| In the business world, is there anything better | | | | 3. On the confirmation page, I'd tell people about |
| than profits? Yes, RECURRING profits. Imagine if | | | | my membership site and tell them that they can |
| you could package your knowledge into a | | | | get a 30-day free trial. If they agree, they have |
| membership site and charge people every month | | | | 30 days to try my site. If they don't like it, they |
| to access to it. | | | | can just let me know and I won't charge them |
| Step 1: Does Your Market Have a Membership | | | | anymore. |
| Mentality? | | | | Some people automatically get their customers |
| Not all markets are good for continuity programs. | | | | into their continuity programs and they need to |
| There are two factors that are strong indicators | | | | opt-out if they don't want to be charged |
| that the market lends itself to continuity: | | | | anymore. I don't recommend this. Don't charge |
| * There is a magazine for that market. | | | | people for something they don't want. Sure, it can |
| * There is an association for that industry. | | | | increase your sales, but you'll make people angry |
| If your industry doesn't match that criteria, a | | | | and that's not good for your business. You can tell |
| membership site isn't out of the question, but | | | | me that "the terms and conditions were very |
| you'll have to give your prospects very good | | | | clear" but most people don't read these, so do |
| reasons to pay you every month for your | | | | the right thing and let people choose whether |
| content. | | | | they want a membership for your site. |
| Step 2: Create the Content | | | | Step 5: How to Build It |
| It's really hard to create a successful membership | | | | I'm not going to get too technical here; I'll just tell |
| site with only articles; you'll need more than that. | | | | you the tools I recommend for membership sites. |
| These are some ideas: | | | | * For the Content Management System: |
| * Videos | | | | WordPress |
| * Reports | | | | * For the members area: aMember |
| * Tools | | | | * For the shopping cart: 1ShoppingCart |
| * Community (social network / discussion boards) | | | | Step 6: How to Promote It |
| * List of resources | | | | There are several online marketing tactics you |
| * Do-it-for-them items (forms, templates, etc.) | | | | can use to promote your membership site: |
| * Reports | | | | * Search Engine Optimization |
| * Expert interviews | | | | * Social Media Marketing |
| Step 3: How to Get Content if You're Not an | | | | * Pay per Click |
| Expert | | | | * Affiliate Marketing |
| Maybe you saw a great opportunity in a given | | | | * Online Advertising |
| market but you're not an expert in it. Don't | | | | Step 7: How to Get People to Stick Around |
| worry, you have some options: | | | | Longer |
| * Partner with an expert and offer her a share of | | | | These are some ideas to get people to stay with |
| your sales. | | | | you for longer: |
| * License someone else's content (i.e. you pay | | | | * Give them exceptional value. |
| them a fixed fee to use their content). | | | | * Charge a reasonable price. |
| * Hire ghostwriters. If you do this, make sure it's | | | | * Don't overwhelm them with too much content |
| not the only source of content you use. You'll | | | | that they can't consume. This will make them feel |
| need a real expert at some point in order to | | | | that they're not taking advantage of your |
| stand out. | | | | content. |
| * Become an expert! Yes, that's right. Becoming | | | | * Don't give them too little either. |
| an expert is not as hard as you may think. Go to | | | | * Tease them about upcoming content. Things like |
| a library, read a few books, read a few hundred | | | | "On May 1st all our members will get an |
| blog posts, interview experts and go to seminars. | | | | award-winning DVD on matching wines with the |
| Step 4: Create an Irresistible Offer | | | | right cheeses". |
| This is my favorite way to present a continuity | | | | * Increase the "pain of disconnect". If your |
| offer: | | | | members feel that they won't lose anything if |
| 1. I take my best content and split it in several | | | | they leave, they will leave. |
| parts. I create reports or videos out of them. For | | | | * Grow a great community. People that feel part |
| example, if I wanted to start a wine membership | | | | of something are a lot less likely to leave. |
| site, I could create a report on how to get quality | | | | * Allow your members to share their membership |
| wines at affordable prices and I could create a | | | | with up to two friends. Because friends don't like |
| video demonstration on how to taste red wine. | | | | letting their friends down, they'll think about it |
| 2. I'd give those items away and ask people to | | | | twice before leaving your site. |
| pay $3.97 for shipping and handling. | | | | |