Running a membership site can cost anywhere between $210 to $11,200 per year. The cost will vary depending on the model, the membership size, and your tools.
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As a digital content producer, you’ve likely contemplated developing a consistent income stream for your enterprise. A widely favored method for achieving this goal involves launching a membership-based platform.
Membership models offer an excellent avenue for generating revenue from your creations, cultivating a dedicated group of supporters, and establishing a reliable source of monthly revenue.
Although this prospect is undoubtedly appealing, developing such a platform presents its share of challenges due to the numerous interconnected components required. Furthermore, considerable work is needed to craft an offering valuable enough for sustained subscription.
But rest easy, I am here to provide thorough support and guidance!
This article will carefully outline how one establishes a membership site completely from the beginning stages. This progressive tutorial includes all necessary details for the conception, creation, and expansion of a membership platform.
Let’s commence.
A membership website operates as an online business framework founded on subscriptions, wherein clients remit a recurring monthly or yearly charge to gain entry to specialized materials on your platform.
In contrast to a digital course, which involves a one-time content creation effort for customer purchase, a membership platform necessitates a continuous flow of fresh material from you, and your clientele must maintain their subscription to view these offerings.
The particularly engaging aspect of a membership platform is its lack of a predetermined conclusion, allowing for perpetual additions of new information. This approach enables you to explore a wide array of subjects and concepts, thereby appealing to a significantly more extensive demographic.
For your membership platform, you have the flexibility to produce a diverse array of content formats, such as comprehensive online courses, individual video presentations, interactive live workshops, downloadable digital resources, personalized coaching sessions, and a great deal more.
However, the crucial element is that the platform is restricted, with access granted exclusively to its subscribed members. Consequently, if an individual does not remit payment for the member-exclusive materials, they will be unable to retrieve them.
A highly recognizable illustration of the membership framework is Netflix, which levies a recurring monthly or yearly fee on its users, granting them the capability to view an extensive library of films, documentary features, and television programs.
However, one can discover thriving membership platform instances across nearly every specialized area, including sectors like wellness and physical conditioning, the practice of yoga, matters of faith and inner exploration, or even specialized professional fields.
As an illustration, our team manages a well-regarded membership platform dedicated to cybersecurity at StationX, where subscribers contribute an annual payment to gain comprehensive access to all our available resources.
Presently, the subscription-centric membership approach offers numerous benefits, explaining its widespread adoption among digital content originators:
Although membership structures offer an excellent business framework, they may not be the ideal choice for every individual.
The reason for this is that developing a financially rewarding membership platform is not a short-term endeavor, typically completed within a single month. It demands a substantially greater investment of time and necessitates a considerable dedication to achieve success.
You will be required to produce materials and interact with your subscribers continuously to ensure their continued affiliation with your membership, a task that can present difficulties.
An additional vital consideration involves determining if your potential members are seeking solutions for a persistent issue or a distinct, singular problem. If their needs align with the latter, establishing a membership site would not be the most appropriate course of action.
Lastly, since subscriber payments are distributed over a period, accumulating a substantial, full-time income through membership websites generally requires more time—a factor that could pose a challenge based on your specific financial objectives.
Recommended Further Exploration: Understanding the Financial Investment for Developing a Membership Platform
Broadly considered, if you are at the initial stages of your entrepreneurial journey and this represents your inaugural online venture, my recommendation would be to avoid pursuing the membership site framework.
Conversely, if you are comfortable with the level of dedication required and are prepared to invest significant effort, there is no compelling reason to refrain from developing a membership website. Your specific area of focus or your current degree of proficiency is not a limiting factor.
Prior to commencing development on a concept for your membership platform, it is advisable to initially ascertain the specific framework that aligns most effectively with your requirements. Ensuring precision in this selection is crucial; as failure to do so could present considerable obstacles to expanding or achieving prosperity with your membership.
A distinguishing characteristic of membership platforms is that, in contrast to alternative commercial frameworks, a universally applicable or standard method does not exist.
A membership platform can manifest in various distinct configurations, and to determine the most suitable framework, you must initially define your vision of an “ideal membership”:
Upon formulating responses to these inquiries, selecting the optimal framework for your membership platform will become a more straightforward process.
