by Fauzia Burke, in Book Marketing , Author Branding , Book Publicity

When it comes to building a community around your work, especially in the publishing world, we now have more tools than ever to make it happen. But with options comes decision fatigue. I’ve been thinking about the two big platforms—Patreon and Substack—and wanted to share my thoughts. If you’re like me, always balancing the desire to grow your business while experimenting with new things (hello, AI), knowing where to focus your energy can make all the difference. 

The Patreon Route: Building a Community with a Personal Touch

If your aim is to foster deep connections and offer exclusive content, Patreon might be the better fit. Think of Patreon like a subscription membership, but with room for creativity. It works especially well for people who want to offer behind-the-scenes glimpses, personalized shout-outs, early access, or even monthly live chats.

With Patreon, you can create different membership tiers, offering unique perks at each level. For example, you might offer bonus Q&A sessions, a members-only newsletter, or early looks at content like podcasts or upcoming projects. It’s a perfect fit for authors or creatives who love to engage closely with their audience.

It’s also a great place for “slow content”—the kind that builds relationships over time. Patreon can become your home for fostering loyal readers or clients, who feel like they’re part of your journey.

That said, Patreon does require a bit more hands-on management. If you’re planning to build a business that thrives on frequent and ongoing engagement, this could be a fun challenge. However, the time investment is something to consider—it’s a platform where your success is tied to consistent connection. 

I simply won’t be able to manage the time commitment. 
 

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Substack: A Simple Way to Share Your Expertise

Substack is more like an email newsletter with a public-facing element. It works well if your focus is on sharing content (think advice, essays, or updates). Substack lets you share free and paid content with your audience—so if you’re thinking about adding consulting, teaching, or premium content as part of your strategy, this might be the right fit.

It’s simpler to manage than Patreon and appeals to people who want to focus on writing, sharing, and offering value through their words. For authors, Substack can be an excellent way to build thought leadership. Because I plan on writing about trends in publishing, AI, and  marketing tips, Substack may be right for me. However, I do not want to give up the SEO benefits of blogging on my own site and controlling my newsletter distribution. 

The drawback? Substack may not foster the same level of connection as Patreon. It’s more of a broadcast tool, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing—especially if you prefer a one-to-many model instead of intensive back-and-forth engagement.

Which One Fits Your Goals?

Since my focus right now is my book publicity projects while sharing my exploration of AI with others, I’m leaning toward Substack. It feels like a good balance: I can build a professional following by sharing practical tips and insights (like this post), and I can keep my workload manageable by focusing on written content. 

If you’re looking to grow an audience through storytelling, offer exclusive engagement, or connect more deeply with readers, Patreon may be the better fit. But if you want a straightforward way to share your expertise with an eye toward teaching or consulting in the future, Substack could be the right platform.

Both platforms have their strengths—it’s really about what aligns with your personal style and professional goals. The key is not to let these platforms overwhelm you but to use them as tools to build the kind of connection you want, whether that’s through ongoing engagement or thoughtful writing.

Final Thoughts: Start Small, Scale Intentionally

The great thing about both Patreon and Substack is that you don’t have to do everything all at once. If you’re curious, experiment with one platform, see how it feels, and make adjustments as you go. The beauty of these tools (and one of my favorite things about AI) is that they can help streamline and enhance our work—but only if they align with our goals.

And hey, if you start with one and decide later to explore the other? No problem. Building organic community and sharing your expertise is a journey, not a race. The important part is to keep learning and growing—just like I am with my AI work.

Let me know if you have questions or want to chat more about these platforms. And stay tuned for more updates as I dive further into my AI experiments!

© 2025 Fauzia Burke. All rights reserved.

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