4 Reasons Not to Have a Membership Site, Plus 8 Reasons You Should Start a Membership Site
A couple days ago I asked my list if they had a membership site yet... I got 300 responses to that question and I want to share the results with you right now:
- 165 people, or 54.8% own membership software
- Out of that half that owned membership software, 89 people or 53.9% have at least one paying member
- Total, those 89 people who had a profitable membership only accounted for 29.6% of the responders
So Strange!
Some of these people paid $197, $297, even 4000 bucks for a membership script but only half of them are doing anything with it.
So let me share with you a couple of reasons that stopped me from creating membership sites (I've created 19 of them in the past 12 months... and only ONE before that time period!)
Excuse #1: It Becomes a Huge Chore You Have to Maintain. That membership site might be fun and exciting when you first get the idea, but what about a week from now? A month or even a year from now?
That site is going to become a massive time-suck, and you're stuck with it even though you could be working on new projects instead.
Excuse #2: It's Tough to Retain Members. How many magazine subscriptions have you canceled in your lifetime? Most of them, right?
The same thing happens to subscribers of your membership site. Maybe you don't provide enough content, or it's not exciting enough for people, or they just quit and it has nothing to do with you.
You can try to fight it by scheduling daily e-mails in your membership and overloading new subscribers with content, so there's no way they can get through all the information and they forget to cancel... but that's kind of mean.
Excuse #3: The Conversion Rates Suck Because It's Monthly. You get a lot of extra objections when trying to sell monthly access. How easy or hard will it be to cancel?
Will I forget I'm subscribed to your monthly membership? Is the content going to be just as good 9 months from now as it is today?
Excuse #4: You Have to Create a Lot of Content. Let's face it, you take a big risk when creating a monthly membership site.
It's a big project, it's fun to start but tough to finish. You might spend 6 months creating the content and another 6 months promoting it, only for it to flop... and guess what, there's a year of your life, gone forever.
Now that I've ruined your day let me drop a bomb that's super-obvious to half of you and super-surprising to the other half...
Membership Sites Don't Have to Be Recurring!
Think about it. If someone pays you money one time, and your system gives them a username and password to login and get their download, that COUNTS as a membership site!
Between the two of us, Lance and I have been a part of 20 membership sites. One of those (NicheSeeker), I created in 2006. The other 19 were made in the past year.
Only 8 of the 20 are actually recurring membership sites. The rest are things like e-classes, where they pay once and get access to a private blog.
So now that you know a membership site doesn't have to be recurring, what the heck can you do with it?
Solution #1: Bonus Drip. You can offer your regular e-book but then write some extra reports, or create a bonus webinar, even buy up resale rights to related products... drip it out over the course of a week, a month, or a year to keep people coming back.
Help them through the step-by-step parts of your book, or give them reminders... or just keep delivering value a little bit at a time to cut down on refunds.
Solution #2: Collect Testimonials. Because your membership site is setup on a blog, people have the ability to leave comments.
You could ask people for their feedback which you can use to create your next product, or your next bonus, or even work it into an actual testimonial.
Solution #3: Offer a Trial Period. What if you offered the bonuses to your product first... whether those are checklists or extra videos?
People can join your membership for $1 or $4.95 for 7 days to get a little bit of content, then once they rebill for the full amount, they get the downloads including the main product.
If They Cancel, They Are Kicked Out of the Membership...
Lance and I are using a trial period for our "List Copywriting" membership and I'm going to be applying this to some of my one-time payment products. What's cool about the trial period is you can present a special offer to a specific person's list or a forum, without discounting the price or bonuses at all.
Solution #4: Offer a Payment Plan. This is similar to the trial period, but you let people pay in two or three parts... again, every time they pay, they get access to a little bit more content.
We used to do this all the time with our high-ticket, single payment membership sites for group coaching. The final price might be $197, so they pay $127 now and $127 later. Gotta add a little bit of interest so they're more motivated to pay in full right now.
Solution #5: Easy Upsell. Most membership software like Wishlist makes it super easy to add multiple membership levels.
So you could easily package a bunch of your bonuses in one membership level, or make people pay a little bit more per month to be able to download the content (as opposed to streaming it right off the blog).
Just Check a Couple Extra Boxes...
Solution #6: Cut Off Access If They Refund. If you're a product creator then you like doing this. A couple of our membership sites run for a 6-month period.
If people get through all six months, they have access for life and can come back anytime. But a minority of people cancel after 3 or 4 months thinking they've got "just about everything" ... but when they cancel, they're cut off. So lifetime access after they've paid all their payments is a big reason to stick around till the end.
Solution #7: Easy Download and Password Retrieval. I deal with about one request per day from someone saying, "I lost my download link" or "It says my download has expired, can you give me a new link?"
What's cool about having a membership site in WordPress is that WordPress has a built in "lost password" feature. If one of your customers needs their download, they'll go to your sales letter, see the link to the member's area, and use the lost password to get their login sent to them... they login and grab their download.
Solution #8: Easy to Notify of Changes. Did you improve your book or change that script? Just upload the file, edit the post... and guess what, most membership software like Wishlist allows you to e-mail the entire user base right from within WordPress.
The thing is...
Even If Your Membership Takes Only One Payment,
It's a Membership!
So when I asked you guys on my e-mail list if you have a membership with at least one paying member... were you telling the truth or were you a liar?
If you're a liar, don't bother commenting below.
If you aren't a liar, tell me the URL to your membership site so I can check it out.
Leave me a comment below please... I'm only letting 100 of you reply.
Filed in: Copywriting • Product Creation • Site Building
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I was telling the truth! I have a very small but dedicated niche and have video testimonials. In fact, I just got another member 2 days ago!
