How to Convert Blog Readers to Paid Members
Membership sites are great only if you have members to support it. How do you show your readers that being a paid member has its benefits?
Take a Look at Crochet Spot:
Rachel sends out a regular newsletter which shares her most recent blog posts many of which are patterns. In certain posts, she shares the pattern and then links to her store so you can buy the pattern. She also includes a little snippet about her membership site which allows people to save money by accessing all of her patterns.
1. Give a Sample or a Taste Test
Provide your readers with samples of your premium content. Rachel does a good job of this. Notice though, that she still caters to her readers by providing free patterns and useful crochet tutorials.
By giving these little samples of paid patterns with the option of being a member she is keeping that option in the mind of her readers. I would guess that many readers eventually become members.
2. Keep It Super Simple Folks
When I go online to read blogs or to shop I want to have as few distractions as possible. Take a look at CrochetSpot again – Granny Coaster and Trivet post.
- Introduction to Pattern with the inspiration behind it
- Where to Buy the pattern (store)
- Membership Option
She clearly laid out what I am suppose to do. Do you notice something else about her site? Take a quick look – What’s missing?
There are no blog buttons, advertisements or other ‘bling’ to distract from the one purpose she has – present her tutorials, crochet patterns, and convert you into a paid member.
3. Teach People What They Don’t Know
People go online to do one of three things. First they want information, second they want to be entertained, and finally they want to be educated. Notice how How To posts, Tutorials or Videos are popular?
Take a Look at Blogelina Cafe:
If you’ve been around my blog for long you know that I am an affiliate for Tanya. Why? Because she has an excellent resource for those new to blogging.
You might recall the post I highlighted “How to Really Make Money Blogging – True Stories” referring to Tanya’s blog course this month.
This is the very class I took earlier this year. Now, I didn’t really need to take it but I did because I was deciding on whether to recommend her to you. I’m glad I did. I love when I can offer you valuable resources that not only help me with my business goals but yours too. Plus, Tanya gets more clients and fans.
Tanya teaches all about blogging, WordPress, Writing for the web, monetizing your blog, and a host of other topics useful for both the hobbyist and business owner.
She does this through her Cafe Blogelina site. It is a monthly subscription ($7) which gives you access to private forums, 300 videos, and just a whole bunch of other resources. A great deal.
4. Let Your Members do the Promoting
If I am a fan of a product or resource I say so. When I’m impressed with customer service, again, I say so. Everything I recommend on this site has impressed me and I recommend it even if I don’t benefit financially. BUT, if they have a program to pay me each time I refer a sale, You betcha I’ll sign up. 
The best recommendations come from customers. When you find a great pattern what do you do? Share it!
Have your members write up reviews, testimonials of results they get from you, and even video reviews. This adds value to your membership site as well as gives your non-member readers proof that what you are offering has value and can benefit them.
Thinking A Membership Site Might Be Right For Your Business?
Check out these sites for more information: (sites to help)
- Wishlist - software to make your wordpress blog a membership site
- WordPress Membership - plugin to help you section off certain content for members
- Ning - a site where you can build your own community
About Sara Duggan
This is very interesting. I have many paid members now but I’m sure that I could always help even more people.
I set up it up with all the information that I truly believe that if people learned it and applied it to their life, they could create the life they want all the time.
I’ll look into this more.
Thanks,
Kathy Hadley Life Coach
Kathy Hadley recently wrote…3 New Habits To Start Now To Create The Life You Want
Kathy, thanks for stopping by today. I’ve considered it but not sure I have the discipline it takes to maintain something like that on my own. I would definitely need to hire a VA to manage the backend of it.
I don’t think I’m ready for a membership site – but now it will always be in the back of my mind –
Thx Sara
Rhondda
Rhondda Mol recently wrote…My Crochet Bucket List – Tau – the pattern
Great ideas! Will surely incorporate them into my site. Thanks for the post, really helpful!
Lynne, thank you for such inspirational words. Hope your membership site rocks.