Bearing these considerations in mind, let us explore several of the prevalent membership platform frameworks that are available for your adoption.
The content publisher framework represents a highly prevalent structure for membership platforms. It also stands as one of the most uncomplicated approaches to implement, particularly if you are in the initial phases of your venture.
Employing this particular framework, you consistently release new materials. This might involve a regular schedule of monthly, fortnightly, or weekly dissemination, during which you provide newly created resources to your subscribers.
These materials can encompass a wide variety of formats, including video presentations, audio podcasts, or written articles, as well as interactive live instruction sessions or online seminars.
An excellent illustration of the Content Publisher Framework is found in Mixergy Premium, a platform where subscribers gain entry to a freshly conducted interview each week, along with an original advanced workshop on a monthly basis.
This particular framework is reliant on your content release schedule and the specific kind of resources you will offer to your subscribers. Accordingly, before you commit to a subject area, you must be certain of your capacity to continually produce sufficient material for your members.
This represents an additional widely adopted framework utilized by membership platforms. It shares resemblances with the content publisher approach, as it also entails a recurring monthly subscription payment granting access to fresh materials each month.
Nevertheless, you typically establish a predefined content syllabus that is disseminated to your subscribers according to a predetermined timetable. Consequently, regardless of the specific time an individual enrolls in your membership, they will receive an identical sequence of content.
As an illustration, TrainingBeta operates a perpetually available membership platform for their Bouldering Training Program, through which they provide three distinct workout routines to their members on a weekly basis.
The benefit of this particular approach lies in your ability to prepare materials in advance and subsequently schedule their release based on each member’s enrollment date. This method allows your membership platform to operate continuously throughout the entire year.
An additional strong point is that materials are delivered to subscribers in more manageable portions, affording them ample opportunity to fully absorb and interact with the information—a factor that also contributes to enhancing subscriber loyalty and continuation rates.
A membership platform offers an outstanding method for delivering your digital educational programs, as it allows you to consolidate them and offer them under a subscription arrangement.
Through this framework, you can systematically unveil your course materials—akin to the staggered content delivery approach—or you might adopt a progress-contingent release system, where individuals must successfully finish preceding sections or clear an assessment to unlock subsequent content.
As an alternative, you could opt to provide subscribers with immediate, complete access to your entire collection of courses as soon as they finalize their registration.
This is precisely the operational model for our VIP Membership program at StationX, where we provide users with entry to over 200 courses immediately upon their transition to paid subscriber status.
Digital learning programs are considered a high-quality offering. As such, course-centric memberships enjoy widespread appeal among both educational participants and content originators.
The coaching-focused membership framework—often referred to as group coaching—provides your subscribers with entry to a predetermined quantity of coaching interactions each month.
The fundamental concept underpinning this approach is the provision of live coaching conversations, online seminars, or designated consultation periods where members can participate in the session, engage with you and fellow attendees, pose inquiries, and receive assistance.
To illustrate, Charly Caldwell manages a membership platform named Life & Business Mastery Community, and the central element of his service is a group coaching call conducted on a monthly basis.
A significant advantage of the coaching framework is that it does not necessitate extensive upfront content creation, and its implementation is relatively uncomplicated.
Certain content originators also incorporate individual coaching sessions within their membership platform offerings. Nevertheless, this particular approach does not lend itself well to expansion, so I would advise adhering to the group coaching structure.
With a community-focused membership platform, subscribers make periodic payments to join an exclusive collective. This environment allows them to connect with individuals who share common interests and engage in dialogues centered on a designated theme.
The communal section typically features online forums, instant messaging capabilities, and designated areas for interaction, where subscribers can connect.
As the content provider, you might also furnish extra amenities for your subscribers, like insightful materials, regular email communications, online gatherings, subscriber get-togethers, and similar offerings, to nurture a vibrant and cohesive member collective.
To illustrate, Pat Flynn operates his membership platform, Smart Passive Income Pro, by employing a digital community-centric framework.
A key attraction of this specific membership framework is that individuals typically maintain their active, paying subscriber status for a notably longer duration once they have developed substantial relationships within your community setting.
