Podcasts about membership guys

After 7 years we have a very sad announcement to make... The Membership Guys are no more. I know, I know... what a devastating way to start the New Year! But the good news is that we've just undergone a little bit of a rebrand and henceforth shall be known as... Membership Geeks! This is a change that is several years in the making, so tune into today's very special episode of the podcast to discover why we've rebranded, what it means going forward, and get the inside track on some of the exciting things we have planned for 2022 and beyond.

Is it me or has 2021 been a bit of a blur?! It's definitely been another strange year as we've all tried to navigate life running a membership in the midst of a global pandemic... But from what we've seen in our http://membershipacademy.com (membership) and https://www.facebook.com/groups/506428616152347 (Facebook) communities, you all seem to be handling it pretty well! So what have we been up to? It's been another busy 12 months for myself, Callie and the TMG team... In 2021, we've:  Created and launched our EPIC new Roadmap inside https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy.) Celebrated the 6th anniversary of our business. Grown our team further with the addition of our awesome Community Manager, Hannah, and...  Created another year's worth of https://www.themembershipguys.com/podcast/ (The Membership Guys) weekly podcast and season 5 of Callie's https://www.themembershipguys.com/behind-the-membership/ (Behind The Membership) podcast.  And a whole lot more besides! That being said, with only a few days left of 2021, it's time for our traditional end of year recap show. Listen for our top 10 most popular episodes of The Membership Guys podcasts in 2021.  As always, I'd like to thank you so much for your continued support of the show this year - I really appreciate each and every one of you.  Here's to an awesome 2022.  Episode Links (not in order - don't want to ruin the suspense!):https://www.themembershipguys.com/musings-money-mindset-membership/ (Musings About Money and Mindset in the Membership World) https://www.themembershipguys.com/member-retention-mistakes/ (Avoid These 6 Common Member Retention Mistakes) https://www.themembershipguys.com/competing-memberships/ (Competing with Established Memberships in Your Market) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-setting-goals/ (Setting Goals for Your Membership Business: A Practical Process) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-guys-origin-story/ (The Untold Origin Story of The Membership Guys) https://www.themembershipguys.com/member-engagement-strategy/ (How to Encourage Engagement without Nagging Your Members) https://www.themembershipguys.com/money-membership-business/ (Are You Leaving Money On The Table in Your Membership Business) https://www.themembershipguys.com/build-audience-before-launching-membership/ (How We Built Our Audience Before Launching Our Membership) https://www.themembershipguys.com/instagram-stories/ (Using Instagram Stories to Promote Your Membership) https://www.themembershipguys.com/why-people-arent-joining-your-membership-site/ (Why People Aren't Joining Your Membership Site)

Is your membership built on rented land? Are you relying on third parties with little control of your own content or community? While there's something to be said for third parties and all-in-one platforms, you need to be wary. Those platforms could go down, or maybe they could be hacked, and then what? If you can't access your membership assets, that's bad news for your business. In this episode, you'll hear all about the perils of building a membership on rented land. Tune in to hear why control and having alternative options in the bag are so important and what you can do to protect yourself from a Facebook 2021-style outage. Essential Learning Points: What the Facebook outage taught us about the dangers of relying on third parties Why control is the most important thing you need Why you need to protect your business assets The pros and cons of building on rented land Important Links & Mentions: https://themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “When we talk about not building on rented land, it's less about the dangers of depending on third parties and more about emphasizing the importance of control.” “The willingness that so many people have to just surrender control of their most valuable business assets to third parties in the name of convenience or simply following the crowd is insane when you think about it.”  “Your decision to build on rented land has to be an informed one. You have to know that there's a risk that comes with it, that you're sacrificing something in order to get that convenience.”

Email marketing is the golden ticket to growing any kind of membership or online business. But a successful email marketing campaign is about so much more than sending out the occasional email to your mailing list. If you really want to step up your email marketing effectiveness, you need to use some tried-and-tested tactics. In this episode, we share six ways to improve your email campaigns. You'll hear why emailing more often is the right move, how to use narrative and open-loop emails to keep interest and how to use different email marketing features to transform your campaigns. Tune in today to learn more. Essential Learning Points: Why you should get out of your comfort zone with email marketing How to utilize the P.S. section of your emails to drive sales Why storytelling is the key to a good email How to maintain interest through open-loop emails Why you should always try to experiment with email marketing  How to use conditional content Important Links & Mentions: http://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) http://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “Stories are far easier to infuse your personality into, which of course helps to foster connection which goes a long way, especially with memberships where that connection is so key.” “If you've got a great story to tell and a strong narrative that lends itself to being sent one bit at a time, then using open loops in your emails can be fantastic and engaging.” “Split testing can be invaluable for refining and perfecting your approach to email marketing to best suit your audience's preferences.”

Want to give your membership a little revenue boost? Who wouldn't? The chances are, you're already working on 101 things to grow your membership over time. But what can you do today? In this episode, we cover four super simple ways you can boost your revenue both in the short and long term. These are simple tactics you can get started on today that don't take too long or cost much. This episode covers how you can use flash sales and discounts to boost sales, why you should pay extra attention to your non-buyers and ex-members, and how you can get members to upgrade. Try these tactics today and integrate them into your long-term strategy to see consistent results for years to come. Tune in to hear how you can get started. Essential Learning Points: How to use a flash sale to boost revenue Why you shouldn't ignore your non-buyers The benefits of getting in touch with ex-members How a simple email can prompt members to upgrade Important Links & Mentions: https://themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “You could email anyone who's on your email list, who's been through your main sales sequence, and have not bought yet. You could run a flash sale targeted just at those people to give them an extra push and incentive to join your membership.” “More often than not, people will be open to returning, and indeed, many will come back to your membership within months.” “Cancellation is not condemnation. People don't leave because they hate your membership.” “If you've not reached out to your ex-members in a while, then consider emailing them today or starting a Facebook ads campaign targeted at those people.”

Every successful membership site owner knows their numbers. If you don't know how your business is performing in key areas, then you have no basis for growth and making improvements, or any idea of whether or not your membership site is doing well or if it's in trouble. Worryingly, our Online Membership Industry Report revealed that 14% of membership site owners aren't tracking their KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) at all. And an even greater number only track a few key metrics!  This is something that needs to change.  So if you're currently not tracking metrics on your site or are measuring some, but are not sure if they're the ones you should be focusing on, then this episode of The Membership Guys podcast is for you. Join us as we explore KPIs that every membership website should be tracking.  Essential Learning Points: Different metrics to focus on for analyzing website traffic and activity  Why you need to have an in-depth understanding of your conversion rates How your churn rate impacts member retention and why you should aim for 5% to 10% Why it's crucial to measure the percentage of trial participants who become paid members How to measure the lifetime value of your members Recommended tools for reporting on member engagement Why you should track customer acquisition cost  Important Links & Mentions: https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-benchmarks/ (Biggest Takeaways from the Online Membership Industry Report) https://www.themembershipguys.com/tools-reducing-membership-churn/ (The Most Effective Tools for Reducing Your Membership Churn) https://www.themembershipguys.com/member-lifetime-value/ (Why Member Lifetime Value is More Important Than Churn Rate) Key Quotes: “If you don't know how your business is performing in key areas then you have no basis for growth, for making improvements or knowing whether or not your membership site is doing well or if it's in trouble” “Member retention is as important, if not more so, than acquiring new members.” “What really matters in business is the overall profit that you're making. As the old saying goes, turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.” “Knowing that lifetime value means that when planning, advertising campaigns or any of the marketing spend, you can more accurately assess your return on investment.” 

Preparing to launch your membership website?  This can be both an exhilarating and terrifying time, with lots of tasks to tick off your checklist and limited time in which to get as many eyeballs as possible on you and your business.  So how can you make your membership launch a success? The key is to generate excitement and buzz around your site that will result in your first influx of members and give you some momentum to move forward with.  And in this episode of The Membership Guys podcast, we're sharing with you six tactics to implement to do just that.  Essential Learning Points: Why a membership website doesn't live or die based on launch alone  Why you don't necessarily need a large audience to launch your membership  How to connect with your audience and make them feel like they're involved from the get-go Different tactics to implement to get in front of a wider audience to promote your membership Important Links & Mentions: https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/behind-the-scenes-membership/ (Why You Need to Take People Behind the Scenes of Your Membership) https://www.themembershipguys.com/launching-podcast-episodes/ (Must-Listen Podcast Episodes for Launching Your Membership Website)  https://www.themembershipguys.com/attract-better-members/ (How to attract better members that will stick around long-term) Key Quotes: “Right from the get-go you'll need an initial influx of members to get your community up and running, people engaging and consuming content, and giving you feedback that will enable you to make your product even better. This in turn will make it easier for you to attract more members in the future.”  “You can still do a lot in terms of your membership launch with a relatively modest audience.” “Live video is a fantastic way of getting your personality across and really connecting with your audience to allow them to feel like they're getting to know you on a deeper level.” “There's no doubt that having a group of people who are committed to spreading the word about your membership in their own audience, especially if their audience is large, can do wonders for your membership launch.”

