Questions about membership sites

Shay, here are my thoughts and you can take them for what they are worth.

1. I personally don't have any membership sites, but I am signed-up with a few, and I have researched and considered setting one up, but just haven't had time with it.
2. It is absolutely possible for a IM newbie to start a membership site and be successful. You can be just as successful as a seasoned IMer if you learn the correct way to go about it. If you have the right information and apply that to setting up your site, you will do great.
3. Most of the sites I've joined and the prices I've seen when researching were between $20-$100 per month(of course you don't charge an even amount, you charge $__.95 or $__.99 per month.) It really depends on what you are offering on your membership site. I would try to look at what you are offering from the view of a potential customer. Think about what you would be willing to pay yourself to this membership site you are starting. It's really a judgement call on your part as far as what to charge. I would just say you would need to have some amazing information, products, or services on your site to charge $99.95 a month. Most people don't have a ton of money these days, so don't break the bank, just figure out a price that seems fair to you.
4. You can offer various bonuses, ebooks, etc. Whatever you might already have that you could kick in. If you are doing some type of information or education membership site, you could perhaps offer a monthly newsletter with useful information, or a few audios or videos each month. You could also have a discount on the monthly fee for the first so many people or something to that effect. Good luck. If you have any questions, post them here or PM me.