As one might surmise, a blended framework represents an amalgamation of distinct membership approaches, carefully crafted to resonate with your specific viewership and to fulfill your overarching objectives.
The blended framework stands out as an ideal selection for furnishing your subscribers with an enriched and more holistic membership journey. Consequently, I highly recommend considering this approach for your own membership venture.
To illustrate, one could construct a membership platform that incorporates educational online courses, regularly scheduled live coaching interactions, and an integral community element for member engagement.
This is the precise strategy Emily Masnoon employs for her My Aligned Pregnancy membership. Her offering includes instructional video segments, weekly resources for yoga practice, monthly live coaching discussions, and other valuable features.
Even if the blended framework appears somewhat intricate, you possess significant adaptability to combine various approaches and formulate your very own customized structure.
Having identified the most fitting framework for your membership platform, the subsequent stage involves detailing the specific elements it will encompass.
Meticulous attention to this phase is paramount, as the overall triumph of your membership is profoundly influenced by your material and interaction blueprint.
Let us begin our exploration into how you can formulate a superior content roadmap for your specific membership.
One of the most significant hurdles in operating a membership platform involves charting out the content roadmap. This plan is fundamental to maintaining subscriber interest and involvement.
Nevertheless, concurrently, adhering to a consistent publication rhythm can prove demanding, given the multitude of areas requiring attention when you are initially establishing your platform.
Furthermore, without meticulous planning, you risk becoming ensnared in a relentless content creation cycle, compelling you to produce material ceaselessly, which can eventually lead to complete exhaustion.
Initiate the process by introspectively evaluating the volume of content you can realistically produce and outlining your intended methodology. For the present moment, set aside considerations of strict deadlines. Instead, concentrate on the desired quantity of content items for monthly dissemination, subsequently dividing this into weekly segments.
The essential principle here is to prioritize excellence above sheer volume. Provided your materials resonate with your members’ desires and offer authentic worth, your efforts will be well-placed.
Now, let us delve into the two critical categories of content that are imperative to include within your membership offering.
Fundamental materials represent the cornerstone information that acts as a common starting point for every one of your subscribers. In an ideal scenario, this should be the very first set of information a new subscriber encounters upon joining your membership.
This content ought to inherently resonate with your subscribers and assist them in commencing their path toward achieving success within the membership. It is advisable to develop instructional resources catering to every phase of this progression towards success.
For instance, Nak Muay Nation, a membership designed for students of Muay Thai, features a dedicated section of condensed courses where they address crucial subjects including the basic principles of Muay Thai, techniques for powerful striking, physical conditioning routines, and more.
In contrast to fundamental materials, recurring updates constitute the information you provide on a monthly basis. These are the elements that will sustain your members’ engagement and facilitate their advancement through their membership experience.
Once more, Nak Muay Nation implements a monthly syllabus, through which they disseminate instructional materials centered on distinct themes each month.
To develop your materials, the initial step involves selecting the presentation style.
Regarding fundamental materials, a structured approach is essential, and these are most effectively delivered through the format of an online educational course.
Conversely, recurring updates can be distributed through a multitude of methods. For instance, you might disseminate monthly instructional videos, organize question-and-answer segments, conduct live coaching discussions, or feature interviews with specialists, among other options.
Nevertheless, regardless of the presentation style you select, it is advisable to employ a range of different channels for the dissemination of your information.
Should an individual have a preferred learning method and you neglect to offer materials in that particular fashion, they are likely to disengage and cease interaction with your content.
Therefore, if you provide video-based instruction, consider isolating the audio track and offering it as a separate resource for your subscribers. As another option, you could encapsulate the entire video’s key points within a downloadable PDF guide.
Each lesson in the TRIBE course has a video, audio, a transcript, and a workbook.
Concerning the tangible creation of materials, my recommendation is to undertake this process in concentrated production runs. This approach assists in avoiding the relentless cycle of continuous content generation and provides you with adequate breathing room prior to the next scheduled release.
It is advisable to maintain a minimum of one month’s worth of materials prepared in advance of your dissemination timeline. Adopting this strategy will afford you a beneficial preliminary advantage and prevent any necessity to hasten through your project commitments.
