And although I know starting a membership site can be very rewarding, I also know the path to getting there is long and studded with obstacles.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve also learned a lot along the way about what makes a membership site succeed\u2026 and what makes it fail.<\/p>\n
So, in this post, I\u2019ll be sharing how you can get your membership site up and running, as well as presenting some amazing membership site examples for you to get inspired by.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ve also connected with some successful membership site owners to give you the inside scoop on what really goes into creating a membership website that actually makes money, and everything you need to know before getting started.<\/p>\n
Ready? Let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n
What is a Membership Site?<\/h2>\n
A membership website is an online community which features gated, exclusive content that only members can access and make use of.<\/p>\n
(Gated simply means that members have to log in to access it \u2014 it\u2019s not available for just anyone to see.)<\/p>\n
Your site can include all sorts of content, such as online courses, videos, a private email subscription, access to coaching, and much more. You can think of it as a private club for people who are all interested in the same thing, or who are all working towards the same goal.<\/p>\n
And you can choose to have different tiers of membership and create different content for different levels of payment, or open everything up for one fee.<\/p>\n
For the site owner (that\u2019s you!), it\u2019s also a great way to get recurring revenue.<\/p>\n
Which begs the question: what is recurring revenue?<\/p>\n
Recurring revenue is the income you make from membership dues for the duration of a member\u2019s subscription.<\/p>\n
If you were just selling a product one time, you\u2019d get only the revenue from that sale. But since you\u2019re continuing to sell access to a membership instead, you\u2019re getting the consistent, predictable income from your members every month.<\/p>\n
Since your membership payments repeat, and since you\u2019ll be getting them every month (or however often you have your dues set up to occur) from your members, it gives you a source of income you can count on.<\/p>\n
Want to make sure you\u2019re making the right decision before embarking on your membership site journey?<\/p>\n Here are a couple of the main advantages that come along with starting a membership site.<\/p>\n Creating a membership site that provides value to members is a great way to make money. Here are just a few ways you can generate revenue with a membership site:<\/p>\n Here are the must-have sections and features your membership site should include:<\/p>\n 1. About us<\/strong><\/p>\n When potential new members come across your site, this is the first place they will look to see if your membership is suitable for them. A clear and concise About us page will help them understand what you do and why they should consider joining.<\/p>\n 2. Membership information<\/strong><\/p>\n Provide a clear breakdown of your membership levels<\/a>, pricing, and the benefits associated with each tier.<\/p>\n 3. Membership application form<\/strong><\/p>\n Make it easy for new members to join by providing an online membership application form<\/a> where they can select their preferred membership tier, fill in their information, and start using your membership site right away.<\/p>\n 4. Online payment processing system<\/strong><\/p>\n The easiest way for new and recurring members to pay their membership dues is through an online payment processing system<\/a>. Make sure yours is efficient, secure, and connects to your membership management software so that keeping track of payments is a breeze.<\/p>\n 5. Member-only area<\/strong><\/p>\n The member-only area<\/a> is perhaps the most crucial section of your membership site \u2014 this is what your members pay for! Give members access to exclusive areas of your site where you provide resources, courses, important updates, and access to other benefits. A member-only area is also where members can communicate through an online forum and maintain their member profile.<\/p>\n 6. Integration with your MMS<\/strong><\/p>\n Make sure your membership site integrates seamlessly with your membership management software<\/a>. Doing so will allow you to automate adding new members to your database, updating their information, processing payments, giving access based on membership level, and communicating with your members through emails and newsletters.<\/p>\n If you’re looking for membership sites ideas, check out these five examples.<\/p>\n As you\u2019ve seen, I\u2019ve included quotes throughout from membership site owners who have been successful in their respective niches \u2014 now it\u2019s time to see exactly what they\u2019re doing right!<\/p>\n All five of these sites are quite different, so no matter the membership site idea you have, I think you\u2019ll find inspiration here.<\/p>\n SEO Blueprint is a course-style membership site aimed at sharing Search Engine Optimization techniques that you can\u2019t find anywhere else.<\/p>\n For those of you who aren\u2019t familiar with SEO, I can confirm: it\u2019s a discipline that\u2019s constantly changing, and there are a lot of players in the space sharing content.<\/p>\n So how is SEO Blueprint distinguishing itself from the crowd?