12 Ways to Grow Your Creator Business on BTS

Building recurring revenue as a creator isn't about chasing viral moments or hoping the algorithm smiles on you today. It's about creating real business infrastructure that grows with your audience over time.

At BTS, we've helped over 1,600 creators generate more than $1.4 million in payouts—and we've learned a thing or two about what separates creators who build sustainable businesses from those who stay stuck on the content treadmill. The creators who win aren't necessarily the ones with the biggest followings. They're the ones who understand that BTS is where creators turn content and community into real businesses.

The creator economy is fragmented. Most creators are forced to stitch together tools that never become a real business—a course platform here, a community tool there, payments somewhere else, email marketing in another tab. It's exhausting, and it doesn't scale.

That's exactly why we built BTS. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on what actually matters: creating content, connecting with your audience, and building something you truly own.

In this guide, we're sharing 12 proven ways to build recurring revenue and grow your creator business. These aren't theoretical tactics—they're strategies we've seen work across education creators, fitness coaches, entrepreneurs, and entertainment-focused creators on our platform.

Let's dive in.

1. Start with a Clear Value Niche (Not Just a Topic)

The difference between creators who build real businesses and those who struggle? A clear value niche.

A topic is "fitness." A value niche is "helping busy professionals over 40 build sustainable strength without gym memberships." See the difference? One attracts browsers. The other attracts buyers.

From our experience: We've seen creators with 10,000 followers outperform those with 100,000+ simply because they've niched down to serve a specific audience with specific outcomes.

Your value niche should answer three questions:

• Who specifically do you help?
• What transformation do you provide?
• What makes your approach different?

When you nail your value niche, pricing becomes easier, content becomes clearer, and your audience self-selects. The people who find you are already primed to pay because you're speaking directly to their situation.

Quick action: Write your value niche in one sentence. If it takes a paragraph, you haven't niched down enough.

2. Build a Membership That Delivers Ongoing Value

One-off sales are great, but recurring revenue is the foundation of a real creator business. Memberships create predictable income that lets you plan, invest, and grow without the constant hustle of launching new products every month.

The key to a successful membership isn't just gating content—it's delivering continuous transformation. Your members should feel like they're progressing every month, not just consuming.

What we've learned: The most successful memberships on BTS combine three elements:

1. Fresh content that keeps members engaged
2. Community access that creates belonging
3. Direct interaction that makes members feel seen

At BTS, we've built our membership infrastructure to support all three. You can drip content, host live sessions, and foster community conversations—all in one place.

Our recommendation: Start with a monthly membership at a price point between $29-$99 for most niches. This hits the sweet spot where it's accessible enough to convert well but valuable enough to be taken seriously.

3. Use Tiered Pricing to Capture More Revenue

Not every member of your audience wants the same level of access. Some want to lurk and learn. Others want direct coaching. Tiered pricing lets you serve both—and maximise revenue from each.

Here's a framework we've seen work across hundreds of creators:

BTS's take: Most creators undercharge for their top tier. If you're offering genuine access and transformation, don't be afraid to price accordingly. The right members will pay for speed and proximity.

The beauty of tiered pricing is it also creates a natural upgrade path. Members who start at Essentials often move to Premium once they see the value. That's recurring revenue that grows over time.

4. Create a Signature Course as Your Anchor Offer

While memberships build recurring revenue, a signature course creates a powerful anchor for your business. It's the comprehensive solution to your audience's biggest problem—packaged in a way that delivers transformation on a timeline.

From our experience: The best-performing courses on BTS share these characteristics:

• They solve a specific, urgent problem
• They promise a clear outcome in a defined timeframe
• They're structured for completion, not just consumption

Your course doesn't need to be 50 hours of video. In fact, shorter, more focused courses often convert better and generate better results. Completion rates matter more than content volume.

Here's how we recommend structuring your signature course:

Quick action: Map out your signature course in one page. If you can't explain the transformation in 5-7 modules, you're trying to teach too much.

5. Stack Pay-Per-View for High-Value Content

Not everything belongs behind a membership wall. Some content is so valuable, so specific, or so timely that it deserves its own price tag.