The cornerstone of successfully producing materials in focused blocks is the implementation of a well-defined content schedule. Ideally, establishing a comprehensive plan spanning a full twelve months would be most advantageous. This method will enable you to discern which materials are suitable for batch production and which necessitate individual creation efforts.
Should you desire this membership content scheduling template, a copy is downloadable here.
Ultimately, what enhances the batching approach considerably is crafting enduring materials. It is advisable to preserve your material’s lasting appeal as effectively as you can—avoiding any chronological markers or data points that might disclose the specific period of its original distribution.
Subscriber involvement stands as one of the most pivotal elements influencing the sustained expansion and ultimate triumph of your membership. Moreover, your capacity to captivate your members extends significantly beyond merely crafting valuable materials.
The primary aspect demanding your attention is the way new subscribers are welcomed and integrated into your platform.
When introducing new individuals to your membership site, ensuring they encounter a fluid and gratifying process is paramount. Here are several pointers to guarantee your welcoming procedure is effective:
By adhering to these recommendations, you can confidently ensure that your incoming subscribers will find their initial interactions with your platform highly positive.
Recommended Further Exploration: Eleven Effective Strategies for Sustaining Membership Engagement
While valuable content initially attracts individuals to a membership website, the communal aspect is a powerful factor for sustained engagement.
Establishing a vibrant online group for your membership platform serves as an excellent strategy to cultivate meaningful connections and a shared identity among subscribers, which positively influences member retention rates.
Here are several practical suggestions to help you achieve this:
It is important to confirm that your membership platform incorporates elements specifically designed to encourage your members to become actively involved in various group functions and scheduled occasions. Such offerings might encompass things like live instructional consultations, collective discussion groups, online social assemblies, and other similar opportunities.
A particularly effective method for elevating the level of interaction on your membership platform involves the integration of game-inspired elements. This approach can substantially increase how captivating your site is for its users.
To illustrate this concept, you might award participants points for each contribution they make within the community discussion areas, or alternatively, present them with virtual insignia upon the successful accomplishment of designated activities. Furthermore, consider implementing a ranking system which publicly displays members according to their overall engagement and participation.
A vibrant and actively involved group of members can significantly contribute to the sustained prosperity of your membership-based platform, so consequently, dedicating substantial energy and focus towards cultivating such an environment is of paramount importance.
Having successfully completed your preliminary investigations and strategic outlining, your attention should now shift towards a profoundly significant element of your membership platform: its financial structure.
It is imperative to formulate your pricing approach meticulously, as this will greatly assist in promoting your membership offering and enhancing the rate at which members continue their subscriptions over time.
The financial structure of your membership involves several key elements that require careful consideration to ensure your overall pricing approach is sound and effective:
In addition to these fundamental considerations, there are supplementary aspects such as providing a complimentary trial period or implementing an initial joining charge that you might also explore incorporating into your model.
Determining the most suitable financial cost for your membership can present some initial complexity, as there isn’t a definitive formula to follow. Nevertheless, by adhering to a few straightforward principles, this undertaking can become notably less daunting.
As a general guideline, it is often recommended to set your membership subscription fee within the $10 to $50 range each month. This particular pricing bracket is frequently adopted by the majority of individuals who operate membership platforms.
Data from an investigative study reveals that over 80% of existing memberships are offered at a rate below the $50 monthly payment threshold, while only approximately 18% command a fee exceeding this $50 per month figure.
Source: Online Membership Industry Report 2019
The cost associated with memberships can differ quite substantially, and the specific subject area or industry focus is the most pivotal element that shapes this particular determination.
As an illustration, if your specialized field involves instructing individuals on techniques to generate income or to economize their finances, you possess the flexibility to establish a more premium rate for your membership offering.
You will encounter a considerable number of memberships within sectors related to commerce that typically feature a monthly subscription cost falling within the $25 to $50 spectrum.
To provide a concrete case, Mixergy Premium, a platform that educates aspiring business owners on establishing and scaling their enterprises, has its membership set at a rate of $49 each month.
