Today, the three biggest social media platforms are Facebook (including Messenger), Instagram, and Twitter. All of these platforms are great for sharing content, especially photos. The only problem is that as a content creator, you want your content to reach as many people as possible. While that is possible through all three of these platforms, it can be extremely hard to do so and frequent algorithm changes also prohibit some content from reaching as many people as it can. This forces creators to look into other places where their content can be seen and potentially monetized. Here are a few for your consideration.
#1: Patreon
Patreon is a platform where its members can earn money from patrons who subscribe to their content. You’re allowed to post any kind of content you’d like, whether it be pictures, videos, a podcast, or even short stories. Your fans/patrons pay a monthly subscription fee to access your content, and your fee can be as low as $1 per month. You also can have membership tiers, in which your patrons choose how much they want to pay and how much content they want to access.
#2: Pexels
Pexels is a pretty well-known website that allows its users to find royalty-free images to be used for blog posts, websites, and even as the base for other designs. It’s also a place where up-and-coming photographers can build a portfolio of their work. Because the photographers are agreeing to upload and release the rights to their photos, they do not get paid for posting and sharing their photos. However, fans of their work are able to donate (either once or on a monthly basis) to the photographer’s PayPal account.
#3: ClickASnap
If you’re serious about photography, then ClickASnap is a photo sharing platform worth looking into. Unlike Pexels, you don’t have to give up the rights to your photos— you continue to own them. According to clickasnap.com, all you have to do is sign-up, upload your photos, and you can earn up to $0.60 (depending on the subscription you choose) every time someone views your photos. Once you’ve earned $15, you can cash out through PayPal. And don’t worry, the website disables screenshots so people won’t be able to steal your photos.
Clickasnap currently has an average of one million views each day, so there is potential for creators to successfully monetize off of the platform. There is a free subscription option offered, but creators don’t get paid from views with this subscription.
#4: Usenet
Usenet is a lesser-known platform, that’s not even a website at all. It can be accessed through a Usenet service provider, but once you’ve accessed it you’ll be introduced to a whole new world. With Usenet, you’re able to upload not just photo content, but videos, audio files, and text posts too. You post your content into something called newsgroups, which are similar to group discussion forums on other websites.
One of the great benefits of Usenet is that you are allowed to post uncensored (but original) content to an even bigger audience that you didn’t even know existed.
Like the other platforms mentioned above, you will also be able to access content from other users on Usenet. The newsgroups are labeled by subject, so you’ll know exactly which ones to look at when searching for and posting content. All downloads are secure, so you don’t have to worry about security issues.
All four of these platforms are worth checking out as a content creator. Though ClickASnap and Usenet are subscription based, you can still benefit from each of them. You can monetize ClickASnap, and Usenet gives you access to another world that can hold tons of inspiration for your next creations. Pexels is good for beginners to see how people react to their content, and you can potentially gain monetary support, while Patreon is good for more established creators with a fanbase.
