Sell a product or a membership site???.....

14 years ago

Why not do both?

I used to work for a big clickbank merchant selling to the Internet marketing crowd.

He did very well selling a front-end product and then offering a membership to some coaching as an up-sell. It converted very well, and he made the majority of his money from the up-sells, and because of the up-sell/continuity, it was very attractive for affiliates to promote.

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singhavn

14 years ago

I would advice you to go with membership way to earn regular recurring income. You make a sale one time and earn from that sale for a long time. But yes you need to provide value each n every day. I also had a client who launched his various dating sites but was struggling to get upgrades because of lack of value.

As your site is new I would suggest in the begining to start with a more reasonable figure of like $27/month which you can increase in later time when your site is well settled.

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sbucciarel

Banned 14 years ago

Depends on your level of commitment. Too many membership sites fall through on their promise of lots of great fresh content. I am very hesitant to sign up for them and rarely stick around past the promo offer when I do. Just not enough to keep me interested in forking out a monthly fee.

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dsprank

14 years ago

Originally Posted by sbucciarel

Depends on your level of commitment. Too many membership sites fall through on their promise of lots of great fresh content. I am very hesitant to sign up for them and rarely stick around past the promo offer when I do. Just not enough to keep me interested in forking out a monthly fee.

That is a great point! I have signed up for membership sites, got my information, then waited for then to put out some new stuff. When I was billed a second time and nothing new was added I stopped being a member before I would be billed a third time.

If you are not going to update the membership site, then stay with a single product.

Dave

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marktheonlinesurfer

14 years ago

Thanks guy. All very helpful posts. So I would I'm gathering is you can make a longer term income with a membership site but it is a much deeper committment that requires constant quality content, otherwise subscribers will get bored and unsubscribe, perhaps even during their trial period.

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leegs

14 years ago

I think it would be better to sell your product as a start for any niche, before you embark your journey to membership site. For me, I would create my own niche product first and after gaining trust from the buyer list, I would recommend to start with a membership site providing with more valuable content so as to increase your monthly passive income.

Hope it helps...

Raymond

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marktheonlinesurfer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by leegs

I think it would be better to sell your product as a start for any niche, before you embark your journey to membership site. For me, I would create my own niche product first and after gaining trust from the buyer list, I would recommend to start with a membership site providing with more valuable content so as to increase your monthly passive income.

Hope it helps...

Raymond

Thanks Raymond that is very helpful. That is what I am planning to do.

Thanks

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Robert Puddy

14 years ago

Originally Posted by marktheonlinesurfer

Hello fellow warriors,

I am looking to do a big test launch in my niche, which is the attraction/dating/seduction niche. I really have been struggling to turn this into a viable business.

With the help of an experienced warrior member, I took up his suggestion of doing a "test" launch to my list to see if I can get a 1% conversion rate to see if at the very least it is a viable business.

I am thinking about what to sell them. The question is whether I should sell them a stand-alone product such as an e-book, audio, video or a membership site full of content with re-occuring monthly billing.

I noticed membership sites with re-occuring billing seems to be the upcoming trend. It requires a great deal of quality content, but hey you are getting more out of your customers for a longer period of time.

The model I am seeing is to offer your prospective buyers a TRIAL for 7 or 14 days for $4.95 or $7 and after that trial period they are charged anywhere from $49 to $99 a month, that is the average figure I seen for membership sites.

It would be very helpful if you can share your insights. What would you rather sell a product or a membership site? What do you think would convert better? Finally, for a test "launch" which do you think is the better way to go?

Thanks for your help.

Mark

Quote from the LFM cheat sheet and manuscript

Dispelling the Myths

The typical response to the suggestion of starting a membership site is hesitation or dismay, primarily because of the way this model has been portrayed in mainstream discussions. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of owning a membership website. Contrary to popular belief, membership sites do not always involve a monthly commitment to creating new content, and they don’t always have to convince prospects to sign up for a continuity plan.

Here are the key points I want you to absorb:

• Your member site does not necessarily have to promise new content each month.
• You can profit immensely without charging a recurring monthly fee.
• A successful membership site can be built around any product or service!
• Installing and configuring a membership site isn’t complex (it can even be outsourced for peanuts).
• Above all, a membership site is a powerful delivery mechanism!

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marktheonlinesurfer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Robert Puddy

Quote from the LFM cheat sheet and manuscript

Dispelling the Myths

The typical response to the suggestion of starting a membership site is hesitation or dismay, primarily because of the way this model has been portrayed in mainstream discussions. Don't be intimidated by the idea of owning a membership website. Contrary to popular belief, membership sites do not always involve a monthly commitment to creating new content, and they don't always have to convince prospects to sign up for a continuity plan.

Here are the key points I want you to absorb:

• Your member site does not necessarily have to promise new content each month.
• You can profit immensely without charging a recurring monthly fee.
• A successful membership site can be built around any product or service!
• Installing and configuring a membership site isn't complex (it can even be outsourced for peanuts).
• Above all, a membership site is a powerful delivery mechanism!