Mixergy Premium subscription pricing options
Conversely, if your focus area revolves around a leisure activity or a personal interest, you will typically establish a more modest membership charge. The majority of platforms dedicated to these kinds of pursuits usually set their monthly fees within the $10 to $25 range.
As an instance, the membership platform offered by Training Beta, which caters to the bouldering community, has its subscription available for $14.99 per month.
Beyond your specific field of focus, the particular framework of your membership and the overall worth it provides to subscribers can considerably affect the cost you establish.
To illustrate, should your membership incorporate a significant element of personal guidance, you might contemplate establishing a more premium rate for your membership, potentially upwards of $100 each month.
This is the exact approach Charly Caldwell II utilizes for his Life & Business Mastery Community. The central component of his subscription involves collective instructional sessions, and for this, he sets a fee of $297 monthly.
An additional valuable step in determining your membership’s price point involves conducting a thorough analysis of your competitors. Should other membership platforms exist within your specific area of focus, it is advisable to examine what they provide and the corresponding financial charges they have established.
Lastly, a recommended approach is to initially introduce your membership at a more modest price point, with the intention of progressively elevating this cost as your community of subscribers expands. This strategy affords you the necessary duration to evaluate the effectiveness of your chosen pricing and to refine your overall offering.
After you have formulated an initial thought regarding your membership’s specific cost, the moment arrives to select the particular subscription alternatives you plan to make available.
While individuals crafting content often provide options for monthly, quarterly, annual, and even permanent access, the most widely selected methods involve monthly and yearly payment structures.
Membership Academy offers both monthly and yearly payment options.
Your initial consideration should revolve around whether to provide a recurring monthly payment plan or a single yearly payment plan. Each alternative presents its own set of advantages and disadvantages, which you must carefully evaluate prior to making a final choice.
A repeating monthly subscription arrangement is often an obvious choice and represents a rather uncomplicated payment structure. Subscriptions billed monthly are generally simpler to market as they demand a lower initial dedication and appear to be more budget-friendly.
Nonetheless, this approach also grants your subscribers the option to discontinue their membership whenever they choose, necessitating that you provide significant worth to your community promptly and continuously; failure to do so may result in members deciding to terminate their subscription at their convenience.
Conversely, a subscription plan based on an annual cycle can be more challenging to promote due to its higher initial cost. Despite this, you gain the benefit of not needing to be concerned about subscriber attrition on a monthly basis, given that you receive the full payment in advance, ensuring a definite 12-month engagement period.
Furthermore, yearly subscription plans afford you the necessary duration and adaptability to demonstrate the true, comprehensive benefits of your offering across a full twelve-month span, as opposed to a brief 30-day window where your audience might not fully perceive its value and could choose to discontinue their participation.
This is precisely the rationale behind our decision at StationX to exclusively provide a yearly subscription alternative for our distinguished VIP Membership program.
Despite the points just discussed, my suggestion is to present both billing frequency choices to your clientele. It is important to incorporate a substantial price reduction for the yearly subscription to render it a more appealing selection for potential members.
A financial arrangement of this nature allows you to benefit from two distinct advantages. You will successfully attract individuals who are comfortable with a larger upfront subscription payment, while simultaneously retaining those who are not yet prepared to commit to a full year.
Among the most impactful financial approaches for membership platforms is the establishment of several distinct tiers of entry for your subscribers.
Primarily, this can serve as an excellent method to enhance the value of each individual transaction and to elevate your typical income generated from each member.
As an illustration, you could design a foundational level that includes all the fundamental membership advantages, alongside a superior-level tier offering supplementary privileges such as personalized coaching sessions or dedicated email assistance.
Emily Masnoon employs this very approach for her My Aligned Pregnancy membership program. She presents a standard access level priced at $59 each month, and a more exclusive VIP level available for $199 per month.
An additional benefit associated with offering multiple levels of subscription pricing is its capacity to enable you to specifically address the needs of users who are at varying stages of their individual progression.
To provide a practical example, if you manage a membership program centered on marketing instruction, your enrolled members might encompass both individuals who are new to marketing and those with considerable experience in the field.
