Importance of Offering Membership on the Backend?

I'm looking into this myself at the moment Noel. The big bonus with membership sites is that you can drip feed the content, so you can create the first two months content, then launch it, then continue creating content for the later months while people are still coming into the front-end of the membership course. That way, you're always 'ahead of the game' with your content.

Have a look at Chris Farrell's membership site. He started with a lot less content than he has now, just plenty of good stuff that actually works.

Noel, you are asking exactly the right questions. We have two niches with membership sites off of the back-end, both have really come about by necessity after our initial products were selling and the number of back-end questions became so great it was either a matter of offering coaching or a membership site to fulfill that demand (and frankly keep me sane from answering dozens of the same email questions that came in week after week).

I would consider the following:

1. Is there an obvious demand for additional information that would add value to my product offerings on an ongoing basis? This doesn't have to be rocket science, in some cases it could be a couple of weekly case studies, additional tips, your own private tests or use cases, a community where they can get private answers to their questions or interact with other members, etc... Or perhaps there is a more detailed tutorial you want to deliver by video that you can load that will take your customer through a 4-6 week video, audio or webinar course and decide to deliver this inside a private members site. Give this some thought first and perhaps even start developing the content before so you can launch with a bang

2. Commit to adding new content weekly...I have found a big difference in retention with a publishing plan that involves weekly updates to one that provides updates on a less frequent basis. Again, it doesn't have to be mind-blowing each week, but relevant and useful content at least once each week should keep them with you.

3. Make the membership fee high enough that it is attractive to promote on its own. I have members that join my membership sites that never buy my other products - they prefer that sort of information delivery. Don't assume it will only be back-end. Have affiliates promote as a front-end as well

4. Look to bring in outside content like interviews, guest posts and videos with quality. Either trade content with others, pay for content or leverage your relationships in the industry to get additional content, this will really boost the value.

Having a membership component to your product offering is a terrific aspect of your business but you have to understand the value you will bring in return for recurring income for it to be successful.

Hope this helps,

Jeff

Great info guys - thanks for all that...

Ya, I was talking to a guy who started his membership site with a few bonus reports and an mp3 interview he recorded over skype with a known expert in his niche.

He considered that to be a months worth of content and only added new material each month which took him a day to compile and upload.

@ Jeff - I too like to the idea of weekly updates, however small, I'm sure it makes the members feel like they are being looked after better and that they getting good value for money.

I've played around trying to make one of these sites in optimize press so construction wouldn't be a problem. Def something for me to think more about but I know think it's achievable rather than some "out there" idea.

Thanks, you've been a great help