How do you build a membership site?

21 replies
Hi,

I'm looking to set up a membership site however I'm not quite sure how to manage it and the content.

Does anyone know of any good advice/sites/books I can read to gain this knowledge?

Also, how do you manage the content for new users? For example if i use monthly updated content as a sales point (which I presume is a minimum), if someone joins 4 months after the site is started do they just access all the information that is now on the site?

Any info/advice anyone can give would be great.

Cheers

G
#build #membership #site
  • Profile picture of the author Chris Rockstar
    I agree with dainlewis, when I first started I had a crappy memberships ite LOL, it's true, eventually I managed to grow it into something bigger and then sold it, anyway the thing is the strategy I used was exactly what dainlewis pointed in his b) point, it worked for me. Now membership sites are not my speciality but I'm sure there are many other strategies to manage content out there, but I just wanted to say that the b) optionw orks just fine.

    Hope it helps
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  • Profile picture of the author GSMarketing
    Thanks for the replies guys.

    Just to clarify I do not wish to set up a site in the IM or MM world.

    When you say to drip feed the content, does this mean you have a different website for each member almost? For example member 1 who joined at the start is now in week 6 but member 50 who just joined today is only on week one, how is the content controlled/protected to only show them weeek 1 content? Is it just the plugin that controls this?

    Cheers

    G
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  • Profile picture of the author bigslamgyrl
    I was just reading an eBook this morning that mentioned Jimmy Brown has a membership site product - :: Membernaire

    I am not an affiliate and have not used it myself, but I have heard good things about Jimmy Brown.
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  • Profile picture of the author 100k
    You go to a forum or freelancing site like elance.com and outsource the work of course!
    Signature

    Rent this space.

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  • Profile picture of the author julesw
    You'll be needing a plug to protect content, hook up the cart, handle logins, member details etc. Protecting is pretty easy ... for example in DAP you can set which content becomes available day 8, 15, etc etc...when hooked up to something like Optimize Press this effects what you see is in the navigation, which is cool. So someone in week 1 only sees the tab for week 1, when they get to week 2 (and are sent the autoresponder to tell them) they can then see the Week 2 tab and dive into the content.
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    WIN my Lanparte Smartphone or GoPro Gimbal! Get Ready Get Steady! Watch my Video Here:
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  • Profile picture of the author coalminer
    Hey G
    Paul Barr just released a WSO on this the other day.. Seems a good guy
    I can't say what it's like as I have not got it yet.. but I will in a day or 2..
    This is also the path I also want to go so all the best to you..
    Search for Paul Barr in WSO section, on about page 2/3 yesterday..
    Nice
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  • Profile picture of the author GSMarketing
    Jules, what if the content is not broke down into 'weekly' lessons can I still feed it in to the users depending on when they joined? For example, I'm constructing videos to teach tips and techniques and new methods, but these won't be a weekly sequential process, I just wanted to add new videos each week (but there is not a requirement for them to follow the week before). However I want the member to feel like they are getting lots of new material independent of when they joined, this way I wont run out of material to feed them.

    Cheers Paul, I'm away in Wales at the mo to get working on this in peace and quiet.

    G
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    • Profile picture of the author ravijayagopal
      Hi G,

      Assuming you're asking Jules about DigitalAccessPass (DAP), then the answer is "Yes".

      In DAP, you can set up the content to drip on a specific "day" (or even "date").

      So if you used "day" (as in, day 1, day 8, day 15, etc), then every person will get their own sequence. If a member joins today, today is their day #1. And for someone who joined last week, they may be on day #8 today.

      So person who joined last week and person who joined today, both get access to different content based on when they joined.

      Very similar to an email autoresponder sequence that you would set up at say, Aweber. Everyone gets their own sequence, and is on a different "schedule" based on when they joined.

      That's why, we call this a "ContentResponder" at DAP, because it drips "content" just like an email autoresponder drips "emails".

      Hope this makes sense.

      - Ravi Jayagopal


      Originally Posted by GSMarketing View Post

      Jules, what if the content is not broke down into 'weekly' lessons can I still feed it in to the users depending on when they joined? For example, I'm constructing videos to teach tips and techniques and new methods, but these won't be a weekly sequential process, I just wanted to add new videos each week (but there is not a requirement for them to follow the week before). However I want the member to feel like they are getting lots of new material independent of when they joined, this way I wont run out of material to feed them.