Under these circumstances, your more accessible pricing level could encompass courses designed for foundational understanding, while the more comprehensive, higher-priced level might also provide entry to advanced-level educational materials.
With a price protection approach, your existing members continue to remit the original subscription fee, even if you subsequently adjust the pricing structure for individuals enrolling at a later time.
This functions as both a promotional method and a financial planning element, and it can yield exceptionally positive results when implemented thoughtfully and correctly.
At the time of your initial program introduction, you can leverage this as a compelling reason for early adoption, instilling a sense of immediacy for potential members to enroll before the introductory offer concludes and subscription costs are revised upwards.
Alternatively, you can employ it as a deliberate approach to enhance member loyalty by consistently reminding subscribers that should they choose to discontinue their membership, they will forfeit the opportunity to rejoin at the same advantageous rate in the future.
We have consistently applied this particular methodology within our own premium membership offering right from its inception, and it has proven instrumental in acquiring an initial base of subscribers, elevating our overall sales figures, and notably improving our member continuation rates.
At this juncture, the moment has arrived to make your membership platform operational, and for this purpose, you will need to choose the most suitable online membership system to facilitate this.
A wide array of choices can be found within the marketplace, and every one of them presents distinct features or advantages. Additionally, it is important to note that no single membership site software solution is universally compatible with all operational frameworks, so consequently, identifying the most appropriate platform can sometimes become a perplexing task for content originators.
Within this part of our discussion, we will explore several of the leading membership site systems frequently utilized by content producers, examining their respective benefits and identifying the ideal user profiles for each.
To assist you in this selection, I will now present my foremost three endorsements from among these options.
My foremost suggestion for constructing your membership platform is Kajabi, primarily because it stands out as the most adaptable and comprehensively equipped membership site creation tool available among all the fully managed online solutions.
The system permits you to develop online educational programs incorporating elements like video lessons, audio materials, and evaluation tools. You have the option to make your educational content available instantly or to release it gradually according to a pre-established timeline.
In addition to structured online courses, the platform enables you to assemble a repository of resources or simply provide individual training modules using its specialized Product Themes capability. Furthermore, it facilitates the establishment of an exclusive online gathering place for your enrolled participants.
An additional significant advantage of this particular system is its provision of a complimentary mobile application for your subscribers, which substantially enhances their experience on mobile devices and proves highly effective for fostering active participation.
Concerning the financial aspects and transaction processing, the system allows you to implement either a monthly or a yearly recurring fee, establish various access levels, and provide your members with the choice of using credit/debit cards or PayPal for their payments.
Nevertheless, the most compelling feature of Kajabi is its nature as a comprehensive, integrated solution.
It empowers you to construct a complete, professional online presence for your brand, develop an informational blog for promotional activities, assemble comprehensive marketing sequences from start to finish, manage your email campaigns and automated communications, and administer your own partner referral system.
Kajabi is exceptionally well-suited for individuals seeking a unified system to operate their entire enterprise, rather than just addressing the creation and administration of their membership program.
A third option I suggest exploring is Mighty Networks, a platform that distinguishes itself considerably from more conventional membership systems.
This particular system places a stronger emphasis on fostering community interaction and active participation, providing exceptional, top-tier functionalities for these specific purposes.
It enables you to cultivate a vibrant, interactive community, and within this environment, you can compose comprehensive articles, share updates, conduct surveys, design quizzes, establish smaller focused groups, and organize real-time online gatherings, alongside other beneficial tools like a collective messaging feature and a searchable list of members.
Beyond its robust capabilities for community development, Mighty Networks also permits you to develop educational courses directly within your community framework and offer them for individual purchase or include them as a component of the overall membership package.
A notable advantage is that your subscribers can engage with your community and access educational materials via standard web browsers as well as through the platform’s complimentary mobile application. Furthermore, should you desire, there is an option to obtain customized, brand-specific applications for your membership.
To conclude, the platform features integrated tools for revenue generation, enabling you to determine the subscription costs for your membership and manage the associated payment procedures.
Consequently, should your objective be to establish a membership platform primarily centered around fostering an active community, Mighty Networks presents itself as an exceptionally suitable choice for your consideration.
