Build Your Membership Site and Create a Steady Income in 5 Easy Steps

Launch Your Online Business in Just 7 Days

One of the best ways to generate a reliable source of recurring revenue is with a membership site.

On top of that, your customer relationships and retention will also get a real boost from a membership website, if you do it right.

In this post, we cover everything you need to know about membership sites:

How to build one
Which platform to use
The different kinds
Their many benefits

And more!

Let’s dive right in.

1. What is a membership website?

In a nutshell, a membership website is a subscription-based online business model.

By paying a regular fee and agreeing to any other terms, members get access to exclusive content, special offers, niche services, and other benefits.

This sounds like a pretty sweet deal for members, but as an online business owner, the deal is even sweeter.

By creating a members-only portal for your customers, you can enjoy the following benefits:

1. Reliable income stream

Because this is a recurring payment, you have a better idea of how much revenue you’ll generate every month.

Even if your membership is a lower ticket offer, $10/month from 100 members is still $1,000 you can count on.

2. Direct contact with your audience

Membership sites provide a nifty alternative to email marketing if audience engagement is what you’re after.

You’ll be able to reach your audience with targeted content and give them a platform to access more of what they love.

You could also encourage your members to share their ideas and opinions, making them feel important and fostering a sense of community.

3. Build your authority

With direct access to your audience comes an innate understanding of what content they enjoy and prefer.

Providing premium content that speaks directly to your target market will set you up as an authority in your niche.

Authority builds trust, and more trust means more people will be willing to give you their money in exchange for helping them solve their problems.

4. Retain more customers

When you create a membership website, you need to nurture the customers within it to maintain this reliable income source.

This also gives you the opportunity to keep selling related offers to your audience by giving them members-only discounts and deals

While these benefits are attractive, you might still be asking yourself if this will work for your online business.

1.1. Will a membership site work for my business idea?

There are 3 ways to include a membership website in your online business:

1. Make a membership site your main offer

2. Make a membership site a low-ticket or supporting offer

3. Make your membership site a high-ticket or bonus offer

That first option is perfect for business models that lend themselves to community building or varied content like eLearning businesses.

However, the next 2 strategies are still valid ways to provide members-only content in other niches.

1.1.1. The AppSumo Plus example

AppSumo Plus is a rewards-based membership program running in the ecommerce space:

Source: AppSumo.com

While this membership website acts as a high-ticket supporting offer, it still provides a lucrative income stream for AppSumo.

If you’ve ever been part of a membership program, you’ll have noticed that they share some similarities with a subscription site and an online course.

Keep reading to discover what sets membership sites apart.

1.2. Membership websites vs. subscription sites

While both sites require sign-in and a subscription fee, there are some fundamental differences:

Memberships and subscription sites also tend to look different when you view them online.

Here’s an example of Fizzle, a popular membership site for digital creators:

Source: Fizzle.co

A good membership site like this grants members access to special resources, exclusive member-only deals as well as a members-only area.

Many of the resources available on this exemplar site are educational, so what sets a membership like this apart from an online course?

1.3. Membership websites vs. online courses

Memberships and courses share a lot of common ground — in fact, membership platforms, like systeme.io, often combine their membership and course builders.

However, the differences between these business models show the versatility of memberships, and the many benefits they afford you:

One of the most attractive elements of a membership site is the consistent income because it means that you avoid the feast and famine cycle that many online business owners battle to overcome.

Here’s how Nomadic Matt uses his membership site to do just that:

Source: TheNomadicNetwork.com

By signing up to be a Nomadic Matt + member, you’ll get access to an exclusive community, free content, and special discounts.

The content itself ranges from ebooks with tips for travelers to ways to connect with others across the world and enjoy shared experiences.

In turn, Matt uses this to fund his own travels and nomadic lifestyle — it’s a real win-win situation.

1.4. To use or not to use a membership platform?

When building your membership, there’s 1 big question you’ll need to face:

“How do I protect my content?”

In other words, what software platform, plugin, or tool are you going to use to restrict access to members only?

There are 2 main methods to choose from:

1. Use a membership subscription platform

2. Use an all-in-one platform with membership plugins or capabilities

Dedicated membership platforms, like Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee, are simple tools to help you run a subscription service that supports your content.

However, the basic nature of these platforms can be extremely limiting and they tend to eat away at a significant portion of your income.

Dedicated membership platforms like these are only recommended if you’re a full-time content creator and want a fan subscription to support it, and even then they have their issues.

Patreon users (and users of similar platforms) are subject to hefty censorship rules and payment is processed very slowly.

That’s why we recommend digital marketing software with a dedicated membership website builder, like systeme.io — whether you’re a content creator with a side hustle or a growing online business.

We provide the same functionality as a dedicated membership platform, without any of the downsides.

Ready to build a successful membership website of your own?

Keep reading . . .

2. Step-by-step guide to building your own membership website

Building a membership website doesn’t have to be a difficult process.

By following the 5 steps below, you’ll be able to create a basic membership site and then launch it to your audience.

Let’s get started!

