How to get members

This is just my opinion so take it for what it's worth. No matter how cool your product or service is, (which yours sounds cool), people are turned off by the direct join me approach. I've done this so many times with so many products and services that would truly benefit those I invite to join me. I never could get why they didn't trust me. It never worked for me, but it worked for others.
I think you have to be in it for the long haul, provide value for people with attraction marketing and if you are not building your list, you are not in business. The art of list building is the key to a long term business success. Not only that... you have to change your approach to being representative of a company to promoting "YOU Inc"
Meaning the opportunities come and go, but you will always have your list and you will always have your name. build a reputation by providing valuable information that they can use whether or Not they join you in your biz. That's the secret my friend.
again just an opinion

to your success

No.

Here's why. I've worked VERY hard to build my list - they are my customers and they TRUST ME. You're offering me (or anyone you invite) a subscription to your site, in exchange for risking losing all my customers.

Think of it this way.

Your site is say, $37/month. That's $444/year.

I promote to my list and for some reason, they don't like it, your hosting blows up, you turn out to be overwhelmed with success and can't handle customer support, etc, etc...

Guess what my CUSTOMERS (my list) will do? They will equate this negative experience with me. They may unsubscribe, they may stop purchasing from me, or at the very least, they'll have that little thought in the back of their head of "hey, Gary recommended this site and it was blah, blah, blah".

Gaining access to someone's customer list generally takes a relationship, trust, and sufficient motivation (usually financial).

You're offering me (using our $37/mo example above) less than $450 to give you access to my entire list of customers. On top of that, it's not even cash, it's a service.

Services always have a lower than retail value when you are bartering...

...And $450 isn't enough to buy most companies entire customer lists.


So, what do you do?

Build relationships. Help first.

Offer them a free membership but ask for their INPUT/Criticism instead of access to their customers. Take that feedback and make your product better.

Maybe create a video showing all the cool features (make it SHORT) and send them a link to it, along with a free membership coupon (or set it up in advance and send them the password).

Ask them to give it a spin and give their feedback.

You MAY be able to approach them for a Joint Venture to promote the product at that point, but it's going to involve money. Very few will take a free membership to promote to their customer list.

If it's a monthly fee as implied, realize that many marketers like that continuity - they promote to their list, then get paid a monthly cut for each member they refer.

You've got to get people exposed to the product to let them form their OWN opinion about how good it is. Build a relationship with them or at least realize that money is a much more powerful motivator than a free copy of the ebook or free subscription to a membership site.

All success,

Gary