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Should I start a paid membership site?

by Derek Felton
7 replies
Hey guys! I am thinking about how I can use my experience, expertise, and passion to create an online biz that offers tremendous value. With that said, I am strongly considering starting a membership site for people who want to become paid professional speakers. It would feature videos, audios, .pdf reports, and monthly webinars.

My questions are: do people still join paid monthly membership sites?
Have you ever ran a site and what platform did you use?
Why would someone join a site as opposed to just finding the info they want for free?
How would you entice someone to join?
Thanks in advance for your responses!
#membership #paid #site #start
  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
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    • Profile picture of the author Lance K
      Originally Posted by hpgoodboy View Post

      Yes, people still join paid monthly membership sites.

      They join because they need more interaction.

      I would create a product and sell it and offer the membership as an upsell.
      Agreed.

      Assuming there is a viable market and they're open to the idea of online instruction...you could create a front end product that outlines what they'll need to do to become a paid professional speaker. Then offer a fixed term membership that teaches them how to do it. After that you could upsell them into a mastermind group where they get to practice their craft with other members during regularly scheduled Google Hangouts or something similar.
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek Felton
      Thanks! This is what I was thinking.
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  • Profile picture of the author gcbmark20
    Hi,

    1. YES, I have several on the go and people still join every single week.

    2. You can use Wordpress and then install OptimizePress 2.0 as a plugin
    and that will allow you to install a members only area where you can upload
    all your content and drip feed it or which ever way you want to.

    3. When you charge for something people are far more likely to take
    that information more serious and are more likely to take action up on
    what is taught to them.

    4. You could get them onto an email list first by giving away a taster
    of what your membership has to offer then sell them on the idea that
    way.

    Yes I really like memberships they give you a solid monthly fixed income
    and allow others to consume your information and interact with other members
    if you are looking to set up your membership that way of course.
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    • Profile picture of the author Derek Felton
      Originally Posted by gcbmark20 View Post

      Hi,

      1. YES, I have several on the go and people still join every single week.

      2. You can use Wordpress and then install OptimizePress 2.0 as a plugin
      and that will allow you to install a members only area where you can upload
      all your content and drip feed it or which ever way you want to.

      3. When you charge for something people are far more likely to take
      that information more serious and are more likely to take action up on
      what is taught to them.

      4. You could get them onto an email list first by giving away a taster
      of what your membership has to offer then sell them on the idea that
      way.

      Yes I really like memberships they give you a solid monthly fixed income
      and allow others to consume your information and interact with other members
      if you are looking to set up your membership that way of course.
      Do you need to use third party membership platform with OP2?
      Signature

      My personal website - derekfelton.com

      My soon to be released book - redeemthesoul.com
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  • Profile picture of the author GailTrahd
    You might also want to consider not only the educational part of the program but also providing them with other factors that they can't get elsewhere . . . maybe templates on which to base their presentations, lists of companies and their contacts to get a paid gig, different methods to use for colleges vs. getting a paid cruise vs. speaking at a company.

    I don't know much about the market - but think outside the box of what you can offer inside the membership to make the sale more enticing to the speakers.

    Would a private forum be applicable? Or are these speakers more competitive in the same market?
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    • Profile picture of the author louisville1980
      I think that membership sites are very valuable to a broad audience just as much today as ever. People want to interact with like-minded people or at least with people moving towards a similar goal.

      A few words of caution: I have been a member of a number of membership sites in the past and have ran a couple myself. Make sure you know your niche. If you go the membership site route be prepared to be engaged in the community on a daily basis (multiple times a day). A membership site with an administrator with no knowledge of the niche does no one any good and you will lose people and be responding to refund requests left and right. An administrator who is never on the site and does not engage the community should expect the same result, a loss of members and refund requests abound. It is not enough to have a series of good products and/or services drip fed to a site. You need a vibrant community of engaged individuals. If you have that you will make money and probably have a good time doing so. My last word of advice would be to get as many contributors on board as possible before going live to the general public. Offer free memberships on forums related to your niche and watch the engagement grow. No one likes a bare bones membership site. Just my thoughts.
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  • Profile picture of the author websense
    I never ran a membership site but think I might make one after all these great ideas. I would think giving some content away for free. Or even partial articles for free with a critical part locked for members. Also, give a discount and build a large member base first to get strong testimolians.
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