8 Membership Site Mistakes You Want to Avoid
Top 8 Membership Site Mistakes to Avoid in 2023 with Spencer Forman and Jonathan Denwood
Summary: Join Jonathan Denwood from WPTonic and Spencer Forman from WPLaunchify to discuss the top 8 membership site mistakes to avoid in 2023. Learn how to prevent issues like over-communication, neglecting customer experience, and rushing to reduce involvement. Discover the importance of focusing on retention, building an audience, and finding the right product-market fit for your membership site’s success.
Membership sites have been on the rise over the years, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have resorted to offering online memberships to their customers as a way to stay afloat. According to a report by Statista, the number of subscription-based businesses has grown by 437% in the last decade. While the idea of a membership site seems like a lucrative venture, many site owners make mistakes that cost them money and customers in the long run. This blog post will outline the top 8 membership site mistakes to avoid in 2023, as discussed by Jonathan Denwood from WPTonic and Spencer Forman from WPLaunchify.
Over-communication
Communication is essential in any business, and membership sites are no exception. However, many site owners make the mistake of bombarding their members with too much information, which can be overwhelming and annoying. Overcommunication can result in members ignoring your emails, losing interest in your site, and ultimately unsubscribing. Therefore, it’s essential to balance keeping your members informed and respecting their time and space.
Neglecting Customer Experience
Customer experience should be a top priority for any business. Unfortunately, many site owners overlook this aspect, leading to declining member retention. A poor customer experience can result in negative reviews, a lack of referrals, and decreased revenue. To avoid this mistake, ensure that your site is user-friendly, responsive, and offers excellent customer support.
Focusing on Acquisition and Neglecting Retention
Acquiring new members is a crucial part of any membership site’s success. However, focusing solely on acquisition and neglecting retention can be detrimental to your business. According to a report by Bain & Company, a 5% increase in customer retention can result in a 25-95% increase in profits. Therefore, investing in member retention strategies such as loyalty programs, exclusive content, and discounts is essential.
Rushing to Reduce Involvement
Outsourcing and automating some aspects of your membership site can save you time and money. However, rushing to reduce involvement can result in declining quality, leading to dissatisfied members. Therefore, it’s essential to balance outsourcing and maintaining control over critical aspects of your site.
Ignoring Your Content Engine
Content is king in the world of membership sites. Unfortunately, many site owners overlook the importance of consistently creating and delivering valuable content. Neglecting your content engine can lead to a decline in member engagement, leading to churn. Therefore, it’s important to have a content strategy in place and ensure that your content is relevant, valuable, and consistent.
Lack of Audience Building
Building a loyal and engaged audience is crucial for any membership site’s success. Unfortunately, many site owners make the mistake of neglecting this aspect. Building an audience requires a mix of content marketing, social media, and other tactics.
Poor Product-Market Fit
A common mistake that site owners make is launching a membership site without fully understanding their target audience’s needs and desires. A poor product-market fit can lead to low member retention, negative reviews, and decreased revenue. Therefore, it’s important to conduct market research, gather feedback from members, and iterate based on that feedback. To learn more about product-market fit.
Lack of Testing and Optimization
Testing and optimization are crucial components of any successful membership site. Many site owners make the mistake of launching their site and neglecting to test and optimize it. Testing and optimization can help you identify areas for improvement and enhance your member’s experience. To learn more about testing and optimization, check out this guide by Crazy Egg.
In conclusion, membership sites can be a profitable venture if done right. However, avoiding the common mistakes outlined in this post is essential. By focusing on communication, customer experience, retention, involvement, content engine, audience building, product-market fit, and testing and optimization, you can create a successful membership site that your members will love.
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