That is very interesting point you raised Robert. I'd like to follow up on what you said.

How can you profit without charging a recurring monthly fee?
How can you keep your members if you don't provide them with new quality content each month?

Thanks
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Robert Puddy

14 years ago

Originally Posted by marktheonlinesurfer

That is very interesting point you raised Robert. I'd like to follow up on what you said.

How can you profit without charging a recurring monthly fee?
How can you keep your members if you don't provide them with new quality content each month?

If you bring them in on a one time fee (or a free membership) all you have to do then is keep them logging in and make them slide past a paid offer

Because you have a login mechanism in place, you can pull those same people back into the system and walk them past new offers anytime you like; all you have to do is add more free content or gifts to the download area. Send an email inviting members to login and collect a new bonus you’ve just added, and watch the money roll in as a percentage of them also make a purchase.

Log-In Frequency Marketing

Log-In: Create a membership site that requires users to log-in to perform various actions or obtain certain information.

Frequency: Create lots (and lots) of different reasons to persuade your members to log-in, again, and again, and again.

Marketing: While they’re logging in, use well-established marketing techniques to present enticing offers to your members.

One of the offers may well be a monthly membership with exclusive content, but it doesnt have to be

The key is this, ask yourself how much easier it would be for you to send someone who is a member of your site an email saying:

Your membership has been upgraded, please login now to see A, B, & C.

New resources have been added, please login to your membership to get them now.

You have a message from a fellow member, login to your account to read it.

You've made a referral, login to your account to see who and send him/her a message.

Tech support has answered your question, login to see the resolution.

The December downloads are now available, login to access them today.

You've made a commission, login to see how much.

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Rod Cortez

14 years ago

Originally Posted by marktheonlinesurfer

Hello fellow warriors,

I am looking to do a big test launch in my niche, which is the attraction/dating/seduction niche. I really have been struggling to turn this into a viable business.

With the help of an experienced warrior member, I took up his suggestion of doing a "test" launch to my list to see if I can get a 1% conversion rate to see if at the very least it is a viable business.

I am thinking about what to sell them. The question is whether I should sell them a stand-alone product such as an e-book, audio, video or a membership site full of content with re-occuring monthly billing.

I noticed membership sites with re-occuring billing seems to be the upcoming trend. It requires a great deal of quality content, but hey you are getting more out of your customers for a longer period of time.

The model I am seeing is to offer your prospective buyers a TRIAL for 7 or 14 days for $4.95 or $7 and after that trial period they are charged anywhere from $49 to $99 a month, that is the average figure I seen for membership sites.

It would be very helpful if you can share your insights. What would you rather sell a product or a membership site? What do you think would convert better? Finally, for a test "launch" which do you think is the better way to go?

Thanks for your help.

Mark

Mark,

Good to see you again. In this uber competitive market you need two things: distribution and to offer a product mix. Paid membership sites are a bit risky so I wouldn't start there yet, but I would offer a series of products focused on each area of the pickup / seduction niche. The competition will give an endless supply of ideas for this.

Edit: Robert makes very good points about membership sites and would defer to him on that subject matter.

Start off with a lead product, which could even be a loss leader, which will lead to other products in different price points. I've been in this niche for a long time and you've got to have premium products (or bootcamps) at higher price points if you want to have a viable business. If you look at the leaders in this industry they offer an eclectic product mix; some of them add live coaching, boot camps, phone / Skype coaching, etc. though you don't have to do that.

Some guys want to learn how to gain confidence. Others want to learn more about online dating. Some want to learn how to be better at sex, a lot of men, especially younger men, have a lot of anxiety about "doing it better" or "doing it right". You can even break that down further: a quick example would be talking about the 3 kinds of female orgasms and how to achieve mastery in those 3 areas. Others want material on what to say and how to approach women. Some want to see live instructional videos (in the field and/or role-played) while others would prefer a PDF or a podcast they could download to their Zune or iTouch.

I'll give you two prime examples of this: the RSD crew over at RealSocialDynamics.com and David DeAngelo's product line over at DoubleYourDating.com. They both do this very differently and in their own styles, but both have a rich product line that offers a little bit for everyone. RSD has a good balance between products and bootcamps and other live trainings, while DYD focuses more on their infoproducts with healthy margins on their more expensive offerings.

They also track all their advertising campaigns and are constantly tweaking, testing, and adjusting to ensure profitability.

I hope this helps you out. Good luck,

RoD

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marktheonlinesurfer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Rod Cortez

Mark,

Good to see you again. In this uber competitive market you need two things: distribution and to offer a product mix. Paid membership sites are a bit risky so I wouldn't start there yet, but I would offer a series of products focused on each area of the pickup / seduction niche. The competition will give an endless supply of ideas for this.

Edit: Robert makes very good points about membership sites and would defer to him on that subject matter.

Start off with a lead product, which could even be a loss leader, which will lead to other products in different price points. I've been in this niche for a long time and you've got to have premium products (or bootcamps) at higher price points if you want to have a viable business. If you look at the leaders in this industry they offer an eclectic product mix; some of them add live coaching, boot camps, phone / Skype coaching, etc. though you don't have to do that.

