Membership Site Owners - If You Could Do It All Again...

Membership sites seem to be the golden nugget from many IM'ers. Looking forward to hearing about their experiences!

I would survey a database of old customers to know what THEY want and then provide them with it.

Also, I would definitely use an incremental content drip feature (for wordpress).

RGallowitz - Could you share the name fo that plugin please? I didn't know there was one for WP.

No advice -- except I'm glad it's not going to be rehashed PLR! Signed up for that once and wasn't impressed!

Best of luck,

Suzanne

There are several WP plugins that I've discovered ranging in price from 44.95 to 199.00. I haven't used any of them, but I liked the sales page for one of the less expensive ones that seemed to have everything needed for a simple membership site.

I've seen lots of posts saying to K.I.S.S. when it comes to this business model.

PM me if you want the list of plugins. I'm not an affiliate or owner of any of them and have no financial interest in this; just trying to help out.

I continue to build onto mine every month with new features and tools .. 100% of the profit from the site goes back into the site every month, that's right I make no money on my membership site. I am building a business and as such all profits go back into the site to improve the current tools, build new tools, help market the site and etc...

This greatly depends upon what kind of membership site you have as there are many different kinds.

Works for me though, members are happy....

James

Difficult to say to be honest. I built a membership site last year that worked well and made me good money, but eventually I realized that it wasnt worth the continuous work, updates and customer support it involved. It truly became almost a full time task in itself and I couldnt spread my attention into other projects.

Eventually, I repackaged the whole thing into a one-off product and I made pretty much the same income with a fraction of work involved.

Whoever says that membership sites dont carry a VERY hefty extra load work (if compared to one-off products) is just taking out of his butt.

Hey Sherice,

Merry Christmas to you and your family.

The best advice I can give you is to K.I.S.S for you and for your members. I use Big Mike's Incansoft EZCM (EZ Content Manager) for my 9 1ArticleADay memberships.

One of the simplest way to do that is to deliver your daily, bi weekly, weekly, bi monthly, monthly product right to their mail box. This way they don't have to try and remember the password or try to find their bookmark to the membership.

Send your delivery e-Mail at the same time every day as your members will quickly learn to know when to look for it.

Frankly, I don't believe in marketing a new offer to them every day. Every offer I make to my members is directly related to what they signed up for in the membership. Every now and then throw a related freebie that could help them.

Make yourself personally available to your members. I answer every e-Mail my self and try to treat each and everyone with respect. However, I have fired several members when they became abusive to me.

Here's to your successful launch of your membership and if I can help give me a shout.

Ken Leatherman

THE OLD GEEZER

Great Advice ken,


Merry Christmas Everyone From Wendy And I To You and Yours!

I will add a couple things. I created a membership site that blows the competition away. however. I also had dreams that when I launched bango things would take off.

Here is my thoughts to my own members maybe they can help you.
When you begin your site I assume you have already done your research and know what to give the members and how you will continue to provide content for them newly and yearly.

Don't ask other site owners ask your members what they need. what is it that is going to make their life easier. offer courses invite guests to do webinars in their expertise Provide top notch customer service I don't use the help desk feature for my upgraded members that is one of the benefits they get direct access to me but I would advise if your going to use a help desk make sure your response time will be under 12 hrs you want your members to be able to rely on you and usually if they are having an issue or need help it is a quick response they need.

With the content drip feeding is good if your offering an upgraded membership I don't personally do the drip feed method. I put content on the main site for Gold members but the Elite site has 2 -3 times that I take something already ofered on the elite site and drop it down to the Gold site . I try to make Products for my members one is because it is unique not available and therefor no competition with it. and because just for being members they receive the products I will not release them publicly.

People are social creatures they need a way to interact with each other and the site owner I installed a forum and a chat room just because some like the direct chat and others prefer the forum contact. I suggest this highly it helps keep them and it helps them network and build relationships.

That is enough I wish you all the best in your endeavour but don't put all your eggs in one basket it is going to take time if your site is great members will get on board I offer my members a chance to earn by getting others signed up that is just my personal choice for them you will find members are the best at getting the word out and will do a lot more for your site then you could.

Best of success here's to ya
-WD

Sherice, we tested a membership site for PLR for a year. All the content was written by either my husband or myself, so none was rehased. We delivered a brand new PLR each week.

One surprise to me was people wanted the PLR in niches outside the IM niche.

The thing I would say is look at all the PLR sites around and offer something which isn't being offered at the moment. The majority buy their PLR from wholesalers, so you can get these 2 a penny.

Just do your research within the niche and see what you can change.

Bev