Do you want to transform your tweeting into real results? Unsure where to start? Social media is a tough nut to crack. You can post consistently and still see no results and no sales. The good news is that you can turn it around with some proper planning and a little help from your analytics. This episode, takes you through a 12-step social media plan to help you tweak and fine-tune your current strategy. Tune in to hear why social media is so important, why you need to audit your channels, learn from your audience, keep an eye on your analytics, and much more. Essential Learning Points:  Why social media should be key to your marketing strategy      Why you should audit your channels and your audience The importance of knowing your audience well    How to serve and build your audience How to offer value consistently Why you need to keep an eye on analytics Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) http://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-setting-goals/ (Setting Goals for Your Membership Business: A Practical Process) https://www.themembershipguys.com/building-an-audience/ (How to Start Building an Audience for Your Membership Site) https://www.themembershipguys.com/behind-the-scenes-membership/ (Why You Need to Take People Behind the Scenes of your Membership) Key Quotes: “Make sure that you engage with your followers. Don't just publish content and leave it. Aim to have two-way conversations. What do your followers need help with? Ask them.” “Take steps to really develop your knowledge and understanding of your audience.” “Once you build momentum, once you've got the basics in place, refine that messaging. Refine the type of posts you're making to make sure you're not too salesy, to make sure you have a variety in how you promote your membership.”

Are you struggling to get members to consume and complete your content once they've signed up? If you want to keep members happy and improve member retention, the work doesn't end once they hit ‘join.' Members need to constantly feel like they're getting value, but sometimes they need a prompt to get involved in the content. In this episode, you'll hear four super simple tactics to improve content consumption and engagement in your content library. We share how rewarding your members can go a long way, how you can get involved, and what you can do to your content to improve its effectiveness. With these tactics, you'll help to boost your engagement rates across your content library and help members progress towards their goals. Essential Learning Points: Why you should try to boost content consumption How rewarding your members can go a long way How to use reminders to prompt your members to consume more content Why getting involved in the content yourself boosts engagement The benefits of using multiple content formats Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “The ability to have access to you and to have you focused on the same thing that they're focused on can be a huge motivation to get your members to actually take part in a course.” “Reminders and helpful nudges can be a great way of guiding people to content, making sure that they're actually consuming it.” “Make sure that you're providing multiple content formats so that you're catering to a variety of different member needs and learning styles.”

First impressions are key, especially in the membership world. A good experience in the early days is absolutely crucial to encouraging engagement, community collaboration, and retention. But a good onboarding experience is just step one. Even if you have all the necessary steps covered, there's still more you can do to amplify and enhance that experience. In this episode, we cover five simple yet effective ways to level up your new members' experience, so they'll want to stick around for years to come. This episode covers why you should try to go above and beyond in the early days, why a personal touch can help you create a great first impression, and how to make your new members feel welcome. Essential Learning Points: Why leveling up your membership experience can boost satisfaction and retention How personal videos can go a long way How a member questionnaire can help both you and your members The importance of using segmentation Why you should consider throwing a welcome party How physical welcome gifts can be a welcome surprise Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.bonjoro.com/ (Bonjoro.com) Key Quotes: “Any way that you can better tailor things to each particular member's needs will massively level up their experience.” “This sort of stuff is really just about going that little bit further, putting in that little bit of extra effort to make someone's formative days and weeks inside your membership that much more enjoyable, that much more rewarding, and that much more productive.” “That sort of welcome party can be really, really good for getting that buzz, getting that excitement, and helping people make those connections early on, all of which level up your member experience.”

Do you want to offer a brand-new course or live event…separate from your membership? Is this something you're allowed to do, or will all hell break loose in your membership? First off, yes, you can do this. But you also need to understand how your members will react. If they're expecting all new content to come included in what they're paying for, they could be disappointed. Luckily, there are a few ways around this that we share in this episode. If you want some tips on how to navigate this delicate topic, tune in today. We'll share the pros and cons of keeping everything in your membership, why you shouldn't always cave under pressure and ways to keep your members happy. Essential Learning Points: The problem with selling a separate product from your membership Why this can upset members Why it's all about setting expectations and your message How to avoid doing yourself a disservice Three simple ways to keep members happy and offer separate products Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “The clearer it is, what your membership does, who it's for, and what it consists of […] the less chance there will be of confusion or disappointment.” “You don't want it to seem like your membership is a bait and switch. But at the same time, flipping this around to you as a membership owner, you need to resist the urge to over-deliver.” “Give your members priority preferential treatment and a price discount on anything else you might sell outside of the membership. That then adds to the value of them becoming a member.”

If you're thinking about starting a membership site, the very first decision you need to make is what it's about. Your choice of topic is fundamental to your success. A good choice is a strong foundation. A poor choice will lead to an uphill battle you really don't want to tackle. But how do you make the right choice? Tune in to this episode to hear the crucial elements that make a good membership topic idea. We cover why you need some expertise and what to do if you aren't an expert. We also discuss why you should pick an evergreen topic if you want to be in this for the long haul, and much more! Essential Learning Points:    Why your choice of topic is essential Why you should chasing avoid any fads     The importance of picking a topic you have some expertise in How to pick a topic that's evergreen Why you need to love your topic What to do if your membership idea doesn't tick all the boxes Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “If you make the wrong decision about your membership topic, then that pretty much means that anything else you do is built on a pretty unstable foundation.” “Most online memberships will involve tapping into your knowledge, skills, experience, and expertise to help someone accomplish something to learn something to make progress towards a specific goal result or outcome.” “If you've got a real passion and enthusiasm for your topic, then the idea that you get to eat, sleep and breathe this subject day in day out for years to come will be absolute perfection.” “In an ideal world, your topic should really be something specific, something niche, as opposed to something generic.”  

Is it time to finally increase the price of your membership? It's tricky to answer that because there are loads of different things to consider first. What are your costs? What value do you provide? How are the competition pricing? How can you stay competitive AND maintain a good profit margin? These are some of the many questions we're answering in this episode. Tune in to hear 11 signs that it's finally time to give your pricing a bump and why increasing your price won't make your customers run for the hills. Essential Learning Points: Why it may be time to increase your price for the first time How to price based on the value How to maintain a healthy profit margin What potential members really think about low-priced memberships How to be competitive without competing on price Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/increase-membership-pricing/ (Strategies for Increasing Your Membership Pricing) Key Quotes: “If you have already gone through a price increase before, but it's been a couple of years, then maybe it's time to think about that next increase.” “As your membership and as your business grows, you will see your expenses growing too.” “Competing on price is the worst way to compete. It is a race to the bottom.”

How do you keep the peace in your membership community? As a community leader, it's your job to make the space your members inhabit welcoming, friendly, and harmonious. But managing a big group of members can be tough. Sometimes people are rude, break the rules, others feel left out, and this leaves people feeling uncomfortable. No one wants to stick around in a toxic community. So, how do you keep the peace and deal with members who break the rules? Having a plan in place will help limit the damage and keep everyone happier. In this episode, I dive into six simple ways to maintain the harmony in your online community. Essential Learning Points: Why you need to keep the peace in your online community How to put clear rules in place and enforce them Why it's important to lead by example Why you might want to appoint moderators The benefits of encouraging members to use real names and photos Why you shouldn't only interact with the cliques Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/problem-members/ (How to Deal with Problem Members Inside Your Community) Key Quotes: “There's no point in having guidelines on what is and isn't acceptable if you're not going to enforce them.” “If you can get that accountability and that responsibility in there, then that can play a massive part in giving you a harmonious, positive community dynamic.” “One of the worst things that you can do as a community leader is to get involved in a clique within your community because that is a guaranteed way of excluding the majority of your member base.”

Not sure whether to offer monthly or annual billing on your membership? The way members sign up to your membership site can make all the difference in the buying decision. You don't want to turn people away at the first stage, so picking the right one is crucial. In this episode, we go through all the pros and cons of monthly vs. annual subscriptions. You'll learn which has the higher profit margin usually, which is the more stable option, and which is best for your members. We also share an alternative way to bill and how you can upsell or down-sell your membership options. Essential Learning Points: Why monthly memberships tend to offer more stability How monthly billing can improve engagement Why annual billing provides a better profit margin The effect annual billing has on your member base Why you don't have to pick one or the other Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “You can, of course, offer both. Unless you have a very compelling reason for going monthly-only or annual-only, then we do typically recommend having both options available.” “One of the main reasons people set up a membership site is for the stability and the predictability that comes from having that sort of recurring revenue over time. That stability goes out of the window to a degree if you're relying solely on annual billing.” “With a higher buy-in, people are a little bit more invested…and they've given a bit more thought to their buying decision. Usually, that all adds up to a slightly higher caliber of members inside your community.”

Do you have an online course you're thinking of taking to the next level? Wondering if an online membership would make the perfect pairing? A combination of courses and memberships can work well, but only if you get the strategy right. If you're considering an online membership alongside your course, this is the episode for you! We cover the benefits of blending the two content models together and all the different ways you can do this effectively. In this episode, you'll learn about the different considerations you need to make before choosing any particular model, including where on the journey your audience is and what they need from your content. Essential Learning Points: The benefits of combining a membership with an online course How to sell your membership as a standalone product The two main ways to combine your course and membership How to decide what strategy to use Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-splinter-strategy/ (Using the ‘Splinter' Strategy to Sell More Memberships) Key Quotes: “A combination of courses and memberships can work extremely well if you get the strategy right.” “It's all about that bigger picture and figuring out where your course fits in the journey of an average student.” “With this kind of approach of courses and memberships intertwined, you can actually have some of your cake and eat it too. And you can play around with different combinations of enrolment models.”

How do you choose the perfect price for your membership? What's the number one thing to think about? The truth is, there are lots of different factors at play. But one thing people overlook is the idea of perceived value. Perceived value is something that isn't concrete or easy to assess. It's all about personal opinion, circumstances, the market itself, and everything in between. Tune in to this episode, where we go through all the different elements that make up a good pricing decision for your membership. We cover everything from perceived value to weighing up the practicalities, member affordability, and of course, the competition. Essential Learning Points: How perceived value affects pricing How to price according to the market Why you should look closely at the competition Pricing based on practical considerations Why the customer's affordability is worth considering Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-pricing/ (How Much Should I Charge For My Membership Website?) Key Quotes: “Membership pricing, or pricing in general, is not logical.” “Optimizing for the absolute perfect price is kind of a fool's errand because so much of it comes down to perception.” “It should be the easiest thing in the world. Just pick a number. But once you dive into it, there's just so much at play.” “Every buying decision is an individual one. Every buying decision is a personal one. What will your membership do for them?”

