Types of Shoutouts
SFS (Shoutout for Shoutout)
SFS is a free mutual exchange where both creators promote each other on their pages or in their DMs. This is the most common type and works best between creators with similar subscriber counts. If you have 200 subscribers and the other creator has 2,000, the exchange is heavily skewed in your favour, and they have little incentive to agree. Look for partners within a similar range, roughly 50% to 200% of your subscriber count, for the most balanced SFS exchanges.
Paid Shoutouts
Paid shoutouts involve paying a larger creator to promote your page to their audience. Pricing varies widely, from $20 to $500 or more depending on the creator's audience size and engagement quality. The advantage of paid shoutouts is access to audiences much larger than your own. The risk is that you are paying upfront with no guarantee of return. Always ask for screenshots of the creator's engagement metrics and, if possible, references from other creators who have paid for shoutouts with them before.
Collaborative Content
Collaborative content is when two creators produce content together and promote it on both pages. For faceless creators, this requires careful planning to ensure both participants maintain their anonymity. Collaborative content does not require being in the same location. Coordinated photo sets with matching themes, joint live sessions with cameras positioned to maintain anonymity, or complementary content that tells a story across both pages are all viable approaches.
Finding the Right Shoutout Partners
The most important factor in a successful shoutout is audience overlap. You want a partner whose subscribers are likely to be interested in your content. The best partners share your general niche but offer something you do not. If your page focuses on lingerie content, a partner who focuses on artistic boudoir in the same faceless style gives both audiences something new without directly competing. Same audience demographic, different content angle.
Find potential partners through OnlyFans promotion communities on Reddit, Telegram groups for OnlyFans creators, and Twitter/X networking. Avoid cold-messaging random creators with "SFS?" as your opening line. Instead, engage with their content first, comment genuinely on their posts, and build a minimal rapport before proposing a shoutout exchange. Creators are far more likely to agree to an exchange with someone who has shown genuine interest in their work. This networking approach is part of a broader Reddit and social strategy that builds relationships alongside traffic.
Structuring a Fair Shoutout Deal
Before any shoutout exchange, agree on the specifics in writing. What platform will the shoutout be posted on (OnlyFans wall, DMs, stories, or external platforms)? How long will it stay up? What text and media will be used? Will both parties post at the same time or stagger the posts? Clear terms prevent misunderstandings and ensure both creators deliver equal value.
For SFS exchanges, the standard structure is: both creators provide each other with a promotional image (SFW or mildly suggestive, depending on platform rules) and a short promotional caption. Both post to their walls within the same 24-hour window. The post stays up for a minimum of 24 hours. If one creator has significantly more subscribers, the smaller creator can offer to post in DMs as well to balance the value. For paid shoutouts, get the agreement in writing (even a DM exchange documenting the terms counts) and never pay the full amount before the shoutout is posted. Half upfront, half after posting is a reasonable structure that protects both parties.
Tracking Shoutout Results
Every shoutout should be tracked for results so you can determine which partners and formats deliver the best return. Before a shoutout goes live, note your current subscriber count and your recent daily average of new subscribers. In the 48 hours after the shoutout, track new subscriber signups and compare against your baseline. The difference is your shoutout-attributed growth.
Track these numbers in the same spreadsheet you use for your broader analytics tracking. Over time, you will build a clear picture of which partners deliver subscribers, which formats (wall posts vs DMs vs stories) convert best, and what your average cost per subscriber is for paid shoutouts. That data lets you allocate your shoutout budget and time toward what actually works, rather than guessing.
Avoiding Shoutout Scams
Shoutout scams are common in the OnlyFans creator space, and faceless creators can be particularly vulnerable because they are less likely to have established networks of trusted creator contacts. The most common scam is a paid shoutout where the creator takes your money, posts the shoutout briefly (or not at all), and then blocks you. Another common scam is SFS with a creator who has inflated subscriber numbers purchased through bot services. Their page might show 5,000 subscribers, but if those subscribers are bots, your shoutout will produce zero results.
Protect yourself by researching every potential partner before agreeing to anything. Check their engagement rates (likes and comments relative to subscriber count). A page with 5,000 subscribers and two likes per post is almost certainly using bots. Ask for references from other creators. For paid shoutouts, use payment methods that offer dispute options. And never share personal information, real contact details, or anything that could compromise your identity during the negotiation process.
Shoutouts and Your Broader Growth Strategy
Shoutouts work best as one component of a diversified traffic strategy, not as your only growth mechanism. A strong promotion plan combines shoutouts with consistent Reddit posting, Telegram or Discord community building, and platform-specific content marketing. Relying entirely on shoutouts for growth creates the same dependency risk as relying entirely on any single traffic source.
The best time to lean into shoutouts is when your page already has a solid content library, a consistent posting schedule, and a clear niche identity. New subscribers acquired through shoutouts will immediately judge your page based on what they see, and if your content library is thin or your posting is inconsistent, they will leave quickly regardless of how effective the shoutout was at getting them through the door. Build the foundation first, then use shoutouts to accelerate growth that is already underway.

