Why Coaches Should Create A Membership Site

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With only so many hours in the day, it’s hard to scale a coaching business while delivering for your existing clients.

What if I told you there was a way to accept new clients from around the world and at any time of day - even while you sleep?

Meet the membership site: your new superpower asset for scaling your business. A membership site is a great way to offer your expertise at scale to a larger group of clients. It’s a win-win: you can take on more clients, and more people can learn from you. 

Read on to learn why you should add a membership site to scale your coaching business.

What is a Membership Site?

A membership site is a gated part of your website (or on a dedicated platform) that contains exclusive content only accessible to subscribed members.

The beauty of it? You charge for access. 

Membership sites come in all shapes and sizes, but they are usually built around a specific niche/interest and provide value to their members through regularly updated content and services. Membership sites allow you to:

  • Build a consistent, predictable revenue stream from your coaching 
  • Deliver your expertise to more people in a leveraged way
  • Foster a community of people on a shared journey
  • Create a higher perceived value for your coaching services

What Does a Membership Site Include?

Here’s the fun part: it’s up to you to decide. You can include any type of content that adds value to your subscribers. Here are some common types of content to get you started:

  • Premium video content and tutorials
  • Courses
  • Worksheets, templates, or checklists
  • Cheat Sheets
  • How-to Reports
  • Tutorial Videos
  • Webinar and audio recordings
  • Unique perks and discounts on your other coaching products
  • Live coaching calls or Q&A sessions with you as the coach
  • A private community forum or discussion space for members to connect

The exact mix depends on your coaching niche, business model, and the transformation you help members achieve. The key is to create a steady stream of valuable content for your subscribers that keeps them engaged and coming back.

Worried about creating all this content yourself? You can purchase ready-to-sell PLR content to fill your membership site.

Why Coaches Should Consider Creating a Membership Site

If it’s not already clear, a membership site can transform your coaching business and help you scale well into the six figures and beyond. 

If I haven't convinced you yet, here are the top reasons you should add a membership site to your coaching business:

  • Scalability: Membership sites allow you to serve more clients without trading time for money. You can coach people in a one-to-many model.
  • Predictable revenue: Recurring subscription payments create consistent, predictable monthly income. This makes your business more stable and easier to grow. That also means less stress and sleepless nights too!
  • Community: Membership sites let you foster a tight-knit community of people on a shared journey. You can support them in a group setting.
  • Leverage: Package your coaching expertise into leveraged content and courses that don't require your direct presence. This frees up your time. Again, less stress and more time for other pursuits.
  • Authority: Having a membership site with your unique methodology positions you as an authority and can attract higher-value private clients.

Sold? Read on to learn about the different membership site models to copy.

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Download a copy of the FREE Checklist now! 

Want a handy checklist for all the steps for how to create a membership site?

Membership Site Models to Copy

If you need a little inspiration to get started, just take a look at these different membership site models you can copy and tweak to match your business:

  • Content Library/Resource Center: Content library/resource membership sites offer an extensive library of resources such as articles, videos, e-books, and courses on specific topics. If you aren’t quite sure what specific product niche you want to offer, this is a great way to add tons of value to your audience in a variety of formats. 
  • Community Site: Like working with people more than content? Focus on building a community or network. Community membership sites connect members through forums, group discussions, and social networking features. If your customers love chatting and connecting with others, this is a great way to go. 
  • Course Site: Always a classic. Create a membership site filled with courses that offer structured learning for your audience. Course membership sites are great for coaches who want to provide a comprehensive, step-by-step learning experience in their niche.
  • Coaching/Consulting Services Site: This type of site combines membership benefits with direct access to personal coaching or consulting services. Members might receive exclusive content plus scheduled one-on-one sessions, group coaching calls, or on-demand advice.
  • Product or Service Bundles: Some membership sites focus on offering bundled products or services, such as software tools, apps, templates, or other digital assets relevant to the audience's needs. It's a great option for coaches who can offer or curate useful tools for their members.
  • Hybrid Models: Can’t decide? Go with a hybrid model that combines elements of the above types. For example, you could offer courses and a mastermind for a deeper connection between your students. Or bundle in a product with your courses as well.

The key is to choose the model that best fits your coaching style, niche, content, and the needs of your ideal members.

Common Mistakes Coaches Make with Their Membership Sites

Let me stop you for a minute before you jump to launching your membership site to your clients and fans. There are a few mistakes I see coaches make when launching their first membership site:

  • No defined audience
  • No content strategy or plan
  • Underpriced
  • Forgetting to nurture your community

You Don’t Have a Defined Audience

This is a common mistake for new coaches and course creators. An engaged audience is key to successfully launching a new product or service. Make sure you’ve sat down and thought through who you want in your membership site and that you have a plan to reach them. Check out my guide to building an audience for more tips!

You Don’t Have a Content Plan

Here’s another big mistake: no plan. 

Don’t go into your membership haphazardly without a clear focus. Not only will it make selling your membership site more difficult, but it’ll confuse your subscribers as well. 

You should develop a content calendar outlining the topics, formats, and frequency of content they will deliver to members each month. This ensures a consistent flow of fresh, valuable content and helps avoid scrambling at the last minute to figure out what to post. 

You Are Charging Too Little

On to pricing, the bane of most coaches’ existence. 

Pricing is key though, because it’ll make or break your offer. Out of fear, coaches frequently underprice their membership sites which:

  • Attracts the wrong subscribers
  • Can lead to higher churn (i.e., customers canceling)
  • Cuts into your profits

Don't be afraid to charge premium prices for access to your coaching expertise. If you deliver incredible value and an unmatched member experience, you can justify the investment.

You Forgot to Nurture Your Community

Once you have customers, don’t forget them. 

Many new coaches get so focused on marketing, creating content, and attracting new members that engagement and retention suffer. Have a plan for regularly connecting with members, gathering their feedback, and making them feel valued. Engaged members who get results are more likely to stay subscribed and recommend the membership to others.

By avoiding these key mistakes, you can set your membership sites up for long-term success and impact.

Why Coaches Should Create A Membership Site

Launch Your Membership Site Today!

Are you a coach looking to:

  • Scale your business
  • Grow your revenue
  • Take on more customers

…without sacrificing your personal life (or sanity)? 

Then a membership site is one of the best business decisions that you can make. Click the button below to download my free launch checklist that will walk you through the steps to build your membership site. 

Click here to subscribe

And if you’re worried about creating a steady stream of high-quality content to share with your customers, I have a little secret for you: PLR. 

PLR products are digital products (courses, workbooks, eBooks, and more) that you can purchase, customize, and resell to your audience. If you need to fill a membership site with dozens of digital products, you can find them in minutes thanks to PLR.

Here’s another tip: I sell loads of PLR products in my shop, and I want to offer 30% off your first order. All you need to do is click the button below to claim your coupon and get to work filling your site. 

Unlock 30% Off Your Next Course!

Never miss a deal or priceless business tip when you sign up for regular email updates

Enjoy!

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