Patreon-Type Sites May Be Good for Creator Revenue, but Web3 Is Better for Authentic Community Engagement

The creator economy is booming like never before, but it’s harder than ever for creators to establish direct relationships with their followers based on meaningful engagement and exchange of value. Can Web3 platforms like RepubliK offer a more compelling way to connect creators and their fans? 

Despite the odd doom-mongering forecast that generative AI will kill the creator economy, the reality is that the industry continues to thrive. VC investors believe that the sector shake-up caused by Twitter’s (now X) turmoil will generate healthy competition among rivals, potentially bringing about new features to attract and retain users. Forecasts from Goldman Sachs predict that the global creator economy is poised to nearly double in size over the coming years, from $250 billion in 2023 to around $480 billion in 2027, fueled by the rise of platforms like TikTok. 

This represents significant growth, particularly since the broader economy continues to face significant macro-level challenges. However, zooming out, perhaps it’s even more surprising considering the convoluted nature of revenue flows in the creator economy. 

Decisions, decisions – But No Easy Wins

Since the emergence of social media, the platforms have secured a stranglehold, meaning there are few monetization opportunities on-platform, with a few notable exceptions, such as YouTube’s revenue-sharing schemes. As such, most creators, especially those prominent on non-monetizable platforms like Instagram or TikTok, rely heavily on brand sponsorships to generate income. 

However, creators who prefer not to turn their channels into an advertising platform have fewer options. Sites such as Patreon and KoFi have become popular ways of monetizing a following directly; however, they come with their own issues. For example, earlier this year, Patreon creators reported being unable to access their earnings and losing subscribers, while others have complained that Patreon’s business model effectively devalues the creators’ work. 

Perhaps one of the biggest limitations is that these platforms are often relatively one-directional, providing no way for people to engage with their communities beyond asking for funding. Over time, this may create a risk that users feel they aren’t getting enough out of the subscription and decide to end their support. 

Even the main social platforms fall short in this regard since they don’t offer any easy way for creators to operate giveaways or incentivize new followers. Some creators may offer product discount codes or operate giveaways, but there’s no way to ensure that the most engaged fans get rewarded. 

Fair Rewards for Fair Value

One of the major value propositions of Web3 is that it facilitates peer-to-peer transactions online. In the context of social media, moving the business model on-chain enables fans to benefit from the value they bring to the creator economy while allowing creators access to direct channels of monetization that are closed off to them in the Web2 environment. 

RepubliK is a project focused on providing creators with the tools to engage fans and monetize their content while keeping the user experience familiar and friendly for Web2 users. However, unlike Web2 social platforms, where all value goes to shareholders, 100% of the value generated on RepubliK is redistributed to the community. 

All users are eligible to earn rewards for engaging in activities such as voting, creating, or sharing content. Rewards are accumulated in points that are redeemed for RepubliK’s native RPK token in periodic airdrops. Since everything takes place on-chain, it’s easy to identify and reward the most active fans for their engagement and the most influential for their referrals. 

Furthermore, creators can issue creator tokens based on smart contract technology, which enables them to monetize shares of their future revenue on the platform. They also have access to monetization tools, including paywalled content, paid chats, and subscriptions to curated streams. 

It’s a model that’s seen RepubliK draw in over 800,000 monthly active users with over 10,000 daily transactions on the platform, while still only in seed stage.

Simply Unlocking User Adoption

The project recently announced a collaboration with The Open Network (TON), which facilitates seamless and user-friendly onboarding to its blockchain via Telegram. RepubliK is committed to ensuring that users don’t need to operate a crypto wallet or be familiar with blockchain and digital assets to use its platform. Therefore, it simplifies registration through Web2 single sign-on options like Gmail or Facebook. 

Perhaps this last point could be the clincher since Web3 tools have often been criticized for a poor UX that’s too clunky and time-consuming for the average Joe user. And after all, creators have enough headaches navigating the existing complexities of the Web2 creator economy with its multiple platforms, capricious algorithms, and convoluted revenue streams. Simply being able to create content and get paid for it without friction or tech wizardry shouldn’t need to be an elusive dream, and who knows how much more value could be generated by the creator economy once it becomes a reality.