Can a membership business ever really provide passive income? Lots of so-called internet marketing gurus out there will point you in the direction of the membership model and claim it's the “ultimate way to make passive income.” We're here to tell you that's false…sort of. Memberships are not a way to make 100% passive income, but can they make any passive income? In this episode, we discuss what passive income really is, why memberships can never be 100% passive, and why it's up to you to decide how passive you want your business to be. Essential Learning Points:    Why you should be wary of the term “passive income” Why memberships are never 100% passive      What does passive income really mean?   Ways a membership can be partially passive Important Links & Mentions:        https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys)         https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (The Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “An online membership is a business…and every business requires you to work and take it seriously. It's not a gimmick. It's not a cheat. It's not something you do if you're just looking for a quick shortcut to make an easy buck.” “There's an old adage in the internet marketing world, that internet marketers work 18 hours a day, so they can make money in their sleep. Being able to say, ‘I make money in my sleep,' so many people like to use that as a badge of honor…And of course, you never see the full story.” “We've always railed against the tendency of internet marketers to promote memberships as a path to passive income because in doing so that really does sell the lie, that this is an easy route to untold riches for minimal effort.”

Are you ready to finally hire your first employee? It's an exciting yet daunting experience because there's a lot to cover and plan for. But don't worry, this episode takes you through all the steps you need to know about. In this episode, we cover the early stages of hiring an employee, how to design a smooth and seamless application and interview stage, why you need to have the finer details worked out before hiring, and how to onboard your new employee. If you're unsure where to start, this is a great starting point that takes you through the pre-hiring, hiring, and onboarding stages. Essential Learning Points:     Why good timing is so important when hiring your first employee How to determine the logistics of hiring   How to design a seamless application and interview process   Why you can't ignore the boring admin part How to onboard your new employee without leaving them in the dark Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) http://behindthemembership.com/ (Behind the Membership)       https://www.themembershipguys.com/outsource/ (6 Tasks You Should Outsource To Make Your Membership More Manageable) Key Quotes: “I'd much rather you hold off on recruiting someone and bringing someone permanent full-time into your business, until you have more than enough financial means to actually do it.” “Don't just hire someone to perform the task, at its current standard, hire someone to be better than you to level your business up.” “Make sure you're realistic in your expectations and consistent in the type of work that you would expect people in the roles you're hiring for to complete.”  

Are you a bit of a perfectionist? A little bit of perfectionism can be a good thing. It can help you strive towards creating the very best content and value for your members. But too much can be a big problem. In fact, perfectionism can kill progress. If perfectionism is holding you back from launching your membership or taking it to the next level, this episode is for you. We'll be discussing how perfectionism can hold you back, why it's virtually impossible to achieve in the membership space, and why holding yourself back can rob you of the very things you need to improve – feedback, experience, and data. Essential Learning Points: How perfectionism gets in the way of progress Why perfectionism is impossible in an ever-changing membership The importance of feedback and data in improving your membership Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “Perfection kills progress.” “Perfection is unattainable because memberships are always evolving. When you build a membership, you're not creating a finished or complete product.” “If you're holding back on launching because you want to get it right, you are preventing access to the very thing that will help you to get it right. And that is experience feedback and data.”

Is your membership not attracting enough members? Are you wondering where you're going wrong? In this episode, we cover nine of the most common reasons why people don't sign up for a membership site. There might be something you haven't thought of yet, so this episode should give you some food for thought. Tune in to see if you're guilty of any of these mistakes and find out ways to fix them. Find out whether your membership struggles are down to market need, lack of research, competition or pricing. Essential Learning Points:         The importance of directly asking for the sale Why you need to ensure your membership is valuable and needed Why thorough research is the bedrock of any successful membership Niching down vs. being too broad Why trust is so important in memberships Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy)       https://www.themembershipguys.com/niche/ (Why Membership Site Owners Need to Niche Down (And STAY Niched)) Key Quotes: “People don't join memberships to stand still. They join because they have a result they want to achieve. They have a transformation they want to undergo and a goal they want to hit. So, you need to break it down as clearly as possible, how your membership will help them.” “If you're not established, if you don't have a body of work, some content they can read or listen to, recommendations, or social proof, then your audience might be more hesitant to do business with you.” “Trust is everything in business, especially with a membership site, because they're not just buying one thing from you today. They are entering into an ongoing relationship with you.”

Small business expert and former photographer Jeffrey Shaw unpacks how live the best self-employed life.  This episode is sponsored by Canva Pro. It's the easy-to-use design platform that has everything you need to design like a pro. It has all you need in one place, including a collection of over 75 million premium photos, videos, audio and graphics. As a Canva Pro subscriber, I love so many of their features including the brand kit, which makes it really easy to collaborate with my team. Claim your FREE 45 day extended trial by signing up via https://www.canva.com/affiliates/TIMECRAFTING/?_branch_match_id=764460006028471630 (Canva.me/timecrafting). This episode is sponsored by Sit Down, Startup, a new weekly podcast from Zendesk. Getting your business off the ground is hard. Find out why customer experience is at the heart of success. The startup's team chats with Zendesk leaders, founders, and CEOs in a coffee-shop style conversation about starting up when the world is upside down. Catch weekly fresh new episodes on Apple, Google, and Spotify. Head over to Sit Down, Startup https://www.zendesk.co.uk/campaign/sitdownstartup/ (here). Jeffrey Shaw became one of the most preeminent portrait photographers in the United States. He decided to share his knowledge of business, branding, and marketing to support self-employed and small business owners as well as progressive-minded companies. I had a great time learning more about his strategies that have helped small businesses scale their big dreams.  We unpack the insights from his latest book The Self-Employed Life: Business and Personal Development Strategies. We also explore personal development, redefining what we mean by ‘niche', owning your area of expertise, and lessons from sea kayaking.  Talking Points What's needed to be successfully self-employed (02:40) The ecosystem analogy (07:31) The business model of multiples (12:26) Daily habits for small business owners (22:30) ‘The What's Going Right' journal (27:15) Being clear with your meaning and marketability (32:00) Quote "Set up your business for the capacity that is to come, not for it currently is." Helpful Links https://www.jeffreyshaw.com/podcast (The Self-Employed Life Podcast) https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.jeffreyshaw.com/self-employed-ecosystem-coaching (Self-Employed Ecosystem Coaching) https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0999518704/ (‘LINGO' by Jeffrey Shaw) https://productivityist.com/captivate-podcast/why-you-need-atomic-habits-with-james-clear/ (Episode 227: Why You Need Atomic Habits with James Clear) https://www.baronfig.com/tools/confidant/guided?edition=clear+habit+journal&journal=flagship&recurring=One+time+purchase (Clear Habit Journal) http://selfemployedassessment.com/ (SelfEmployedAssessment.com) https://www.jeffreyshaw.com/the-self-employed-life (TheSelfEmployedLife.me ) Want to discover some of the books mentioned on the podcast? https://www.scribd.com/g/9a8d8 (Check out Scribd, my reading app of choice.) Podcast Theme Song: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/eFDGyraN87 (Nothing at All by Fictions (courtesy of Epidemic Sound)) If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating and/or review wherever you listened to the episode. And if you want to have easy access to the archives of the show and ensure you don't miss the new episodes to come then subscribe to the podcast in the app you're using – or you can do so on a variety of podcast platforms by clicking https://productivityist.captivate.fm/listen (here).

Are you ready to build your email list? Do you already have one but you're not sure how to get the most value out of it? Whether you're starting from scratch or are revamping your email series, this episode is for you. We cover five great email types to send your new subscribers to entice them into signing up to your membership site. These are simple yet effective ways to give people a taste of what your membership is like, how it can help them, and the value they could be getting from you. Essential Learning Points: Why creating an email series is so important for new subscribers What to include in a welcome email The best ways to create an email sales pitch for new subscribers How a case study can effectively sell your membership Why you should send value-driven emails as well as sales pitches Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys)    https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) Key Quotes: “Choose a single success story from your member base to write a mini case study around. This should be a story that shows people what's possible by being a member of your site.” “Memberships are pretty abstract products. They're typically made up of many different elements, so it can be challenging to concisely describe them. So being able to show as well as tell can be a real advantage.” “A way to over-deliver is to give them an extra surprise freebie, an eBook, a cheat sheet, a free workshop, something along those lines that they weren't expecting.”

Have you ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of a membership? Maybe you've considered joining one in the past but just have no idea what to expect. Does your audience feel the same way about your membership? Hopefully not, but if you're looking for a way to bring some transparency, trust, and a behind-the-scenes look into your membership, then this episode is for you. I go into four simple yet effective ways to give your members a sneak peek behind the curtain at what goes on in your membership. The benefits of this marketing tactic are incredible, so tune in today to hear our ideas, how they could help, and how we use them in our own content to promote https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy.) Essential Learning Points:  Transparency can build trust, so take members behind-the-scenes How to use screen capture footage as a simple piece of marketing content How to use social media Stories to give insights into your day-to-day life Why you should create content that focuses on your journey Why you should showcase your members and their successes Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/behind-the-membership/ (Behind the Membership podcast) Key Quotes: “Not everyone knows what an online membership is like. If you're in an industry where online memberships aren't particularly prolific, yours might be the very first membership that your customers are encountering.” “In the online world, it can be difficult to trust. There are too many cases of people paying for something that ultimately either just didn't get delivered or was nothing like what was promised. When you have something like a behind-the-scenes video, you're showing proof that your product exists.” “Transparency can be very appealing to people. A lot of people these days feel like they need that connection with the people they choose to do business with. So transparency can go such a long way.”

