HelpStart free →

Creator Guide

From signup to
your first $1,000.

Ten steps. Plain language. Everything you need to go from brand new to fully set up and earning. Save this page — come back to any step at any time.

Start for free →Help center
012 minutes

Create your creator account

Sign up at spotlightly.app/signup. The onboarding advisor will ask what you create — answer honestly, it uses your answers to pre-fill your profile and suggest the right features for your niche.

✦Pick a handle that matches your existing social presence — fans will find you faster
✦You can add a Backstage (adult content) profile later from your dashboard — you don't have to decide now
✦Your 30-day free trial starts the moment you create your account
023–5 minutes

Connect Stripe to get paid

Go to Dashboard → Payments → Connect Stripe. You'll be sent to Stripe's secure form. Have your bank account details ready.

✦You need: legal name, address, SSN (last 4 digits minimum), and bank account + routing number
✦Stripe creates a sub-account for you — you don't need a separate Stripe account
✦Until Stripe is connected, your subscribe and tip buttons are disabled for fans
✦Payouts happen on a rolling basis — Stripe sends money to your bank on the schedule you set
0310 minutes

Build your profile

Dashboard → Profile. Add your avatar, cover image, bio, and a display name. This is your stage — make it feel like you.

✦Your bio should answer: what do you make, who is it for, and what do subscribers get?
✦Cover image: 1500×500px works best — use something that represents your content style
✦Your public page URL is spotlightly.app/c/your-handle — put it in every social bio
045 minutes

Set up your subscription tiers

Dashboard → Channels → Add Channel. Create at least one free tier and one paid tier.

✦Free tier: name it 'General' or 'Public' — use it for posts that build your audience
✦Paid tier: name it what fans get, not what it costs. 'Behind the Scenes' beats 'Premium'
✦Most creators start at $7.99–$14.99/mo — you can always adjust later
✦Spotlightly takes 0% of subscription revenue. Stripe takes ~2.9%
0515 minutes

Publish your first posts

Dashboard → Posts → New Post. Publish at least 3 posts before you start promoting — fans who land on an empty page leave.

✦Start with 2 free posts so new visitors see real content immediately
✦Your first paid post should clearly show what subscribers are getting — make it worth it
✦Images upload directly. Videos go to BunnyCDN — large files take a minute or two
✦You can schedule posts in advance using the scheduling option
06Ongoing

Share your page

Your page is live at spotlightly.app/c/your-handle the moment you finish onboarding. Put the link everywhere.

✦Add your Spotlightly link to every social bio: Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, YouTube
✦Announce it with a post explaining what fans get — don't just drop a link
✦Your referral link (Dashboard → Refer & Earn) earns you $29 credit for every 5 creator signups
✦Each new subscriber gets a notification — reply to their first message, it converts to loyalty
07Setup: 15 minutes

Go live

Dashboard → Go Live. You can stream from your browser or use OBS for a professional setup.

✦Browser streaming: click 'Stream from browser', allow camera/mic, go live instantly
✦OBS setup: get your RTMP URL and stream key from the Go Live page, paste into OBS → Settings → Stream → Custom
✦Download OBS free at obsproject.com — it takes about 10 minutes to set up
✦Live streams are automatically saved as VODs your subscribers can watch after
085 minutes per listing

Sell in the marketplace

Dashboard → Marketplace → List an item. Upload photos and a short video. Set your price. Fans buy directly from your page.

✦Personal items sell best — worn clothing, signed prints, gear you've actually used
✦A short video showing the item converts significantly better than photos alone
✦Add a personal note — the story behind the item is what makes it worth buying
✦You keep 95%. Spotlightly takes 5%
095 minutes per product

Add digital products

Dashboard → Digital Store. Upload any file — presets, PDFs, guides, courses, sample packs, templates.

✦Spotlightly takes 0% of digital product sales
✦Fans get a secure one-time download link after payment
✦Bundle related files into a ZIP for higher perceived value
✦Price higher than you think — digital products from creators you follow are worth more than random downloads
10Read once

Understand your money

Your platform fee is based on your subscriber count, charged monthly. Your earnings from fans flow directly through Stripe to your bank.

✦Starter $29/mo: up to 100 subscribers
✦Growth $79/mo: up to 500 subscribers
✦Pro $249/mo: up to 2,500 subscribers
✦Scale $749/mo: up to 10,000 subscribers
✦At 1,000 subscribers paying $9.99/mo: you earn ~$9,700/mo, pay $249 to Spotlightly, keep ~$9,450

Your stage is waiting.

30-day free trial. No card required to start.

Claim your handle →

Questions? support@spotlightly.app