How to succeed as a beginner on OnlyFans, according to Reddit

Reddit user u/No-Nobody-3622 posted a question that echoes the thoughts of countless OnlyFans newbies. They wrote, "I'm just starting out and want to know what you wish you knew when you were starting out."

If you're new to OnlyFans and you’re feeling overwhelmed, you're definitely not alone. 

Lots of new Creators struggle with questions like: How do I start promoting my page? Should I post content before I have subscribers? What's the best pricing strategy? 

To help answer these questions, we turned to the experts: experienced Creators on Reddit. 

These seasoned users have been right where you are now, and they were kind enough to share their advice. 

This article covers the top 11 tips from Redditors, from practical advice about content creation to strategies for maintaining your motivation throughout the process. Let’s dive in and see what these Creators have to say about navigating OnlyFans as a beginner. 

1. Take care of yourself first

One of the most crucial pieces of advice comes from u/summersparkxxx, who emphasizes the importance of self-care, saying:

"Take care of yourself! Make sure you are eating and sleeping, not obsessively checking your accounts every 2 minutes. You will burnout SO FAST!"

If you want to find success on OnlyFans, you’ve got to be in it for the long haul. Think of it like a marathon, not a sprint. Make sure to maintain a good work-life balance and make time for plenty of self care. 

2. Set realistic expectations

If there’s one important thing you need to know before starting an OnlyFans it’s that success doesn't happen overnight. 

As one Reddit user points out: "It's gonna be slow at first, so be patient. Unless you get extremely lucky or are way above average in appearance, things are gonna be slow for the first couple of months no matter what you do."

Set realistic goals and understand that building a successful OnlyFans account takes time and effort.

3. Build up your content library before you start promoting

Many Reddit users stress the importance of having content ready before you start promoting. While it may be tempting to start trying to get new followers right away, you’ve got to to make sure you have content to offer them when they sign up. 

u/jokeybaby says, "Before doing any promo I posted about 70 posts and then started advertising on Twitter- even this wasn't much though, compared to a lot of creators who started during the pandemic and now have a massive backlog of 1000+ posts."

This approach gives potential subscribers something to see when they visit your page, making it more likely that they’ll subscribe.

4. Focus on promotion

On the flip side, lots of pro Creators emphasized the importance of self-promotion. While creating content is important, promotion is key to growing your audience. If you have a ton of great content but no one knows it’s there, what’s the point, right? 

u/mysecretadvice shares: "focus on 90% promotion, 10% onlyfans. I spent too much time making content instead of promoting."

Find the right balance between content creation and promotion to maximize your growth. When you’re creating content to use for self-promotion, make sure some of it is safe to post on platforms like Instagram and TikTok which have strict content guidelines. 

5. Utilize multiple platforms for promotion

When it comes to promotion, you’ve got to vary your strategy—don't put all your eggs in one basket. u/beccas_feet says:

"Promoting on various platforms is key (tik tok, insta, Twitter, reddit, etc)."

Each platform can help you reach different audiences and grow your fanbase. While TikTok and Instagram may be great for reaching a wider audience, they have strict restrictions about posting spicy content. Reddit and Twitter (X), on the other hand, let you post basically whatever you want but may have a higher learning curve. 

Luckily, you can build a social media following that isn’t directly related to the spicy content you create. Lean into your hobbies, and post cooking videos, makeup tutorials, or whatever you know best! This way, you’ll build an organic following and can subtly hint at your OF. 

6. Find your niche

As OnlyFans gets more and more popular, one of the toughest things about being a beginner is figuring out how to stand out from the crowd. A user (whose account has been deleted) advises:

"Understand that the market is oversaturated now, so you need to bring something unique to the table to stand out. Be it your content, appearance, pricing, whatever it is."

Identify what makes you unique and lean into it when creating and promoting your content.

7. Don’t lower your prices

When you’re just getting started, it can be tempting to lower your subscription price if you find that you’re having a hard time attracting subscribers. However, u/Kimthebrunette advises against lowering prices:

"I always regret putting down my price from 15$ to 12.50$. I should have left it at 15$ with always a big discount on."

Consider starting with a higher price and offering discounts rather than starting low and trying to raise prices later—your existing fans won’t appreciate the price being raised once they’ve already subscribed. 

8. Prioritize internet safety

One of the biggest downsides of becoming an OnlyFans Creator is exposing yourself to online safety risks. Protecting your privacy and online safety is crucial. u/goddesscatdevil writes:

"Internet safety!!!! Inform yourself how you can be as safe as you can be on all platforms you work with and how to protect your irl as much as you can (VPN, erasing from meta data, watermark content...etc)."

Take the time to learn about online safety measures and implement them consistently.

9. Set and enforce boundaries

Know your limits and stick to them. As one Reddit user whose account has since been deleted advises:

"Understand and enforce your boundaries. Some people are gonna want to know information about you that you're not willing to share. They might get mad, threaten you, block you, whatever. Make sure that you know what your boundaries are and make every single person who subs to you respect them."

Never compromise your comfort or safety for subscribers.

10. Consistency is key

In the world of content creation, consistency is often the difference between success and obscurity. Regular posting not only keeps your subscribers engaged but also helps in attracting new ones. u/petiteprincesspolly suggests:

"start posting consistently from day one your page will look much more professional <3"

Develop a posting schedule and stick to it to keep your subscribers coming back for more.

11. Invest in your setup

While you can start with what you have, gradually investing in your setup can significantly improve your content quality. u/summersparkxxx offers says:

"If you are looking to upgrade from a camera phone but don't have a super high budget, look for a decent second hand DSLR. Also, get a ring light! My photo/video quality has skyrocketed since I bought mine and I LOVE IT!"

Improving your equipment doesn't have to break the bank. Look for cost-effective upgrades that can enhance your content quality. A ring light, for example, can dramatically improve your lighting and make your photos and videos look more professional.

Consider investing in various backgrounds or props to add variety to your content. u/jokeybaby says:

"Make sure you have as much variety as possible- different backgrounds (use wall hangings/a ringlight with colour settings), different colour lingerie, different poses etc so it doesn't all look the same and subs won't get bored."

Conclusion

Starting an OnlyFans account as a beginner can be challenging, but with the right approach, it can also be rewarding. Remember to take care of yourself, focus on promotion, find your niche, and prioritize consistency and safety. With patience and persistence, you can build a successful OnlyFans presence.

Remember, every Creator's journey is unique. Don't be afraid to experiment and find what works best for you.