As we’ve faced a world-wide crisis, you’ve had to make some serious decisions about your business. Undoubtedly, fallout from the coronavirus provided some clarity around what you want the future of your business to look like.
By answering the following questions, you can determine if a membership site is in line with your new plans:
If recent events triggered the idea of a membership site...
- Is this something you’re still considering even though reopening has begun?
- When you consider the durability of your business, could a membership site strengthen and/or help protect your future?
- Do you have content ideas that make sense for your community under our current circumstances?
- Do you need another revenue stream for your business?
If a membership site was already part of your pre-coronavirus plan…
- Did you continue thinking about it, even while you pivoted and adjusted your business to meet lockdown conditions?
- While everyone social-distanced, did you ever say to yourself, “Now, more than ever, the world needs this offering”?
- Can you solve your prospects’ pains even if/when they’re stuck at home?
- Did you create relevant content to sustain your community during this pandemic?
If you answered “yes” to all or most of these questions, then it’s time to stop thinking about a membership site and start creating it. Because you, more than anyone else, are ready to take the plunge.
And we’ll give you some “next step” ideas in just a minute.
But before we do...we need to address those who answered mostly “no” or who haven’t given a membership site any thought in the last few weeks. For you, it’s time to reconsider the possibilities.
Because…
Online Activity Will Remain High
It won’t surprise anybody to learn that online activity has skyrocketed this year. What may surprise you is that this new level of online activity is actually projected to continue.
A study, done by GlobalWebIndex, showed that many people expect their new habits to continue after the crisis of COVID-19 passes.
As stay-at-home orders are lifted, many people are hesitant to return to stores, restaurants, and crowded areas. They would rather stay home where they feel safe. And interact with the world online.
In building any business, it’s important to meet your prospects where they are. And in the foreseeable future, they’re online. If you had a membership site, you could easily meet the wants and needs of your community right now.
Even if online enthusiasm does die down, we’ve been told it could take up to two years before some daily activities can be resumed. You only need a small fraction of that time to build your site and attract loyal followers.
The “New Norm” Will Center Around Meaningful Connections
If there’s anything we’ve learned since March, it’s that we need each other. We need connection. And we need a great deal of support as we fight through our fears, pains, and challenges.
Sifted, a European media site for entrepreneurs, posted about this recently. Their article said:
So now, as we face the biggest global crisis since the Second World War, maintaining relationships with your customers is more important than ever.
A great way to do that is through an online community and customers know it. We’ve seen spikes in community activity across our client base as members look for a trusted source of information and help with their services. One client experienced a 545% increase in new member registrations in the week after [the] lockdown announcement.
Business growth has always centered around building relationships. But as you create and share content that is effective, relevant and timely, your business durability is going to increase dramatically. You will become an essential part of your members’ lives.
And “essential” businesses are the ones that will survive long term.
Membership Sites Are One of the Most Sustainable Business Models
Your doors never have to close. You don’t need an army of employees to keep things running. And the overhead costs of running a membership site are minimal.
Unfortunately, we’ve reached a moment in time where self-preservation needs as much consideration as how you improve the lives of your customers. Chances are, you already have a mountain of great content you could be selling. Or you could put some together quickly.
So whether you intend to make a membership site the center of your business or you simply want to explore additional revenue opportunities, now is a good time to figure it out.
Ultimately, you’ve got to decide...if we see another global crisis, or a resurgence in COVID19, do you want to have a membership site in place?
Have we given you enough reasons to go back and rethink the questions we asked at the beginning? Because membership site opportunities have never been better. And sure, as a business owner you hear statements like that a lot, but we’ve never seen a reality like this one before. So don’t dismiss your membership site idea without some real consideration.
Okay, let’s get back to those of you who already know that a membership site is your next big move.
Where to Start As You Move Forward With Your Membership Site
Most businesses, even those that have been around for decades, are back to square one: ASSESSMENT.
During a strong economy, even the most unlikely businesses have potential to profit. Under our present circumstances, that’s not the case. People are far more guarded about when and where they spend their money.
What you, and every business on the planet, have to figure out is...are there people who want (and are willing to pay for) your offering right now?
Here’s a quick tip for you...
If you’ve done research regarding your offering in the past, you can look at it, but don’t take it at face value. Things have changed. So once again:
- Take a poll on Facebook, and/or
- Ask the opinion of other experts in your community, and/or
- Find support groups full of your target market and see what they think
Do the best research you can quickly do. And then get ready to test your idea. Successfully building your membership site is going to require flexibility on your part. Because for good or bad, everyone’s situation will change fairly rapidly. And what you think you know now may not be what you know next month.
But even in “normal” situations, the best and most profitable membership sites will go through several iterations.
Choose the Resources That Will Help You Succeed
Given that our economy is teetering on the edge of another depression, your resources might be limited. You're likely doing everything on your own. Or with a very small team. But creating a profitable membership site is no small feat.
CustomerHub was created with you in mind. While we never planned for a situation like this, our software was already fast and easy to use. For years we’ve offered unparalleled value as an all-in-one Keap membership platform.
If you haven’t signed up for a CustomerHub account, now is the time. We’re here to support you as we all discover, together, how to navigate the future.
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