Some guys want to learn how to gain confidence. Others want to learn more about online dating. Some want to learn how to be better at sex, a lot of men, especially younger men, have a lot of anxiety about "doing it better" or "doing it right". You can even break that down further: a quick example would be talking about the 3 kinds of female orgasms and how to achieve mastery in those 3 areas. Others want material on what to say and how to approach women. Some want to see live instructional videos (in the field and/or role-played) while others would prefer a PDF or a podcast they could download to their Zune or iTouch.

I'll give you two prime examples of this: the RSD crew over at RealSocialDynamics.com and David DeAngelo's product line over at DoubleYourDating.com. They both do this very differently and in their own styles, but both have a rich product line that offers a little bit for everyone. RSD has a good balance between products and bootcamps and other live trainings, while DYD focuses more on their infoproducts with healthy margins on their more expensive offerings.

They also track all their advertising campaigns and are constantly tweaking, testing, and adjusting to ensure profitability.

I hope this helps you out. Good luck,

RoD

Hi Rod. Thanks for your post. As always you provide excellent advice!

Thanks

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Christophe Young

14 years ago

I would also advise starting off with something simple like an ebook or free report to build up a list. That way you are getting things off the ground. You will be able to test conversions and see how well your starter product converts.

Then, go with a membership site or backend product. You'll already have a highly targeted list at that point and something to sell to them.

I'm in the same niche and there's definitely A LOT of buyers in it. Don't worry about it being highly competitive. If you can reach new prospects before everyone else, then the competition won't matter much.

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marktheonlinesurfer

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Christophe Young

I would also advise starting off with something simple like an ebook or free report to build up a list. That way you are getting things off the ground. You will be able to test conversions and see how well your starter product converts.

Then, go with a membership site or backend product. You'll already have a highly targeted list at that point and something to sell to them.

I'm in the same niche and there's definitely A LOT of buyers in it. Don't worry about it being highly competitive. If you can reach new prospects before everyone else, then the competition won't matter much.

Thanks Christophe. It is nice when someone in the same niche encourages you!

Thanks

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skibbz

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Christophe Young

I would also advise starting off with something simple like an ebook or free report to build up a list. That way you are getting things off the ground. You will be able to test conversions and see how well your starter product converts.

Then, go with a membership site or backend product. You'll already have a highly targeted list at that point and something to sell to them.

I'm in the same niche and there's definitely A LOT of buyers in it. Don't worry about it being highly competitive. If you can reach new prospects before everyone else, then the competition won't matter much.

great advice, this niche is profitable and the marketing is big enough for even new players

Thanks

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vasilis

14 years ago

If this is your first product i recommend to start with an ebook or video/audio course.

Otherwise if you choose to create a membership site make sure you limit it's length, for example 3 or 4 months.
People don't like to pay forever but if they know that they're going to pay for just 3 or 4 months to get new & fresh content each month then you'll have more chances to have satisfied customers and more money ofc

That's just my opinion

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zenmack

14 years ago

I did both but started with a membership site:

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...marketing.html

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inyah11

14 years ago

One option for your membership site is to create weekly or monthly Q & A calls. The callers create the in demand topics with their questions and your coaching or expert guest responses/interviews create the rich content. Later you can reuse the recorded interviews/ Q &A as resources in the members area or bate/ special offers on squeeze pages for new members.

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marketingmyinternet 14 years ago

The model you are talking about is absolutely right. This is the up and coming trend. The thing is you need to decide what would work best for you. That is precicely what this test is about. On one hand, this is the information age (especially since Al Gore invented the internet) and so e-books are hugely popular, no matter the industry. On the other hand, a tangible product will help reduce charge backs. You need to consider all tactics when marketing. This is an obvious. Your friend who is helping you with this is absolutely right. Test things out and find what works for you best.

Hope this helps. PM me is you have any questions. Kevin
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- tpw 14 years ago
  
  Most people in membership sites quit after 3-4 months...
  
  Most products are one-time purchase...
  
  The dating niche is tough if you are chasing the dating community...
  
  Competition is fierce...
  
  I have tried that niche a couple times with dating sites, and I only made money advertising bigger sites...
  
  Joining dating website networks has been a boondoggle... I killed an $800 per month website that earned all of its revenue from advertising, to chase the monthly membership model through a network... I have so far tried two networks... And between the two networks, I have made $250 in 18 months...
  
  Now products for the dating community... That is another story... I have not personally had success there, but I know of people who have found great success there...
  
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Fernando Veloso

14 years ago

Tried it for a couple months (then sold the all thing) and this is what I did:

Product > Opt-In > build more credibility + urgency > Up Sell > Membership

The sales funnel was very tight and the REAL objective was to get more customers into the (low cost) recurring membership.

If you sell a product that supports a membership site with UPDATED information on same subject, you should go for it.

Fernando

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Sell a product or a membership site???.....

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