How to Start a Membership to Grow Your Profits and Community

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This post is sponsored by Memberful.

In today’s online world, blogging has become so much more than simply writing blog posts. Blogs are becoming multi-faceted businesses, and many bloggers are eager to learn how to start a membership as another way to create a community and generate revenue.

Growing a blog into a business can be challenging, but it can also be very exciting. As a blogger, you are constantly testing out strategies to engage readers and publish quality content. Additionally, fostering community is also very important in online spaces.

Memberships check all of the boxes for both blog owners and readers. Find out if a membership is the next right step for your blogging business!

What is an online membership?

An online membership is a way to provide your readers or followers with access to exclusive content or resources on a regular basis (typically monthly or yearly).

To access the membership, followers will provide something in exchange. This could be as simple as their email address, but it is usually a paid subscription.

Online memberships can be hosted on your own website or, more commonly, a third-party platform. 

A membership offers subscribers beneficial content in many forms! They might receive video, audio, or other digital products, or they might receive access to the author through member-only events or coaching. A membership will often include a way for members to connect with those who have similar goals and interests.

Benefits of adding a membership to your blog business

Your blogging business can expand in so many directions. Adding a membership might be one of the most impactful!

One of the greatest benefits of offering a membership is the opportunity to build a deeper relationship with your audience. Have your readers expressed a need, problem, or ongoing interest? Is there content you could provide on a deeper level?

A membership can also be a marketplace for your other products or services. Maybe you also want to offer online events, send a heads-up on newly released products, or market your other content. A membership community is a great place to organically advertise to an audience who is already invested in your niche.

Adding a membership to your content offering also brings credibility to your business. It shows that you have even more value to offer to the followers in your niche.

And finally, a membership can be another source of income, specifically a recurring revenue stream. The most financially successful bloggers know how to diversify their income streams (more in our episode on How to Make Money Blogging here). This is a way to add to that income on a monthly or yearly basis.

Types of memberships

So, what types of memberships are out there?

• Courses – Online courses are growing in popularity, and user-friendly course software is making them even more accessible! You can find an online course of just about any length and for any niche topic. Most online courses are available on a monthly, annual, or lifetime access level.
• Other digital content – This “catch-all” category can include video, written content such as ebooks, PDF downloads, or any other products. Bloggers can turn pieces of content into valuable resources for their audience members to utilize in their daily lives.
• Podcasts – Many bloggers are adding “podcaster” to their bios! Podcasts are just another avenue to share your expertise with the world. You may choose to reserve all or some of your podcasts for subscribers only.
• Communities – Another way to incorporate a membership is to create a members-only community around your blog’s niche topics. This may take place on an external platform and can include social media, course software, or messaging apps. A community can offer value by serving as a networking hub or providing events for social or educational purposes.
• Coaching or consulting – A membership community might also gain more frequent or direct access to a blogger! Members can sign up to join live or recorded events or receive 1-to-1 opportunities to learn from you through mentorship, Q&A, or guidance on similar areas. This is just one more way to offer value to your audience!
• A combination – A robust membership will likely include some combination of the above types of memberships. Take the requests and feedback from your readers to create a level of membership that will enhance your content and connect with readers in new ways!

How to start a membership

Chances are, you already have ideas about what you could offer your audience. Let’s get started!

1. First, determine your goal for starting the membership. This will guide the structure and the time that you are able to allot to this area of your business. If you want to generate income, base your goals around the most valuable offer that readers will want to purchase.
2. Next, identify your target audience. Who are the blog readers that would benefit most from this content? Are there any readers who have already provided feedback or expressed a wish for more specific content?
3. Provide a solution or something of value for this audience. A membership should solve a need for readers – whether a source of trusted information, a place to learn and grow, or a place to find others with similar interests and needs. Determine what content – and what format – will best meet these needs.
4. Decide on a platform. How you deliver this value is key! There are many software options, and it’s important to do your research to find a tool that is user-friendly for you and your subscribers. The software platform also needs to be able to grow with your membership community.
5. Determine your pricing model. Memberships and subscriptions are available in a wide range of pricing –  such as one-time or recurring payments, or options to include add-ons in a tiered model. Also, determine if your membership will include lifetime access to content or if subscribers will renew access periodically.
6. Start selling and refining! Remember, your membership doesn’t have to be perfect to launch, and it can change and evolve over time depending on your community’s needs. A solid email list will be vital to marketing your membership and keeping your members informed of updates! 

Using Memberful

Figuring out how to make all the pieces of a membership work together can be challenging. Having the right tools can simplify this process and get your membership up and running quickly!

Memberful is membership software for creators that helps you manage all aspects of your membership, such as member management and checkout and payment integrations.

Memberful easily integrates with many major platforms used by bloggers, including Convertkit, Google Analytics, existing WordPress sites, and plenty of others. With Memberful, you can start a membership and maintain complete control and ownership of your brand, your audience, and your business!

Creating a membership is an opportunity to deeply connect with your audience while building sustainable, recurring revenue. If you’d rather stop chasing SEO trends and social media algorithms and instead create the content that your audience wants, a membership might be your next best step to building your blogging business.

Visit memberful.com and get started with a free trial today!

Bloggers, learn more about how to start a membership and grow your blogging business! Connect with us here or find us on Instagram at @sparkmediaconcepts.