For individuals interested in a more thorough examination of this particular system, we invite you to consult this comprehensive Mighty Networks evaluation.
It is important to understand that the selections previously discussed do not represent the entirety of choices accessible in the current marketplace. A multitude of alternative membership systems are available, encompassing solutions like WordPress-integrated membership add-ons, even though one of the three highlighted platforms will likely meet the requirements of most content originators.
An additional point deserving attention is the feasibility, in certain scenarios, of operating a rudimentary membership-based website without relying on any dedicated membership software components.
As a case in point, a personal acquaintance has been effectively managing her membership platform by utilizing Facebook Groups in conjunction with other complimentary, easily accessible resources such as Google Docs and Zoom. Notwithstanding this simpler setup, her membership venture is performing commendably, and she has cultivated a devoted group of followers.
Nevertheless, utilizing a high-quality membership platform software will undoubtedly streamline your operations considerably, and I strongly advise incorporating such a tool right from the initial stages of your project.
You have invested considerable time, dedicated substantial effort, and allocated financial resources toward the development of your membership website; now, the focus shifts to actively publicizing it and attracting new subscribers.
The promotional activities for membership platforms bear many similarities to those involved in promoting online educational programs, and numerous identical approaches can be effectively applied to your membership initiative.
Nonetheless, it is of utmost importance to have a well-defined promotional strategy established, and within this segment, I will elaborate on how you can formulate such a plan specifically for your membership offering.
Publicizing your membership offering becomes significantly more straightforward if you possess an existing group of followers. If not, it will be necessary to cultivate an interested community from the very beginning.
The most effective method to achieve this is by utilizing content-focused promotional strategies.
Typically, the initial stage in this undertaking involves determining the specific format of material you intend to produce. Based on your particular subject area and target demographic, you might opt to develop written articles, video presentations, or audio programs.
Subsequently, you will need to select an online environment where your prospective members are most active. Following this, you will disseminate useful information to the users of that platform, encouraging them to interact with your brand identity.
A multitude of diverse online venues exist where you can connect with your ideal community—these include popular sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest, and others.
During the initial phases, I recommend concentrating your efforts on a single platform instead of attempting to establish a presence on every conceivable online space. And commence with the platform that aligns most logically with your objectives and resources.
To illustrate, should your specialization lie within a business-oriented field, you might consider initiating your efforts on LinkedIn. Conversely, if your area involves artistic endeavors or do-it-yourself projects, Pinterest could serve as an excellent initial platform for your activities.
Although it is certainly advantageous to have a growing number of individuals following your brand on social media platforms and interacting with your material, it is crucial that you cultivate an email subscriber list. To effectively achieve this, you will require a system of automated interactions, often referred to as a funnel.
This meticulously designed sequence will map out the prospective member’s progression, guiding them from the initial act of joining your email list all the way through to becoming a paying subscriber of your membership. Your engagement funnel should comprise three essential elements:
This structured methodology empowers you to develop a highly interested and receptive email audience, to whom you can then effectively promote your membership offering whenever appropriate.
I first became acquainted with this particular approach through Stu McLaren’s educational program, The Membership Experience, and subsequently implemented this very method when introducing StationX’s premium VIP Membership.
Subsequent to that initial experience, I have conducted several preliminary introductions, and in my personal assessment, this specific technique stands out as the most potent strategy for successfully initiating a new membership-based platform.
The core concept involves conducting a restricted initial release of your membership offering, making it available exclusively to a select, smaller cohort of individuals. Throughout this preliminary launch phase, you permit these early adopters to enroll at the most advantageous price point that will ever be offered, and importantly, they secure this preferential rate for the duration of their subscription.
These pioneering subscribers are designated as your founding members, and you will collaborate closely with this group to progressively enhance your membership program and the overall participant journey.
In summary, an introductory launch focused on founding members proves to be exceptionally effective, and it provides valuable assistance in validating your membership concept, securing your first cohort of subscribers, and continually refining your offering.
Karen Kenney’s (TRIBE student) results from FML
Kajabi stands as the preeminent all-in-one system designed for establishing and managing your digital education or subscription-based enterprise. This versatile solution is utilized by a vast number of content originators, among them well-recognized figures such as Amy Porterfield and Brendan Burchard.
