What Your Followers Really Want

New survey reveals why conversations — not just content — are the next revenue driver for creators

4/28/20254 min read

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By Nicolas Creus, co-founder

nico@ehko.ai

512-751-3639

TL;DR: Creators are Leaving Money and Loyalty on the Table

We surveyed 100 U.S.-based social media users aged 18–44 to learn what they really want from the people they follow. The takeaway? Followers don’t just want to scroll — they want to connect. They want access. Personal insights. Practical advice. Direct interaction.

The three top drivers for following a creator are: 1) to be entertained, 2) to be educated, and 3) to feel motivated or supported. But here’s where it gets exciting:

67% of followers have wanted to ask their favorite creator a question, but haven't/couldn’t

63% want more advice on topics the creator is known for (related to their content or expertise)

46% want more advice on something outside a creator's usual content (general life advice or personal opinions)

This isn’t passive fanhood — it’s high-value curiosity. ehko was designed to meet this desire head-on. Think: a smart, 24/7, always-on version of your favorite creator. Personalized. Conversational. Useful. And they’re not just willing to try something like ehko — over half would pay their favorite creators for access to their ehko.

We unpack the data that proves connection is the next frontier — and how creators can finally turn that demand into meaningful relationships and recurring revenue.

What Followers Told Us: Detailed Findings

At ehko, we’re obsessed with one question: What do followers actually want from their favorite people online?

We didn’t want to guess. So we ran this study asking them not just about what they do online, but what they wish they could do. What they told us became the foundation of our product, pricing model, and our mission: To give creators a tool that helps them scale their brand, deliver more value through connection, and finally monetize all the curiosity they’re generating — without burning out.

When we asked followers why they engage with creators on social media, three clear patterns emerged. An overwhelming 86% said entertainment is a major reason they follow someone. Meanwhile, 60% said they are looking to learn something new, and 56% seek motivational or mindset support.

One of the most telling insights from our study was just how many followers are eager for deeper interaction. When asked: “Have you ever wanted to ask your favorite person on social media a question and didn’t or couldn’t?”...

67% said YES. This stat alone validated our entire product philosophy.

Followers aren’t just interested in what creators teach or share publicly — they’re drawn to who they are as people. A creator’s value to their audience isn’t limited to their niche — it’s so much more. In fact, while 63% of followers want advice in a creator’s area of expertise, nearly half (46%) want guidance that goes beyond it — from mindset and career to lifestyle choices and personal growth.

Will followers pay for access? Absolutely.

Curiosity is one thing — but willingness to pay is another. And the data here couldn’t be clearer. More than half of followers (51%) said they would be willing to pay between $1 and $20 per month for access to a tool like ehko.

This mirrors successful models we've seen with platforms like Patreon, where early access and deeper connection unlock higher loyalty — and higher monetization. At ehko, we’re following a similar philosophy: give followers the opportunity to engage their favorite creator’s knowledge, perspective, and personal guidance in a whole new way — anytime they want — through a simple, affordable subscription.

At the same time, creators unlock a powerful new way to monetize their personal brand while gaining real insights into what their audience cares about most — helping them refine their content strategy, uncover hidden demand, and deepen their impact moving forward.

This is the power of the parasocial relationship.

And ehko helps creators finally leverage it — by expanding the kinds of conversations they can have, the frequency of those interactions, and the ways their brand can show up in followers’ lives.

man in black jacket holding camera during daytime

So yes, your vibe does attract your tribe.

But more than that — they’re not just consuming your content.

They’re leaning in.

The opportunity isn't just about creating more content.

It’s about creating new lanes of access — and new revenue streams — without creators needing to spend more hours online.

A person holding a credit card in their hand

But, how often will followers use it?

This isn't a one-off moment — it's a new habit. 52% of followers said they would use a tool like ehko weekly or more often. Another 30% would tap in monthly or whenever they had a question come up.

ehko isn’t another content channel — it’s a new way to scale creator-fan connection through thoughtful, timely interaction.

Creators are no longer limited to just broadcasting — they can now build deeper relationships, unlock new revenue streams, and guide their audiences in more personal ways than ever before.

ehko was built to meet this moment. A tool that scales trust, amplifies personal brands, and transforms curiosity into connection — 24/7. The future belongs to those who build it. We’re just getting started.

Own your ehko

Turn content into conversations that drive trust, insights, and sales