Super Thanks, Super Chat, and channel support – how to encourage viewers to make voluntary contributions?

Advertising CPM is dropping, algorithms are changing the game rules, and traditional forms of earning on YouTube are sometimes… unstable. In this reality, more and more creators are turning to direct support tools from viewers. Super Thanks, Super Chat, and channel memberships are not only ways to earn additional income but also clear signals: “I value your presence, you are important, you can support this project.” Below you will find some key strategies and tools worth knowing and implementing immediately.

Super Chat and Super Stickers – monetizing live broadcasts

Super Chat is a feature that allows your viewers’ messages to be highlighted and pinned during a live broadcast. In practice, it’s very simple:

• a viewer clicks the dollar icon in the chat,
• chooses the donation amount (from $1 to $500),
• their message is highlighted in color and pinned for a specified time,
• the larger the amount, the longer it’s pinned and the more visible the message,
• you receive 70% of the payment (YouTube keeps 30%).

This works especially well for interactive streams: Q&A, premieres, watch parties, gaming, or reacting to content. A creator who actively responds to Super Chats (reads them, responds, thanks) can generate hundreds of dollars in one broadcast just from a lively chat.

Alongside Super Chats, there are also Super Stickers – animated stickers that work on the same principle, but without text. Perfect for viewers who want to stand out visually, support “without words,” or are not fluent in the language. They work especially well with an international audience.

Super Thanks – a tip for good content, anytime the viewer wants

Super Thanks works… not live. It’s a one-time “tip” that a viewer can send under any video on your channel. Just click the hand icon with a dollar, choose the amount, and optionally add a message. It then appears as a highlighted, animated comment.

• works under any video (not just live!),
• amounts from $1 to $500,
• you receive 70%, YouTube 30%,
• the message stays in the comments permanently.

Super Thanks is ideal for evergreen videos: tutorials, reviews, deep dives. The viewer decides: “This video helped me, I want to give back.” You don’t need to be live to generate voluntary payments. Just provide value.

Channel memberships – building a stable income

If you’re looking for a way to earn regular income, channel memberships are a must-have. They work like a subscription: a viewer pays a monthly fee (e.g., PLN 9.99, PLN 39.99) in exchange for certain benefits.

• loyalty badges next to username,
• access to special emojis in comments/live,
• exclusive videos, posts, live streams,
• shout-outs, Q&A, access to Discord,
• you earn 70% of each payment.

The biggest benefit? Income is recurring. Unlike Super Chat, members support you monthly. The better you organize your perk system, the more people will stay longer. The key is tailoring offers to your audience – from symbolic “thank you” to VIP levels for hardcore fans.

How to make viewers actually start supporting?

It’s not magic. The most common reason why no one sends Super Chat or clicks on membership? They don’t know such an option exists.

• add text reminders: “Like it? Super Thanks under the video!”,
• mention naturally during live: “If you want, you can ask a question via Super Chat”,
• respond to Super Chats and thank by name,
• In the movie description, add a section: “How to support me?”
• Post Community posts: “Thanks to the members for this month’s support!”

You don’t need aggressive promotion or spam. It’s enough to be present, notice the supporters, and clearly communicate that such an option exists. Because if you provide value, your viewers will happily reciprocate it.

Super Thanks – the silent hero of your archive videos

Not everyone has the time to drop in on your livestreams – but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to support you. Super Thanks is a feature that works quietly, in the background, but over time can build quite a solid income stream. Viewers can click on the dollar icon under your video and leave a small “tip” – regardless of whether the video was from 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 years ago.

Most important facts below.

• Super Thanks works on every video of yours, not just livestreams
• The viewer chooses an amount from 1 to 500 dollars – no pressure
• Their comment is highlighted with animation and color
• You earn 70% of the donation – without additional conditions
• The feature works automatically – you just need to enable it once

Many creators ignore the potential of this option because… they simply forget about it. And it is indeed Super Thanks that often bring the most honest, emotional messages – from people you truly helped. Solving a montage issue? A tutorial that rescued a college project? Such moments are the perfect trigger for clicking “Thanks”. You don’t need to do anything – just let them know the option exists.

Channel memberships – Your own mini-Patreon built into YouTube

If you care about a stable, predictable source of income, independent of algorithm moods or advertising seasonality – memberships are a solution that should enter your workflow as soon as possible. A viewer subscribes to a paid subscription, a set amount is debited each month, and you deliver value – even small but regular.

Why does it work?

• You can set your own tiers – from 2.99 zł to 199 zł per month.
• Viewers receive loyalty badges and access to exclusive content.
• It works just like Patreon, only without leaving YouTube.
• 70% of each donation goes to you, and the user feels “closer” to the channel.
• You don’t need a massive community – engagement matters, not numbers.

You don’t have to make exclusive videos every week if you lack the space. Sometimes a custom emoji, a few members-only posts, and a Q&A option once a month is enough. We also work with creators on RefSpace who have only 1 tier and earn 1000 zł monthly from it – because their community feels the sense of support, not waiting for gadgets. Remember: this is not about sales. It’s about the relationship.

Perks that work – what to really offer your members?

Many creators struggle with this: “What can I actually give in return?” The answer is simple – give only as much as you can deliver. Don’t promise more than you can realistically achieve. Instead of creating a far-fetched series, focus on perks that your viewers will truly appreciate – and which can be automated or prepared in advance.

It works like this:

• emoji, badge, and “members-only” section are must-haves at the start,
• exclusive posts, behind-the-scenes, and Q&A are great for the mid-tier,
• access to Discord, shoutouts, or personal messages – for VIPs.