Pay-per-view content works brilliantly for:

• Masterclasses on specific topics
• Workshop recordings from live events
• Deep-dive tutorials that solve expensive problems
• Expert interviews your audience can't get elsewhere

Our data shows: Creators who combine memberships with strategic pay-per-view offerings generate 20-40% more revenue than those who rely on subscriptions alone.

The key is positioning. Pay-per-view works when the content:

1. Solves a specific problem with high perceived value
2. Appeals to people outside your membership (expanded reach)
3. Serves as an entry point to your larger ecosystem

At BTS, pay-per-view is built right into your creator business—no extra tools needed. Price it, gate it, sell it. Everything runs behind the scenes in one space.

6. Leverage Community as a Retention Engine

Here's something most platforms won't tell you: Content alone doesn't retain members. Community does.

When someone cancels a course, they're leaving content behind. When someone cancels a community, they're leaving relationships behind. That's a much harder decision.

What we've learned: Creators with active communities see 40-60% higher retention rates than those offering content-only memberships. The belonging factor is real.

But community doesn't happen by accident. You need to engineer it:

The BTS Community Framework:

1. Welcome rituals — Make new members feel seen immediately
2. Regular touchpoints — Weekly posts, live sessions, check-ins
3. Member-to-member connection — Encourage discussions, not just consumption
4. Shared identity — Give your community a name, language, inside jokes

Our recommendation: Spend 20% of your time creating content and 80% facilitating community. The content gets them in the door. The community keeps them.

This is why we built BTS as creator business infrastructure, not just a course platform. Community isn't an add-on—it's central to building something that lasts.

7. Offer Coaching or Consulting as a Premium Upgrade

If you have expertise worth teaching, you have expertise worth selling directly. Coaching and consulting represent the highest-margin offering in most creator businesses.

The math is simple:

• A $49/month membership = $588/year per member
• A $500/month coaching client = $6,000/year per client

One coaching client can equal 10+ members. And often, coaching clients require less content creation—they want your attention, not more videos.

Here's how we see creators successfully stack coaching:

BTS's take: Start with group coaching before jumping to 1:1. It's more scalable, still delivers transformation, and helps you refine your methodology before going high-touch.

At BTS, you can manage coaching relationships, deliver resources, and collect payments—all without juggling multiple tools.

8. Use Free Trials Strategically (Not Desperately)

Free trials can be powerful acquisition tools—or they can train your audience to expect free access forever. The difference is in the execution.

From our experience: Free trials work best when:

1. They're time-limited (7-14 days is the sweet spot)
2. They demonstrate value quickly (front-load your best content)
3. They require commitment (credit card on file, not just email)
4. They have a clear conversion path (what happens at day 7?)

Here's what we've seen underperform:

• 30-day trials (too long—they forget why they signed up)
• No-credit-card trials (attract freebie-seekers, not buyers)
• Trials without onboarding (members get lost before converting)

Our recommendation: Offer a 7-day trial that includes your best "quick win" content. If someone can't see the value in a week, they probably won't see it in a month.

On BTS, free trials are built in. Set the duration, set the conversion moment, and let the system handle the rest.

9. Bundle Offerings for Higher Average Order Value

Single purchases are fine. Bundles are better.

When you bundle related offerings, you:

• Increase average order value
• Simplify the buying decision
• Create perceived value (the "deal" psychology)
• Move inventory on underperforming products

The BTS Bundle Framework:

What we've learned: Bundles work especially well during launches, sales events, and as "upgrade paths" for existing members who want to go deeper.

The key is presenting bundles as the smart choice, not the cheap choice. You're giving them the complete solution, not just discounting.

10. Build an Email List You Actually Own

Social media followers are rented. Email subscribers are owned.

This is one of the most important distinctions in the creator economy, and it's why we built BTS around the principle of ownership. If Instagram changes their algorithm tomorrow, your follower count becomes meaningless. But your email list? That's yours forever.

Our data shows: Email converts 3-5x better than social media for paid offerings. The people who give you their email are signaling intent. Respect that signal.

Here's how the most successful BTS creators build and leverage email:

1. Lead magnet → Free resource that solves a small problem
2. Welcome sequence → 5-7 emails that build relationship and trust
3. Regular newsletter → Weekly or bi-weekly value delivery
4. Launch sequences → Strategic campaigns for new offerings

Quick action: If you don't have an email list, start today. A free checklist, template, or mini-guide is enough to get started. Then nurture that list with genuine value.

