Four examples of content you can make for your site's membership |
Creating contents for your membership website can be daunting on the initial stages, but it doesn't have to be. Just give one of these proven templates a try.
And then, at the dark of night, you wake in a sweaty state and realize:
If you're like me it takes at least two cups of coffee to escape the near panic and formulate some ideas.
However, since nobody should have to drink that much caffeine that late at evening, unless they're writers with the edge of the end of their finals So, I've decided to provide my plan -- along with examples -- for the types of content that you could make for your membership website.
#1. Resources that can be downloaded
Do you ever browse for templates on the internet for when you want to make your own workbook, or even put together a form that is professional?
It happens quite often, don't you think? I use it all the time. You can find me on the Typeform theme gallery anytime I need to create something sleek without investing too much cash or my time into it (or more importantly, causing trouble for designers).
You're not the typical individual? No worries. The term "downloadable" doesn't necessarily need to refer to templates or forms. However, they're one of the oldest examples.
They are particularly helpful when your demographic skews towards women actually. About twice as many women read ebooks as men.
And the success for making short ebooks using Google Slides -- part of the free suite we recommended in the first section -- was shown. A businessman uses it to create every one of his lead magnets (short delicious ebooks to help create his own email list).
Open Jazz Studio includes audio downloads, transcriptions, lead sheets, and workbooks, as part of the services they offer for their Piano Access Pass membership program.
Worksheets and guides are also a popular staple for downloadable items on membership websites.
You can see the example in this " Quick Wins " benefit included in the Smart Insights' membership program.
In terms of topics that you could address with your downloadable documents, return to your drawing board and consider your personas for your members. What kind of information will help them achieve their goals with your membership?
Do they need to track their performance? Create a list for them or a workbook.
Does your membership provide consulting services for businesses? Build up an editable spreadsheet that allows them to enter their information and analyze the most important measures.
It's easy to see. If it's helpful for your customers, then it's something you need to create..
#2. Mini-courses , tutorials and lessons
When it comes to being helpful Is there anything more helpful than a step-by-step guide which backs its advice with data and directs you in a clear direction?
(Probably However, I'm biased about data. It's sort of my thing.)
Blog Biz School's Chantel Arnett is the the master at combining this kind of content and downloadable materials. Take a look at the resources she has available:
When her content isn't directly useful in the form of templates, it's applicable by offering a quick, pointed education on material pertinent to her readers.
Fortunately, short tutorials and mini-courses don't have to be major expenses to make.
It could be as simple as screen share videos where you walk members through a particular set of things -- for example, doing a task using a program or even the best way to prepare for an interview or even exclusive blog posts that outline the steps in depth.
For the most effective outcomes, you should incorporate videos as often as you can. Video learning provides on-demand training as well as improves retention for learners among other benefits .
Furthermore, it's far more portable as opposed to a text wall This is crucial given that 70% of students make use of smartphones to access learning materials.
Chantel isn't the only one that has had success through this kind of content by joining a subscription. MarketingProfs uses tutorials and video learning as the mainstays of their content for their members, too.
Did you see how they also include other items on the content list? If MarketingProfs' two-time best-seller and master of marketing Ann Handley is doing it and you're not surprised, then you're on the right track.
And as a bonus, this allows you to track a customer's progression through your online courses, which is another reason to make use of this particular kind of content when you look into the studies to determine the benefits of using and assessing the effectiveness of video-based learning.
The topics of content and the inspiration will (again) be based on what's useful for the people who are accessing the information.
The good news is that you have the capability to track your tutorials as well as mini-courses' performance using numerous information points -- not just the comments and feedback from members, but the actual progression of the students as they move through file files, figuring out the most beneficial content is now easier than it ever was.
Content doesn't have to be static, however. If you're looking to engage your members in a more direct way, think about this type of content you can offer on your site for members.
#3. Interactive content
The problem with downloadable Mini-courses and resources is that they're inherently passive. However charming they have become, they're just uninteresting materials where the principal interaction occurs through watching.
