MYM Fans: understand, retain and maximise every subscriber
On MYM, not all your fans are equal. Some subscribe, never reply, and unsubscribe after three weeks. Others spend €50, €100, €200 a month with you, come back every week, and make up the bulk of your revenue.
The difference between these two types of fans isn't that the first is "poor" and the second is "rich". It comes down to the quality of the relationship you maintain with them. An ordinary fan can become a high-value fan — if you know how to build that relationship.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the psychology of MYM fans: what motivates them, what keeps them, what makes them spend, and how to manage a growing fan base without burning out.
Fans don't pay for content. They pay for an experience — the feeling of a unique relationship, of being recognised, of accessing something others don't have.
1. The fan value pyramid
Visualise your subscriber base as a pyramid. The vast majority sit at the base — passive subscribers, low engagement, low spending. A minority sit at the top — hyper-engaged, big PPV buyers, long-time loyal fans.
Whales (5% of fans, 50-60% of revenue): These are the fans who spend enormously — often €100 or more per month with you. They buy all your PPVs, leave tips, request personalised content. They must be pampered, treated with special attention, never neglected.
High-value fans (15% of fans, 20-30% of revenue): Engaged, regular, they occasionally buy PPVs and have been renewing their subscription for several months. Their potential to become whales is real — with the right strategy.
Passive fans (80% of fans, 10-20% of revenue): They're there, they pay their subscription, but they barely interact. Some can be reactivated. Others will never spend more than their monthly subscription.
The 80/20 rule almost always applies: 20% of your fans generate 80% of your revenue.
2. What motivates fans to spend
Understanding the deep motivations of your fans fundamentally changes the way you interact with them.
Emotional connection
This is the most powerful motivation. A fan who truly feels connected to you — who has the feeling that you know them, that you appreciate them, that you have a special relationship — spends much more than a fan who feels like a number.
This connection is built through messages: remembering their name, something they told you, their preferences. Asking them questions about their life. Giving them attention that seems genuine.
Exclusivity
PPV works in part because it offers something others don't have. "This content is just for you" is one of the most powerful phrases in a MYM conversation.
Fans who feel they're accessing something rare, private, inaccessible to others are willing to pay more to maintain that feeling.
Reciprocity
When you do something special for a fan — give them free content, send a surprise message, remember their birthday — they'll naturally feel an urge for reciprocity. Not in a mechanical or manipulative way, but as the natural effect of a real relationship.
Status
Some fans also spend out of pride: being a "top fan", being the one who receives the most exclusive PPVs, being named in a conversation. The feeling of belonging to a privileged category.
→ To go deeper: Why some MYM fans spend big
3. Fan profiles: the 5 types you'll encounter
On MYM, fans aren't a homogeneous group. Here are the 5 most common profiles — and how to interact with each.
The silent fan
They subscribe, pay their subscription, but never send a message. They consume your feed content but don't engage privately.
How to approach them: Take the initiative. Send a personalised (not generic) message. Ask a question that calls for a real answer. Some silent fans become very engaged fans — they were just waiting for someone to reach out.
The passing curious
They subscribe out of curiosity, send a few messages at first, but enthusiasm quickly fades. They unsubscribe after 1-2 months.
How to approach them: Engage quickly in the first few days. Show them why staying is a good decision. Propose an accessible first PPV. If after several follow-ups they remain passive, don't waste energy — focus on more engaged fans.
The regular
They've been around for several months, reply to your messages, occasionally buy. Reliable, stable, but not yet a big spender.
How to approach them: Value their loyalty. Memorise their preferences. Offer increasingly personalised content. They have the potential to become a high-value fan — with patience and attention.
The high-potential fan
They're engaged, reply quickly, buy regularly. They ask questions about personalised content. This is a future whale.
How to approach them: Invest in this relationship. Memorise absolutely everything they tell you. Offer exclusive experiences. Make them feel special — because they truly are for your business.
The whale
They're already here. They spend €100, €200 or more each month. They're sometimes possessive, often demanding, but they're the ones who keep your business running.
