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Membership site or forum?

by hometutor
13 replies
I'm going to make a paid site to help students with ADHD. I've made a lot of forums and know how to make them paid, but I'm wondering if I should go with a membership site instead.

Rick
#forum #membership #site
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    What is the purpose? To teach? To help? To make money?

    I think the membership model would provide a better site for actual help....as you can see from this and other forums, those who respond in a forum thread don't always know what they are talking about. While that can keep it interesting it would be hard to control the 'message' on a forum targeting a health issue.

    On a membership site you can provide specific guides, workbooks, practice testing, resources, etc and have a help desk model should you want one-on-one contact.
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  • Profile picture of the author GordonJ
    Originally Posted by hometutor View Post

    I'm going to make a paid site to help students with ADHD. I've made a lot of forums and know how to make them paid, but I'm wondering if I should go with a membership site instead.

    Rick
    If you are targeting minors, I'd advise a MEMBERSHIP site, I wouldn't want my kids exposed on an open forum even if there is a paywall. A membership might give parents peace of mind too.
    I could be wrong, but most ADHD students in college have at least learned how to work with or around their ADHD.

    With today's plug-ins and add-ons, not sure a lot of people could tell the difference between a forum and membership site. I agree with Kay, and feel it depends on the intent of the site.

    GordonJ
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  • Profile picture of the author Marx Vergel Melencio
    @Rick,

    Depends on the browsing, content buying and viewing preferences of your target niche audience.
    • If they're more comfortable and primarily prefer searching, buying and viewing the specific content you're offering through their PCs via a membership site, then do that;
    • Though if it's a Web forum they want, then do that; and
    • But if they feel more comfortable doing those things in their smartphones, then an app with in-app purchasing options would likely be a good bet ...
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  • Profile picture of the author jc9999
    I think you should know the best which to go with or what you are trying to do.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Originally Posted by hometutor View Post

    I'm going to make a paid site to help students with ADHD. I've made a lot of forums and know how to make them paid, but I'm wondering if I should go with a membership site instead.

    Rick
    Get Simplero and do both.

    What do you want? Membership sites are for selling, accepting payment, and delivering content. Forums are for having dialogue. From that dialogue you can send people to places where they can buy things (just as our signatures here do). As the owner of the forum you can market in a more direct way than the other members, but the risk of turning visitors and participants off emotionally exists.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    My thinking is that with a forum you open your members up to the opinions of OTHERS on the forum...which for this purpose might not be the best way to go.


    But - maybe I'm overthinking it.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kay King
    Perhaps a membership - with a private forum attached?
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  • Profile picture of the author George Troy Marketing
    Membership site AND a forum.

    You just have to love the interaction of people as forums are synonym to community.

    Although I noticed that many people who buy much don't frequent on forums, making comments...etc.
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  • Profile picture of the author RMRC
    I agree with the side of having a membership site. Especially because it is something health related a membership site will allow better control of information so opinions aren't taken as medical advice.

    You definitely could have a forum within the membership site to allow for conversations and support between members who are all dealing with the same thing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jim Symonds
    Forums can be great for community, but can also be a ghost town.
    Spammers are always trouble and moderation is a time suck.

    A membership site offers total control over your content and brand.
    In addition you could have an affiliate program to drive business.

    This could be based on direct sales only, but many affiliates
    prefer the leverage you get from MLM, such as a 2x2, 2x3, 2x10 binary
    forced matrix or a reverse 2-up, 3-up, X-up pass up (powerlines) comp plan.

    Either one requires a great deal of passion.
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  • Profile picture of the author Randall Magwood
    You should go with a membership site model. Monetization is easier, and you can include sections/video modules that explain various methods for dealing with their child's ADHD. With a forum you open yourself up to people who will include their own opinions (possibly bad), diluting the quality of your methods and your forum also.
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  • Profile picture of the author rclemente
    Hello, how are all of you doing?

    First, and foremost I think it's great that you want to help ADHD individuals kudos to you! My opinion is I feel a Membership Site would be best, because it can be something more private for the individuals. As you see with forums anyone can come on and read these threads..... You want that every individual has the satisfaction of knowing that there information will always be private!
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