Membership Site: We Miss You

Scott Ames · 09-10-2008, 08:27 AM

This morning I was thinking about some of the membership sites I used to be a member of, but quit because my focus changed or because I was no longer using the material. Some of those sites I have fond memories of and might join again if tempted.

I wonder why I have not heard from them again? Why didn't I get a message like " We miss you, please come back, here's a special offer"

The book clubs and the music clubs do this all the time. It would be even easier with email as long as you obey the spam rules.

I'll bet if you do this today with your membership site, you'll pick up some additional revenue for little or no cost.

In addition, that email should have links to other sites that you are an affilate for in case they really don't want your site, but might be interested in another.

Todd Walker · 09-10-2008, 08:32 AM

Hey Scott,

Maybe one problem is that the owners of these membership sites only think of the short term cash, and they use tactics such as, if you cancel you can never become a member again.... we have all seen this scarily enough.

entrepenerd · 09-10-2008, 08:42 AM

I belong to a couple Mustang (the car) forums and one of them sends me a "We miss you" email when I haven't logged in for a while. I definitely think it would be an easy boost for membership sites.

Ronnie Nijmeh · 09-10-2008, 09:16 AM

Great ideas everyone! I'm running my first membership site now and it's a good thing to remember.

Thanks!

Ronnie

Michael Oksa · 09-10-2008, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Ames

This morning I was thinking about some of the membership sites I used to be a member of, but quit because my focus changed or because I was no longer using the material. Some of those sites I have fond memories of and might join again if tempted.

I wonder why I have not heard from them again? Why didn't I get a message like " We miss you, please come back, here's a special offer"

The book clubs and the music clubs do this all the time. It would be even easier with email as long as you obey the spam rules.

I'll bet if you do this today with your membership site, you'll pick up some additional revenue for little or no cost.

In addition, that email should have links to other sites that you are an affilate for in case they really don't want your site, but might be interested in another.

For me, the reason is simple. Once they leave the membership, they often unsubscribe from my list as well. When that happens, it tells me they do not want any follow ups.

On the other hand, if they do not unsubscribe, they will still receive updates about what's happening in the membership forum, and that be enough to get them to come back.

~Michael

Sirius Lin · 09-10-2008, 10:38 AM

I think Michael hit the nail on the head - it's not that these sites don't follow up, but rather, the unsubscribers tend to remove their email from the autoresponder/system as well, thus making them not contactable. It's a great tip, though - I'll keep this little gem in mind for my site!

~ Sirius

Scott Ames · 09-10-2008, 10:41 AM

In the case of unsubscribes, it might pay to be a bit sneaky. I would try to get their mailing address during the membership, then send all cancels a real snail mail postcard "We miss you".

One of my membership sites has most user physcial addresses now. A bit of work. Only you know by testing if it is worth the effort.

Lance K · 09-10-2008, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scott Ames

In the case of unsubscribes, it might pay to be a bit sneaky. I would try to get their mailing address during the membership, then send all cancels a real snail mail postcard "We miss you".

One of my membership sites has most user physcial addresses now. A bit of work. Only you know by testing if it is worth the effort.

I was going to suggest something similar, Scott. But rather than at unsubscribe, why not have a new member bonus that you physically mail to them. You'll capture their address and have it for future use, and they'll be curious to see what the bonus report is all about.

Then if they ever cancel, take it a step further than a post card. Make a DVD with a special rejoining offer. Or at the very least give them a gift for visiting a link where you survey them on why they felt they weren't getting enough value to justify the membership fee. If they see and hear you on the DVD it humanizes you. Be genuine in your wish for them to get more value than what they pay for. Then make them an offer they can't refuse and over deliver. All you have to do is produce the video once. Then you can use a service like Kunaki for fulfillment.

And no matter what, you'll have their mailing address to use in the future if you want to.

Scott Ames · 09-10-2008, 11:35 AM

Excellent! I like those ideas.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lance K

I was going to suggest something similar, Scott. But rather than at unsubscribe, why not have a new member bonus that you physically mail to them. You'll capture their address and have it for future use, and they'll be curious to see what the bonus report is all about.

Then if they ever cancel, take it a step further than a post card. Make a DVD with a special rejoining offer. Or at the very least give them a gift for visiting a link where you survey them on why they felt they weren't getting enough value to justify the membership fee. If they see and hear you on the DVD it humanizes you. Be genuine in your wish for them to get more value than what they pay for. Then make them an offer they can't refuse and over deliver. All you have to do is produce the video once. Then you can use a service like Kunaki for fulfillment.

And no matter what, you'll have their mailing address to use in the future if you want to.

Kay King · 09-10-2008, 12:20 PM

I think an even bigger opportunity is missed by many membership sites. I am surprised how few don't email their members on a regular basis. Many membership owners send an email only when they are promoting a product.
They seldom send emails about what is happening in the membership or about plans for upcoming months, etc. Many send no emails at all to their members.

