The Membership Guys Podcast - Practical Advice For Membership Website Owners

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss actionable strategies to help you get your membership up and running when things aren't going as planned. Whether you’re experiencing low initial sign-ups or struggling to maintain momentum post-launch, I'll share four essential steps to diagnose and overcome these challenges. In this episode:How can you effectively grow and engage your audience to boost membership numbers?What are some strategies to incentivize existing members to help promote your membership?How important is market research and validation in the early stages of developing a membership, and what steps might you have missed?Why and how should you remain open to pivoting your membership's strategy in response to feedback and initial results?

In this special episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I share a huge update on what's been happening within the company this year regarding Callie Willows - the co-founder of the business - having to make the decision to step away.Listen in for more on what this means, and for a farewell message to the community from Callie herself.

In this episode of the Membership Geeks podcast, I discuss the dos and don'ts of launching a brand new membership website. Join me as I share practical tips and advice to ensure that your membership launch is successful and sets the stage for long-term growth and engagement.In this episode:- How can I build anticipation for my membership website launch?- What are the key elements of clearly communicating the value of my membership?- Why is testing crucial for a successful membership website launch?- What are the common pitfalls to avoid when launching a membership webThank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally!Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an

In today's episode of the Membership Geeks podcast, I delve into the topic of tailoring your membership experience to cater to multiple segments within the member base. Join me for insights and strategies on identifying key segments and incorporating them into your content strategy, as well as ways of using new member questionnaires and leveraging tags to tailor member experiences.In this episode:- Why should your membership business cater to different segments within the member base?- What are the three approaches recommended for segmenting your members?- How should segments be incorporated into the content strategy for an online membership?- How can you leverage new member questionnaires and utilize tags to create tailored member experiences?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpf

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I delve into key strategies and techniques for attracting committed members to your membership site. I discuss key challenges, the importance of member commitment, and share six practical techniques for fostering long-term, engaged membership. Join me as we explore how to cultivate a thriving community of dedicated members for your membership site.In this episode:- How can I overcome the challenges of attracting committed members to my membership site?- What are the key reasons for wanting more committed members, and how can I address them?- What specific techniques can I implement to attract and retain committed members to my membership site?- How can content marketing and pre-filtering be used to ensure that potential new members are committed and aligned with the values of the membership business?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking

In this episode, I discuss the importance of setting realistic expectations when aiming for growth in membership businesses. Learn why ambitious membership owners need to ground big goals in practical reality and logistics, and how to avoid banking on "moonshot" opportunities. I also share valuable insights on the philosophy of marginal gains and the impact of achieving ambitious goals on a business trajectory.In this episode:- How can membership businesses ensure their growth goals are grounded in practical reality and logistics?- What are the potential pitfalls of focusing solely on ambitious, game-changing opportunities for growth?- How does a measured, steady approach to growing memberships contribute to sustained success?- What are the key considerations in setting realistic expectations for growth in online memberships?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to&nbs

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss whether membership businesses should prevent canceled members from ever rejoining. While not commonplace, it's a practice that does exist! But is it worth considering?I delve into the reasons behind this concept and how it can be detrimental to the growth and success of a membership business.In this episode:- Why would a membership businesses prevent canceled members from rejoining?- What are the main drawbacks of preventing canceled members from rejoining your membership?- How do cancellations fit into the member lifecycle and why do most membership owners view them the wrong way?- What is the importance of member lifetime value and how does it relate to the handling of canceled members?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely hel

In this episode, I discuss the challenges faced by membership owners as their business grows and the day-to-day operations become more complex. Join me as I provide practical tips on how to intentionally become less hands-on in a membership business without compromising the quality and value of the member experience.In this episode:- How can membership owners become less hands-on in the day-to-day operations as their business grows?- What are the key steps in growing a reliable team and delegating key tasks to empower the team?- In what ways can processes be streamlined and automated to make operations more efficient?- How can membership owners create self-serve resources for their members to foster a culture of self-sufficiency within the community?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely 

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss the common mistakes made with the closed door membership model, and why it may not be the one-size-fits-all solution it's often made out to be.From neglecting existing members to the dangers of overhyping, we explore the potential pitfalls of this fringe membership strategy.In this episode:- Why is focusing solely on launch promotions a mistake when using the closed door membership model?- What are the common mistakes and misconceptions around implementing a closed door membership model?- Key differences between closed-door and open-door membership models, and how might they impact member retention and community energy- What are the drawbacks and dangers of employing scarcity in marketing, especially within a closed door membership model?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and r

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss 5 ways membership owners can stay ahead of the competition and keep their membership business at the forefront of their industry. From soliciting member feedback to tapping into the wealth of opportunity in their own community, I explore practical tips to ensure that membership owners remain relevant and responsive to their audience's needs.In this episode:- How can membership owners actively solicit and utilize member feedback to stay ahead of the competition?- What are the benefits of being active in one's own community as a membership owner?- How can membership owners keep their expertise sharp by remaining practitioners in their field?- Why is it important for membership owners to look outside their industry and join other memberships?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss the 4 essential last-minute checks EVERYONE needs to do before launching a new membership website. These checks are crucial to ensure a smooth and successful launch without any unforeseen hiccups - so skip this episode at your peril!In this episode:- How can you prepare your website host for a membership site launch to handle potential traffic spikes?- Why is it important to inform payment processors in advance of a membership launch, and what should be communicated to them?- What are the crucial steps to ensure the seamless functionality of the purchase process and member access before launching a membership?- Why is it important to consider world events before launching a membership, and how can it impact the success of the launch?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I delve into the challenge of member retention in an increasingly busy world. Listen in to learn practical tips for membership business owners to address the common reason for members leaving due to lack of time to utilize their membership effectively. I'm sharing my top strategies to streamline content, enhance member experience, leverage community support, and adapt to member feedback.In this episode:What can membership business owners do when members leave due to lack of time to use the membership?How can membership content be streamlined to cater to busy members?What are the strategies to make your membership easier to consume for members with hectic schedules?How can membership owners harness the power of accountability, community, and member feedback to adapt and improve member experiences?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a m

