Developing a Membership Site, advice requested

1. Much as possible covering the most important part of what you want to do.

2. The more often the better but it actually depends upon what your charging too.

3. You really don't need a big list but you still can build one in the process and certainly get some jv's.

4. Depends upon what I am charging and no. of members paying me.

5. Yes if they are paying you monthly. They won't continue if it doesn't make any difference.

1. When i first opened mine i only had 5 videos but all you do is keep adding them as you go. You don`t have to get lots of content in there before you start advertising but you do need to keep adding content on a regular basis so that people know there is lots more to come

2. I add new videos every few days in mine on average, sometimes i may add a couple in 1 day

drip feeding new content every few days is plenty good enough but it is up to you what you prefer but after you have lots of content in there then once a week or every 2 weeks may be better

3. Having a list to start it off is always handy but i have added my membership into some of my email follow ups and also into the first stages of some of my sales funnels

I also use a $1 three day trial to get people through the door and if they like the content they will stay otherwise they will go

4. There is no limit to what you can add to your site further down the road, but adding new content on a regular basis is good for retention otherwise people are going to get a bit bored if nothing new is ever added

5. if you let it coast then yeah, you will see a decline of members most of the time but it really depends on how big your site is and how good your content is

my goal is to have over 150 IM videos on my site, that way it`s more of a resource/database of IM video education rather than something that people can watch once learn it and move on

membership sites are very profitable, do take work but they are worth every bit of effort as long as you set it up and market it correctly

paul

Thanks for the tips.

If building a list isn't essential, how do you get known?

Is it simply a case of SEO, or something more like PPC?

1.) How much teaching content is generally available when the site is first opened?

In my case, at least 3-4 pieces of exceptional pieces of content.

2.) How much, and how often, should teaching content be added?

It depends on what kind of content and when you tell them they should be expecting updates. It can be once a day, once a week or once a month. I have even seen memberships that will update you whenever they have something worthy of saying, without a specific order. Whatever your choice, the members must have a rough idea when the content gets updated.

3.) For those that have started a membership site or two, what kind of prerequisites, or process do you follow? Do you need a big list first? Or do you just start and promote it after?

I started with a small list, paid traffic and SEO. I recommend to start off with a trial membership or a free level membership if you don't have a list. You have to gain their trust before you can sell them a monthly service, don't you?

4.) Once the site is established and growing, do you add software features to the site to help members and attract more, or do you let it coast?

Of course, you want them to interact as much as possible with your website. You want to have them daily do something on your website. It increases the stickiness and it's just common sense. The longer they stay and they're happy with your site, the more income.

5.) If you let it coast, do you see a decline in members (and start a new membership site?)

I don't let it coast ... unless the members create content themselves..

My advice don't overwhelm your members with too much content at the start, introduce new content gradually.