People support people they like

Why do people pay for music on Bandcamp, when it’s just as easy to steal it?

Because it was never about the money.

People don’t tend to turn to piracy because they can’t afford something. They turn to piracy because they can’t stand something. Greedy gatekeepers, or the inability to legitimately “own” something through official channels.

Bandcamp music buyers are a great example of this. They’re savvy enough to manage their own library instead of renting forever from a subscription service, so they likely know how to pinch a free copy from somewhere. And yet they choose, deliberately, to pay money anyway. Not because they needed to, to listen to the music. But because they wanted to support the artist. That’s it.

This applies to what you create, too.

Want people to buy? Do great work for your chosen few, let them feel a connection to your (or your team’s) efforts, and let them choose to support you.

People support people they like.

Be those people. On both the creating and the supporting sides.