At BTS, you can capture emails, deliver lead magnets, and guide subscribers into your paid offerings—all in one place.

11. Create Recurring Events That Members Won't Miss

Live events create urgency, build community, and give members a reason to stay engaged month after month. They're the heartbeat of a thriving creator business.

From our experience: Creators who host at least two live events per month see significantly higher engagement and retention than those who only post pre-recorded content.

The events don't need to be elaborate. Here are formats that work:

BTS's take: Don't overthink it. A simple "Ask Me Anything" session creates more connection than a polished webinar. Your members want access to you, not production value.

12. Treat Your Creator Business Like a Business

This might sound obvious, but most creators treat their business like a side project until it's forced to become more. The ones who succeed flip that mindset from day one.

What we mean by treating it like a business:

• Track your numbers — Revenue, churn rate, conversion rates, member growth
• Set goals — Monthly, quarterly, annual targets that stretch you
• Invest in growth — Reinvest profits into content, tools, support
• Plan your content — Editorial calendar, not random posting
• Protect your time — Boundaries with members, focused creation blocks
• Build systems — Processes that work without you babysitting

From our experience: The creators on BTS who hit six figures don't work 10x harder than those who plateau at $2k/month. They work strategically. They know their numbers. They make decisions based on data, not feelings.

This is exactly why BTS is the creator business infrastructure. We've built the systems so you don't have to duct-tape tools together. You get one place to manage everything—content, community, payments, members—so you can actually focus on growing.

How We Built BTS to Address These

When we started building BTS, we didn't ask "What features do creators need?" We asked: "Why are so many talented creators struggling to build real businesses?"

The answer was fragmentation.

Creators were using one platform for courses, another for community, a third for payments, a fourth for email, and somehow trying to make them all work together. Most creator platforms optimise for transactions, not ownership. They're designed to process payments, not help you build something that lasts.

Our philosophy is different. BTS gives creators one place to build something they own. We focus on structure and momentum, not algorithms. We're not a social network—we don't want your audience scrolling; we want them transforming. We're not a marketplace—we don't find your customers; you bring your audience, and we help you turn them into a real business.

Here's what that means in practice:

We built memberships and courses into the same ecosystem because that's how real creator businesses work—they blend ongoing value with signature offerings. We made community central because retention matters more than acquisition. We designed everything to look and feel like a modern brand, not back-office software.

As George Mirosevich, one of our creators, put it: "I was already sharing a lot online... BTS just helped me turn it into something much more tangible."

That's the goal. Take what you're already doing and give it structure. If a creator has an audience but no structure, BTS is the answer.

Ready to Build Something Real?

You've got the strategies. You've got the framework. Now it's about execution.

The creators who succeed aren't the ones who consume the most content about building creator businesses. They're the ones who start building.

At BTS, we've designed our platform to get you from idea to income as quickly as possible. Our free Starter plan lets you launch immediately—no credit card required, no complicated setup. Most creators go live within a day.

When you're ready to scale, our Pro plan unlocks custom domains, advanced features, and our lowest platform fees—so more of what you earn stays with you.

$1.4 million+ paid out to creators. 1,600+ creators building real businesses. One platform designed for ownership.

This is creator business infrastructure. This is BTS.

Your audience is waiting. Build something real.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does BTS cost?

BTS offers a free Starter plan to get you up and running immediately. Our Pro plan is competitively priced for serious creators ready to scale. The Starter plan includes a 10% platform fee, while Pro reduces that to 3.5% + 30c per transaction at $149/month. Check our pricing page for full details and to calculate which plan makes sense for your revenue level.

Is BTS free to use?

Yes! Our Starter plan is completely free with no monthly fee. You can launch your creator business, start accepting payments, and begin building your community today. We only take a percentage when you earn—so we're invested in your success. Upgrade to Pro when the math makes sense for your growing business.

What makes BTS different from other creator platforms?

We focus on creator business infrastructure, not just monetisation. While other platforms optimise for transactions, we're built for ownership. Everything runs behind the scenes in one place—content, community, courses, payments, members. No duct-taping tools together. No platform that looks like a 2005 online course portal. Modern design, real business infrastructure.