You guys are right. It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out program. I really like the ecourse model you teach and drip bonuses out over the last 2 months to insure they pay the 3rd installment.
It gives me more time to “wow” them and helps with retention. I love membership sites but there’s no way I think I could do one longer than say 3 or 4 months tops.
Recurring income is my favorite infoproduct model. I’m just trying to figure out how to grow the business now.
Thanks for the great information and keep up the good work!
Membership sites rule! Robert, you know a couple of mine. I haven’t tried a fixed term one yet, so I think I’ll try that next.
Hey Robert –
Just so you don’t call me a liar, here’s one of them! 🙂
http://www.shapingbehaviorsecrets.com
Enjoy!
Adam
We’ve done just about everything wrong imaginable in running a membership site. here we’re two pretty smart guys who listen to what you and others tell us to do and no natter how hard we try there’s a disconnect.
Thanks for your encouragement, mentorship, and guidance.
One of these days these two old farts will actually get it right.
Membership sites – I think Joe and I are guilty of too much content.
It seems like it overwhelms people.
I think we need to re-purpose and niche down.
Thanks for all you do.
Dale
Hey Dale…
Or even just space out your content more and have more posts asking questions…
Hey, how come Lance and I don’t get comped into your membership site? We comp your into all of ours 😉
Okay, since I’m up already sorting out my accounts for year end and tax returns due 31 December 09 I thought I’d add a bit more to my response in the email.
1. Yes I have a membership site software (two or three I think).
2. No I haven’t got a membership site up and running yet.
Reason? Launch Formula Marketing was darned complex to set up. Had difficulties learning that sucker. Still got it though but now I’m not sure if it can be used on a blog.
Have a copy of Mike Filsaime’s Butterfly Marketing Script. This too seems like a membership site type software. Again, had little time to get to grips with that baby either.
The reasons/excuses you gave all struck a chord with me. I have so little time available what with a job and family etc, learning Video Sales Tactics 2.0 :o) (that sucker took up alot of time too) and so on that I find it difficult to sit down and learn all these scripts right off the bat.
But since doing the VST 2.0 and reading about short and fixed term membership sites from you and others, I am interested in doing them and would love to roll out loads over time like you do. My next problem though is deciding what topic I want to teach people. I was thinking of personal finance type things but everybody knows how to do such basic stuff, I didn’t think it was of any value to produce. So, back to the drawing board.
That’s it from me. Say HI to Lance for me :o)
Robert,
I love the range and variety of membership sites you outlined here. I’ve used two of them and coached two of my clients to use two of the others – the ones that were perfect for their audience and offering. Now you’ve given me more to play with.
Thanks!
Linda –
Hi Robert,
I do not yet have a membership site or even membership software for that matter, but your topical comments are always very informing and provide plenty of actionable ideas to get moving.
Thanks again and I look forward to the next installment.
Kind regards…
I am one of those who does not have a membership script/program… still assessing several products.
Cannot agree with the premise that one should lose all that they have paid for once they cancel the membership.
That is why I am leaning more to a membership program that will allow someone to stop and start again.
I know from bad experiences with credit cards and/or PayPal, that things can go wrong without me being at fault and then I lost hundreds of dollars worth of access.
I won’t mention names, but there is a membership program that alleviates this and does lots of other things that the others don’t do…
So by the middle of November, I will make my final decision and then purchase.
While I do not plan on any paying members right off the bat, I want the capability to do so down the road.
I am of the old school, where you build it right the first time. (Even though I can see the merits of getting it out fast and then making corrections, this is not now, and probably never will be my mindset)
So I wait patiently, soaking up the great info that Robert provides while I put my own little empire together quietly in the background.
Hi Robert,
Well I do have a couple of membership scripts (or is that three) gathering dust. A bit like Gareth I have had some challenges trying to set them up, and then I loose patience with the whole damn thing.
I realise that membership sites are a great way to generate in income, but I also thought that they were very time consuming (time is something I do not have a lot of), but you have ruled that excuse out for me.
I have just got to re-arrange my time.
Ok, so I have the software but haven’t done anything with it yet. I am in the process of getting it going, but for me time is still my nemesis.
My goal is to set up a health related site offering one ‘digital’ book per month with articles and extra’s along the way.
With a pretty small list right now I am not sure how I’ll get the members coming in, but I gotta build it first.
Joe
Hi Robert,
As usual your post is both enlightening and smart. Yes i confess to having several membership scripts widgets and the like. I have tried just about every form of membership script out there. Most are over complicated and you need a PhD to grasp the fundamentals and they take as long to master as the manual for the space shuttle.
I prefer the simple Wp style you used in the wordpress membership course you and Jason did earlier this year.
Thanks for the perspective and some thought provoking ideas for discussion.
Kevin
No membership site, no promotion by Robert. Just me and Chef Todd crying ourselves to sleep.
Great blogs and suggestions Robert. Thanks man!
Tim
Hahaha Tim, maybe if you had a membership site with recurring commissions I would be tempted to promote something of yours. 😉
Hey Robert
I created a membership site about 8 months ago, selling wordpress themes and other templates and graphics – I have it set in paypal to be a fixed term 12 month membership.
I have it set up where they get an email once a month with a new page of downloads…
I know this could have been set up better, but I was getting sick of adding more content and I could have improved the sales page.
I need to spend some time getting the rest of the content up then adding in some additional content to increase the stick rate.
Here’s the link
http://www.amgara.com
I’ll have to make some improvements!
thanks for your help,
Jeff Bode
Just so you won’t call me a liar…
Here’s my articles writing membership site (it’s a WSO):
http://budurl.com/blogWSO
It is and will remain a very small membership site (until I start outsourcing the writing).
