Comments on: Business Strategy Smackdown: Membership Sites Vs. Virtual One-Offs

By: Sanjay

Sanjay — Sat, 22 May 2010 14:50:19 +0000

Jonathan,

Firstly many thanks for the post. It was very timely for us.

We are in a position where we are close to launching a paid membership site. Initially we decided on a monthly subscription model, but then decided to use a lifetime access, one off fee instead. The main reasons for this were that we were concerned about having to continue to churn out new content to keep the interest of the monthly subscribers going. Also there was the possibility that people could use the site for a week, download the content and then ask for their money back.

However, we also have a concern about the one off model, in that providing lifetime access would mean exactly that. There could a be scenario in the future, where we may have to close the site down. What would this mean for customers expecting ‘lifetime access’? Would this mean we would have to keep the site open all the time? This of course would also mean more cost for us in the future, in terms of maintaining the site and providing access to customers. If we have many customers then the site will continue. If not, then we might have to shut down.

I was wondering if you could kindly share your thoughts on this?

Best wishes,

Sanjay

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:42:47 +0000

This is exactly what I’m struggling with right now. I’ve got great content and the membership model appeals to me but I want my course to be more than just an email course – I think there should be a certain amount of interaction in there otherwise my students may as well just buy a textbook! but how much and in what format?

Great post – thanks for helping me further along in my decision making! Off to check out Prfessor.com

By: Kasey

Kasey — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:26:13 +0000

Brilliant article! I have finally launched my site and am dealing with this exact dilemma, trying to make sure I am making wise decisions. And as always, Jonathan answers my questions before I even know what to ask. I read this post first, so I am excited to go back and read the previous posts, right now, in fact! Woohoo!

By: Sharon

Sharon — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:33:46 +0000

Jim Edward’s The Net Reporter is a great monthly membership site that has been around for almost 4 years now…Jim is a content making machine, unmatched by few others.

He is also famous for his ‘smackdowns”.

By: Sunny

Sunny — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 21:18:32 +0000

Great info! I recently launched a membership-based site where the content is free to the reader but the businesses pay for increased exposure. This isn’t a set it and forget model though, since we will have close/regular contact with our business members. I’ve been working on a book and trying to find an agent to represent, but have started to think that maybe the eBook route is the way to go?

By: Joel D Canfield, Chief Heretic

Joel D Canfield, Chief Heretic — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:36:08 +0000

One valuable bit of advice folks have given me (which you include here) is that people love closure; they love graduating, finishing, just plain being done.

I want to educate people, but telling them we’ll start now, and never ever be done, is intimidating (even if it’s true that we’ll never know it all.)

But telling them “this class lasts 8 sessions and you’ll learn A, B, and R” means they can see the light at the end of the tunnel (and that it’s NOT the headlamp of an oncoming train.)

By: erik

erik — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 18:32:16 +0000

Hi Johnathan,

I just wanted to say “thanks” for the compare / contrast.

I’ve been playing with an idea since january, which is slowing evolving into a “fixed term membership site” idea that everyone here seems to be looking into.

I struggled trying to come up with a decent “gameplan” during 2009, so I’m really happy I’m finding these insights right now…

*cross fingers*

By: Neil

Neil — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:40:56 +0000

Great ideas as usual with insightful comments from all. I’d point to http://www.garynorth.com and http://www.bmyers.com as good examples of recurring membership sites with reasonable prices and really active helpful forums. Both provide great info and archives (in different areas) and I’ve learned a great deal from the content and the members. They are reasonable values and I’d suggest both these guys make a great income as well. I belong to both. Looking forward to what’s up and coming Jonathan. Lovin’ the third tribe stuff as well.

By: Phil Richards

Phil Richards — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:23:34 +0000

Hi Johnathan,
Thanks for your detailed comments on membership sites and both the difficulties and opportunities with developing reliable income streams from using these strategies.
The link to Prfessor is interesting and certainly has some potential, I will be following it up and may bring it into conversations with a few of the projects I am working with.
Phil

By: Michael Martine

Michael Martine — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:55:46 +0000

A membership site is only a technical implementation of web technology.

It’s separate from payment methods: continuity vs. one-time-fee.

And those two are also separate from time periods: fixed vs. unlimited.

Mix ‘n’ match!