Membership Site Needs

From the people I’ve worked with over the past few days, it seems that the majority of people need help in two primary areas:

The first is a real, solid overview of the software solutions available and their capabilities.

Second, it seems that most people are only familiar with one type of membership model, and that’s the common one I call “pure content”.

These are the simplest to setup, the simplest to run - and can make a LOT of money IF you are able to get massive traffic to your sites and are OK with large attrition rates (or you are able to manage that attrition through “stickiness” factors).

Pure content sites can be built with just about any software, and in many cases, no software required beyond the ability to take credit cards and password protect areas of your site.

Wordpress (with additional billing software and plugins), for example, is a GREAT, simple solution for these kinds of sites.

It’s the OTHER models - building community, providing applications, positioning yourself as an authority, creating vertical portals or distance learning systems - that require the advanced features that the more complex software solutions can help with.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be providing information on both of those aspects - showing you the different site types and what they are capable of, and showing you the various types of software that can implement the features you want to have.

And yes, at least one more survey. I’m finding that not only do the surveys help me to better understand what people need, but that they help the person taking the survey become aware of more choices as well.

That way you can make a more informed decision on your membership site model and the software you want to use.

I’ll also be giving away goodies that I’ve stumbled upon that may be of use to you.

For example, I just picked up a set of video tutorials on setting up Wordpress, so I thought I’d post them for you to enjoy.

While not perfect, they DO give you an idea of what it takes to customize Wordpress, so I figure they are worth at least $47.

My gift to you just because I think they’ll help.

To get the videos, just subscribe and opt-in, here:

http://www.easymembershipsites.com/report

(if you’ve already opted in, just head on over to the private blog link you received in your welcome email - they are posted there)

I’m still thinking through how to best really present the membership site information - I have an inkling of an idea, but I need to check in with myself
before going for it.

It’s kind of scary, actually.

Stay tuned for another update later today.

Unless I chicken out, of course :->

Nick