How to approach them: Absolute priority. Reply quickly to their messages. Surprise them with thoughtful attention. Never make them feel like a wallet — make them feel like a privileged friend.
4. How to turn an ordinary fan into a whale
It's possible. It takes time and strategy — but it's probably the most profitable investment you can make.
Step 1: Activate the dormant fan
A fan who doesn't respond to your automatic messages needs a different approach. A short, personal, unexpected message: "Hey [name], I saw you subscribed a few weeks ago — I hope you're enjoying it. What type of content do you prefer?"
Step 2: Create the first transaction
The first purchase is the most important barrier to clear. Propose an accessible first PPV (€5-8), perfect in quality, that leaves the fan wanting more. The return on this investment isn't the €8 — it's the fan who has now proven they can buy.
Step 3: Memorise and personalise
After this first purchase, note everything you know about this fan. Their preferences, what they've told you, the type of content they bought. The next time you send them a PPV, it should feel specially made for them.
Step 4: Gradually escalate
Every interaction should go slightly further. More exclusivity, PPVs slightly more expensive but more personalised, special touches (a surprise message, unexpected free content). The progression should be natural — never abrupt.
→ To go deeper: Turning an ordinary fan into a MYM whale
5. Retention: keeping your fans long-term
Acquiring a new subscriber takes energy. Keeping an existing subscriber costs less — if you know how to maintain the relationship.
The most common reasons for unsubscribing
- The creator stops responding to messages (or takes too long)
- No new content for too long
- The fan feels like an anonymous subscriber — no personal relationship
- The subscription price no longer seems justified
- A bad PPV experience (content disappointing compared to the pitch)
What creates retention
Consistency: The fans who stay are those who know they can count on you — that you'll be there, that you'll reply, that you'll regularly produce.
Memory: A fan who receives a message mentioning something they said three weeks ago is blown away. This attention creates a strong bond and lasting loyalty.
Positive surprises: Unexpected free content, a thank-you message for their loyalty, special attention on a meaningful date (birthday) — these small things create an emotional relationship beyond a simple subscription.
Progression: A fan who feels their relationship with you is evolving — that they're progressively accessing more exclusivity, a better relationship — stays because they have something to lose by leaving.
6. Managing 100 fans without burning out
From 50-80 active fans onwards, manual management becomes a real challenge. Remembering everyone's preferences, knowing who to follow up with, tracking the history of each conversation... it's cognitively exhausting.
The minimum viable system
If you don't want to use a dedicated tool, here's the minimum system:
Tags in notes: For each active fan, a note with: name, main preferences, amounts spent, last interaction, next angle to test.
Follow-up calendar: A simple calendar of fans to follow up with this week, with the planned angle for each follow-up.
Categorisation: Three categories — A (whales and high-value fans, absolute priority), B (regulars with potential), C (passive, minimal effort).
This system works up to ~50 active fans. Beyond that, a dedicated CRM tool becomes necessary.
→ To go deeper: Managing 100 MYM fans without burnout
7. When fans disappear: the effective follow-up
Inactive fans aren't lost. Many can be reactivated with the right approach.
Signs of a fan about to leave:
- Response times getting longer
- Haven't bought a PPV in 2-3 weeks
- Opens your messages but no longer replies
The follow-up that works:
The second approach shows that you remember them, that you thought of them specifically — without pressure or guilt.
8. Obvyous: the fan CRM for MYM creators
All of this strategy — knowing your fans, remembering their preferences, tailoring your offers, following up at the right time — is infinitely easier with the right tools.
Obvyous is designed specifically for MYM creators. In every conversation, you can see:
- The fan's complete history: subscription date, total spent, breakdown between subscriptions, PPVs and tips
- Custom tags you've created (preferences, kinks, private notes)
- Purchase history with bought content and amounts
- Reminders: birthdays, important dates
Outside of conversations:
- Live Radar detects online fans so you can initiate exchanges at the right moment
- Quick messages to answer frequent questions in 1 click
- Scripts with automatic memorisation of where each conversation is
Concrete result: Creators who use Obvyous spend less time managing and more time creating — while maintaining (or even improving) the quality of their fan relationships.
Free 15-day trial — no commitment.