<\/p>\n Well, Glen Alsopp, the site owner, is well known in the SEO space, and even before launching the site he had built an audience via sharing insights in his Facebook group and throughhis website<\/a>\u2014 meaning that when he launched his paid membership site, he had a long list of fans ready to sign up.<\/p>\n Another tactic SEO Blueprint uses to build demand: only opening membership at certain times.<\/p>\n This creates the impression of scarcity and allows new members to feel like they\u2019re part of an exclusive cohort whenever they get access.<\/p>\n It also allows each member cohort to learn and collaborate together more easily than would be possible if members are constantly joining and are at different places in their journey throughout the course.<\/p>\n Another unique aspect of the course is that, as participants go through the course, they can see all of the questions past users have asked and all of the discussion right beside the course lesson.<\/p>\n This both lessens the support load on the course administrators as well as providing a key social networking aspect without members even having to leave the lessons \u2014 a great example of creating a community.<\/p>\n The last (and most important) thing SEO Blueprint is doing to be successful?<\/p>\n Consistently sharing great content.<\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, I just wanted to create content that I know interests me personally, and that has been a good indicator as to whether other people would find it interesting as well,\u201d<\/em>said Glen.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you are in a space long enough you’ll know what everyone else is talking about and what kind of content is repeated all of the time (to the point that it gets a bit boring). I just make sure I covered things that aren’t written in every other course or niche-relevant blog, and knew I stood a good chance of people really enjoying the content because of that.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n If you can do the same, you\u2019ll keep members around for the long haul.<\/p>\n Plant You is a paid membership site geared at sharing easy, healthy, plant-based recipes \u2014 as well as a great example of knowing your niche inside and out.<\/p>\n As a new vegan, Carleigh Bodrugh was having difficulty finding vegan meals that were simple, inexpensive, and didn\u2019t require a lot of complicated ingredients\u2026 so she decided to share her own.<\/p>\n The takeaway here is that if you\u2019re speaking to people who have the same challenges as you, you\u2019ll always know what kind of content to produce to solve those challenges.<\/p>\n Plant You is also an example of a simple but effective membership.<\/p>\n Every week, members get just one thing: a plant-based recipe and ingredient list for the week so that they can easily follow along and not need to worry about figuring it out for themselves.<\/p>\n The site also includes a lot of free recipes, which are also shared on thePlant You Instagram<\/a>, so that new visitors can see if the platform is right for them.<\/p>\n Finally, since the price point to join is low, this is an example of a membership site that\u2019s all about the volume.<\/p>\n And since it\u2019s no more work to have 50 members or 500 if you\u2019re sending them all the same content, once you know what kind of content you\u2019re creating, you just have to double down on building your audience.<\/p>\n The Marketing Fix provides marketing and website advice to overwhelmed small business owners who are looking to learn how to stay on top of their marketing.<\/p>\n This is something that founder Melissa Love is very familiar with.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been working in the photography niche as a web designer for 10 years so my existing audience tends to be heavily dominated by photographers and other small creative businesses,\u201d<\/em>she said.<\/p>\n Given her experience, she knows how to appeal to all of the needs that these businesses have, and her messaging perfectly reflects these pain points in order to appeal to her target market.<\/p>\n She also provides more than just a membership. Her main website,The Design Space<\/a>, is a great example of a site that provides a lot of different options for its target market.<\/p>\n If someone isn\u2019t ready to commit to a membership, or if they realize they don\u2019t have the time and just want to hire someone to build their site instead, that option is provided.<\/p>\n Taking this approach means that you\u2019re broadening your audience, and thus your potential revenue, by suiting a lot of different needs.<\/p>\n It also allows you to get a lot more life out of your content.<\/p>\n If you already run an online consulting business or have created courses before, creating a membership site is a great way for you to repurpose your existing content to suit multiple audiences and to get more life out of it.<\/p>\n \u201cI was previously selling a \u2018How To Build Your Own Website\u2019 course so having a membership was a natural progression,\u201d<\/em>said Melissa.<\/p>\n And the value her site provides isn\u2019t limited to her own expertise, either.<\/p>\n To sweeten the deal, she provides perks from expert partners that members wouldn\u2019t be able to access any other way.<\/p>\n Partnering with other websites and experts in your niche is a great way to open up both of your audiences to each other and to provide extra value. Whether it\u2019s through Q&As and guest speakers or additional activities and discounts, there are many ways you can develop partnerships to benefit your members.