Membership sites, powered by a WordPress plug-in, have now made it so simple that anyone can set one up. I currently have eight of these sites, and I use them in different ways to serve the needs of my students and to create income for my online business. You can do the same exact thing if you think about what you will offer your clients, how you will deliver the information to them, and how you will continue to increase your profits and revenue. You can find out more by watching this short video on setting up membership sites with the WordPress plug-in.
The first site I set up for my members had three different levels of membership. This was confusing for me to work with, so I recommend setting up just one level of membership when you are just getting started. This will allow you to add content and to develop your site fully before you begin learning the details of how it works with members at various levels of access.
Adding content is the easiest part. I write lots of articles, so I include links to the ones that will be helpful to the people who have come to me for information on that particular niche topic. I want to offer them as much information and as many resources as possible so they will think of me as the one who can best serve their needs. I also add audio recordings and short videos to explain exactly what they need to know. You can also add PLR (private label rights) material – eBooks, audio, video, articles, etc. – to provide even more value to the members.
Anytime I create a product, I now set up a membership site to deliver the information to the clients. Instead of having a download page that could end up being shared across the Internet, I have it all set up so that they are able to log in and receive the information as they need and want it. You can limit how many computers can access the site, so people will not share with anyone other than their business partner. This works extremely well when you have lots of information you want to deliver over time. It also allows you to add content over time, making your site even more valuable to the members.
I like to offer my program at a one time price, instead of having people pay me by the month. You receive more money up front this way, and a few months down the road you will have enough content to be able to offer it as a monthly subscription. This will build recurring income for your online business for years to come.
More from my site
Membership Sites – Offer A Free Membership For Huge Profits
Membership Sites – WordPress Plugin Software Makes It Simple
Membership Software Plugin To Get Your Membership Site Up and Running
List Building with Email Marketing
How to Write Prolifically
Get Started as an Online Entrepreneur to Build Your Online Empire
I will definitely ditto what Connie says here. I love this plug-in and recommend it to everyone. I have used it for download sites just as Connie says probably because I’m more insecure and I use this as a different way to offer more content rather than just calling everything a “bonus” – most of us are smart enough by now to know what “bonuses” really are. The other thing that I think is great is that you can add info slowly so the reader doesn’t get overwhelmed. that requires a different plug-in however.
I also have a membership site with recurring monthly billing and with ALL my content on it. I used one of the very expensive membership site platforms at that time because this plugin wasn’t available then. If I had it to do over, I would not have gone that route although it served my purpose at that time.
I have found that there is a degree of a learning curve with this plugin but you expect that with anything that’s going to manage such a project.
Use Connie’s link to get it. Disclaimer (LOL): Connie did not ask me to say any of this. I just really agree with her on this and feel comfortable enough to say so because it has worked for me as well.
Enjoy!
Terrie
This membership site plug-in is a great idea. It’s just the deciding what niche, what content to include, would I write some or all the content myself, or outsource that, how to promote. All the little details.
This is just what I’ve been looking for Connie. Looking forward to seeing if I can utilize it to spider my blogs/sites/articles and overall increase my site presence.