue creating and make income. If you're retiring a tier, we recommend setting your sights higher– if you're offering more exclusive benefits, or just more, it's worth more. Retiring a $1 tier? Think of what a $5 tier would offer. It might be better to have a few high-impact tiers that are priced higher, than a ton of tiers with very slight differences.