<\/p>\n This is Bracket Racing is a great example of a site that\u2019s extremely niche but that perfectly serves its target market.<\/p>\n (In fact, it\u2019s so niche that I didn\u2019t even know what it was before coming across this site. If you did, congrats!)<\/p>\n If you want to learn how to drag race, it\u2019s a great resource that can show you all you need to know.<\/p>\n Additionally, because Luke Bogacki, site owner, is a winner in the space, he has name recognition as well as the expertise to know how to create the right content.<\/p>\n He also has connections with other experts in the space, meaning that he can reach out to them for content in ways that other people wouldn\u2019t be able to.<\/p>\n \u201cMembership to his community features private interviews with industry leaders, video training, audio downloads, a private Facebook group, and more,\u201d<\/em>said Jacob.<\/p>\n The extent of content being shared demonstrates how determined they are to cover every aspect of the sport and be the ultimate resource in their space.<\/p>\n They\u2019re also doing a good job of publicizing their site using free content. For example, publicly available on their website is a frequently updated podcast about the industry.<\/p>\n Having a podcast or blog on your site is a great way to showcase your expertise and give potential members a taste of the value you offer so that they can judge whether or not your community is right for them.<\/p>\n Directive Institute is run by Directive, a consulting firm that specializes in digital marketing for B2B software companies.<\/p>\n Their track record with multiple well-known software companies, shared on their homepage, shows that they know what they\u2019re talking about, and gives them trust and credibility in the space.<\/p>\n Potential members can try out their course for free to begin with, giving them a taste of what they can have with the full package.<\/p>\n Once they\u2019ve been convinced that it\u2019s the right fit, they get lifetime access to all of the digital marketing lessons available so that they can learn at their own pace. This is great for people who don\u2019t know which aspect of digital marketing they want to specialize in, or who want to have the chance to continue learning for a longer period of time.<\/p>\n Need extra convincing to sign up?<\/p>\n They include a pop-up on their homepage with the names of their latest students.<\/p>\n This shows anyone who\u2019s on their homepage and considering it that they\u2019re not alone on the site, and provides the social proof necessary to help people convert.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking to see more great membership sites, check out our list of 25 solid membership website examples to get you inspired.<\/a><\/p>\n For some of you reading this, there will already be a niche you\u2019re passionate about. The choice of topic for your site will be easy.<\/p>\n For others, who are just hoping to start a membership site in general, this part will require a little more thought.<\/p>\n If you fall into the latter category, here are a few questions you need to ask yourself before getting started.<\/p>\n A common theme from successful membership site owners is that they\u2019ve already demonstrated their expertise by building an audience elsewhere.<\/p>\n \u201cBefore I launched my membership website, I had already built up a following as a plant-based food blogger both through my website and social media,\u201d<\/em> said Carleigh Bodrug, Founder & CEO of Plant You<\/a>.<\/p>\n That means that they\u2019ll likely have a ready-made customer base who will be ready to purchase their membership as soon as it launches.<\/p>\n That\u2019s how it worked out for Carleigh: \u201cMy social followers and readers then became customers.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n That\u2019s not to say that it\u2019s mandatory to build an audience before launching, but it will help increase the number of paying members you have more quickly and confirm that you\u2019re headed in the right direction with your membership site idea.<\/p>\n To get potential members to sign up for your site, they have to see value in it.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because if they\u2019re able to find all the content you\u2019re providing for free elsewhere, there\u2019s no reason for them to sign up.<\/p>\n So, how can you do that?<\/p>\n Well, in some cases, you\u2019ll be solving a problem for your members that they can\u2019t solve any other way.<\/p>\n In others, you\u2019ll be helping your subscribers learn.<\/p>\n And in yet others, you\u2019ll be filling a hole that you noticed within your target market.<\/p>\n \u201cI noticed that many people were searching for simple plant-based recipe solutions, so it was a natural fit to develop a membership site with a plant-based meal plan subscription,\u201d<\/em> said Carleigh.<\/p>\n Since she knew her audience well, she knew that this was an existing issue that she could solve with her content.<\/p>\n Additionally, it\u2019s important that you be seen as an expert in this area.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not, potential members will ask themselves why they trust the information you\u2019re sharing in particular over what someone else is sharing.<\/p>\n \u201cFar too many people are trying to build an audience without having a unique viewpoint of what they’re teaching or doing,\u201d<\/em> said Brendan Hufford, creator of 100 Days of SEO<\/a> and Director of SEO at Directive Institute<\/a>.