Membership Websites

Keys to make them a success:

Paid membership income is the newest internet giant that is only just waking up and flexing its muscles. It has still to rise to its full potential. Even so, stories of spectacular successes – and dismal failures – of membership websites are thick all around us.

Of course, paid membership websites can bring you a decent income. They are also hassle-free. Why waste time and energy selling a $30 e-book or software when you can charge $20 per member and get continuous income 24/7? Makes enormous business sense, doesn't it?

Membership websites are here to stay. People have been using offline memberships to various services for a long time. Online membership is just an extension of that.

Why are they so successful?

One reason why this recurring income model will continue to survive and flourish in the future is the inherent laziness of members. Most people who visit a site pay for the content but do little with it. Give them some reason to stay and they will not cancel their membership.

For example, take a weight loss website. People join hoping they will lose weight without lifting a finger. Obviously, this does not happen. But keep supplying new supplements, new exercise techniques, beauty tips and weight calculators and they will be happy to continue.


So, if you are wondering how to make money with membership websites, here are some tips for you:

Pick a niche that you are passionate about. Don't EVER try to fake it. Sooner or later, your members will catch on.

Study your market. Are there other websites offering the same services? How does your pricing compare with theirs? How will your members find you in the crowd? What incentive are you giving them to join you?

Deliver fresh content regularly. Give something very, very new to your subscribers. Articles, books, audios or whatever it takes. If you allow stale content to stay on your website for more than two weeks, you will start seeing an exodus of members.

Is your unique content readily available offline? Choose a topic that is a little different from the ordinary or explore an angle that sets you apart.

The aesthetic layout of your website is what makes the first impression on your visitors. Use a good design with clear and sharp graphics. Select color schemes relevant to your target audience and pick a neat and visually pleasing style. Opt for light images and use multimedia carefully. Studies show that a slow loading website loses more than 40% of traffic simply because people are unwilling to wait. Don't let that happen to you.

Go for top-notch, cutting-edge technology on your website. Use tracking software, auto responders, shopping carts and automatic link submission software. Automate your work as much as possible. This leaves you with enough time to do more important work, like chalking out a new selling strategy.

Advertise aggressively. Once your website is ready and everything is working properly, it is time to bring in your members. Let others know about you through forums and link trades. Sign up with Google or Adbrite. Post advertisements on search engines. After your website has picked up some, go for PPC (Pay per clicks).

Encourage interaction. Set up forums and blogs. Ask for feedback. Make links prominent so people do not have to run around searching for places to click.

Offer trial memberships to ezine publishers who already have a large client base. Offer the publisher a percentage of your membership fee and they will promote you.

If you have already established you niche, you can ‘wholesale' memberships to affiliates who will buy from you in blocks. You can give these memberships as bonuses. It is a win-win deal for everyone.

Learn from the experts: Invest in some coaching material. Learn how the experts became successful and duplicate their methods. Let other people show you the way. It's far simpler than clearing the path yourself. As they say, you can't make a dime without breaking a buck.

Your membership website could be about anything at all. All that matters is that there is demand for the information and a willingness on your part to over-deliver consistently.

Discover more membership website secrets here.