In fact, it’s not even a site… so does that count?
Or is that another innovative membership model?
And here’s my shiny new just launching blogging course:
http://www.thebloggingcourse.com
Also available as a WSO for fellow Warriors:
http://budurl.com/bcwso
And just from your blog post I got some great ideas that I will incorporate into my blogging course, so expect to see a few changes to the sales page!
You’re brilliant, Robert!
Thanks.
Elisabeth
Dude this 100 comments thing is a great idea.
I’m actually impressed that 89 people out of 300 respondants already have profitable membership sites. Your people must really be taking action.
Great post. I have several membership sites, here’s one I’ve been working on lately:
http://dailymarketadvantage.com/special
Looking to set up a member site soon. Got bogged down trying to figure out best software solution: Ning, wishlist, SocialSam, etc.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Jeff
All great points, and I never even thought of *not* charging monthly – good idea for kick starting things. Like the motto says – “Just Do It” – It would be interesting to see (from those respondents that sid “yes” what membership software they’ve used. I wonder if anyone is using Wish List for WordPress? It looks pretty decent…
I haven’t created a membership site because the idea of having to keep providing content forever doesn’t sit well with me….however, I recently listened to Russell Brunson’s Micro Continuity idea and that makes ALOT more sense.
Create a bunch of content once, drip it out over time, charge during intervals of that time and then when they’re done, they’re done.
No recurring content creation and you still make a ton of money. I love it.
That was a big Ah-ha to me Robert! In the back of my mind I knew that you could set up a one-time-payment membership site (it isn’t illegal or anything like that). But I never thought that setting it up that way could BLAST one of my biggest concerns about producing original content each month.
I can actually “go” with some of the content I already have. That’ll be my weekend project.
Muchas gracias Amigo,
John
Hey Robert,
I didn’t comment on your earlier post but I do own many membership scripts and do have one membership site with about 90 paying members.
I owned another one but stopped it because it was harder to upkeep than I had first thought.
My live membership site has three different levels and it does recur on a monthly basis. It’s a “service” type model rather than a “content” one and my stick rate is much higher than average (over six months).
You can see the page that will ask you to login here for my “High Rollers” membership but that isn’t going to show you much. ;- )
It’s just a simple membership script that does protect a WordPress blog and a BBPress forum.
http://www.loopholers.com/highrollers
I have two other membership sites in the works right now and hope to launch one of them before the end of the year.
Be well,
Kevin
I’ve participated in and run forums. It’s a lot of work. This is the main reason I’ve been reluctant to take the plunge.
The different models you have outlined seem to make more sense to me now.
I do have a WordPress plugin membership script, I’ve run it a bit on localhost to test it out, haven’t done much else with it.
Hey Dave,
That’s exactly why I stay away from forums. I used to be friends with Robert Puddy and I was around when he first started his forum.
I was also there when a couple other guys (like Tim Drobnick) also created forums and one of two things usually happen:
1. Forum dies out (this is what usually happens).
2. Someone with a strong, obnoxious personality takes over.
That’s why it’s way more logical for me to have membership blog instead of a forum. If you start getting way too much traffic and comments (like 100 comments per post) then it might be time to roll things over into a forum — there are WordPress plugins for that.
But start with a blog for sure so you can at least control the comments or even do away with comments entirely.
Good stuff Robert (and helpful),
This is the one I’ve claimed. (not WordPress… it’s powered by membershipsitescript from phpAndy)
http://rapidnicheblog.com
This next one is really WordPress. Not as successful as I would have liked. Great start, but I now need to wake it up.
http://yesinternetbusiness.com/
cheers,
Kevin
Boy, you’re not kidding when you say what initial was fun turned out to be a total pain in the ass. Some products are just not meant to be distributed by the membership site business model. But you know what? That’s okay! That’s just one more way I learned it won’t work! And that’s a very valuable lesson!
Hi,
Yes I have a membership site and I’m using wishlist at the moment.
I am quite interested in the different scripts you’re talking about as I’m finding
wishlist to be limited in certain areas.
Great post.
Charl
Charl,
In what areas is it limited? Just the drip content or is there something else?
Thanks for your thoughts on different types of membership programs.
Here’s my main membership site:
http://leadershipcoachingclub.com
and here’s a free membership program I run (on autopilot):
http://hottestideas.com/bookclub/
I could have a membership site, but i don’t know if I really want members. I would really enjoy collaborators. Why not a collaborator site? Membership implies elitism, and that’s definitely not something that the world the needs more of. More, I’m better than you because…
JMHO, rb
I am just about to launch my first membership site http://www.wifeinmidlifecrisis.com
We are hoping to have many paying members soooooon.
Kay Newton is the coach and WiMLC.
I am the publisher. Gonna be interesting
The above URL is a an introduction to the site and a place where wives can give us their most burning questions.
The members part is at http://www.wifeinmidlifecrisis.com/members
Feedback Welcome!
Best,
George
I did a fixed term (4 weeks) SEO workshop with Nathan Anderson during August into September. The site is http://www.seoapprentice.com/members
You will not see anything. I used a wordpress blog and password protected the folder. Fast and simple.
I did 10 videos about SEO as a pre-workshop content. For those interested:
http://www.seoapprentice.com/blog
BTW, nothing to buy.