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a lot of repetitive, junky content out there, and if you contribute to that, members will quickly be able to sense it and jump ship for a site that provides more value.<\/p>\n This will be heavily dependent on the topic you\u2019re talking about, but should be guided by your own interests and passions.<\/p>\n If you can find a way to differentiate yourself from other people in your niche, you\u2019re more likely to find success as people will see your content as more helpful and special.<\/p>\n Figure out how you can create video content, worksheets, or activities that can genuinely make a difference in someone\u2019s life, and start from there.<\/p>\n It probably goes without saying, but membership site pricing varies greatly depending on the kind of content you share as well as the niche you\u2019re in.<\/p>\n Many membership sites allow their members to start with free trials so that they can get a taste for what purchasing the full membership is like.<\/p>\n One way to determine how much you should be pricing your membership is also to do a little bit of competitive research.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough market research, I was able to determine that other meal plan membership sites had a price range of $5.99 – $11.99,\u201d<\/em> said Carleigh.<\/p>\n \u201cThe $7.99 price point made sense because it meant it was no more than a price of a coffee and a bagel or a movie ticket. It’s a sweet spot that allows people to see enough value in the membership to commit month after month.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n By choosing a price that falls close to ones in your market, you\u2019re ensuring that potential members don\u2019t feel like they\u2019re being priced out (if it\u2019s too expensive) or that your membership isn\u2019t as valuable (if it\u2019s too inexpensive).<\/p>\n And remember, the price you choose doesn\u2019t have to stay the same forever.<\/p>\n \u201cI think when you’re starting out, price it a bit lower than what you would love to charge a few months from now,\u201d<\/em> said Glen. \u201cYou can always increase the price later, but past members are going to be annoyed if your pricing becomes lower one day.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve answered these questions, you can start working on the format of your membership site.<\/p>\n Depending on your goals for your membership site, there are a lot of different kinds you can choose from.<\/p>\n Here are some of the most common, and the reasons you might pick one over another.<\/p>\n With this model, members periodically get access to new content as it\u2019s developed.<\/p>\n This is one of the most common types of membership sites, as it encourages members to stay for the long haul to continue reaping the rewards of being part of your site.<\/p>\n This type of model might include membership tiers, or it might be an all-in-one subscription. You might also choose to use a \u201cdrip feed\u201d type of model, in which members get access to different content depending on how long they\u2019ve been members.<\/p>\n For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019re running a membership site on cooking with matcha. You might choose to give members access to the first, easiest set of recipes in their first month, and slowly progress throughout the most difficult ones the longer they\u2019re subscribed.<\/p>\n With this membership model, your members pay one flat fee to access all your content every month.<\/p>\n This is what Plant You<\/a> does. There aren\u2019t any membership tiers; members simply pay one flat fee every month to get access to all of the meal plans being shared.<\/p>\n This works well for memberships that are quite simple, and allows you to easily predict revenue growth by member growth since everyone is paying the same amount.<\/p>\n It also works well if you have a wide library of content, and you want to allow members to pick and choose it themselves (rather than establishing a clear path for them like in the first model).<\/p>\n This type of membership site allows members to try out a free trial first before signing up for a paid subscription.<\/p>\n Alternatively, members can start out on a free plan and get access to some, but not all, of the features your membership offers.<\/p>\n The hope is that members who are currently on a free trial or free plan will eventually transition over to a paid plan once they see the value in your membership.<\/p>\n As opposed to the all-in-one model, this works better for memberships that have several different kinds of content being shared (so that you can more easily segment what is free and what is paid).<\/p>\n In this type of membership, you as the site owner (or people in your employ) are providing individual, 1:1 coaching to your members.<\/p>\n This is a good type of membership if your members require very specialized or personalized knowledge, or if you\u2019re trying to grow your consulting business as well as your membership.<\/p>\n However, given that coaching hours require you to spend one on one time with individual clients, you won\u2019t be able to scale it to the same degree that you can other types of memberships.<\/p>\n For that reason, it\u2019s most common (and most advisable) to offer coaching only to the highest tier of your membership and present it as a premium.<\/p>\n On the plus side, though, if you\u2019re well-known in the space, you\u2019ll be able to charge premium prices for your time \u2014 much more than you\u2019d be able to do if you were only providing content.