How to thank your supporters

When someone tips you, they're doing something they didn't have to do. A good thank-you makes that feel worthwhile, and it's often the start of a longer connection with that person. This guide covers three places to say thanks: right after the payment, in a personal reply, and in public.

1. The thank-you message after payment

The first thanks a supporter sees is the message shown after they pay. On Croissant, you set this in your page settings (see customising your page). Because everyone sees it, keep it warm but general.

What makes a good thank-you message

• Short. A few sentences at most.
• Personal in tone. Write like you'd talk, not like a receipt.
• Specific about impact. Mention what the support helps with.
• Optional next step. Point to something they might like, such as your newest post or project.

Examples

Thank you so much. Your croissant helps me keep the newsletter free for everyone. If you haven't seen it yet, this week's issue is on my site.

That genuinely made my day. Support like this is what lets me spend time on open source instead of only client work. Thank you.

Thanks for the croissant. Every one goes toward new strings and studio time.

2. Replying to supporter messages

Supporters can leave a message with their tip. On Croissant you can reply to these messages from your dashboard, which is a good way to make the exchange feel personal.

Tips for replies

• Reply to what they said. If they mention a specific post or video, reference it.
• Keep it human. You don't need a polished paragraph. A couple of genuine sentences is better than a template.
• Don't feel obliged to write an essay. A short, specific reply is plenty.
• Reply reasonably soon. It doesn't have to be instant, but a reply weeks later feels less connected.

Examples

To a message like "Your guide on sourdough finally made it work for me":

That's so good to hear. Starters are stubborn, so well done for sticking with it. Thank you for the croissant.

To a tip with no message:

Thank you for the support. It means a lot.

To a longer, personal message:

Thank you for writing this. I'm really glad the series helped during a rough stretch. Messages like yours are why I keep going.

3. Public shout-outs

Thanking supporters publicly is a nice gesture and reminds others that tipping is welcome. But it needs care.

Respect privacy first

Supporters can choose to make their message private, and name is optional. So:

• only mention people who left their name publicly
• never share a private message
• if you're unsure, ask before mentioning someone
• a general thanks with no names is always safe

Ways to do it

• In a newsletter. A short line near the end: "Thanks to everyone who bought a croissant this month, including Sam and Priya."
• On stream. Read out the name and a public message if it was left publicly.
• In a video or podcast outro. A brief "thank you to this month's supporters."
• In a project's README or changelog. A thanks section for people who supported the project, if they're happy to be named.
• On social media. A general thanks post every so often.

Avoid comparing supporters

Don't rank people by how much they gave or single out large tips in a way that makes smaller supporters feel less valued. Every tip is someone choosing to support you.

Why thanking matters

Thanking people is simply the right thing to do, but it also helps you. People who feel appreciated are more likely to keep following your work and recommend it to others. And seeing others being thanked makes new visitors more comfortable supporting you too.

Related guides

• How to ask fans for support
• How to accept tips online
• Customising your page