John Deck
Great research Robert! How does this compare to stats for IM products in general: suspect it would be the same in terms of buyers to users? I don’t have a membership site at present, still playing around with some profitable products before pushing ahead. I have listened to a number of pitches of the big dollar products, but noticed the recent trend into cheap membership sites. I saw one recently based on a WordPress format – OK, not sophisticated, uses one universal password. But managed correctly, in theory excluding your time, its a profitable model from member No1. Keep the good stuff coming, thank you – Ian McA
Hello Robert,
Yes, I own WishlistMember – Multi License. Got it in March. Never did anything with it cause I don’t understand it. Yes, I know they have one of the best support guys – Greg F.
But that does not give me enough info to set up and run it so if flies right and makes profit.
So I’m looking to see what your course outline offers. You provide excellent content. And motivate your students. They are a nice bunch.
Jared
My membership site is at:
http://www.diygraphicsclub.com/join
–Andy
Gareth,
What about finance do you want to teach people? Are there any membership sites about that subniche? Or even if there aren’t, are there any information products on your topic priced over 100 dollars by other people?
After Webinar Crusher 2.0 I installed my first WordPress blog, installed Wishlist Member (single domain for now.) How does anybody drip-feed with Wishlist Member?
I’m using this more as a test rather than making money; watched videos on protecting my content with an Amazon S3 product. Making sure I protect content is very important to me. I know I’ll be able to implement faster than making from scratch with PHP/MySQL which has been past practice.
I’m making a lot of progress OTHER THAN membership sites. Constantly recording videos for clients. Last Saturday I even found a programming bug live on the recording. Completely overlooked it before I recorded it.
It wasn’t until I took WC 2.0 that my imagination got fired recording video tutorials/client walkthroughs.
Thanks to both you and Lance.
Jim
Hey Jim, Lance and I have a solution to the drip feed with WordPress that we’re using on four of our recurring sites so far. But you’ll have to wait until next week’s webinar for us to discuss it.
Robert- you offer a healthy mix of content and offers, always with a call to action.
I find myself reading your emails, which is rare among all the lists. You make me think, and I appreciate that.
I own and operate 3 (traditional) membership sites. I too recently converted one site to Russell Brunson’s model. Mostly, I took a book I wrote, cut it into more manageable portions & deliver it monthly.
This is huge in keeping members wanting more. I use “teasers” at the end of each issue to promote the next issue. Of course, it’s critical today to provide step-by-step actionable content using video as well.
By no means have I cracked “the” code but I am gaining traction.
I won’t deny, my membership sites require TONS of content,though I don’t create all content. Naturally, everyone here understands “OPC” (other people’s content). I really enjoy teleseminars. I was a high school teacher for many years, so I LOVE content creation and talking with (and recording) “experts.” 🙂
Here’s one of my sites on credit repair. LOTS of scams and poor people with bad credit but I have many more than a couple paying $27.00 /month.
Credit Debt | Repair Bad Credit!
I’m constantly testing squeeze pages >> secret #1-offer page (ala Brunson). Separately (but on the same domain) I have a blog at http://www.fixmyuglycredit.com/blog
Eventually, I’ll convert to WP. For now, I use amember. Mostly, I’m pleased with it, though I do not like separate sign-up & checkout pages. Too easy for cart abandonment. I also don’t care for amember’s autoresponders and lack of aweber integration.
Creating membership levels in amember is mission impossible!
Every niche is different. No doubt, continuity comes in many flavors. You will have to get to know your avatar (customer) very well and accommodate him/her with pricing and value. Naturally, I prefer passionate markets where people ENJOY logging in or hearing from me. In credit repair, hearing from me reminds people of credit issues, even if I ride a white horse and want to help them. I’m still that bad taste in the mouth that lingers….
To a degree, it seems you’re intimating Value Trojans, Robert. From Mike Hill, I think he too got many of us thinking about the $4.95 /month “membership,” which people will pay month after month. For YEARS, I’ve paid Pre-Paid Legal for the same reasons — I might NEED it some day and it’s not stretching my budget.
Now, I need to put on my TRAFFIC hat and generate tons of traffic so I then can improve conversion. Keep in mind, how many paying customers at $27.00 /month do you need to hit $10,000 /month? For how many months can you grab (and keep) their interest? Attrition rate? Funnel?
Thanks again, Robert, for a fresh approach.
Mike
Hey Robert,
I’m posting a comment: “Because I can” and because I’m really glad I re-joined your newsletter. I was on it last year, but after being bombarded by you, Yanik, Kern, Kennedy as well as a few others I got sick of it all and decided to start making money before I read another blog post.
Hi Robert,
This is the 1st post I’ve seen anywhere that actually surveys membership site users. Great content from you and those making comments. Very rich!
Thanks!
Phil Johncock
http://GrantWritingNewsletter.com
Good stuff as usual Robert –
I have a number of them…
http://www.speakerscruisefree.com/
http://www.travelmakingmoney.com/
http://www.adjunctteachingonline.com/
http://www.helpwritingbook.com/
All with paying members.
This seems SOOOO spammy to be posting the above link…
But you asked me to post it! So there it is.
That sales page really needs updating. It’s on my to-do list…
It’s got a good CR for people that look at it.
Hey David… wait a minute, I know that template… and that countdown script… and the guy who made that countdown script (it’s you!)
If it has a good conversion rate then who cares if it needs updating? It converts!
Have you thought about putting your picture on that sales letter? Or screenshots of each product?
Nice, is that site run with the “MRR Club” model?
I have a video training membership site for training embroiderers or anyone wanting to start an embroidery business. I offer 2 payment options, a monthly charge of 29.95 or an annual fee of 199.00. Most of the members come in on the annual fee and my retention rate is over 60%. Each month news ones join and the monthly membership retention is a little lower. They stay for about 6 months and then move on.