<\/p>\n This is another one of the most common types of membership sites. Members join in order to get access to online courses (usually in video format) to help them develop a skill or learn about an area of interest.<\/p>\n You might choose to offer a few courses on related subjects and charge for them all, or allow members to get access to one course once they\u2019ve finished the first one\u2026 or just let them see everything at once and pick and choose which lessons they want to follow like this example from SEO Blueprint<\/a>.<\/p>\n For this kind of membership, members are only signed up for a certain time period.<\/p>\n After that, they either \u201cgraduate\u201d from your membership and retain access to the content, or no longer have access to the content.<\/p>\n For example, the 100 Days of SEO membership<\/a> has a 30-day challenge that potential members sign up for.<\/p>\n Following the 30 days, members retain access to the content and can reuse it in other forms.<\/p>\n With this model, the recurring revenue aspect is lessened, so it could also be used as an entry offer or as a way to get people interested in your membership upfront and develop a further relationship with them with bigger offers later on.<\/p>\n This one can be applied equally for virtual or physical products, but is most commonly used with physical products.<\/p>\n For example, maybe you want to start a box of matcha-flavoured snacks and send it out to subscribers every month.<\/p>\n You could create The Matcha Membership to connect matcha lovers worldwide, and send them all sorts of matcha goodies every month.<\/p>\n (Okay, I just made this up, but now I really wish this was a thing.)<\/p>\n This will require more overhead than virtual products, since you\u2019ll have to curate, coordinate with vendors, and figure out the shipping for the products you\u2019ll be sending out.<\/p>\n Alternatively, if you decide to stick to the online world, you could also publish an online magazine that\u2019s only available to members every month (accompanied by checklists and worksheets that they can use).<\/p>\n As with the other kinds of memberships, if you\u2019re choosing to do it virtually, it can be an add-on to other kinds of memberships.<\/p>\n You can also use a product bundle in exchange for an email signup to intrigue potential members and get them into your funnel, like this example on This Is Bracket Racing<\/a>.<\/p>\n This is known as a lead magnet because you\u2019re attracting potential members (leads) with free content to start. Once they\u2019ve subscribed to your email list<\/a>, you can continue sending them content that they\u2019ll find valuable in the hopes of getting them to convert.<\/p>\n (And note that you can use this tactic no matter what kind of site you\u2019re creating! In fact, I\u2019d recommend you do so.)<\/p>\n Many membership sites will involve some kind of community element so that members can network and work together on the goals your site is helping them achieve.<\/p>\n Including an online community can work well with any of the other kinds of memberships described because it\u2019s one of the best ways to connect members and build engagement.<\/p>\n \u201cPeople come for the content, but stay for the community,\u201d <\/em>said Brendan.<\/p>\n That means that regardless of the kind of content you\u2019re offering, consider adding an online forum<\/a>, starting a Slack channel, or creating a Facebook group, so that members have somewhere to congregate and chat.<\/p>\n Additionally, as you can see, there\u2019s a lot of overlap on the different kinds of memberships you can offer.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not one-size-fits-all: depending on the type of content you want to offer, your area of expertise, and your audience, you can pick and choose elements of all of the above memberships to create the right fit for your membership site.<\/p>\n For more information on setting up the perfect membership model for your organization, check out our full post on the topic.<\/a><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve decided the niche you\u2019ll be in and what kind of content you\u2019ll be making, the next step is actually building your website.<\/p>\n There are a lot of different membership website builders<\/a> out there that you can use to build your site, all of which have their pros and cons.<\/p>\n However, depending on the type of membership site you\u2019re creating, you\u2019ll have different requirements, which will allow you to narrow down your platform.<\/p>\n Here are a few questions to ask yourself while you\u2019re looking at the different membership website options out there to help you pick the right one for you.<\/p>\n (Or, you can just start a free 60-day trial of WildApricot, the #1 ranked membership website builder, today<\/a>!)<\/p>\n This is probably the number one question: how much can you actually afford to spend on your membership site?<\/p>\n When you\u2019re first shopping around, one of the first things you\u2019ll want to consider is how the platforms you\u2019re looking at charge.<\/p>\n Some platforms charge depending on your number of members or contacts. These types of software are typically all-in-one, so all the features you want are included from the get-go. This type of billing structure works well if you know you\u2019ll need all of the features included.<\/p>\n Others bill depending on the features you want (for example, an online store or mobile app might be extra). This can work well if you\u2019re only planning on using a few features (or don\u2019t know which ones you\u2019ll need yet).