Patreon, Twitch, YouTube… Which social networks should you choose to generate income from your content? And above all, how do you go about it?
PRISM offers training to help you understand the mechanics of monetizing social media, tailored to the realities of entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries (CCI).
Watch a replay of the training session (in German - subtitled in English)
Report
Aimed at content creators (illustrators, photographers, designers, videographers, influencers, etc.), this training course covered the monetisation models available on the Swiss market. Led by the agency Ohooo GmbH, with feedback from Valais-based streamer Sandro (Twitch), it offered concrete tools for building a stable and consistent economic activity.
A Swiss market on a human scale
The fragmented and multilingual Swiss market offers specific opportunities: smaller but engaged communities and a direct relationship with the public. This favours monetisation models based on trust, regularity and authenticity.
The six monetisation models presented
- Partnerships and sponsored content
Collaborations are possible even for small accounts, provided that values, content and community are aligned. - Affiliate marketing
Commissions on sales generated via personalised links. Relevant in niche markets, to be used consistently. - Advertising via platforms
Passive model based on view volume (e.g. YouTube), but not very profitable without a large audience. - Subscriptions and memberships
Direct support from the community on platforms such as Patreon, Substack or Ko-fi. Predictable income, greater independence. - Product sales
Online shops for physical or digital products (stickers, photos, 3D models, etc.). Attractive margins if well exploited. - Long-form content
Podcasts, newsletters, articles. Engaging formats, suited to platforms that pay for time spent (Medium, Substack, Spotify, etc.).
Focus on Twitch: Sandro’s experience
Twitch allows you to generate revenue through:
- Subscriptions (no particular benefits, but no adverts)
- Bits (not very relevant in Switzerland)
- Affiliation (access to advertising after certain criteria have been met)
- External sponsorship (promotion of visible personalities)
The key to success: use other platforms to increase your visibility. Twitch alone is not enough.
In summary:
- Without an engaged community, there is no sustainable model.
- Diversifying your sources of income limits the risks.
- What works is what remains consistent with your universe.
- Creating quality content on a regular basis is essential.
- Legal aspects (transparency, taxation, VAT) must not be overlooked.
- It is possible to make a living from your content, provided you build a suitable strategy that is patient and rooted in the reality of the Swiss market.
