Everything You Need to Know About How to Get Started on OnlyFans

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ONCE TOO STIGMATIZED to hold mainstream appeal, OnlyFans is becoming increasingly popular, with over 500 million visits in January 2024 alone. More people are starting their own pages as a way to make money, express themselves sexually, and explore a new creative medium.

But being a creator requires skill, knowledge, and business acumen. The job comes with its ups and downs, and it’s worthwhile to consider how you’d feel if, say, an image got leaked, or whether you have the capacity to put up with pushy subscribers.

It’s also important to remember there are many ways to run an OnlyFans page, and you can tailor yours to your comfort level. Maybe you’d prefer not to fully undress on camera, or to avoid showing your face. Your page also doesn’t need to be sexual at all; some pages are centered on interests like fitness or music.

If you’ve given consideration to these questions and would like to proceed, here are a few tips from OnlyFans models on how to start a successful page.

1. Identify your niche

Before getting started, Rae Richmond, a content creator who teaches a Creator Success Course, recommends asking yourself questions like: “Do you have a special skill or niche you intend to showcase? Do you plan to perform solo or collaborate with other creators? Where will you shoot content, and what’s your look and feel going to be? What will you wear?” There’s a market for pretty much every type of page, so go with what you feel most excited about.

“If you are not already well-known, you need to have something unique, creative, or just different,” says OnlyFans creator Chris Rail. “In my case, I do a lot of X-rated films and such, which is a very taboo-ish, niche thing to do — so that is my audience that I cater to. There are many other ways to do this, though. Some people have accounts about skateboarding or surfing. Just be unique and be yourself. People are really attracted to that! Show them what you’re good at or what you love to do, and really build a brand and bond with every person that comes your way as a fan of yours.”

2. Get the right equipment

Shooting high-quality content doesn’t require elaborate technology, but Richmond recommends at least investing in a ring light to enhance the photos or videos you take. “You don’t need an expensive setup or equipment,” she says. “Most cell phone cameras today shoot in high resolution with the proper settings, so that’s fine to get started.”

3. Put safety precautions in place

“Giving away ‘free samples’ or, in my opinion, selling content off platform (via any method that isn’t protected and regulated) is a no go for me,” says Richmond. “I protect my brand fiercely, and I recommend all of my students and coaching clients do the same. Additionally, safety and protecting your location and identity are critical steps that a lot of people do not take into consideration. Unfortunately, everyone does not have good intentions, and the safety of you and your family should be top of mind.”

You can use a service like DeleteMe to make sure people can’t find your address or phone number through Google. Watermark your photos and videos so that if anything gets leaked, you have proof it’s yours. Richmond also recommends the service Clip Sentry to prevent piracy.

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4. Decide where your boundaries are

Once you accumulate fans, they likely will make some specific requests, so decide in advance what you will and won’t do. “Your fans can be wonderful, but set boundaries that work for you and stick to them,” says Richmond. For instance, if you don’t feel comfortable sharing certain types of photos or chatting without receiving a tip, let them know.

If you’re able to advertise your OnlyFans publicly, social media is the best way to do it. Instagram frequently censors sexual content, so you may have an easier time on Twitter, aka X. “The reason why I use Twitter and not Instagram is because I do a lot of X-rated stuff that is only allowed on the Twitter platform,” says Rail. If you use Instagram, avoid writing out words like “sex”; some use alternative spellings like “s.x” (or, on TikTok, “seggs”) to avoid censorship. You can create a new account just for your OnlyFans if you don’t want it attached to your identity. “If you don’t already have social media, you’ll be starting from scratch,” says Richmond. “It is definitely doable, but it is not easy.”

That said, Richmond cautions against getting into long DM conversations with potential subscribers. “Make sure that your time is spent on productive activities related to marketing your business,” she advises. “You can get caught up and spend a lot of time endlessly chatting with people on social media, trying to convert them over to fans. That is a trap that I would encourage new creators to avoid. If someone doesn’t find you appealing enough to subscribe to right away, move on to another person who will. Your audience is out there. Go find them and make that money!”