<\/p>\n Finally, if you\u2019re looking at using a platform like WordPress with membership plugins<\/a>, in which you choose the plugins you want to install, you\u2019ll be paying individual fees to a variety of vendors. The total cost will depend on which plugins you\u2019re planning on installing.<\/p>\n Many platforms may also feature hidden costs (for example, mandatory set-up fees that aren\u2019t included in the product price), so be careful when you\u2019re looking around to ensure that everything you need is covered under one umbrella.<\/p>\n And remember, even though there are a lot of software options out there, it doesn\u2019t have to be too complicated either.<\/p>\n The most important thing is that you\u2019re able to provide maximum value to your members.<\/p>\n \u201cDon’t feel bad keeping it simple,\u201d<\/em> said Jacob Murphy, Website, Marketing, and Systems Coordinator for This is Bracket Racing<\/a> and owner of Digital Cuda<\/a>. \u201cYou don’t need a flashy tech stack of 100 apps and plugins you need to coordinate. Pick one really awesome method and go with it \u2014 one that lets you easily deliver amazing information and value.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n We\u2019ve also collected some data on how pricing for different membership management systems compares<\/a>, so you can see which one best fits your budget.<\/p>\n Many membership website platforms aren\u2019t designed to offer much beyond simply managing your membership, so if you\u2019re planning on expanding, you\u2019ll want to make sure that your platform allows it.<\/p>\n For example, many of them don\u2019t offer a strong learning management system.<\/p>\n Others don\u2019t have an online store option.<\/p>\n Taking the time to jot down which features you absolutely need or will need in the future will ensure you don\u2019t have any growing pains when you decide to add new options to your site.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re a very technical person, you might want to go for software that\u2019s very DIY.<\/p>\n However, if you\u2019re not, you\u2019ll want to make sure that the platform you\u2019re choosing has the support you\u2019ll need to get up and running.<\/p>\n Some platforms offer setup for a fee, which can help you create your site faster but might not be necessary if you\u2019re already a tech whiz.<\/p>\n Different platforms also offer different levels of paid and free support depending on how much you pay. Some have live chat and others don\u2019t.<\/p>\n This can be one disadvantage of using a platform like WordPress that requires a lot of different plugins. If one thing goes wrong, you might have to reach out to a variety of support teams or risk a total tech meltdown if your systems don\u2019t play nicely with each other.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll want to make taking payments as easy as possible for both you and your members.<\/p>\n For example, if the site uses a third-party payment processor<\/a>, members might find that they\u2019re being led to a different site. However, this adds an extra layer of complexity that can dissuade them from signing up.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also want to ensure you\u2019re receiving the payments as quickly as possible \u2014 no one wants to wait a whole month before getting their payouts.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also need to ensure that the processor being used is PCI-DSS compliant so that members can feel safe and secure when submitting their payment information \u2014 and so that you don\u2019t have to worry about your hard-earned sales being stolen!<\/p>\n If any software platform you\u2019re buying isn\u2019t mobile-friendly in 2020\u2026 you have a problem.<\/p>\n That\u2019s because now more than ever, people are accessing content via their phones.<\/p>\n (You might even be reading this post on your phone right now!)<\/p>\n This is definitely true for your potential members as well. You want to make sure that they can access your content on-the-go if they want to, so when picking a membership platform, make sure that it\u2019s possible via the website or via a mobile app<\/a>.<\/p>\n To ensure that members have the best possible experience, you\u2019ll want to keep the branding consistent across all your channels.<\/p>\n And nowhere is this more important than on your website.<\/p>\n The most important way you can do this is by having a custom domain with your name as the URL (yoursite.com rather than yoursite.thenameofthesoftware.com).<\/p>\n This will give your website a much more professional look, and reassure members that your business is legitimate.<\/p>\n Because you\u2019re going to be storing a lot of member data<\/a>, security is of the utmost importance.<\/p>\n One way you can do this is to ensure your platform allows you to have an SSL certificate<\/a> (meaning that your website starts with https rather than http).<\/p>\n You\u2019ll also want to make sure your platform is following data security laws such as GDPR so that you can be sure they\u2019re keeping your personal information safe too.<\/p>\n This also ties into data security within your team.<\/p>\n Your platform should allow you to grant different levels of access, so that once you expand your operation you\u2019ll be able to give team members different permissions (for example, giving someone access to the email editor, and allowing another person to create online events in your calendar).