Terms

You already have an online presence or blog that's well followed in your niche. You're now looking to offer your community a new option to promote your project and you're considering starting a membership website.

You're pretty excited (you should be!) and you begin planning a huge catalogue of exclusive content for members. Then you start creating an outline for an upcoming ebook for members only as well as designing a few t-shirts.

Simplicity is key

Planning a complex strategy with in-depth plans for members-only content is the last thing you need to do right today. Why?

Your most loyal readers and supporters are likely be willing to join your mailing list even if you promise the reader nothing for their money.

Yes, you read that correctly. They'll pay you in order to fund the work you do. That's all there is to it. Each day that you are waiting to start your membership site is potentially costing you money.

Make use of your information

Now that you've got your membership software set up and you've sold through to your most loyal readers, you can write your first members-only blog post, and start planning a strategy for your membership site.

Pick a topic that's had a lot of interest on your blog over time and then write something informative and informative about the topic. Review some of your previous content however, don't be concerned about writing the perfect post. It is your goal to compose these posts on a regular routine and gradually build up your membership by offering ongoing and demonstrated value to your community.

If you're using  the WordPress platform, it's easy to safeguard WordPress website content. Pick a plan for membership and write out a quick appeal to those who haven't yet signed up as a member. The members who have joined will be able to view the content that is paid for, while everyone else will see the message. It is a great idea to include some sort of teaser content in the pitch itself, so your readers can actually get a taste of what the whole content will provide.

Offering more

Once you get established, it's important to be consistent in providing paid content to the blog. More value you can provide over time and unique access that your users appreciate and are happy with, the more they'll feel comfortable paying you each month or every year.

When your members grow, keep thinking of new ways to improve your membership site. If you're making use of WordPress and  want to include a members only discussion forum by using bbPress can be incredibly simple. When you get more advanced it is possible to utilize a full community building tool like BuddyPress, which also is compatible right out of the box with and WordPress.

Remember, the important part is offering memberships now. You don't need a complex strategy. Paid content and all of these additional features are available gradually as you increase the benefits around your membership site.