The platform empowers you to host your online educational offerings and deliver them with professional execution to your audience. Moreover, you gain the ability to establish a fully functional brand website, manage a content blog, develop targeted marketing processes, and also automate your electronic mail campaigns.
The most advantageous aspect of this particular approach is the fact that you are not even obligated to construct the entire membership platform in its final form; all that is truly necessary is a well-conceived idea and some foundational materials to initiate a preliminary, limited release.
A multitude of distinct methods exist through which you can introduce your membership platform to the public, and similar to the majority of other commercial endeavors, the fundamental element for success lies in thoroughly understanding your intended participants.
Partner-based promotion is a widely adopted approach where you provide a financial incentive to individuals who successfully refer new subscribers to your platform.
This system offers your current subscribers, enthusiastic supporters, and fellow digital business owners a compelling reason to advocate for your membership platform within their respective networks.
The most advantageous aspect of this promotional method is that you only compensate a partner after they have facilitated a confirmed purchase for your service, allowing you to initiate this strategy with minimal upfront financial commitment.
The fundamental element for achieving success with partner-based promotion lies in recruiting high-caliber partners.
You can initiate this process by contacting prominent online journals, popular video channels, active discussion boards, and similar platforms within your specific area of focus, inviting them to participate in your partner referral system.
Following these initial steps, the ongoing effort centers on actively interacting with your enlisted partners and motivating them to effectively publicize your membership offering.
Recommended Reading: How to Start an Affiliate Program for Your Business
Membership-based platforms represent one of the most advantageous online business structures currently available. They contribute by establishing a consistent, repeating source of income for your enterprise, while simultaneously enabling you to cultivate a robust and engaged collective of individuals.
Although these advantages are not effortlessly obtained and necessitate considerable dedication and time investment, the endeavor of establishing a membership platform is ultimately a highly rewarding pursuit.
Within this comprehensive, sequential tutorial, I have illustrated the process for developing a membership platform from its foundational elements.
We have explored a variety of subjects, encompassing the initial strategic outlining of your membership, the selection of appropriate technological solutions, and the methods for effectively promoting your membership-focused website.
The opportunity is now yours to put into practice the knowledge you have gained from this instructional material. As you proceed, concentrate on achieving progress and completion rather than striving for an unattainable standard of perfection from the outset.
I trust that you have found this comprehensive overview beneficial. Should you have any inquiries or wish to provide constructive input, please feel free to share a comment below, and I will endeavor to respond to you at my earliest convenience.
Membership sites are pretty flexible and can take several different forms. For example, you can build a membership site and release just one video every month. Or, you can have one with courses, monthly videos, a community, and more. In both cases, only paying members will have access.
A membership site is a type of subscription model. While subscriptions exist for all categories, including eCommerce, SaaS solutions, loyalty programs, etc., membership sites follow a content-based subscription model.
Membership websites are one of the most profitable business models for online creators. Thousands of creators in all sorts of niches run a successful membership website.
People stay in memberships for an average of 12-18 months. While more than 63% of people subscribe for more than 12 months, 18.37% subscribe for more than 24 months.
A membership site can include online courses, blog posts, podcasts, live coaching calls, Q&A sessions, downloadable resources, a member community, and much more.
Daniel Nic
Founder, SellingOnliceCoursesGuide.com
is an entrepreneur and digital education specialist who founded sellingonlinecoursesguide.com, a platform dedicated to helping creators and educators successfully navigate the online course marketplace. Through his website, he shares insights and strategies for developing, marketing, and monetizing online educational content. His work focuses on empowering course creators to build sustainable online businesses while effectively sharing their knowledge with students worldwide.
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Daniel Nic is an entrepreneur and digital education specialist who founded sellingonlinecoursesguide.com, a platform dedicated to helping creators and educators successfully navigate the online course marketplace. Through his website, he shares insights and strategies for developing, marketing, and monetizing online educational content. His work focuses on empowering course creators to build sustainable online businesses while effectively sharing their knowledge with students worldwide.
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