I offer a monthly webinar that is full of content and anyone that signs up for the webinar receives the video download of the webinar. I also create products from these webinars and have then for sale on separate websites.
I would say that my membership site is very successful. Would I like it to be more successful? Yes of Course. At least I can make a living from it. I have had it for 3 years now and want to update it, but
at this time, I do not have the time.
After the first of the year I am going to be starting another membership site for personal group coaching for the design creation aspect of the embroidery business.
First I have to finish the book that I am currently writing. That will be finished by the end of November. This book will be my calling card for attracting more clients for consulting.
Joyce Jagger
The Embroidery Coach
http://www.EmbroideryTipsandMore.com
http://www.TheEmbroideryTrainingResourceCenter.com
Hi Robert,
a very great informative post. Eventhough I’ve some useful membership scripts but I fail to set it up because they are quite complicating to set up. Well,at the same time I’m reworking my idea of having membershipsite. After reading your post,I might use some tips which you shared with us and I’ll let you know once everything is successfull.
Hey Nitya, that’s great news… so what’s the next step? Do you have your membership idea picked out? What about the hook? What about the membership software or the content?
Hi Robert,
at first I was planning to start up a membershipsite for resale rights.But,now I don’t think it is a good idea because there is lot of membershipsites that offering the same services. I’m planning to set up a video membership tutorial site on creating graphics,mini sites,websites,wordpress templates and etc. Yesterday only I created a video on how to create a header with images with adobe captivate3. But,the video is bit longer and there are certain errors in it. I think I’ve to reproduce another one with other video capturing software. Any suggestions?I’m planning to use bonus drip method and offer a payment plan method. Do you have any better idea?
Robert,
Wait a great post!
I have great idea for a membership site. I am just getting my ducks in a row before I go live. This is a very helpful post.
Thanks,
Rob
Great reaction and comments about membership sites
very interesting. No excuses to do at least something.
Robert,
I have a number of membership sites, probably have built over 100 or so…
This one made over $10K over a period of a month…
http://Adsense-Bootcamp.com/JoinNow/
Notice the 30 Minute “SPECIAL”? This increased my sign-up rate exponentially…
CYA,
~AzSno…
I have four membership sites. Three have paying members, and one is free to anyone who stays on my list. membership sites rule!
I’ve looked at the prospect of creating a membership site, and I still plan on doing one in the future.
But the problem I had was that I didn’t really have enough money to get it going, so I had to switch business models.
Once I get the time and the cash, then I’ll definitely launch!
I don’t have one yet, but I am enjoying learning from you and your respondents.
I am a newbie at all the online stuff and I am really looking forward to participating in all these ideas very soon.
Working on basic steps first 🙂
~Trish
Hi Robert,
I’m one of those with membership site scripts and no membership site.
I have an idea for 2, setting right on my hard drive:) Even completed the site pages…no idea why I won’t pull the trigger except maybe – what if you open the doors and no one comes in.
Then there’s the other part: how do you know what to charge, how much information should you give out, and should it be ongoing like a newsletter (like this idea) or some kind of training course or what?
Guess it’s simply dive in and see what happens.
Robert,
I’ve got a couple of active membership sites.
One is just set up to deliver transcripts and mp3’s from the free interview series
http://LivingEnergySecrets.com
although I’m planning to change it over to a drip content site.
I’m using RAP with the Member Plus Addon. Very good scripts with excellent support & user group. Limits are Paypal only payment system. Addons allow tight WP integration and content drip.
The other is a MemberGate site
http://TheCareGiverCommunity.com
Hi Robert:
Great post as usual!
I don’t know what do you think about this other membership model, where the customer pays for membership, but gets the material delivered thru an autoresponder.
Rhodhes brothers call it “real simple membership model” and it is also used by Jimmy Brown (“membernaire”).
No need to setup a special membership script with this model…
Congrats,
Luiggi
Hey Luiggi, no need to attach a fancy name to it, I already talked about using just an autoresponder for your membership in “Membership Sites on Crack” a couple years ago.
With most of my products, I’ve at least created a bonus report or bought rights to one or two bonuses that get sent out on the autoresponder after they join.
The advantage to having it in a membership is when they cancel, they’re cut off instantly. Plus there’s a convenient place to get at all those downloads.
If you know so much then where is your membership site?
Robert,
Thanks for the info. My partner and I are going to opening our first fixed term membership site sometime next week, it will be 3 months.
I am a member of your mailing list and I will keep looking for new information in my inbox.
Thanks,
Dr. Clyde Reid
That’s great news Clyde, what’s going to be the URL and what will it be about?
The URL I listed is the root domain. Dave is working on the actual membership portion and I do not as yet have the URL for the signup page. There is a squeeze box on the above URL to sign up for early registraion information though.
We are dripping our lessons 2 or 3 per week according to the information contained in each lesson. We also have something I never seen before. We have Knowledge Assessments for each lesson so you can verify how much of the info you retained. We also offer PLR and MRR products for our members each month to help them get started quickly.
It is our hopes the affiliate program will allow members to pay for their membership by signing up 4 other members.
Our intent is to teach those people who have gotten involved online to be business people. Most people who get started have no business experience or education. We want to help them learn how to treat their Internet Business as a business and not like a hobby.
It is our intenetion to set up another membership site that will include personal coaching to help the members continue to grow their business after they complete the first term.
I really like the 3 month fixed term as all we have to do is set it up once and it just keeps going with very little updating.
Gosh, Didn’t mean to write a novel. I guess my passion for this shows huh?
Thanks again for your great content. Hey will you promote our site. It is recurring and will add new members each month.