      Cheers Paul, I'm away in Wales at the mo to get working on this in peace and quiet.

      G
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  • Profile picture of the author Shaper
    Subscribed. Good topic.
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  • Profile picture of the author Shaper
    Does this method also work for monthly subcribers?

    If so, how do you ensure that only the users who are current get access to the membership area?
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    • Profile picture of the author ravijayagopal
      @Shaper: Are you asking someone else? Or me?

      If it's me you're asking, can you please clarify what "method" you're referring to? The method of dripping content?

      - Ravi Jayagopal

      Originally Posted by Shaper View Post

      Does this method also work for monthly subcribers?

      If so, how do you ensure that only the users who are current get access to the membership area?
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      • Profile picture of the author dainlewis
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        • Profile picture of the author Shaper
          Originally Posted by dainlewis View Post

          Everyone who starts out building their first membership site is always worried about protecting their content.

          OMG!!!!! They saw something they didn't pay for!

          I wouldn't worry about it. They won't find it. Seriously... they won't find the content.

          Protecting your content is just one more technical piece to worry about, and you generally have to pay extra for it.

          If you want to spend the money for an unnecessary expense that's fine.

          But really I think someone starting their first membership site should be focusing on making sure their offer converts, getting traffic, etc. (Unless you have already maximized this, which for most this is the HARDEST and BIGGEST piece to making money online)

          Keep it simple. The technical stuff will slow you down and make it more complicated than it needs to be.

          Personally, I searched for months trying to figure out the best way to do a membership site without spending a lot.

          The way I described above is THE SIMPLEST way to get started, and one of the most effective.

          Focus on getting more sales and traffic.
          Ok, say you do it the way you described and forget about protecting content...once you find a profitable build that is working, how do you retrofit the site to THEN start protecting the content. Is there an easy way to do this?
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          • Profile picture of the author dainlewis
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            • Profile picture of the author DustonMcGroarty
              Originally Posted by dainlewis View Post

              Then it's a matter of picking your method.

              I have heard others recommend Wishlist Member, but I can't say how it is from experience.
              I use Wishlist on four or five different sites and like it a lot. They've really made it easy to use, they have great support and an awesome community inside their own membership site.

              I highly recommend Wishlist.
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      • Profile picture of the author Shaper
        Originally Posted by ravijayagopal View Post

        @Shaper: Are you asking someone else? Or me?

        If it's me you're asking, can you please clarify what "method" you're referring to? The method of dripping content?

        - Ravi Jayagopal
        Sorry...yes, I was hoping if you could tell me if dripping content works with monthly subscribers, and if so how does the method work as far as knowing if the Member is current in order to keep or stop sending content?
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  • Profile picture of the author Caprica
    If you are using WP, this is your way ! s2Member® | A powerful (free) membership plugin for WordPress® It's all for membership plugin and its free...everything you will need
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  • Profile picture of the author DustonMcGroarty
    Hi GSMarketing - if you're just starting out it's not necessary to have a "full-blown" site. I like the autoresponder model where you're members receive weekly lessons that you create once and are delivered on auto-pilot.

    It allows you to get started, test a niche for viability and test different appeals before spending a lot of time and money on creating a site, creating content and investing in software.

    I actually just launched a WSO teaching this model yesterday. Check my signature if you're interested.
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  • Profile picture of the author Monetize INTL
    Just a side note, the membership area on my sites are one of my main revenue streams .. ppl tend to forget that you can add a service within your membership area .. the membership area receives the best traffic
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  • Profile picture of the author celente
    I would say doing membership sites is the best thing for my business. They are thriving.

    I even wrote a free ebook for you in my sig link if you want some cool tips.

    I use optimizepress and S2 member, and these are the best and easiest tool to use. Even a nyandothol could set up a membership site in the space of an afternoon.

    Check out the sig link if you like.
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  • Profile picture of the author WebPen
    Wordpress makes it easy- there are a lot of different plugins and themes to help make it even easier, but they aren't necessary.

    For example, you can install Wordpress (free), click the "Anyone can subscribe" button in settings (free of course), then use the Aweber Integration plugin (free). This makes it so that any time someone registers, they are also signed up on your email list.
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