Creators interact with platforms every day. They upload their IDs, they provide banking information and they hand over content that is both valuable and sensitive. Creators clearly trust and rely on platforms, and yet creators rarely reach out to ask the platform for help, guidance and promotion.
Let’s take it a step further. As a content creator, you may go to other content creators who also didn’t ask anything of the platform, to ask about things like promotion, perks or educational resources. You see the point: you may just be missing out on those little perks that a site is willing to offer to help you grow your page, if you just reach out and ask.
You will find that platforms will be more than eager to support engaged, enthusiastic creators looking to make an impact in the online world!
HOW TO ASK FOR HELP
Before getting to what you could be and maybe should be asking for, let’s first start with the etiquette of asking.
Helping others, while a counterintuitive instinct to some, is generally a basic human drive. People want to help others, especially when developing a mutually beneficial relationship. But how to ask is very important to consider. Put another way, if you make it easy to answer your question… well, then it will be easier for people to give you information!
At a minimum, try to be civil to the people you talk to on the platform. Realize that you’re probably the 100th person they’ve talked to that day — and probably the 1,000th person who has asked the same question. Do your part by helping them help you. Provide your platform link or username so they can look you up easily. Actually ask your question versus simply stating a topic.
Providing basic information in a clear manner will also help you get your question answered faster. By minimizing the back-and-forth required to clarify who you are and what you are asking, you streamline the support process, and that’s a great thing.
Here are a few things you can — and should — be asking for:
- Walkthroughs and educational materials: Regardless of how skilled you are as a content creator, each platform has subtle differences, occasional huge differences, variable features and more. Fully understanding how the platform works will go a long way in making you successful, so ask for education and training! Each platform also has different methods of providing educational material. Some have FAQ pages and tutorial videos; others offer walkthroughs and community outreach. Exploring educational resources is the first thing the average new user should spend time on, while getting a feel for the site.
- Promotion: Just like educational materials, every platform has promotional opportunities. Though these can vary, they do exist — so you should ask about them and what you can do to participate, engage and receive promotion. One bonus of asking about promotion (and participating in promotional opportunities available on a specific platform) is that the people behind the scenes start to realize you are engaged. Consequently, when unique opportunities come up, they may reach out to you for special promo.
- Merchandise and swag: Few things promote a platform quite as well as branded goods. It also shows people where to find you, so request merchandise and swag from your favorite site for a mutually beneficial exchange.
- A higher percentage payout for exclusivity: Every relationship is open for negotiation. If you are willing to put your time and energy into an exclusive (or even a semi-exclusive) relationship with a platform, then you have grounds for negotiation. Assess what it is that you have to offer, especially with varying degrees of exclusivity, and reach out and ask!
These few examples are just the tip of the iceberg, from getting basic questions answered to negotiating an enhanced business relationship. You are your own best advocate and cheerleader, and mark my words: you will find that platforms will be more than eager to support engaged, enthusiastic creators looking to make an impact in the online world!
Andrew Loyal is the support manager for Loyalfans, an all-inclusive fan club platform. Find him on Twitter @andrewloyalfans and contact social@loyalfans.com for promotional opportunities. Loyalfans can be followed @realloyalfans on both Twitter and Instagram.