It also adds more onus to you as the creator of content to develop more comprehensive content.
Eighty percent of experienced marketers claim that their interactive content distinguishes their company from the rest of the market.
In contrast to other resources, however, you should be careful not to overly scholastic when it comes to interactive content. Although a test on the concepts taught in your mini-courses may prove beneficial, but the students who took the self-paced option to learn for a reason.
At the minimum most likely, they don't have enough time to recreate a classic schooling experience, even if they really desire it.
So instead, try to keep your interactive content -especially quizzes -to be light like that which you can see below. .
If your group is made up of fledgling marketers, for instance you could create the following quizzes:
What is your most loved burger toppings tell you about your most effective advertising channel.
Select five colors, and I'll let you know how amazing you are.
Are you a Don Draper or Walt Disney? Find out in two minutes.
This tongue-in-cheek style of writing may not be popular with your target audience. But therein lies the rub.
Since it's interactive the audience can notify you that this is true and then you'll be able to alter your course.
On the more serious side of matters, live webinars can be an additional form of interactive content you can create for your members. The name suggests that it's content that you develop in real-time However, preparation must be planned ahead.
Entrepreneur Tiffany Williams offers monthly webinars for her members within her Rich Girl Academy program.
Every month, she picks an interesting topic that is relevant to her audience and someone from her "team consisting of the Oprahs" engages with her audience via live training.
Since live webinars are extremely time-consuming, this schedule is the perfect one to emulate for people looking to dive deeply into interactive content without overburdening their schedules.
Polls and quizzes, however they are less invasive and can be created and published at any time. Every week, once per week is an excellent starting point however, if members begin pulling back or showing low engagement, consider spreading the quizzes and polls out more.
And then, finish your posts with a hint of spoken word.
#4. Audio files and podcasts
The final type of content can be described as a part-interactive and part-downloadable , however it's such a different content form that what we've talked about to date, that it is worthy of an additional mention.
That's a pretty far cry from posts on blogs that have an average read-time of 37 seconds , no matter how long they are.
This is, however, the most important aspect of this type of material:
Amy Porterfield makes use of them as well, implementing some of the same tactics which Justin uses to keep listeners engaged with interviews from experts, talking about relevant issues and trends within her field, as well as providing actionable advice for listeners.
Bottom line:
Audio files and live podcasts are a cost-effective, simple type of content that you can develop to your membership site prior to time, and also on a recurrent basis in addition to having such a an impressive level of engagement with your audience it is definitely worthwhile adding them to your repertoire.
To make the most of these opportunities, bring in industry experts and other creators, cover trends in your industry, as well as jam-packing a presentation filled with practical advice to give your guests.
The loose lips could be a sinking ship However, when it comes to membership websites content, they're a perfect way to stay in the forefront of levels of customer satisfaction.
The content of your blog
The process of creating content for your site can be daunting on the first pass however it doesn't need to remain that way.
Keep these points at the forefront when looking for content to watch:
Backups should be made to cloud storage systems. Loss of data can cause serious effects for small-scale businesses and, with the abundance of alternatives, there's really no reason to put your business in danger.
Although you must make some material before getting going, you don't need to have everything ready on day one. You probably shouldn't. What your members respond to and resonate with will guide your content plan as you progress.
Once you do dig in Start with downloadable materials like templates, workbooks as well as ebooks and infographics.
There's a good chance that someone is signing up for your membership because they want to learn something. Deliver that desire with mini-courses as well as tutorials that offer quick successes during the day.
Mix things up with interactive content like questions, polls and live webinars. These will transform your website's membership from dime-a-dozen to an engaging top-of-the-line.
Then, relax your tongue and create audio files and podcasts.
Podcasts, specifically, have been wildly successful for other websites that offer membership and are fairly easy to build compared with other types of content.
Don't be afraid. Although it may seem daunting at first, when you've started to create content and content, you'll discover your style and the members you have will be perfectly in it with you.