Hey there,

Happy Tuesday from Spain! I'm celebrating a big birthday with friends and family.

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I recently researched donations as a monetization option for independent podcasters. It has since occurred to me that donations also work well in the independent musician world. The general idea is that donations can play a role in sustaining your creative endeavors.

Note that in some cases below, we can substitute the word "tips" where I've used "donations."

I can hear some musicians thinking that asking for donations or tips is difficult or undesirable. But as Patreon reminded us some years ago, it's a practice that artists have employed for centuries. Embracing the idea can be as easy as welcoming the appreciation and support of fans who find your art worthwhile and often inspiring.

Musicians can encourage donations by making regular announcements across social media, in interviews, email newsletters, and at shows. We can increase donations by including a clear and consistent call-to-action (CTA) that tells fans exactly how they can offer their support.

Here are two examples of effective donation requests adapted from the websites of one podcaster and one writer.

Love our music? Please visit our Crowd Sponsor page (LINK HERE) to learn about the different ways of supporting us. We now have a new tip jar available, so it's as easy as clicking, tipping, and done. Your support = love. 💟

I spend hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars every month making music. For seventeen years, I've offered behind-the-scenes and early access to my music for my Patreon members. I have no staff, no label, not even an assistant — a thoroughly one-woman labor of love that is also my life and my livelihood. If this labor makes your own life more livable in any way, please consider aiding its sustenance with a one-time or loyal donation. Your support makes all the difference.

Transparent fund usage

Musicians can foster community, trust, and accountability by telling fans how donations are used and making a difference. This transparency will strengthen the relationship with fans and encourage continued support.

Donation platforms

Make it easy for fans to support you by using multiple donation platforms. Popular options include Buy Me A Coffee, PayPal, Venmo, and Patreon. ConvertKit's tip jar is a somewhat newer option that I use. Paypal.me is another easy option for accepting donations, allowing you to create a custom link within your existing Paypal account.

The idea is to offer multiple options that accommodate various preferences.

Payment options

Cater to different payment option preferences by including credit cards, bank transfers, and cash. Bitcoin is another option worth considering.

By accommodating various payment methods, you ensure that donors can contribute in their preferred way and thus capture more support.

Dedicated donation page

Create a dedicated webpage or landing page explaining why donations are vital to your music, how you'll use donation funds, and how supporters can donate.

Consider incorporating the following features on your donation page:

• A clear and compelling statement that inspires people to donate
• A visible donation form above the fold, eliminating the need for donors to scroll
• Easy payment options through Stripe or Paypal
• Minimal external links to maximize conversion rates
• Pre-selected amount, an "Other amount," and recurring payment options
• Pre-selected checkbox to cover transaction fees (avoids surprises at checkout and potentially saves on processing fees)
• A thank-you gift or incentive offer, such as a free song download or merch
• Social media sharing buttons that encourage supporters to spread the word

Incentives

Incentives can be powerful motivators for donations. Consider offering tiered incentives tailored to different donation levels. Shout-outs, free merchandise, exclusive or early access to content, and private Q&A sessions are perfect examples. Incentives don't have to be tangible or have a specific monetary value but should be unique and appealing to fans.

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding platforms like Patreon can be an excellent avenue for raising funds for recording projects, ongoing expenses, and gear upgrades. But it's important to remember that an existing audience across social media, email newsletters, and networks is crucial to successful crowdfunding campaigns.

Tips for a successful crowdfunding campaign

• Ensure your campaign looks professional and appealing, from the pitch to the perks.
• Learn from successful and unsuccessful crowdfunding campaigns to gain insights and promote your campaign actively.
• Research different crowdfunding platforms, considering factors like artistic creator focus and funding models, such as all-or-nothing campaigns.

People love supporting their favorite music artists

Adopting a friendly and informative tone works best when asking for donations. Share your vision with your audience and inspire them to support your work. You'll maintain a genuine connection with listeners in doing so.

People love helping people. As you build connections and share your passion, you may motivate others to contribute and be part of your musician's journey.

If you're already including donations as part of your income, let me know if you picked up any good ideas from this email or if you have any good ones for me to think about and share in the future.

Podcast Startup by The Unstarving Musician

If you're making plans to start a podcast, please check out Podcast Startup by The Unstarving Musician. Podcast Startup is a course designed to help new podcasters start and grow their podcast the right way. In this course, I share all the things I wish I'd known when I started out.

Learn more about a trial deal I've created for Liner Notes Subscribers at the link below.

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Support the Unstarving Musician

If you LOVE this email and/or The Unstarving Musician podcast, please visit UnstarvingMusician.com/CrowdSponsor to learn about the many ways of showing your love and support. We have a new tip jar option, so you know... Click, tip, done.

Your support = Love 💟

Shout-out to Bandzoogle

Bandzoogle has everything you need to promote and sell your music, keep your supporters informed, and sell merch. Bandzoogle also has EPK templates, crowd funding templates, email and social features for staying connecting with fans, and more.

If you haven't yet looked into it, visit Bandzoogle.com and use promo-code R O B O N Z O to get 15% off your first year!

Peace, love and flamenco,
Robonzo
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