Robert you are of course right. Membership sites are something I want to do more of but the learning curve has been time consuming and expensive. My first site is totally custom. If I had to do it over again knowing how much I have spent so far, and it’s not finished yet, I would have bought a proven script and customized it. The website is:
http://www.TOCLeaders.com
Of course I’m a member too:
http://www.TOCLeaders.com/David
I have several member sites and have helped a dozen people set up their sites, as well. My primary site is http://OnlineSuccessIncubator.com (the sales letter) with the content delivered at http://OnlineSuccessCoaching.com It uses amember because at the time I created it that was the only viable option for true security. One mistake I would not repeat is having multiple levels in that one – public, free, Incubator and Mentor levels. The vision was current when I set it up, but it’s turned out to be way more of a hassle than it’s worth in the long run.Don’t do that.
As you suggested, Robert, I’ve set up sevaral one-time payment “download” sites – especially for large products sold through Clickbank, where there is a much higher refund rate than with my products sold through 1SC. I like to be able to turn off access without having to change the download page.
Keep up the great ideas! You always make us think – and take action!
Jeanette
Here’s my link. It’s a new site, so have at it —
http://www.internet-marketing-muscle.com
Robert,
My main site, http://EasyLittleWebsites.com, is a powerhouse.
It’s a service, not content driven, which makes it a bit different from typical content based memberships. Instead we provide a tool that helps members write killer sales letters that, thanks to built in testing, get better over time.
Hey Robert,
I have several membership sites. The one I’m most proud of that has helped the most people become successful online is http://www.PrivateNicheEmpire.com which is purposely restricted to only 125 members at any one time.
Private Niche Empire has been full much of the more than 3 years since it was released, although we do have some openings at the moment. We provide a very high quality business in a box type product that our members rave about.
I’ve tried several different membership site scripts but the one I like the best by far is Amember. None of the others has all the features you discover that you need as you get more and more members (except for the more expensive ones of course).
I really enjoy your insights Robert, and the interesting discussions you initiate. Keep up the great work.
Warmest regards,
Ellery
We’ve been running a highly successful membership site in the stock/futures/forex trading niche for about a year now, but we’re beginning to see that a fixed-length membership site, like Robert mentioned, may have the advantage.
Sure, we as membership site owners like the recurring income, but customers like a fixed amount of time for something to happen; they can “get their head around” a 6-month course more easily than an open-ended subscription. We believe that finding a good dripped-content system that allows for a fixed-length course to be given to the customer (and thus we only have to create a fixed amount of content for the site) may be best way to move forward with membership sites.
I have ONE affiliate marketing membership site at the moment at http://www.mynetmarketingland.com/
In fact, I had one in the past, but I’ve been submerged by success… and no time to update it. I took the tough decision of shutting it down, even though I had a lot of paying members at $19.95 per month.
For my membership sites, I don’t even use a software now. Just a plain html page…
I’ve used one in the past with Joomla, but it had bugs, and the Joomla site disapeared from the cyberspace with ALL my content… and no backup!
No need to say… bye bye Joomla.
Franck Silvestre
Internet Business Coach
Hey Robert,
I have a membership site set up with WordPress. It is in the building stages. I am learning the WordPress, HostGator, and other components. I will have the site running next week and I have contacted individuals dealing with list building, list swaps, etc. to generate memberships quickly. I have read on MRRClub the One Month to 1000 list members. I have set up joint ventures with several companies that have lists up to 100,000+ that once I build a site I will then be building a site for these companies. I have a site http://www.Consciousclick.com that is password protected. I am presently building content by using EzineArticles, videos made on a Flip Cam, and have designed three landing pages using Traffic Geyser. I am set to launch next week. I have been working on this for about 6 weeks starting from scratch. I will produce some great sites to help people rebuild their lives again.
Thanks Robert for all of your insight and knowledge!
Gary
Hey Robert,
Thanks to you and Lance for all the Great Info!
And most of all, Thanks to you two for being a big part of our motivation to get this site up and running!
What started as a seed of an idea has turned into something potentially big for us, not to mention we’ve already got 3 corporate memberships sold…before the site is open for membership sales!
Although, I did not get a chance to reply to your email, I thought I would let you know that we are getting ready to launch our first “membership” site at http://plrpics.com/plr/ (to sign up for sample photos, go to http://plrpics.com/).
We are building our store right now and uploading tons and tons of photos. At the moment the site is still a little sparse, that will be rectified in the next few days.
The site will be a combination of single product sales along with a membership component, which will offer a HUGE discount over single picture purchases.
Again, thanks to you and Lance for the information, ideas and suggestions that were part of the formative stages of this site!
Rog
Hey Robert can’t fault anything you do or say; I have my own opinions but no site so maybe that should be my membership site http://opinionsarelikea$$#oleseveryonehasone.com Free to join but it’ll cost you $20 bucks to get off my daily rants via the telephone, text, email, fax, Facebook, twitter and any other method I can torture my subscribers with. =*)
So if I don’t have anything nice to say I will do as my mother said, “Kill them with kindness.”
Mike’s kindful thing of the day… an invitation to a nice article on what to say, when to say it and why http://www.copyblogger.com/bad-writing-habits/
Hi Robert,
I’m still tearing my hair out working out the last few bugs, but I do have a couple paying members.
The site is http://RebelWithaFork.com
Don’t freak – It’s built on the value-trojan principle.
Boy do I feel dumb! Robert, your response to Louigi hit me like a ton of bricks…I have NMOC and the report from the Rhodes guys on setting up autoresponder memberships.
It made me realize what’s holding me up (ok, except for being a sniveling little coward about the technology thing) – I can’t write a sales or landing page worth spit!