When people think about launching a membership, they think about the day that they finally open their doors for the very first time and welcome their first crop of new members.It's a big deal!However that grand opening isn't the only opportunity you have to launch...There are different launch types for each stage of your business, depending on how far along you are in the membership site creation process, or what you might need your members to do to help get your product ready for market.Listen in for a full breakdown of the 6 different launch strategies you can use at various stages of your membership journey... Essential Learning Points:Validating your membership idea by running a pilot programThe difference between launch strategy for open memberships vs closed doorHow to generate seed money to help you develop your membership ideaThe best way to reduce the stress of a big launch and ease yourself into the membership modelImportant Links & Mentions:When the closed door membership makes senseJeff W

The new year is upon us and for most membership owners this is likely to be a time where you are looking ahead to what you want to achieve with your business this year.And I’m willing to bet good money that growing and improving your membership is one of your aims. Or at least it should be!So with that in mind we're kicking off 2024 by taking a look at the 5 steps that you can take today to plan your year and ensure you achieve your membership goals.Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally!Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

And just like that, another year is almost over!How was your 2023?After missing last year due to the podcast being on hiatus, we're reviving our festive tradition of wrapping the year up by taking a look back at some of the fantastic episodes of the Membership Geeks Podcast, counting down the top 10 most downloaded episodes of 2022-2023.Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support of the show – here's to even more membership awesomeness in 2024!Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally!Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss 3 essential strategies for generating member sales from your email list. I delve into the importance of initial follow-up sequences, ongoing nurture emails, and dedicated promotional campaigns, providing valuable insights on how to effectively leverage your email list for membership sales.Key takeaways:How can initial follow-up sequences be utilized to generate membership sales from an email list?What are the best practices for creating ongoing nurture emails to cultivate relationships and drive member sales?How can dedicated promotional campaigns and evergreen email automations be leveraged to boost membership sales?What resources and tools are available for membership owners to enhance their email marketing and drive sales from their email list?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest rev

In this episode of the Membership Geeks Podcast, I discuss alternatives to cancelling a membership that membership owners can offer to their members. I explain the importance of providing options to members who want to cancel and offer suggestions for retaining their membership in a non-intrusive way.In this episode:How can membership owners collect feedback from members who want to cancel their membership?What is the benefit of offering the option to pause a membership instead of cancelling?How can changing the billing frequency be a viable alternative to cancellation?How can offering different membership tiers help retain members who are considering cancelling?Key Quotes & Takeaways:"So if they've already gotten their head, okay, I'm gonna take a bit of a break. I'll probably come back later. Giving them the option to pause is a far better alternative to canceling...""But there's absolutely nothing wrong with making that last effort, that last effort to turn things around. And in fact, doing that shows

In this episode of Membership Geeks, I discuss the essential do's and don'ts of member retention. I dive into the importance of making retention a priority, taking care of new member onboarding, and collecting feedback from outgoing members. I also highlight the risks of assuming that when someone leaves, they're gone forever and the benefits of having a failed payment process in place.In this episode:Why is it important to make member retention a priority?How can we ensure a solid new member onboarding experience?What are the risks of assuming someone is happy just because they haven't cancelled?How can collecting feedback from outgoing members benefit our membership offering and win back campaigns?Key Quotes & Takeaways:"When you realize that someone leaving isn't the end of their journey, then that nullifies any reasoning you might have for making things difficult for them to leave or punishing them when they do leave.""Failed payments account for a lot of churn. It's called involuntary churn. Someone

In this episode of the Membership Geeks podcast, I dive into the 3 pillars of membership growth. If you have an existing membership and have been struggling with knowing where to focus in order to grow and scale your membership, this episode is for you. I discuss the importance of marketing, member attention, and management, and how to implement strategies and tactics for each pillar.In this episode:How can I attract new members and continuously build my audience?What are the key elements of a solid core sales funnel for my membership?How can I retain members and ensure they stay subscribed for the long term?What are the essential elements of managing and scaling a membership business?Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each a

In this episode of the Membership Geeks podcast, we explore 7 ways to generate FOMO (fear of missing out) for your membership. FOMO is a powerful tool to attract non-members and create a sense of urgency and excitement about joining. Join host Mike Morrison as he shares strategies to create that FOMO and drive membership growth.In this episode:What is "member first messaging" and how can you use it to your advantage?What role does insider language and identity play in generating FOMO?How can branded merchandise and swag contribute to generating FOMO for your membership?What are the benefits of organizing in-person member meetups and how can they generate FOMO?Key Quotes & Takeaways:"That feeling when someone sees something really cool, really exciting going on that they're not part of, and they get that itch they get that urge, they get that sense that they are missing out.""Make sure you're promoting ahead of time what is happening over the next month. So release a schedule of new content or live calls e