Running a successful membership website takes time, patience, and practice. Like anything in life, the more you do it, the easier it will become and the better you’ll understand it. Still, there are some useful tips to apply when you’re in the early stages of setting up a membership site.
Here we’re going to look at practical tips for creating and running a successful membership website, no matter what space or niche you’re in.
Table of Contents
1. Look for inspiration in the membership websites that you like
Before you set up a membership website, it’s always a good idea to look at your own interests for inspiration. If you’re looking to create a membership website, you’re presumably a fan of some other membership sites in your spare time.
If you’re not, you should be.
Look to these websites to see what model they’re using. What kinds of incentives do they offer? What made YOU want to join them in the first place?
If you can figure out what YOU like about other membership sites, it’s easier to take those ideas and apply them to your own membership model. Once you have done your homework, you can create a membership website here.
2. Engage with members so they feel like they have insider access
Give your members insider access to you and your team, whether that means private emails, live chats, webinars, or just a contact form.
You want people to feel like they can pick your brain about things that matter to them. Respond to emails and questions when you get the chance, making members feel heard.
Similarly, you should also encourage members to engage with one another – give them private access to exclusive chat rooms and forums where they can discuss topics with yourself and other members of the community.
Engagement is key.
3. Consider discounts and/or free places for some members
It may sound counterintuitive when you’re running a fee-based membership model, but sometimes it’s smart to allow a small group of people the chance to join your membership website for free (or without paying full price at least).
For example, are there students interested in your website who cannot afford a membership? Maybe allow them to join for free or give them a special student discount.
If they’re going to thrive in your community and keep engagement up with your paying members, then it might be worth taking a small financial hit.
4. Evolve and grow as the needs of your audience change
See what your members like and don’t like. If you send out surveys and questionnaires, see if there are general trends among the members.
You don’t need to be the same website forever – change with the times.
For example, if you started out writing blogs and holding webinars, but people engage very poorly with the blogs, maybe it’s time to hire a better blog writer or ditch the blogs and focus your energy on the webinars that people like.
It’s a good idea to review your membership model every quarter or two, taking note of things that might need to change.
Sometimes you just need to find your feet.
5. Have good incentives so people want to stay!
The very basis of a membership is that people pay because they want incentives and access to exclusive content.
If people join your membership site only to find that the incentives are subpar, common sense says they won’t stick around too long.
Long story short – make the membership fees worth it!
There’s a lot to cover when creating and running a membership website, but hopefully these tips will help guide you on your journey!
About Carson Derrow