Are you comfortable talking about money? Many aren't and avoid the topic altogether. Others are on the opposite end of the spectrum and will flaunt it all day on social media. As money isn't something that we talk a lot about, either here on The Membership Guys or in real life, this episode is a bit of a different one. In this episode, I explore some financial food for thought about memberships and money in general. I cover things like mental money blocks, the influence of social media, putting money to good use, and scaling your business. This episode's a bit of a different one than usual, so tune in for a talk on all things money-related. Essential Learning Points: Why our marketing isn't money focused The common money blocks that hold us back Why we shouldn't compare ourselves to people on social media How the membership model is about slow and steady growth How to put money to good use in your business Working out your effective hourly rate How scaling your business is all about mindset Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-guys-origin-story (The Untold Origin Story of The Membership Guys (Episode 300 Special)) https://www.superfastbusiness.com/ (Superfastbusiness) https://www.james.co/books/work-less-make-more/ (Work Less Make More by James Schramko )  Key Quotes: “The money side of memberships is relatively boring. It's not an exciting roller coaster ride. And so, we need to make sure that we don't get complacent and take it for granted.” “When you buy cheap, you end up buying twice. And so, you start to recognize the value of investing money.” “Instead of paying yourself more and taking more per month, pay yourself the same but for doing less work.” “I love memberships because the output is usually substantially more than the input. I can spend an hour creating a piece of content. And that can help hundreds of people who then refer dozens of people, which makes me X amount of extra money for one hour of my time.”

Are you ready to build your membership website? Before you get started, there are a few key tech decisions you need to make first. These decisions will influence every element of your membership, so you need to choose wisely! How you host your website, build it, choose a domain name, and build a community are just some of the most important but tough decisions to make. In this episode, I cover five tough tech decisions you'll need to make before you can launch your website. If you're just getting started and aren't sure how to get the ball rolling, don't miss this episode! Essential Learning Points: The differences between self-hosted and using a platform When to hire a developer vs. build a website yourself What to consider when choosing a domain name How to choose the best themes and plugins for your site What to consider when building a membership community Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/build-your-membership-website-or-hire-help/ (Should You Build Your Website Yourself or Hire Help – with Martin & Lyndsay from Jammy Digital) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-domain-name/ (Should I Host My Membership on a Separate Domain Name?) https://www.themembershipguys.com/why-you-should-add-a-community-to-your-membership-site/ (Why you should add a community to your membership site) https://www.themembershipguys.com/starting-membership-community/ (11 Proven Tactics for Starting a New Membership Community) Key Quotes: “These are decisions that can have an impact and repercussions on so many different elements of your membership, how you run it, how you grow it, your member experience, and so on.” “WordPress is the most popular content management system in the world. And a big part of the reason for that is the fact that there are all sorts of add-ons you can install.” “If you're cash-rich but time-poor, you're probably going to hire someone. If you're the reverse of that, then the likelihood is you're going to need to build your site yourself.”

Are you considering a switch from a closed to open-door membership? Maybe you've heard about all the benefits of open membership models and want to try it out for yourself. Great! Open memberships can be a fantastic business model. It's the very same model we use for our own https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy). But don't just jump headfirst into the switch! If you're changing to an open membership model, it's not as easy as changing your mind and keeping the doors open all year. There are lots of things to consider and adjustments to make if you make such a big move. You'll need to think about all sorts of things like marketing, sales figures, how it will affect the community, and much more! In this episode, I share some things to know about and the best ways to prepare your membership for an enrolment change. Essential Learning Points: Why you need a solid reason for switching membership models How your approach to marketing will need to change Why you need to change your sales expectations The importance of member onboarding with an open-door membership How the membership community will change once you switch Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/5-reasons-why-i-dislike-the-closed-door-membership-strategy/ (5 Reasons Why I Dislike the Closed Door Membership Launch Strategy) Key Quotes: “An always open membership relies heavily on evergreen marketing, having that marketing machine that works year-round. And the big piece of that is going to be your core sales funnel.” “Don't start panicking when you have a day where you don't get any sales because it's all about the long term.” “You can't get away with sloppy onboarding as much in an open membership as you can in a closed membership.”

Are you toying with the idea of switching from an open to a closed-door membership model? Hold on! Before you make the switch, there are some vital things to consider first. In this episode, I'll take you through the top things to prepare for, decide on, and consider before switching your enrolment model. Switching to a closed-door model isn't a decision to take lightly. It doesn't just affect your marketing. It can change the whole member experience as well. This episode covers some ways you can weather the storm and make the switch a smooth transition. Essential Learning Points: Why you need a solid reason for changing your enrolment model What you need to prepare for and communicate to your members How a closed-door model can change the member experience What switching to a closed-door model will do for member numbers Why you still need to market and keep people engaged throughout the year Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/closed-door-membership/ (6 Situations Where The Closed Door Membership Model Makes Sense) Key Quotes: “It just stands to reason that, if you have a product, you want to make it available and accessible for people to buy and join when the time is right for them.” “Clear, transparent communication about this change, whether you're going from open to closed or close to open, is key to really nailing this process.” “Whether your doors are open all the time or closed and only open two or three times a year, you still need to market year-round. You still need to show up in between your launches.”

Good news... it's my birthday!!  Bad news... I literally NEVER work on my birthday… It's one of my rules... And as much as I love The Membership Guys podcast…  I can't break this rule.  So I'm taking the day off…. And that can mean only one thing...  CALLIE IS TAKING OVER! (And I get to eat cake) Join the other (some would say better) half of The Membership Guys for a very special episode, as Callie shares her top takeaways from season 4 of her podcast, Behind the Membership, and reveals the release date for season 5.   Listen to hear about:  The changes membership owners have made to better serve their audiences during the global pandemic. Caryn Liles explains how Covid 19 resulted in her transitioning her well established brick and mortar dog training business to an online membership model, which is now allowing her to provide more in-depth support than before. Katie Wardrobe talks about how she reduced the price of her membership and offered more free content to help teachers adapt to working online, which has increased the growth of her business.  How Carole Copeland Thomas's membership has become more important than ever due to the growing racial tensions across the U.S.  Why a one size fits all approach doesn't work when it comes to memberships. Pamela Mitchell explains how she created a model to suit her needs and Felicia Lo shares the benefits and challenges of running an online membership alongside a well established international yarn business. Steve Pavlina also talks about how he offers a high ticket annual membership that only launches for five days a year.  How season 4 reinforced the message that memberships give owners the freedom and flexibility to live life on their own terms. Whether it's accommodating health issues like in the case of Marisha Mets, building a location independent business enabling family travel like in the case of Trish Blackwell... Or using your membership to reach big goals and eventually give back to underprivileged communities like John Michaloudis.  How running memberships can lead to positive change. Warwick Brown explains how leaving his corporate role and launching his membership has led to a happier, more energized life and Warren Mcpherson shares how he reduced his income streams and took ownership of his time so he can spend more of it with his young family.     Links and Mentions:  https://www.themembershipguys.com/behind-the-membership/ (Behind The Membership podcast ) https://www.themembershipguys.com/caryn-liles/ (Launching Quickly in a Global Crisis with Caryn Liles) https://www.themembershipguys.com/katie-wardrobe/ (Double your member base during a pandemic with Katie Wardrobe)  https://www.themembershipguys.com/carole-copeland-thomas/ (Facilitating Change Through Difficult Conversations with Carole Copeland Thomas) https://www.themembershipguys.com/pamela-mitchell/ (Creating a High Level Coaching Membership with Coach Pamela Mitchell) https://www.themembershipguys.com/felicia-lo/ (Adding a Membership to a Successful Manufacturing Business with Felicia Lo) https://www.themembershipguys.com/steve-pavlina/ (Aligning Your Members to Your Vision with Steve Pavlina) https://www.themembershipguys.com/marisha-mets/ (Creating a Custom Web App for Your Members with Marisha Mets) https://www.themembershipguys.com/trish-blackwell/ (Fighting Through a Crisis of Confidence with Trish Blackwell) https://www.themembershipguys.com/warwick-brown/ (Staying Consistent as a One-Man Band with Warwick Brown) https://www.themembershipguys.com/john-michaloudis/ (Setting Ambitious Goals for Your Membership with John Michaloudis) https://www.themembershipguys.com/warren-mcpherson/ (More Time, More Freedom, More Income with Warren Mcpherson) Key Quotes:  “Memberships are game changers at the best of times, but in 2020 they proved that even more.” “Everything is possible with a...

Whether you are new to memberships, thinking about starting one, or have been doing it for years, there are some key things that everyone needs to know. In this episode, I share some of the admittedly boring yet super important things you need to know about running a membership. This episode covers things like insurance, tax, payments, and copyright laws – all that fun stuff! To keep your website and business fully protected, give this episode a listen in case there’s anything you’re currently missing. Essential Learning Points: How to cover the legal aspect of running a membership Why it’s important to get a hold over your finances and tax How to protect your website and content from theft What you need to know about insurance and protecting your business Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/gdpr/ (Essential Guide to GDPR for Membership Site Owners) https://www.themembershipguys.com/wordpress-membership-security/ (Keeping Your WordPress Membership Site Secure) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-content-theft/ (What To Do When Someone Steals Your Membership Content) https://www.themembershipguys.com/competitors-join-membership/ (Should You Allow Competitors to Join Your Membership?) https://www.themembershipguys.com/payment-disputes/ (How to Deal With Payment Disputes in Your Membership) https://suzannedibble.com/ (Suzanne Dibble’s website) https://www.facebook.com/groups/DigitalVAT2015/ (Digital VAT 2015 Facebook group) https://www.termsfeed.com/ (TermsFeed) https://termageddon.com/ (Termageddon) Key Quotes: “It’s better to be safe than sorry, and getting professional indemnity insurance generally will not cost much at all.” “The truth is most security issues for any type of membership, product, or website come from human error. So, you want to make sure that you are clued up.”  “It’s certainly advisable to get an accountant on board to help you set your membership up correctly and ensure all your tax and reporting obligations are met.”