Don’t try to create everything at once. It’s better to start with 2–3 simple things and test. What is most frequently clicked? What elicits the biggest reaction from supporters? If something doesn’t work – remove it. If something surprises – expand it. It’s evolution, not revolution. And if you have no idea – ask the community. People will happily tell you what truly pleases them if you give them the space.

Communication is key – your viewers won’t support if they don’t know they can

The biggest mistake we see among creators? They enable features like Super Chat or memberships and… don’t mention them. Or they do it once, in a description that no one reads. In the meantime, communication is absolutely fundamental. If you want people to support you, they need to know they can – and why they should.

What works best?

• A short mention in the middle of the video: “If you found this material helpful – click Super Thanks.”
• Opening of the live: “Today we are testing Super Chat – it works here in the corner!”
• Regular reminder every 15 minutes on the stream – but without pressure and being intrusive.
• A separate post on the Community tab: “We have enabled memberships! See what you gain.”
• “Support the channel” section in the description of every video.

You don’t need to press information about support on viewers every 5 seconds. Just clearly and calmly say: “You can, if you want – it makes a difference.” Authenticity is key. At RefSpace we see that the creators who convert best are those who are simply honest and show what the backstage of their work looks like. Show the process, show your passion – and your viewers will do the rest.

Triggers that work – how does a viewer decide to support?

People don’t support a channel just because you ask them to. They support because they felt something. Because something moved them, made them laugh, or made them want to be closer. And here psychology comes in – simple mechanisms that you can implement to make it “click” at the right moment.

The strongest triggers below.

• Social proof – “5 people just sent a Super Chat? Maybe I can too”
• Visibility – “My comment will stand out, be read, I am visible”
• Exclusivity – “This is just for us. Those who are close”
• Gratitude – “The creator saw me, appreciated me, said my name”
• Belonging – “I am part of something bigger. This is my crew”
• Urgency – “Only today, only now – special stream, anniversary, premiere”

It’s not about manipulation. It’s about creating a space where people want to support, because they have a real reason. Every Super Chat or membership is a micro-decision – and you can be its catalyst. Show that it’s not a “tip”, but part of a bigger process – thanks to this you develop the channel, record more, do something together with them. Not with viewers. With the community.

Common mistakes that ruin the potential for support

You have everything set up. Super Chat enabled, memberships configured, even emojis are there. But… silence. No one clicks, no one supports. Why? Because you’ve fallen into one of the classic mistakes. And believe me – they happen even to big channels.

What to avoid?

• Not talking about support – really, you haven’t mentioned it once in the video?
• Ignoring supporters – someone sent $20 and you didn’t even notice?
• Promising things you don’t deliver – exclusive video every month, but… it’s not there.
• Having too expensive a first tier – $9.99 is no longer a threshold, it’s a barrier.
• Spamming – support, support, support, support… and no one hears it anymore.
• Not explaining why – no one knows what happens with that money.
• Favoring supporters too much – and the rest feel excluded.

The conclusion? Fan funding works when it is a human addition, not a requirement. When it is a place of gratitude, not a sales system. Your channel should work for everyone. And support is just an option – but well communicated and appreciated.

What about taxes? Yes, they need to be settled – but it doesn’t have to be scary

Are you earning from YouTube? Great – but you need to include it in your tax settlements. Whether from ads, Super Chats, Thanks, or memberships – it’s all income. And yes, the Tax Office is interested.

The most important things:

• Super Chat, Super Thanks, and memberships = creative activity income,
• YouTube pays you money as a platform – you must tax it,
• If you have a business (e.g., Sole Proprietorship) – enter it in the revenue book,
• If you do not have a company – you should consult with an accountant, because eventually, you will need to establish one,
• YouTube provides access to payout data – take the gross amount, not net,
• In Poland, the so-called “foreign income” is often settled separately.

This is not a warning, just a friendly reality check. At RefSpace, we see that creators with great potential often stop earning because they fear paperwork. Unnecessarily. Just find an accountant who knows the creative industry – and you’re saved. It’s better to operate legally and sleep peacefully than to fear a transfer from Google.

How to scale it? Long-term strategy for viewer support

Features are cool. But they do not create success. Success comes from strategy – a long-term development plan that step by step builds a base of supporters. Don’t expect that after one stream you’ll suddenly receive hundreds of contributions. It’s about the system, not chance.

How might it look?

• Year 1 – build a community, test features, speak loudly about support.
• Year 2 – have 1-2 membership tiers, teach viewers how to support, analyze what works.
• Year 3 – add exclusives, introduce new levels, conduct Q&A, Discord.
• Year 4 – scale. Join Patronite, RefSpace, collab with other creators,

See, it’s not a sprint. It’s a marathon. Fan funding doesn’t happen “from tomorrow”. It happens when you build trust, show a goal, and create an atmosphere. At RefSpace, we also focus on long-term relationships with creators – because only they bring sustainable results.

FAQ

Does Super Chat work only on live?

Yes – it is a feature available exclusively during live broadcasts or premieres. Want something more enduring? Enable Super Thanks.

Can I have Super Thanks without live streaming?

Yes! Super Thanks works on ANY published video, even those from years ago. It’s a one-time “tip” from a viewer, independent from streams.

What percentage does YouTube take from contributions?

YouTube takes a 30% commission on each contribution (Super Chat, Thanks, memberships). The rest (70%) goes to you.

Do I need to have a company to earn from Super Chat?

Not immediately – but if you earn regularly, it’s worth having a Sole Proprietorship or consulting an accountant. It’s income, so it needs to be settled.

Can I set membership prices myself?

Yes, you have full control – from the names of the tiers, through their prices, to the assigned perks. We recommend 3 levels, with a low entry threshold.

How can I get more people to click “Support”?

Speak about it clearly. In the middle of the video, on the stream, in the description, in the Community tab. Show perks, thank, educate – and don’t enforce.