Creating a website for your business is not only a good way to solidify its future and help it to grow, but it’s also pretty much necessary in today’s day and age. Companies of all sizes and in all industries are now creating websites as a way to market, advertise, connect, and even sell to their customers and clients. While many businesses choose to set up public websites, in some cases it makes more sense to create a members-only website.
A membership site is one in which visitors have to pay a membership in order to use the site. What this means is that you are guaranteed a monthly income based on membership fees alone. Of course, if you’re going to charge people to visit your site, it’s going to have to be an incredible site and worth the membership fee. So before you go ahead and create a membership site, here are some tips and advice that you can read over that will help ensure you build something really cool and extremely successful.
Research Other Members Only Sites
A great place to start is by checking out what other members only sites are doing. Join a couple that you find interesting and start to make a list of what you think they are doing right and where they may be going wrong and missing out on opportunities. This will help you start to form an idea in your head of how yours should look and work.
Cover the Basics
Before you start to build your site, there are also some basic steps you’ll need to complete. You will need to create a domain name for your site that clearly states what it’s about. The site should be branded, meaning it should be the same as your company’s name whenever possible. Avoid such things as symbols and letters which can be confusing for people to type in.
You then need to find a web host for your site. These hosts often offer a variety of packages, so you’ll need to pick one based on your website’s needs and requirements. One of the top considerations is how many visitors you expect the site to get.
You will also need a membership add-on. What this does is convert your website from a regular one into a membership platform.
Building the Website in Less Than an Hour
Now here comes the really exciting part, did you know that you can actually build a website in well under an hour? As long as you’ve got your content ready to go you can use the WordPress platform to create something professional and sleek. The platform allows you to pick from different themes, features all kinds of add-ons you can use, and you’ll be able to upload content without having to use HTML coding.
Only Use the Best Content
Unlike a traditional site where the content is free to access, with a members site they are paying for access. What this means is that your content has to be stellar. Look for content that has value, meaning visitors will learn from it and find it interesting. Also provide plenty of images and even videos to help make it more intriguing. The content is never an area you want to make sacrifices in.
Give Customers a Way to Provide Input
Because the site is meant to give something to the visitors, their needs and wants should be your top priority. It can be very helpful if you give your customers a way to provide input, suggestions, comments, and share ideas. You can then take this information and use it to help with content creation and your plan moving forward.
Customer interaction is also extremely important so that they feel valued and appreciated.
Final Tips
A few final tips to keep in mind that will help you to stay focused and motivated. A membership site isn’t one that is instantly successful. It takes time, consistency, and hard work. Focus on giving the members you have the best experience possible, and don’t place so much emphasis on getting more members. Word of mouth will start to happen if you offer a fabulous experience.
It’s also important to keep up with changing times, which means using new technology when necessary, being aware of trends, and listening to your customers and giving them what they want.
All of these tips and advice can help you to create a members-only site that is not only cool but is also a huge success.