Is your membership stressing you out? When you first started your journey to being a membership owner, the chances are you didn’t picture sleepless nights and dreading going to work. In fact, you probably imagined finally getting to live the life you always wanted ­– so, where’s it all gone wrong? Owning any business, including a membership, is going to come with stressors. That’s just a fact. But there are several things that could be happening in your membership that are making you unhappy, that you can do something about. In this episode, we talk about the eight most common areas that cause stress for membership owners. We reveal how you can manage these and make running your membership as enjoyable and stress-free as you hoped it would be! Essential Learning Points: How to adjust your expectations for your membership Why you should be focusing on the long game How to set manageable deadlines How to be realistic with your content strategy Which tasks you should be outsourcing to free up your time How to stay focused on your own progress Why setting boundaries is essential to managing stress How context can reframe your anxieties Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/outsource/ (6 Tasks You Should Outsource To Make Your Membership More Manageable) Key Quotes: “With memberships, you get to set the terms. You get to create a business of your own design that fits with your goals for your life.” “You're not creating a finished product, you're starting a journey. You have the freedom and flexibility to adapt and evolve your membership over time.” “Don't try and do everything yourself. You're not a superhero.”

Are you ready to launch a membership? Are you really ready? If you’ve been toying with the idea of launching a membership for some time, you might be wondering if the timing is right. Many business gurus out there will tell you to jump in and “just start,” but hold on! Memberships are a funny business. Launching your membership is all about timing it right. If you get it wrong, it’s much harder to change your mind or get out of it when you have paying members with high expectations. You need to do the groundwork first. In this episode, we take you through the signs that now is the time to launch your membership. These are signs that your membership will get off to a great start, has a real audience, and won’t fizzle out over time. Essential Learning Points: Why timing is so important when starting a membership The downsides of jumping into a membership before you’re ready Why you need to be clear on what you’re offering and who you’re serving How much time you need to dedicate at the beginning Why building your audience before launching a membership is the best move Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/niche/ (Why Membership Site Owners Need to Niche Down (And STAY Niched)) https://www.themembershipguys.com/toolkit/ (Membership Toolkit) Key Quotes: “The most successful memberships are the ones that solve a specific problem and serve a specific audience.” “The riches are in the niches when it comes to memberships.” “It's not about having thousands of people on an email list before you can even contemplate starting a membership. It's far more important that your following is relevant than it is huge.”

What’s the secret to marketing your membership? Spoiler: there isn’t just one secret! There are multiple different methods to try, but there are some universal truths to always bear in mind first. In this episode, we share the 12 universal truths to membership marketing. There may not be some hidden secret that will guarantee you success, but these truths apply to all types of membership (and many other businesses as well.) If you’re unsure of what marketing approach to take or whether you need to spend much time marketing at all, don’t miss this episode! Essential Learning Points: The 12 universal truths that apply to all memberships Why there’s never a one-size-fits-all approach to marketing Why building trust should be a key part of your marketing The importance of marketing and why you can’t overlook it Important Links & Mentions: http://membershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ (Kevin Kelly’s 1,000 True Fans) https://thegogiver.com/ (Bob Berg’s The Go-Giver book) Key Quotes: “Think of your membership as a painkiller, not a vitamin. You want it to be a must-have, not a nice-to-have.” “An average product that has great marketing will always beat a great product with average marketing.” “What someone says about you is worth so much more than what you say about yourself.”

There’s a lot of advice out there about memberships, some of it good, some of it downright awful! If you’re not sure who to listen to or you’re worried you’ve made a mistake about starting a membership, don’t miss this episode. In this episode, we break down the five top pieces of bad (and damaging) advice we’ve seen about running a membership. We take you through competition in the membership world, whether you really need scarcity to sell and if memberships are as dead as people claim. *Spoiler* they’re not! Essential Learning Points: How to recognize bad membership advice Why the membership model is NOT dying out Why healthy competition is good The problem with using scarcity to sell Why a closed-door membership does not mean less work Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/ (1,000 True Fans by Kevin Kelly) https://www.themembershipguys.com/competing-memberships/ (Competing with Established Memberships in Your Market) https://www.themembershipguys.com/money-membership-business (Are You Leaving Money On The Table in Your Membership Business?) Key Quotes: “It’s fine to leave money on the table if it’s not a table you want to sit at.” “If you’re building your business and basing your strategy on whatever’s in vogue this month, then that’s the wrong approach.” “We shouldn’t be scared off by the existence of competition or worried that a market is too oversaturated. In fact, it’s more of a worry if there’s no competition.”

How can you launch a membership without any audience? The simple answer is you don’t have to. You need to put in the work to build that audience first.   That’s exactly what we did, and in this episode, we share all the little details that went into building our audience BEFORE we launched the Membership Academy. So, join me on a trip down memory lane. We’re talking about the early days of The Membership Guys and what we did six years ago to get where we are today. We share detailed tips on content marketing, blogging, building your email list, and gaining interest before you even sign up your first member. Essential Learning Points: It doesn’t take thousands of dollars to launch a membership You don’t need a huge email list to launch your membership What steps you can take to build interest in your membership The importance of a solid launch strategy Where The Membership Guys are today. Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) https://www.themembershipguys.com/books/ (Member Machine book) https://robbiekellmanbaxter.com/the-membership-economy/ (Membership Economy) by Robbie Kellman Baxter https://www.superfastbusiness.com/ (Superfast Business) https://www.themembershipguys.com/toolkit/ (Membership Toolkit) Key Quotes: “Do what you can with what you have.” “We hated having to turn people away and not being able to give them a suggestion of where to go.” “450 people on an email list…you’re not going to brag to many people about that. It’s still fairly small…but it was big enough.”

Every superhero has an origin story… And as we're celebrating a huge milestone of recording 300 episodes of The Membership Guys podcast, Callie and I decided to do something a little bit special and share ours. In this episode we talk about things we’ve never talked about publicly before, giving you an insight into how The Membership Guys came to be and how we got to where we are today.  Hopefully some of our story will resonate with you.  Enjoy!   Episode Summary: The story of how Callie and I met Our business journey, including bad partnerships, 20 hour work days, and of course… memberships Some personal struggles with depression, burnout and general health that we've never talked about before PLUS we discuss how Callie has never seen the movie Karate Kid (shock), how in a weird multiverse The Membership Guys may never have come to be and much more!

Have you ever wondered about how to prioritize different projects, and whether it’s okay to press “pause” on a project? That’s exactly what’s happening on today’s episode of Indie Author Weekly!This is the podcast for indie authors, aspiring authors, and curious bookworms who want the inside scoop, tips and motivation, and behind-the-scenes journey of writing and self-publishing books.   TUNE IN NOW to access tips and more about pressing pause on a book project, and how to prioritize your various projects... Resources & links mentioned in this episode:  Get podcast and book updates delivered to your inbox at SaganMorrow.com/behindthescenes .Learn more about all of Sagan's books (including the Polyamorous Passions series and the business books) at SaganMorrow.com/books .Add Small Town Stilettos: a modern marriage of convenience to your Want To Read list on Goodreads .War Cry podcast .The Membership Guys podcast .Satya Purna .Join Productivity Powerhouse: SaganMorrow.com/powerhouseBe the FIRST to know about Productivity Powerhouse 2.0 at SaganMorrow.com/newsletter .Reach out to Sagan on Twitter or Instagram: @Saganlives .Tune into Indie Author Weekly on your favourite podcast platform at SaganMorrow.com/podcast .Subscribe, rate and review this podcast on Apple Podcasts .Let's chat about this episode:  @Saganlives on Twitter and Instagram .Hashtag: #IndieAuthorWeekly .Email hello@saganmorrow.com .Share your thoughts (or submit requests for future episode topics) in this survey at SaganMorrow.com/question Support the show (https://saganmorrow.com/secretpodcast)

So, you've launched your membership site and are ready to reach those goals and fulfill those dreams you imagined for yourself and for your membership. A word of caution: you may face a few challenges once your site is up and running.  We want you to be prepared for the potential issues you may face when you become a new membership site owner. In this episode of The Membership Guys Podcast, I go through six of the most common challenges new owners face after a brand-new launch and share my advice on how to deal with them head on. Essential Learning Points: How to keep your start-up costs in check and avoid ‘shiny object syndrome’ Tips for mitigating finicky tech issues – whether you’re tech-savvy or not What the momentum conundrum is and the 90 / 9 / 1 rule How to manage your time better so your membership site doesn't fall off your priority list The highs and lows post-launch and what to do when your motivation runs dry   Important Links & Mentions: https://www.membershipacademy.com/?utm_source=tmg&utm_medium=ctalink&utm_content=main_menu&utm_campaign=tmgsite#join_cta (The Membership Academy) https://www.facebook.com/groups/membersitemastermind (The Membership Mastermind Facebook Group) https://www.themembershipguys.com/112 (Tackling the 6 Biggest Challenges Every New Membership Owner Faces) https://twitter.com/membershipguys (The Membership Guys on Twitter) Key Quotes: “When it comes to start-up costs, be realistic about what you actually need.” “Be patient, save your money, and wait before you jump into Facebook ads.” “Successful membership owners worry about the members they have far more than the members they don't have.” “There is no one size fits all or silver bullet strategy for bringing in new members.”