Can I migrate my existing members to BTS?

Absolutely. We help creators migrate from platforms like Patreon, Teachable, Circle, and others every week. Your members can transfer seamlessly, and we'll work with you to make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Many creators are surprised by how smooth the transition is—and how much better their business runs once everything's in one place.

How long does it take to set up BTS?

Most creators launch within a day. We've designed our onboarding to get you earning quickly, not buried in settings and configuration. If you have your content and pricing figured out, you can go from signup to live in a few hours. Our creator success team is here if you need guidance, but the platform is intuitive enough that most creators don't.

Does BTS take a percentage of my earnings?

Yes, and we're transparent about it. On the free Starter plan, we take 10% of transactions. On Pro ($149/month), it drops to 3.5% + 30c. Compare that to competitors and factor in that BTS replaces multiple tools—the economics usually work out strongly in your favour, especially as you scale.

What kind of support does BTS offer?

We provide hands-on creator success support. Real humans who understand your business, not just a ticket system that sends auto-replies. Our team has helped creators at every stage—from first launch to scaling past six figures. We're builders helping builders.

Can I use my own domain with BTS?

Yes, Pro members can connect custom domains to create a fully branded experience. Your business should look like your business, not like you're renting space on someone else's platform. This is part of our commitment to ownership—your brand, your domain, your business.

What types of creators does BTS work best for?

BTS works best for education-focused creators with clear niches and existing audiences of 10,000+. Think coaches, educators, experts, and entrepreneurs selling digital products—courses, communities, coaching, content access. We also work well for entertainment-focused creators (100,000+ audience) offering behind-the-scenes access to their lives and work.

Can I sell courses and memberships together on BTS?

Yes—and we'd encourage it. The most successful creator businesses combine one-time course sales with recurring membership revenue. BTS is built to support both, along with pay-per-view content, coaching, and bundles. Mix and match to create the revenue model that works for your audience.

How fast do I get paid?

Fast. Payouts happen within 1-5 days globally, and same-day in the US. We know cash flow matters for creator businesses, so we've prioritised getting your money to you quickly. No waiting weeks while a platform holds your earnings.

Does BTS work internationally?

We support creators globally, with coverage across most countries (excluding Africa, Spain, Venezuela, North Korea, Iran, and Russia due to payment processing restrictions). Whether you're in London, Sydney, Toronto, or Singapore, you can build your creator business on BTS.

What monetisation options does BTS support?

Comprehensive options: subscriptions (monthly and annual), pay-per-view content, one-off payments, free trials, tips, custom requests, and bundles. You control your pricing. We provide the infrastructure. Between these options, you can build exactly the revenue model that fits your audience.

Is BTS just for big creators?

No—but we're honest that BTS works best if you already have an audience to serve. We're not a discovery platform or a social network. If you have 10,000+ followers and a clear offering, BTS gives you the infrastructure to monetise. If you're still building from zero, focus on audience growth first, then come to us when you're ready to build.

What if I need help getting started?

Our creator success team is here to help. Whether you need guidance on pricing, structure, migration, or launch strategy, we provide real support from people who understand creator businesses. You're not just buying software—you're joining a platform invested in your success. That's the BTS difference.

Key Takeaways

• Recurring revenue is the foundation of a sustainable creator business—prioritise memberships and subscriptions over one-off sales
• Community drives retention more than content alone; engineer belonging, not just consumption
• Tiered pricing and bundles capture more revenue from your existing audience
• Treat it like a business from day one—track your numbers, set goals, build systems
• Own your audience through email lists and direct relationships, not platform dependency
• Start building today—BTS's free Starter plan gets you live in hours, not weeks

About the Author

The BTS Team is the Creator Success team at BTS, helping 1,600+ creators build real businesses. We work with educators, coaches, entrepreneurs, and entertainers every day—supporting them through launches, scaling challenges, and everything in between.

We built BTS because creators deserve to own what they build. We run the infrastructure behind the scenes, so you can focus on creating, connecting, and growing something that's truly yours.

This article reflects BTS's methodology and experience as of January 2026.

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