Everyone here seems to know how to write to people’s emotions, I write the same way I talk and it’s not from an emotional level.
Any tips on writing simple sales copy? Please, I don’t want to become a copywriter too.
I have several membership sites and all are of the fixed term variety I have also sold a couple of membership sites.
Fixed term is the way to go and it’s easier to reproduce those kinds of sites.
I do have a long term site I have yet to launch using joomla as the cms it’s here
http://www.marketinguncensored.com
my other site is a fixed term site at
http://www.fiveminutemoneymakers.com
and i give a ton of free info here
http://www.fiveminutemoneymakers.com/90days
I use the script I got from Dennis IMSC it’s cheap and gets the job done
I have a membership site for soccer coaches at http://www.soundsoccer.com.
I am going to do a few membership sites. I have even shot some video for it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=virM2JeZyPc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ6EYbbjkyU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nyh_yaJgOr0
What do you think?
Wow, Robert a lot of very interesting comments.
I really like your thoughts on memebership sites.
Makes me think that I am really way out in left field with what I want to do with my memebership sites.
I have 3 different memebership programs (now) and one of them is going to be a Social site. My hope is to have the social site free like most are and the regular memebership sites be priced on an annual price rather than monthly to make it hard for the consumer to say no to joining.
The reason is simple. I really don’t like having to pay $37, 67, 77, 97 per month.
I anualize the prices in my head and when I see #37 per month I see $444 per year and then you see a site that is asking $97 per month that = $1164 a year, that makes me stop and ask myself if that is really a value.
I see that these sites may have this value for 3 to 6 months maybe a year but beyond that I find it questionable at best, except for refering back to. (I know I am going to catch hell for this) I do realize that there are some sites that the consumer might want to keep for a longer period, but not at those high prices.
I need to say at this point that if a site is doing you some service on a monthly basis then it just might be justified.
I have much more logic about this and I am sure that I will not make some people very happy for what I think about this topic.
I do know that there has been price testing and I could be all wet, but time will tell if I am right or wrong.
I may end up raising my prices just because the customer thinks that there must not be any value on my sites at the lower prices.
GRRR!! my comment didn’t appear.
Ok again 🙂
Here is what I got:
Membership style as you mentioned above with login required, so they get ‘removed’ if they refund, but it’s a one time payment
See here – http://internetbusinessinaday.com/
(here is login page – http://internetbusinessinaday.com/phase2/login.php)
(btw – good idea to add extra content as a ‘value add’ to members, even though there is no recurring fee)
Next.
A membership site based on the autoresponder method. This is the site that put me through hell and back contemplating every option, only to decide to create something simple and imperfect (still needs lots of tweaking) since perfection will get you nowhere :).
See here – http://www.busydiva.com/index.php
Next.
I spent a week putting together my version of a ‘micro-continuity’ membership promoting an OFFLINE business that has supported me for a decade or so.
What I Like about this method is that you create the bulk of the materials once you have paying members
What I dislike is the idea of having so few members that you are working so hard for very little :), but of course, once it’s done it’s DONE!
I am also not a big fan of the whole shipping CD offer and think in the future I will offer an “are you serious about this” $1 offer which then rolls into the optional monthly.
See here – http://earnthousandspermonth.com/
(now working on creating similar membership for how I make money online)
this time copying my comment should it not go through!
An interesting approach. I haven’t created a membership site being afraid of low conversions but maybe I’ll give it a try. I do own a membership software (a free one).
Those pros and cons are SPOT ON. Well written, and always well worth waiting for.
I did stay up long last night waiting for the comments part to work, but happily saw that there was still room for 18 comments before you shut it down… 😉
Keep up the good work, Robert.
I do have a site with 150 members but they are all free members that have joined to download free ebooks
Yes I have an LFM script and hopefully I get the last bit of editing done today. It is set up as a sales platform and is going into Clickbank.
We’re doing a final test sale today.
Like Gareth ( no.8 above) I found LFM a total hassle and made my mind up to use Wishlist from now on.
We wnt to build some experience with the launch and then set up a continuity program in a few months time with the feedback from our members.
I was planing one to be setup but no joy yet!… I will have one before the end of Nov 2009.
Jey Kumara
http://www.jeykumara.com
Robert,
I’m planning on a ‘free’ membership site. Just to keep out the riff raff 😉 Actually more to do with building a list 😀
Still have a long way to go though, site is barely alive, and still working on setting up the blog.
http://www.cdngryphon.com/blog/
Richard 🙂
How big is your list than?
Quite a lot of smart marketers there…
TheRazor
Hey,
I run several membership sites that are free to join. I even pay sign up bonus in cash if a new member joins. The niche that I target is “Make Extra Cash Online”.
I have created my “Paid Email” websites using PHP and MySQL, so it’s not driven by WordPress.
Here’s how my membership sites work…
When a new member joins, he or she receives a sign up bonus. My site is loaded with CPA offers. I send these offers via email to my list and pay them for reading these emails.
The magic happens after reading several paid emails from me and getting paid for doing so, a member decides to try some of my CPA offers. When this happens I make money, my members make money too because I split with them my revenue.
As you can see, it is possible to make money with a membership site even without charging an upfront fee from members.
Here’s one of my sample membership websites:
http://www.cash4offers.com
Thanks.
Gerardas
I need something fairly simple, software wise. I’m not that familiar with scripts and all that.
I have time to do the work, but want to be smart about it.
Have a great idea for a member site, just been doing my due diligence and trying to figure out the best platform and method.
Robert, I’m sure you have my solution and can’t wait to hear it.
Jeff
Hello Robert,
And I thought I was alone. It is not easy to keep members active but it is possible to keep most of them active when you offer a yearly and not monthly fee. At least in my case.