Did you know that private podcasting could enhance your membership business? By now, most of us are familiar with podcasts. Many of us are avid listeners already. Private podcasting hasn’t quite taken off as much as regular podcasting, mostly because of a lack of systems in place to create them. But, if you could get your private podcast set up the right way, it could be a great way to offer your members exclusive content and extra value. At The Membership Guys, we use Captivate.FM to host our podcast. Captivate is a great podcasting host which offers private podcasting. Using a selection of great automation tools, Captivate has really nailed their private podcasting system. In this episode, I’m joined by Mark Asquith, the CEO and founder of Captivate.FM to discuss how private podcasts work and how they can enhance your membership business. I also reveal some great strategies to help you create a private podcast for your membership. Essential Learning Points: ●      What private podcasting is and why you should consider creating one for your membership site ●      How to use Captivate.FM to create and host your private podcast ●      How to use private podcasts to enhance the quality of your membership site Important Links & Mentions: ●      https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) ●      https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (The Membership Academy) ●      https://www.captivate.fm/ (Captivate.FM) ●      https://www.themembershipguys.com/podcast-membership/ (6 Ways to Use a Podcast to Promote Your Membership)

Did you know that every membership has a revenue ceiling? The revenue ceiling refers to the absolute peak of how much your membership is capable of generating. Knowing what your revenue ceiling is will help motivate you to achieve your full earning potential. And, if you’ve already hit the revenue ceiling for your membership business, you can begin to explore ways to raise the ceiling. If this is the first time you’ve heard anything about a revenue ceiling, you’re not alone. However, it is worth taking the time to consider whether or not you’ve hit the revenue ceiling for your membership business. In this episode, I help you calculate your revenue ceiling and discuss how you can raise the ceiling if you’re not ready to stall just yet. Essential Learning Points: How to calculate your revenue ceiling What to do if your monthly revenue is higher than your revenue ceiling calculation Why hitting your revenue ceiling isn’t a bad thing How to raise your revenue ceiling Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (The Membership Guys) https://www.membershipacademy.com/?utm_source=tmg&utm_medium=ctalink&utm_content=main_menu&utm_campaign=tmgsite (The Membership Academy) https://themembershipguys.com/293 (The blog post for this episode) https://themembershipguys.com/292 (Episode 292: Are You Leaving Money On The Table in Your Membership Business?) https://www.themembershipguys.com/multiple-revenue-streams-membership/ (Episode 61): How to Add Multiple Revenue Streams to an Existing Membership Key Quotes: “The reality is every membership and every subscription has a ceiling.” “If you do the math, and the ceiling that you're coming out with is less than where you are right now… most likely, it means that your sales or your churn rates have dropped recently.”

Calum McGuigan of Shape and Foster talks to Dr. Justin Trosclair, DC on A Doctor's Perspective Podcast 4k to 4M in one business, Calum McGuigan now focuses on video and community based lifestyle development focused on 6 aspects of health. He does this with a site and app called Shape and Foster. Scottish man, Calum McGuigan, moved to Canada to play Rugby, loved it so much he stayed, then started Fervent Events with $4000, hit Canada's top 500 fastest growing companies, fast forward a decade it sold for 4 million, and now started Shape and Foster. We spend some time talking about his event company. Really it is an In-store sampling, demonstrations for consumer electronics (phones) and food, pop-up shops and even food sampling in Costcos'. They would do all the logistics for set up, finding locations, staffing the events and more. After 9 years he started getting burned out and really questioning his WHY? Why am I in this, do I want to keep creating events and promos for things that can make us sick like burger and fry restaurants? How do you sell an event company in the middle of covid 2020 when everything is shutdown? Did it hurt the selling price to the point of backing out? What can we learn from unicorn business acquisitions for companies that really haven't even turned a profit, think Uber or companies bought out by Facebook. Disclaimer: Yes, this episode's interview is a paid sponsorship. Shape & Foster A 12 month journey to revamp your life from all angels. They have 6 experts delivering information and exercises (homework) in less than 20 minute videos each month. You have to finish the first month before consuming the next months information. Actionable Insight It's a Lifestyle Development website and app covering mental health, fitness, nutrition, financial planning and life coaching plus live yoga classes. You should be able to watch these lessons and make changes, even small ones, into your life and over the course of a year see a better you. Why is so much of Lifestyle Development so Retroactive? As in, we start a gym when we are out of shape, we learn about mortgages and interest rates during the process of buying our first home. It's kind of backwards so what happens if we can plan ahead and finally be proactive about our physical and mental health. When promoting a paid membership app, how far out do you set goals and what do the goals look like? There are no up-sells once you join the Shape and Foster app and the experts are not luring you off the program to sell you their stuff neither. Calum does recommend and encourage signing up and paying for Shape and Foster via the website and to help out he is offering a 14 day Free Trial exclusive for web sign-ups (also the app store is more expensive than the web purchase). We go over the details of how new months and material are unlocked. www.shapeandfoster.com 4 Part Marketing be a podcast guest, digital social media, PR agency, and Lift Off (running ads on other apps that relate to your target audience) Podcasts: Pat Flynn's Podcast, Membership Guys and How I Built This Family: Have 1 on 1 time with your wife and kids and friends and yourself. Show notes can be found at https://adoctorsperspective.net/170 here you can also find links to things mentioned and the full transcript Full Transcript of the Interview (it will have grammatical errors and mistakes). Just Click to expand. Thanks audioburst! 00:00:05 – 00:05:03 Episode one hundred and seventy actionable insight into lifestyle development with shape foster justin chocolate and today. we're kalem acquaintance. Respect twenty seventeen and eighteen podcast awards nominated host invest celie author on amazon as we get a behind the curtain. Look at all types of doctor. And guess specialties. Let a doctor's perspective first episode of twenty twenty one today. We have a membership app about health and wellness in six different aspects.

Just like that, another year is over... And what a year 2020 has been! Rather than dwell on what could only be described as an insane 12 months, let’s end the year on a high and think about what we’ve all achieved.  It has certainly been a big year for Callie and I. We’ve:  Grown our team with two full-time hires - Kathryn, our Head of Digital Content and Tom, our Graphic Designer.   Launched some amazing new features in https://www.membershipacademy.com/ (Membership Academy) including our Game Plans and Member Huddles, and… Created another year’s worth of https://www.themembershipguys.com/podcast/ (The Membership Guys) weekly podcast and season 4 of Callie’s https://www.themembershipguys.com/behind-the-membership/ (Behind The Membership) podcast.  It’s been a lot of fun!  We hope it’s been a successful and productive year for you and your membership.  With only a few days left of 2020, it’s time for our traditional end of year recap show. Listen for our top 10 most popular episodes of The Membership Guys podcasts in 2020.  Thank you so much for your continued support of the show this year - I really appreciate each and every one of you.  Here’s to an awesome 2021.  Episode Links (not in order - don't want to ruin the suspense!): https://www.themembershipguys.com/facebook-ads/ (Using Facebook Ads to Promote Your Membership With Gavin Bell) https://www.themembershipguys.com/before-starting-membership/ (8 Things You Need to Know Before Starting a Membership Site) https://www.themembershipguys.com/pinterest-marketing-memberships/ ( ) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-marketing-tactics/ (9 Simple Marketing Tactics That’ll Get You More Members) https://www.themembershipguys.com/pinterest-marketing-memberships/ (Using Pinterest to Market Your Membership With Cara Chace ) https://www.themembershipguys.com/competitors-join-membership/ (Should You Allow Competitors to Join Your Membership?) https://www.themembershipguys.com/publish-membership-content/ (7 Things to do Before You Publish Your Next Piece of Content) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-community-engagement/ (Why Signal vs Noise Ratio is Key to Membership Community Engagement ) https://www.themembershipguys.com/build-your-membership-website-or-hire-help/ (Should You Build Your Website Yourself or Hire Help - With Martin and Lyndsay from Jammy Digital) https://www.themembershipguys.com/celebrating-the-5th-anniversary-of-membership-academy/ (Celebrating the 5th Anniversary of Membership Academy ) https://www.themembershipguys.com/content-marketing/ (How to Use Content Marketing to Sell Your Online Membership) Check out previous years' countdowns: https://www.themembershipguys.com/top-podcasts-2019/ (10 Most Popular Episodes of The Membership Guys Podcast 2019) https://www.themembershipguys.com/top-podcasts-2018/ (10 Most Popular Episodes of The Membership Guys Podcast in 2018) https://www.themembershipguys.com/top-podcasts-2017/ (10 Most Popular Episodes of The Membership Guys Podcast in 2017) https://www.themembershipguys.com/episode77/ (10 Most Popular Episodes of The Membership Guys Podcast in 2016)

Callie Willows, the co-founder of The Membership Guys, a membership academy that teaches its members how to create and run successful memberships. Callie is on a mission to show entrepreneurs and small business owners how they can better leverage their time, knowledge, experience and expertise - as well as increase their income - by creating a successful membership site and online community. On this episode, we chat about:How Callie went from being a nutritional therapist and naturopath to creating The Membership Guys with her co-founderLaunching their membership with a 30-day challenge and what they now recommend their students to do instead when launching a new membership siteHer advice for membership site owners struggling to get new membersCallie's favorite way of getting new members into The Membership GuysMembership retention tips to keep your members staying longer