<\/p>\n For more information on how to pick the right platform, check out our Consumer Guide<\/a>, which compares all the features available in the top membership management platforms so that you can pick the right one for you.<\/p>\n So, you\u2019ve brainstormed membership sites ideas.<\/p>\n You’ve picked a niche.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve built a website.<\/p>\n You\u2019ve created some content.<\/p>\n Now you just have to wait for the members to roll in, right?<\/p>\n Sadly, that\u2019s just not the case.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll still have to put in the work to continue creating content to attract new members, as well as engaging and retaining the members you already have.<\/p>\n But don\u2019t worry.<\/p>\n There are ways to get more members all while engaging and retaining your current members \u2014 and if you keep reading, I\u2019ll share them with you!<\/p>\n As we\u2019ve already discussed, ideally you\u2019ll already have built up a community before setting up your first membership site, so that you know the idea is somewhat proven.<\/p>\n It also makes it much more welcoming for members who are completely new to your content.<\/p>\n \u201cNobody wants to join a membership and come into a ghost town,\u201d said Brendan. \u201cDon’t launch your membership until you have an audience that will support 100-200 people joining right away.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n You can find over 100 ways to get new members in this post,<\/a> but here are a few to get you started:<\/p>\n You can try any of these ideas on an ongoing basis to try and increase membership, but don\u2019t forget to keep trying to engage the ones you already have.<\/p>\n And to do that…<\/p>\n One of the most important things you can do to encourage engagement within your site is building a community that members can network within and learn from.<\/p>\n An active community is often a huge benefit of being part of a membership site. Allowing people to bounce ideas off each other and connect with each other on the topic they\u2019re passionate about will help them stick around.<\/p>\n Although it can take some work to build (and ensure people are actually discussing the topics inside your membership) it\u2019s worth it to keep members around for the long haul.<\/p>\n To do this, you can start by creating topics of interest within your discussion area and asking members further questions when they reply to draw them out and encourage other people to respond as well.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll take a little more moderation to start, but once your community grows, you\u2019ll see that some members will step up and become a lot more active.<\/p>\n Just don\u2019t leave members to fend for themselves at first.<\/p>\n \u201cNew members need a lot more handholding than you expect and need their first 3 months mapped out in simple terms,\u201d<\/em> said Melissa.<\/p>\n This is true not just for the community aspect, but also for content creation: the other key to keeping members engaged.<\/p>\n To ensure that you\u2019re sharing the right kind of content, it can help to plan it all out in advance.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a rolling 12 month calendar of visiting experts timetabled and the monthly topic determines what I\u2019ll create for the membership and what I\u2019ll share on social media too,\u201d<\/em> said Melissa.<\/p>\n Keeping your content fresh will ensure that all your members can find something to enjoy, no matter when they joined. It also means that you\u2019re able to adapt to new discoveries and trends in your field so that your content never goes out of date.<\/p>\n \u201cWe focus on a different marketing activity every month,\u201d <\/em>Melissa continued. \u201cFacebook ads, copywriting, content planning, Instagram strategy, etc.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n If you\u2019re providing different kinds of content, whether it\u2019s broadening their understanding of a particular niche or deepening it, members will continue to see value even if they\u2019ve been around for a while.<\/p>\n Jacob agrees.<\/p>\n \u201cWe’ve had great luck just relentlessly giving value and entertainment to the industry,\u201d <\/em>he said. \u201cMaintaining a constant level of awareness in the niche keeps us at the top of people’s minds.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n The verdict is in: there\u2019s no secret sauce to engaging members.<\/p>\n To keep your membership site vibrant and interesting, you really just have to commit to building useful content and keeping it updated on a regular basis.<\/p>\n You also have to ensure they have a community to discuss all of it with and bounce ideas off of.<\/p>\n Are these things easy?<\/p>\n Not at all.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s definitely not a \u2018passive\u2019 income. You have to put in a lot of work to keep members happy and engaged,\u201d <\/em>said Melissa.<\/p>\n But in the long run, it\u2019s worth it to keep members around.<\/p>\n For more advice on engaging members, check out our expert tips on building member engagement.<\/a><\/p>\n The activities you need to do in order to engage members are very similar to those you need to do to retain them.<\/p>\n The most important thing you can do is simply to focus on providing value, no matter what.<\/p>\n \u201cIf somebody trusts me and sees what I’m offering, they’d be insane NOT to sign up, at least for a few months,\u201d<\/em> said Brendan.