If you are in several memberships, it's easy to get on another track and then realize you haven't visited the membership site for weeks and were just charged for it again. Easy to cancel, too.

I was reminded of this a few days ago when I received an email from Dennis at 1kaday - which reminded me to visit the site and get the latest downloads. Of course, while I was there I also read a bunch of posts and reviews, etc and got involved again.

At the very least, sending a monthly email describing the great things that will be added NEXT month could lower your cancellations.

kay

09-10-2008, 08:27 AM	#1
Scott Ames Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West of Rockies Posts: 5,556 Thanks: 363 Thanked 665 Times in 325 Posts	Membership Site: We Miss You This morning I was thinking about some of the membership sites I used to be a member of, but quit because my focus changed or because I was no longer using the material. Some of those sites I have fond memories of and might join again if tempted. I wonder why I have not heard from them again? Why didn't I get a message like " We miss you, please come back, here's a special offer" The book clubs and the music clubs do this all the time. It would be even easier with email as long as you obey the spam rules. I'll bet if you do this today with your membership site, you'll pick up some additional revenue for little or no cost. In addition, that email should have links to other sites that you are an affilate for in case they really don't want your site, but might be interested in another.
	Action is the foundational key to all success. - Pablo Picasso

09-10-2008, 08:32 AM	#2
Todd Walker Site Flipping Maniac Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Posts: 263 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 2 Posts Contact Info	Re: Membership Site: We Miss You Hey Scott, Maybe one problem is that the owners of these membership sites only think of the short term cash, and they use tactics such as, if you cancel you can never become a member again.... we have all seen this scarily enough.
	Want to be a Site Flipper Join SiteRev5 The FREE Site Flipping Community 450+ Members Strong!!

09-10-2008, 08:42 AM	#3
entrepenerd Entrepenerd.com War Room Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Logansport, IN, USA. Posts: 670 Thanks: 129 Thanked 78 Times in 33 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Membership Site: We Miss You I belong to a couple Mustang (the car) forums and one of them sends me a "We miss you" email when I haven't logged in for a while. I definitely think it would be an easy boost for membership sites.
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09-10-2008, 09:16 AM	#4
Ronnie Nijmeh The PLR Guy War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 463 Thanks: 147 Thanked 79 Times in 42 Posts Social Networking	Re: Membership Site: We Miss You Great ideas everyone! I'm running my first membership site now and it's a good thing to remember. Thanks! Ronnie
	More cool WSOs from Ronnie Nijmeh PLR Publishing Machines (How to publish books on Amazon & Kindle using PLR content) Personal Finance Loophole (How to get on Page 1 of Google for FREE... making shed tons per lead) Bread Money Method (IM & Weight Loss = Peanuts compared to this MONSTER niche)

09-10-2008, 10:38 AM	#6
Sirius Lin Free Stuff - see my sig! War Room Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Singapore. Posts: 1,082 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 14 Posts Social Networking Contact Info	Re: Membership Site: We Miss You I think Michael hit the nail on the head - it's not that these sites don't follow up, but rather, the unsubscribers tend to remove their email from the autoresponder/system as well, thus making them not contactable. It's a great tip, though - I'll keep this little gem in mind for my site! ~ Sirius
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09-10-2008, 10:41 AM	#7
Scott Ames Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West of Rockies Posts: 5,556 Thanks: 363 Thanked 665 Times in 325 Posts	Re: Membership Site: We Miss You In the case of unsubscribes, it might pay to be a bit sneaky. I would try to get their mailing address during the membership, then send all cancels a real snail mail postcard "We miss you". One of my membership sites has most user physcial addresses now. A bit of work. Only you know by testing if it is worth the effort.
	Action is the foundational key to all success. - Pablo Picasso

09-10-2008, 12:20 PM	#10
Kay King Senior Warrior Member War Room Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Gulf Coast, USA. Posts: 15,143 Thanks: 3,712 Thanked 4,139 Times in 2,256 Posts	Re: Membership Site: We Miss You I think an even bigger opportunity is missed by many membership sites. I am surprised how few don't email their members on a regular basis. Many membership owners send an email only when they are promoting a product. They seldom send emails about what is happening in the membership or about plans for upcoming months, etc. Many send no emails at all to their members. If you are in several memberships, it's easy to get on another track and then realize you haven't visited the membership site for weeks and were just charged for it again. Easy to cancel, too. I was reminded of this a few days ago when I received an email from Dennis at 1kaday - which reminded me to visit the site and get the latest downloads. Of course, while I was there I also read a bunch of posts and reviews, etc and got involved again. At the very least, sending a monthly email describing the great things that will be added NEXT month could lower your cancellations. kay