The best way to share exclusive content to paying members is through a membership site. Although starting a membership site looks easy, there are mistakes that you need to watch out, to avoid temporary or permanent cancellation of membership site account.
What is a membership site?
A membership site is a type of online business that offers access to members-only content. Most of the members of these types of websites pay for content they want to gain access to. However, there are also complimentary memberships that web owners give to individuals who want to become subscribers but do not want to pay for it or do not have extra funds to pay for the content.
The membership sites can have access to the following:
- Online courses
- Written content or videos
- Live webinars
- Archive contents
- Downloadable worksheets, templates, and more.
- Digital products or physical merchandize
- Close up and personal interaction between the author and the members.
Looks easy right?
Not so fast. Creating and maintaining a membership site account is not easy. There are several things to consider and several mistakes to avoid. And if you are new to a membership site and want to start one, you need to research ways how to guide you to start and sustain a membership site.
Moreover, to have a successful membership site account, you need to avoid the following mistakes:
#1: Turning into a spammer
One big NO-NO in the membership site process is over-communicating your members, which will make you look like a spammer.
Do not flood your members with unnecessary emails. Even though you have a good intention – keeping your members engaged – it will backfire. No members would want their email to get bombarded with emails that seemed redundant. Instead, send emails occasionally or only if necessary, such as when you have new uploads for them to check out.
#2: Not minding customer support
What is the use of adding a help desk tab on your membership site if you aren’t answering your members’ queries?
If you want to sustain your membership site, do not slack off answering your members’ queries or simply communicating with your members. Remember that membership sites are similar to online communities; your members need confirmation that the site is legit and that they can talk to you.
If you can’t get a hold of your members fast, there are web tools that your members can use to leave their remarks, issues, and clarifications.
#3: Inconsistency in quality content
Inconsistency in making and uploading quality content is one of the biggest mistakes in a membership site. Several owners would kick off their site with high-value content but would go downhill after a few months, causing members to leave the site.
Understandably, keeping up your membership site with quality content is not an easy task, and there will be times you’ll go out of ideas. This is one of the reasons why you need to create a content calendar.
Content calendar or editorial calendar is a schedule manager, allowing you to organize your ideas for future blogging or vlogging.
Final Thoughts
Creating and sustaining your membership site account is not an easy task, which is why you need to create a strategic plan. You need to plan the flow of the site, the content schedule, interaction with the members, and more.