The About section of your Patreon page is one of the most important parts of your page, as it gives potential patrons an idea of what to expect when they join your membership.
Here is the formula for creating the best About section possible:
Introduce yourself
While many of your patrons will have arrived at your page because you asked them to join you there, some visitors will need to know more about you. Make sure to start your description with a little bit about who you are and what you create.
Value exchange
What do fans get out of being your patron? They love to know why joining your Patreon means so much to you, your creative work, and your life — but, they also love the idea of getting something in return (such as exclusive access, merchandise, or bonus content).
In addition to using the About section to tell them about membership, give a brief summary of the benefits your fans will get when they join, from exclusive content to early access and more.
Keep things evergreen
Unless you plan to update this section all the time, keep this information appropriate for the long-term. Who you are, what you’re about, and why you’re here should be the key focuses. Other info about new projects, announcements, and other time-sensitive topics can be put in a post.
On the flip-side, there are a few things you may want to avoid when writing your page description:
Don’t use needy language
Your patrons get a ton of awesome stuff when they become your patron, so avoid using passive language that doesn’t illustrate how amazing becoming your patron is. Words like “support” or “help” or “donate” can make potential patrons feel like they are doing you a favor by becoming your patron. The notion of longevity isn’t there, either. Instead, using active terms like “get access” or “join my exclusive community” to entice fans to become your patron encourages long term participation. Plus, you get to emphasize your commitment to your audience and foster community at the same time.
Don’t write a novel
We get it — you have a lot to say! Communicating your vision and excitement about your projects can take up a lot of real estate, but it’s important to keep your description short and sweet. You only have a small window of time before someone decides whether or not to become your patron, so save the novel for what you’re actually creating on Patreon and keep your description as succinct as possible.
Don’t link to other sites
If you want visiting fans to click that big button that turns them into paying patrons, the worst thing you can do is lead them off of your Patreon page. Hyperlinks can be great when you’re trying to give viewers an idea of what you’re all about, but by limiting the number of times people are linked off of your page, you are increasing the amount of viewers staying on your page. Simple enough logic, right?