Questions in regards to creating a membership site

Any feedback?

You're asking a lot of questions for one post, without giving much information about what you're trying to achieve - which is probably why people are having difficulty answering you.

I'd suggesting sticking with 'tried and tested' regarding membership software. I just can't see how it's financially viable to develop your own software, when you could just take some existing software and (if necessary) pay someone to put a new skin (or layout) on top of it. Even pay someone to set it up if it looks too complicated.

For hosting, you'd use your own. If you're looking to give hosting accounts to your customers, then you need a reseller account - although if you're not technically ready to maintain that I might suggest looking at an alternative membership plan. Otherwise, it's not obvious why you would want hosting for customers.

The best thing is to get going and launch the site. It's always worth throwing up a squeze page whilst you're developing so that you can collect emails, if nothing else.

Thom

For the membership script part, I usually use BFM, it's free, customizable and give me all what I want.

The best sequence in my opinion will be:

-Free sign up page with a good report/video/software been given as a free gift for subscribers, it must match the general theme of your site and related to whatever you're trying to sell.

-After signing up, they shall receive a one time offer for your paid product at a clear discount, then a downsell for those who pass on the OTO to get a lighter version of your product for a lower price.

-Follow up with your subscribers, give them a reason to read your emails, and from time to time, you can pitch about your product/products.

I agree with Thom, at least get something up that can start capturing leads. And do not think you have to have it all up and working from the beginning. Get it online and grow it over time.

So many people fall into the trap of wanting it to be perfect and never are satisfied and give up before it ever went live.

Okay so while I get the site in line and order. I should have a coming soon sign with an email capture? Then once they sign up, would it be too much to offer them a free ebook?

Great advice.. I can make it into a survey which can send them several different ways, eh?

I have to agree I think the survey idea for an early page is a great one, it gives a reason for capturing emails and also allows you to get feedback on the new niche that you are entering and the current needs

I think I might give this a try myself

On my membership site I use JROX affiliate marketing software. That program offers a free full featured version that will work for up to 50 members and then you can upgrade. I purchased it back in 2006. I have used Clickbank and Paydotcom for membership sites in the past but this time around I wanted to have more control.

Using Clickbank can make it difficult to make changes to your sales page once your program is approved. Also by using an affiliate management script I can run many different programs from the same script. For instance I can have the normal paid membership. Then I can add a program that tracks free affiliates that promote the program but do not have access to the training and forum.

I can have a separate program to make special WSO offers. I can also use the program to run other affiliate programs and keep everything separate. It is easy to pay your affiliates every month as it is integrated with Paypal.

Now everything is not milk and honey using a software program. You need to make good backups. You do have to make sure to pay everyone on time. It is nice to have your membership fees going directly into your Paypal account and also not to have to pay any commission to Clickbank or Paydotcom.

I would say it depends on how large your membership will be and how involved you want to be with the administration of everything.

One note of caution about doing surveys to determine your price point and decide what your membership will include. I did support for a large hosting/software company for over two years and many times a member would come to support and discuss his plans for a membership. He was constantly running surveys to make sure everything was just perfect. To this day I don't think that membership ever saw the light of day.

We all want perfection but while you are putting the last coat of polish on your baby someone else may get started with their not so perfect program and make yours useless. Just a thought.

At any rate good luck with your idea.

Chet Hastings