You’ve probably heard many people say that consistency pays off, and it’s one hundred percent true. Success doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and requires consistently showing up for your audience.  In this episode, I invite Mike Morrison of the Membership Guys to discuss how he and his partner, Callie (also co-founder of the Membership Guys) has built an extremely successful 7-figure business and how being consistent has played a huge part in the journey. Tune in to hear Mike and Callie’s story of building a brand through consistency.  Episode Timestamps [08:59] - How the Membership Guys started [12:08] - The one focal point that Mike and Callie have stuck to for the last 5 years [15:46] - The behind the scenes of running an event [24:58] - Why Mike’s podcast is purely evergreen content Essential Learning Points From This Episode The importance of sticking to the same business mission How running an event meant losing focus on membership related projects Producing evergreen content is always better than jumping on current trends Why showing up is so vital for entrepreneurs Important Links & Mentions From This Episode  https://www.themembershipguys.com/ (Check out the Membership Guys) https://www.virtualfreedombook.com/ (Pick up Chris’ first bestselling book, Virtual Freedom) https://riseoftheyoupreneur.com/ (Pick up Chris’ second bestselling book, Rise of the Youpreneur) https://www.youpreneuracademy.com (Join the Youpreneur Academy today) http://youpreneurhub.com (Join the Youpreneur Hub Facebook Group)  http://youtube.com/chrisducker (Subscribe to Chris’ YouTube channel) https://www.youpreneur.com/incubator (Join the Youpreneur Incubator waitlist) https://www.youpreneur.com/podcast (Browse the Youpreneur FM Podcast Archive) https://youpreneur.com/personal-branding-roadmap-download/ (Download your FREE copy of the Personal Branding Roadmap) https://youpreneur.com/freecourse (Check out our FREE video course on YouTube!)    Thank you for tuning in!  There are a lot of podcasts you could be tuning into today, but you chose ours, and we’re grateful for that. If you enjoyed today’s show, please share it by using the social media buttons you see on the player at the top of this page. Also, kindly consider taking the 60-seconds it takes to https://www.chrisducker.com/itunes (leave an honest review and rating for the podcast on iTunes), they’re extremely helpful when it comes to the ranking of the show and you can bet that I read every single one of them personally! Lastly, don’t forget to subscribe to the show on your favorite app, using the link below the player at the top of this page.

Attending my 2021 Sorted virtual event and wondering how to get the most out of the experience? Perhaps you haven't attended a virtual event before and you're wondering how to get the most out of the experience. Here's everything you need to know to get the most out of my 2021 Sorted content planning event. If you're not attending my 2021Sorted virtual event and you'd like to know more about it then head to the links at the end. {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.} 1. Block out Nov 3 and 4 in your diary. Having a couple of days to work on your business rather (than in it) is a gift. So make sure you've got those days blocked out in the diary and have organised childcare. If you can, book a hotel... although make sure you have decent wifi. Timings: 9:30am - 4:00pm both days Virtual bar: 7-10pm 2. Add other key dates to your diary Event briefing: Tuesday October 27 @2pm GMT (30 mins) Content planning masterclass: Nov 26 Coaching calls: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 3. Connect with other delegates social media before the event. Join the event Facebook group if you haven't already (and go introduce yourself). Follow our Twitter lists for speakers and delegates. Make lists of others attending the event you'd like to connect with. What are you going to sell? Create your own shareable #2021Sorted images with our Canva templates...and start telling people about the event. We also have generic images here. 4. Research the speakers/sessions and connect on social media Day 1 Keynote sessions How to plan, create and launch a podcast in 2021 with Colin Gray aka The Podcast Host Launch a profitable online course in 2021 with Janet Murray Self-publish a book in 2021 with Sacha Black How to launch a membership site in 2021 with Membership Guys founder Mike Morrison Launch or revive your Youtube channel in 2021 with Steve Dotto How to launch a live video show with Ian Anderson Gray Day 1 Level Up sessions Level Up sessions are guide discussions that focus on a range of issues that impact entrepreneurs - but dont always get the attention they need/deserve e. g. mental health, dealing with copycats/trolls, running your business around a family & more. You'll hear from a panel of expert speakers, then break into groups (in Zoom rooms) and talk with other delegates. How to be more inclusive in your marketing Copycats, trolls and other troublemakers: dealing with the dark side of online business How to run a business around your kids How to look after your mental health as an entrepreneur How to set healthy boundaries with customers/clients How to stay focused and get things done Women in podcasting Women in tech Day 2 Keynote sessions How to create consistently good content in uncertain times with Janet Murray How to be brilliant on video (even if you're camera shy) with Janine Cummings How to write super engaging content about your business with Jo Watson Advertainment: How to create entertaining content that drives engagement & sales with Dan Knowlton Day 2 Level Up sessions Women in tech Women in podcasting 5. Research ideas for a blog post/Youtube/podcast Try to find an event angle: For example: Stylist - how to dress for a virtual event Nutritionist - what to eat at a virtual event Social media manager - how to create content for a virtual event Take advantage of event SEO. 6. Update your website You are going to get more people visiting your website, your social media channels - so why not take advantage of the opportunity? Sort broken links, update offers, take down old offers. 7. Plan your social media strategy Most conferences and events have a dedicated Twitter hashtag you can use before, during and after the event (#2021 Sorted) which can be a great way to find and stay in touch with other delegates. Hashtags can get pretty busy during events though, so using an app like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck can help you stay on top of things. Some may also have dedicated geofilters for Snapchat and/or Instagram, so if you're active on those platforms, do ask the event organiser about it. Blogging and/or creating social media content before, during and after the event is a great way to stay top of mind with speakers - and other delegates. 8. Stock up on essentials E. g. snacks, stationery 9. Test your tech Check your Speed If possible, please use a wired internet connection (i. e. plug directly into your router). This can greatly improve the speed and stability of your internet. Check Devices - If possible, check what other devices you have connected to your internet. iPads, games consoles and other computers can use up your internet bandwidth in the background and downgrade the quality of your connection. And tell the kids to stay off Netflix. Reboot your computer - not always needed, but sometimes a reboot makes sure your computer plays nicely Close down apps - Close down as many apps running in the background. If you have apps running in the background, such as Dropbox, Google Drive etc. These can use up bandwidth and slow down your computer Test your microphone Noise Phones/Alarms - Make sure you silence any phones or devices so you don't get interrupted Interruptions - I know this sounds obvious, but if there is anyone else around, make sure you tell them not to disturb you while were recording! Background noise - If possible, switch off fans or any noisy things in the background (and put children and animals in another room! They're cute but distracting! ) Arrive 10 mins before sessions - make a note of all the links you need etc. 10. Schedule in time for follow up It's easy to leave a conference full of brilliant ideas - that's what events are all about. Sadly, it's just as easy to get bogged down the minute you get back to your desk, forget everything you've learned and not follow up on the opportunities you've created. Make sure this doesnt happen to you by blocking out a few hours (ideally as soon as you get back to your desk) to reflect on what you've learned and follow up on the connections you've made. 11. Don't be a wallflower Come to the virtual bar - the socialising is where the best conversations happen. Ask for help if you need it.... we can't help if we don't know. Level Up sessions - perfect for introverts... BONUS: sign up as an affiliate and make back the cost of your ticket! Join my live online event 2021 Sorted  Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme Other useful podcasts   [Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast) [Bonus] Should you attend my 2021 Sorted content planning event  (podcast) [372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast) [400] How to build a large audience for a blog, vlog or podcast (podcast)| [407] How to turn boring topics into engaging content (podcast) [422] Behind the scenes of my launch how I sold £10K of planners in 24 hours (podcast)