My main membership site is on:
http://ultimateplr.com
The way I promote it is talking about the bonuses first and it has worked quite well. I have only promoted in the warrior forum for now.
My other membership sites are 2 with fixed price and one with yearly.
http://wpmanagerdx.com – still sells well.
http://articlemanagerdx.com – a bit slow cause I offer as bonus on ultimateplr.com site and that’s where it is now selling well.
http://nichebloggerdx.com (yearly fee) — this one is pretty new.
The time I find most profitable is by the end of year starting with October and in the beginning. It becomes a little slow in the middle but still makes good profits.
Thank you!
Edna
Sorry wanted to add, I am always looking for easy to use membership scripts, especially for wordpress, have found some good ones for WP but still looking for a better solution.
Thanks
Edna
Technically speaking I do have one: http://01Wholesale.com.
No one can advertise without paying or joining my other wholesale classified service (i get their email). Never thought of it as a membership site though.
I purchased Wishlist member and want Robert to release that drip feed plugin.
Hello Robert,
Here’s my membership site anatomiedubienetre.com where I teach with videos simple a japanese healing to get bak no your fee on your own. Although it’s in French, you might find it interesting.
I’am aware that you could find many ways to improve it. Nevetheless, I launched it in july, and it already helps me pay my rents and other billings just by itself.
To create it, i used Wl-member and follwing the microcontinuity modle of Russel Brunson.
It’s 4 months based, and I only have 20% cancel during the 14 days trial. to get in the membership, I use the free dvd technique of Russel : 8 postures to evaluate your own health condition.
It is so easy to set up with wordpress, I am now thinking of doing it in english as well.
I’ve been procrastinating on a membership site for a long while now. Mostly I want to set one up as a bonus to the products I create. I’m doing some product creation now. From plr and from scratch. 1 product a week til the end of the year.
After the new year I’ll think about memberships.
Hey Robert,
Very insightful post!
Some of the “boxes” within the ugly duckling of personal portals show websites I also own, but none of them is a membership site.
And I had been thinking of it for a month or two.
Now, your article was the lacking “push” I needed to decide myself!
I had a “few” disperse notes and studies about the subject, but I can give them the bucket today.
After all I’ve found – so I believe – the best possible good use for the one domain I have been paying without using it for whatsoever (!)
Thanks for this post and your emails too.
Best wishes,
PT
Robert,
Dave has finished a draft of the sales page and it will be loaded at http://ebizcommunitycollege.com/succeed after 4PM EST. Although it is a draft people would be able to sign up from this page. Please take a look and let us know what you think. Be kind as this is still a work in progress. My e-mail is sales@reidnet.com
Robert – Great point about membership sites not having to be monthly recurring payment models. In fact, I forgot that I had one of those set up until I was reading this post.
That particular site already has paying members, testimonials, etc. It’s an 8-week fixed term membership.
Anyway, both of my memberships are on the same domain (but you know that already):
http://www.copywritingcode.com
Ryan
Hi Robert,
I’m answering in response to your question about why don’t I have a membership site. Short answer is it isn’t done yet. I’m working on it right now. In fact I’ve had two on the drawing boards, and putting the finishing touches on the first one now.
It’s on a manifestation topic, with a new twist. Would you like to know about it when it’s done?
Love your methods here. Thanks for getting so many of us to “pony up” and get into action 🙂
Nancy
Hey Robert,
Very cool post. You cover a lot of ground and bring some killer experience to the table.
Thanks so much for sharing.
I have a member’s area for one of my offers… Currently it’s a WSO but soon I will be adding member’s area’s for all of the products that I offer.
You offer some great solutions to help us out with common hang up’s on membership sites.
Much appreciated…
Thanks again,
Derek
G’day,
As usual Robert has struck upon a subject inquired of by many.
I have been on the Internet for as long as I can remember and I have a passion for all things World Wide Web. This passion does not however make the only building blocks of a good membership site.
I started eBookCoffeeShop http://www.ebookcoffeeshop.com as an experiment in what I could do with HTML and what I could give to my members.
Yes it is true an amount of time is taken up developing the site and building a relationship with the members. A stagnant site is boring site and will not retain interest very long.
I did not impose a membership fee because I believe the content I offer is freely available to one and all but I have just made it more simple to find.
Having the time to spend expanding the wealth of information encapsulated within the site has been a task, but I try to add something when I can. Whenever I find anything of worth that I believe would be of interest to my membership. I will add it to the members area.
One day I might add a paid membership area. When I can dedicate more time on a constant basis. I still juggle the rigours of a real world job as well as eBookCoffeeShop. So I feel it would be remiss of me to charge for something I can not guarantee will always be fresh and exciting.
Anyway folks I love the opportunity to express my thoughts and I will always hold dear the ideas and opinions of Robert Plank.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to drop by eBookCoffeeShop some time and share your thoughts.
http://www.ebookcoffeeshop.com
Thank you for your valuable time..
Talk to you soon..
Juan
WOW!!! I am pleasantly surprised that the same percentage you told me had a membership site replied and that the rest are interested.
Your post gave a lot of great information that should help those that have a script or idea get it up and running FAST!
Looking forward to checking out some of these sites.
Lance
If you use a username and password, how can you kick them out if they choose to opt out? Is it a different username and password for each person? What about people sharing their usernames with people that don’t pay for the membership? They would get your content for free.
Hi Robb, yes, with a “real” membership plugin, each person creates their own unique username and password after paying, so you can kick them right out. They also track how often the same user logs in under different IP addresses and freezes the account. But sharing and piracy are very rare.