<\/p>\n Aside from making it very clear what your value proposition is right from the beginning, you have to stick to the value proposition you\u2019re creating.<\/p>\n If your members feel like they\u2019re not seeing enough value from your membership, or they\u2019re not getting what they paid for, it\u2019s easy for them to up and leave.<\/p>\n So, to keep them around, stay true to your purpose.<\/p>\n Make sure you\u2019re continuing to provide the kind of content they signed up for, and are giving them the value they were initially looking for \u2014 or even a little bit more.<\/p>\n \u201cTry to do something a little bit more than your membership platform allows (whether that’s WordPress, Podia, Teachable or WildApricot),\u201d <\/em>said Glen.<\/p>\n \u201cFrom something as small as personally welcoming every single member one by one, or linking to outside Google Sheets where people can collaborate, or similar. Try to think outside the box on what you can add that surprises people.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n And if you\u2019re looking for more ideas, you can find them in our guide to member retention<\/a>.<\/p>\n If you can give just a little more than your members expect, they\u2019ll stick around and keep your member community vibrant for years to come.<\/p>\n And with that being said\u2026<\/p>\n We\u2019ve come to the end of this post.<\/p>\n I hope it helped you figure out how to run your very own membership site!<\/p>\n If you’re ready to start building your site, you can start a free 60-day trial of WildApricot<\/a>.<\/p>\n And if you have any further comments or questions, drop them in the comments and I\u2019ll do my best to answer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Free](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/free-membership-website-builder.jpg?\" "\\"Free")
<\/a><\/p>\n5 Advantages of Creating a Membership Site<\/h2>\n
\n
Do Membership Sites Make Money?<\/h2>\n
\n
What Should a Membership Site Include?<\/h2>\n
5 Amazing Membership Website Examples to Get You Inspired<\/h2>\n
1. SEO Blueprint<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"seo](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/seo-blueprint-testimonial.jpg\" "\\"seo")
<\/p>\n![\"seo](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/seo-blueprint-closed.png\" "\\"seo")
<\/p>\n![\"seo](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/seo-blueprint-screenshot-2.jpg\" "\\"seo")
<\/p>\n2. Plant You<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"plantyou](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/plantyou-recipes.png\" "\\"plantyou")
<\/p>\n3. The Marketing Fix<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/the-marketing-fix-is-for-you-if.png\" "\\"the")
<\/p>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/the-design-space-options.png\" "\\"the")
<\/p>\n![\"the](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/the-marketing-fix-perks.png\" "\\"the")
<\/p>\n4. This is Bracket Racing<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"bracket](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bracket-racing-signup-screenshot.png\" "\\"bracket")
<\/p>\n![\"bracket](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bracket-racing-podcast.png\" "\\"bracket")
<\/p>\n5. Directive Institute<\/a><\/h3>\n
![\"directive](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/directive-quote.png\" "\\"directive")
<\/p>\n![\"directive](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/directive-institute-pricing.png\" "\\"directive")
<\/p>\n![\"directive](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/directive-institute-dashboard.png\" "\\"directive")
<\/p>\n![\"just](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/just-signed-up-button-institute.png\" "\\"just")
<\/p>\nHow to Pick a Niche for Your Membership Site<\/h2>\n
1. What Audience Have You Already Developed?<\/h3>\n
2. What Value Are You Going to Provide to Your Members?<\/h3>\n
![\"plantyou](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/plantyou-homepage.png\" "\\"plantyou")
<\/p>\n3. What Kind of Content Did You Want to Share?<\/h3>\n
4. What Should Your Membership Site\u2019s Price Point Be?<\/h3>\n
8 Types of Membership Sites That Make Money You Can Choose From<\/h2>\n
1. The Continual Content Model<\/h3>\n
2. The All-in-One Subscription<\/h3>\n
![\"plant](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/plant-you-all-access-pass.png\" "\\"plant")
<\/p>\n3. The Freemium Model<\/h3>\n
4. The Coaching Membership<\/h3>\n
5. The Online Course<\/h3>\n
![\"seo](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/seo-blueprint-screenshot-1.jpg\" "\\"seo")
<\/p>\n6. The Fixed Term<\/h3>\n
![\"100](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/100-days-of-seo-membership-site.png\" "\\"100")
<\/p>\n7. The Product Bundle<\/h3>\n
![\"bracket](\"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/bracket-racing-email-sign-up.png\" "\\"bracket")
<\/p>\n8. The Online Community<\/h3>\n
How to Choose a Membership Site Platform<\/h2>\n
1. What\u2019s Your Budget?<\/h3>\n
2. What Features Are Crucial for You?<\/h3>\n
3. How Much Support Will I Need?<\/h3>\n
4. How Are Payments Processed?<\/h3>\n
5. Is It Mobile-Friendly?<\/h3>\n
6. Can You Have a Custom Domain?<\/h3>\n
7. How Secure Is It?<\/h3>\n
You\u2019re All Set up \u2014 What Next?<\/h2>\n
How to Get More Members<\/h3>\n
\n
How to Engage Your Current Members<\/h3>\n
How to Retain the Members You Already Have<\/h3>\n