Wondering whether you should attend my 2021 Sorted content planning event on Nov 3 & 4?  In this podcast episode (which you can also read as a blog post) I'll tell you more about the event to help and the kind of results you can expect if you attend. By the time you've listened to this podcast episode (or read this blog post), you should be able to make a decision whether to buy a ticket. {Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}   While it's tempting to start with the features of the event, I know what you're really interested in is the potential transformation i.e. what kind of results can you expect if you attend.  So first off, I'll give you a quick overview of the event. Then I'll share some success stories of people who attended the event last year. About the event 2021 Sorted is my annual content planning event for coaches, creatives and entrepreneurs. The event is taking place on November 3 & 4. The aim of the event is to take the pain out of content planning - by giving you the accountability and support to create your 2021 content plan, live at the event.  It's also about getting inspired. Which is why the event also features talks/workshops from some of the world's leading content creators on how to plan and create engaging content that will help you generate sales for your business.  The event - which usually takes place in person - is now in its fifth year. And while it has moved online this year, due to government restrictions on large gatherings, it's meant we can host more speakers and more sessions (more on that later).  With over £800 of content...investing in a 2021 Sorted ticket offers insane value - and support for the WHOLE of 2021 - and not just at the event. What kind of results can you expect from attending the event? The number 1 reason people keep coming back to my content planning masterclass,  year after year, is because they save tons of time - by getting their content plan created for the year, in just a couple of days. Your 2021 Sorted ticket includes both a physical and digital version of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner. Which is not just a pretty-looking diary. It's a content planning tool that includes step-by-step instructions on how to create your annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily content plans...and includes templates and checklists to help you stay on track, throughout the year. PLUS hundreds of awareness days and key dates you can use to generate content ideas.   This is what hospitality expert Mark Simpson has to say about the content planning strategies I teach at 2021 Sorted and how they have helped him.  But it's not just about saving time. Showing up more consistently with your content - content that is well-thought out - rather than rushed out at the last minute - can make a huge difference to the bottom line of your business. Attending last year's Content Planning event inspired Amy Caiger to launch a podcast. She has now published 30 episodes and it's helped her land speaking gigs, guest podcast interviews and more clients. This is what she has to say about how the event helped.  Attending last year's event helped journalist and publicity expert Rachel Spencer launch a membership site and generate recurring income for her business - she's on target to reach over £20k. Here's what she had to say about how attending the event has helped her. What's included in your 2021 Sorted ticket?Your 2021 Sorted ticket includes two days of training.  Day 1 (Nov 3) is all about Inspiration. You'll hear from some of the world's most inspiring content creators on how to create engaging content in 2021 and beyond.  Day 2 (Nov 4) is all about Implementation. This is the day when you'll sit down and create your content plan for the coming year (I'll literally walk you through it, step by step).  Day 1 keynote sessionsHow to plan, create and launch a podcast in 2021 with Colin Gray aka The Podcast Host Launch a profitable online course in 2021 with Janet Murray Self-publish a book in 2021 with Sacha Black How to launch a membership site in 2021 with Membership Guys founder Mike Morrison Launch or revive your Youtube channel in 2021 with Steve Dotto How to launch a live video show with Ian Anderson Gray Day 1 Level Up sessions Level Up sessions are guide discussions that focus on a range of issues that impact entrepreneurs - but don't always get the attention they need/deserve e.g. mental health,  dealing with copycats/trolls, running your business around a family & more. You'll hear from a panel of expert speakers, then break into groups (in Zoom rooms) and talk with other delegates.  How to be more inclusive in your marketing: Copycats, trolls and other troublemakers: dealing with the dark side of online business How to run a business around your kids  How to look after your mental health as an entrepreneur How to set healthy boundaries with customers/clients How to stay focused and get things done  Women in podcasting  Women in tech Day 2 Keynote sessions   How to create consistently good content in uncertain times with Janet Murray How to be brilliant on video (even if you're camera shy) with Janine Cummings How to write super engaging content about your business with Jo Watson Advertainment: How to create entertaining content that drives engagement & sales with Dan Knowlton   Day 2 Level Up sessions Women in tech Women in podcasting  And the support doesn't stop on the day.  This year, you also get FREE membership of my 2021Sorted Club - which means you get support with your content creation and planning - throughout 2021. This includes a weekly email from me with ideas on how to use the awareness dates in the diary, four quarterly coaching calls (which will give you the accountability to make sure your content plan is in place for the following quarter) and a digital version of the diary.    What's included in the 2021 Sorted Club? ✔️ Your 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner  ✔️ A ticket for my 2021 Sorted event on Nov 3 & 4 (plus all the recordings if you can't make that date or buy after the live event)   ✔️ A digital version of the diary (both a pdf version and and file you can use to add the awareness days/key dates to your diary)  ✔️ A weekly email from me with ideas on how you can use the dates in the diary to generate social media posts, blogs, newsletters etc  ✔️ My Content Planning Masterclass on Thursday, November 26  ✔️ Four group coaching calls across the year, to keep you on track with your content creation/planning✔️ Additional resources and templates to help with  your content planning FAQs I'm not sure if 2021 Sorted is right for my business If you need to plan and create engaging content about your business in 2021 and beyond, 2021 Sorted can help (and yes that does include both product and service-based businesses). There is a full list of the types of businesses it can help on the sales page for 2021 Sorted (and examples of the types of businesses who've attended in the past) but the bottom line is this. If you need to create and plan content...it will work for you/your business. The only question you need to be asking about this...will you do the work to make it all happen?  I don't have time to attend 2021 Sorted  Taking a couple of days out of your business to plan out your content will save hours of time in the long run. So the real question here is: do you really have time NOT to?  I'm not in the UK and some of the sessions are a bit early/late for me That's no problem...as you'll get all the recordings.   I've tried content planning before and it didn't work Just because you tried something and it didn't work, that doesn't mean it will never work. I joined and left five gyms before I found one that suited me (and an exercise habit that stuck). And I've seen exactly the same thing happen with people who say that can't do content planning.   Find out more about my 2021 Sorted  event Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme Other useful podcasts   [Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast) [Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast) [326] The one thing you need to generate a passive income in your business (podcast) [348] How to write social media posts that sell (podcast) [372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

A membership has many moving parts, lots of technical elements, and will take plenty of hard work to get started. But there is one element of running a membership site that is constant and, if you don’t have it, you won’t keep your membership alive. If you don’t have an audience, you won’t have a membership. So, if you’re just starting out and eager to get your membership going, it’ll pay dividends if you invest in finding and growing your audience now. This classic episode of The Membership Guys will show you how. Essential Learning Points: Why it’s important to build your audience before you release your product Where the best places are to look for your potential audience How finding your audience will also help you fine-tune your membership content and marketing strategy Where you can go to learn more about establishing and growing your audience Important Links & Mentions: https://www.themembershipguys.com/how-to-generate-email-leads-for-your-membership-site/ (How to Generate Email Leads for Your Membership Site) https://www.themembershipguys.com/segmentation/ (Using Segmentation to Increase Leads and Member Sales) https://www.themembershipguys.com/content-marketing/ (How To Use Content Marketing To Sell Your Online Membership) https://www.themembershipguys.com/membership-marketing-part-one/ (Marketing Tactics for Attracting New Members) https://www.themembershipguys.com/discover-audience-really-want/ (4 Ways to Discover What Your Audience REALLY Want from your Membership)   Key Quotes: “If you’re building a product, you need to have someone to sell it to!”  “Passionate people find each other and they congregate around different places online.” “A lot of your initial audience building efforts are going to center around finding where your particular crowd are and hanging out with them.” “Don’t take it for granted that your existing audience will have an interest in what you’re doing with your membership.”

In this week's episode, I'm talking to Mike Morrison, one of the most experienced guys when it comes to designing, building, and marketing membership businesses. Mike Morrison is the co-founder of The Membership Guys and Membership Academy, the host of a popular podcast, international speaker, and author of two bestselling books. He has also been featured on the likes of Social Media Examiner, Huffington Post, and Net Magazine. In this episode: How Membership Guys came about The Apple app content marketing strategy The difference between membership sites and online courses Do you need to have an audience before launching? From audience to devoted community The number one factor that drives profitability The fallacy we struggle to accept The most transcendent moment of a membership owner Beyond the sale: The marketing flywheel Mike's #1 tip to make marketing human How to not lose sight of the person in front of you

Hoy comentamos el informe de la industria de los Membership Sites en este año 2019 creado por The Membership Guys.

OT Entrepreneurs! This was the BEST interview. Sooooo many great business tips from Mandy Chamberlain of Seniors Flourish and the Learning Lab! I simply can't list how much I learned from this rock-star online OT business owner. Here's a run-down of what we discussed: 5:00 The start-up story of Seniors Flourish 6:20 Mandy dispels the online business myth of “if you build it, they will come!” 7:10 How building a relationship online and supporting others can boost your business…and possibly make you start podcasting. Don't be afraid to just try! Everyone has doubt in new endeavors! 10:45 Why you must figure out who your audience is, speak to them, and know where they hang out on social media. 13:40 Amy Porterfield's trainings were helpful. 16:50 How Mandy started the membership site by focusing on connections, building an email list, and SERVING OTHERS. LISTEN to the questions your customers are asking when you are first starting out! Be open to feedback, growth, and change. 23:40 Pricing- why she decided to price her membership site at a low rate for the extremely high value it offers her customers. [Laura oohs and aahs over the site at this point and encourages everyone to go check it out. Crazy deal for the value she offers. Unbelievable!] 29:00 She built her own website!!!!!!! Mapped it out on paper first and then taught herself to code and used Wordpress plug-ins to design what she wanted. 31:09 “The Membership Guys” podcast was helpful. 32:20 How you can build your business by thinking about who you're serving and what THEY want. 35:00 Why doing online business is STILL WORK (ie, not “passive” income). 36:15 How Mandy organizes her time and tasks each week. 37:14 Why entrepreneurs truly love working and have a tendency to over-work. 39:00 Mandy spills the beans that she hates marketing. [Laura's comment: What?? But she's SO good at it!] 40:00 Mandy's marketing: email lists, free webinar with an offer at the end, FB lives, “challenges”, Instagram. (Focus on connection!) 42:15 The webinar that didn't go as planned…and what Mandy learned from it. 45:06 Discussion about email funnels 48:15 Mandy gives tips for doing Facebook Live. 50:25 Why you should let people see behind the scenes of your business on social media. Get outside of your comfort zone! 51:45 Tips for scheduling Facebook Live [Laura's comment: I gotta start doing these!] 53:45 Why you may not need a super pretty logo and website… 56:40 Why you should take one small step and just do it! 57:45 Why you should listen to your customer and hold your own ideas loosely. 59:45 The one thing that most improved Mandy's effectiveness as a business owner. My favorite quote from the interview: “It's those connections with people that get lost sometimes because we're in business mode…it really comes down to serving from the heart…really trying to be a good businesswoman…serving my clients…and being true to myself.” I love Mandy. I was a fan of hers before this interview but now I just feel connected to the heart behind her business. Don't you?! After the interview I found out she has like 13,000 followers on Instagram. So now I feel like I need to have her back on to do another episode JUST about Instagram and OT business! Connect with Mandy at www.seniorsflourish.com and check out the Learning Lab! You can also find her on Instagram @seniorsflourish and Facebook. Pick an action item from this episode! I'm going to try a FB Live (am terrified but I'm going to do it!)…what small step are you going to take? Comment below in one sentence or less! P.S. If you're looking for information about the Therapy in the Great Outdoors retreat that I announced at the end of this episode, click here.