2.1. Choose a membership model

Membership websites can help your business achieve different goals based on which membership model you choose.

Here are some of the most common membership models:

Content libraries — Restrict access to your existing content collection and add to it to keep increasing membership value
Path-to-result — Help your members achieve a particular goal, like learning a new skill
Group coaching — Particularly useful for online coaches and consultants, and they make it easier to scale
Online communities — Here your members are able to engage with like-minded individuals
Professional associations — Similar to online communities, these are more business-focused and provide networking opportunities
Hybrid — If you want to achieve more than 1 goal, you can combine the features of 2 or more of the above models

Most successful membership sites use the hybrid model, and we suggest you do the same.

Not only are you able to provide more value to your audience, but a feature-rich offer like that will attract far more new members.

2.2. Select the right membership site platform

Most all-in-one software platforms include some membership site capabilities, but they’re often limited to certain membership models.

Membership platforms can also be incredibly expensive and difficult to use.

These 3 membership website-building tools below are our top picks for their flexibility, ease of use, and price points:

2.2.1. Systeme.io

systeme.io logo

Top of the list is systeme.io, an all-in-one digital marketing software platform, because it ticks all 3 boxes.

Here are some of systeme.io’s features:

Build your membership site with our easy-to-use drag-and-drop website page builder
A combined online course and membership functionality
Grant access to unlimited members on any plan
Use sales funnels to sell your membership model to new members
Create a pricing page with multiple membership levels and payment options
Contact and convert non-members with email marketing
Reward your members for referrals with affiliate marketing
0% transaction fees and direct integration with Stripe and PayPal so you can easily accept online payments from members and customers

And more!

systeme.io’s membership site creator

Because it’s all-in-one, you won’t need to download any membership plugins or integrate third-party tools — saving you from technical headaches.

Systeme.io also offers extensive features to run your entire business, including web hosting and direct integration with payment gateways.

There are 4 affordable subscription options available:

Free plan — $0/month for up to 2,000 contacts and 1 membership or course website
Startup plan — $27/month for up to 5,000 contacts and 5 membership or course websites
Webinar plan — $47/month for up to 10,000 contacts and 20 membership or course websites
Unlimited plan — $97/month for unlimited contacts, and unlimited membership or course websites

2.2.2. MemberPress

MemberPress logo

This is one of the most popular WordPress membership plugins you can use to build your own membership site.

Remember, to make use of any WordPress plugins, you’ll need to have a WordPress website already.

Here are some of MemberPress’ features:

Easily create a paywall for content on your WordPress site
Drip content to your members so they keep coming back
Turn your members into affiliates with Easy Affiliate, another WordPress plugin
Turn your content into online courses and monetize your expertise
Offer several payment options with multiple payment gateways

MemberPress has 3 pricing options available:

Basic — $179/year for 1 WordPress membership site
Plus — $299/year for 2 WordPress membership sites
Pro — $399/year for 5 WordPress membership sites

There are some drawbacks to using this WordPress plugin, such as possibly needing to download (and pay for) WooCommerce to get more payment processing options.

However, if a WordPress membership website is what you’re after, this is the best option for you.

2.2.3. MemberSpace

MemberSpace logo

MemberSpace is a membership plugin that integrates with many popular content management systems (CMS), like Squarespace and Wix.

This means that you’re not stuck with just 1 CMS forever — you have the flexibility to change whenever, without needing to rebuild your membership.

Here are some of their other impressive features:

Enjoy full control of design with a beginner-friendly no-code interface
Manage the full member experience on your website
Migrate your existing membership for free
Access an exclusive private community of other membership entrepreneurs

At first glance, MemberSpace’s plans aren’t as pricey as MemberPress:

Starting plan — $29/month for 2 websites and a 4% transaction fee
Growing plan — $49/month for 3 websites and a 3% transaction fee
Advancing plan — $199/month for 4 websites and a 1% transaction fee

Unfortunately, premium membership plugins like this do come at a cost, and you’ll need to add that cost to how much you pay for your CMS, among other things.

While MemberPress and MemberSpace are great options if you’re already using WordPress or Wix, they fall short on other marketing features.

Systeme.io remains the best platform to build your membership site — 6x the features, 0% transaction fees, and a cheaper price point are unbeatable.

2.3. Start creating your website and members-only content

The fundamental selling point of joining membership sites is access to exclusive content.

However, creating your membership site isn’t a one-page-one-video task — it’s more of a continuous process.

You’ll need to create at least 4 web pages for your membership:

1. A home page or landing page — Inform website visitors about the benefits of joining your membership

2. A sign-up form or page — Explain the pricing and member sign-up process

3. A user login form or page — Allow returning members to sign in

4. A members-only page — Send your members to any members-only content

We also advise that you set up some automated emails to send account access and other details to any new members.

Once you’ve set up the necessary membership website structure, it’s time to create members-only content to populate your website.

There are several different kinds of gated content you can create and share with your members:

Create some content ahead of time to attract new members to your website and use a content schedule to plan for future content.

2.4. Promote your membership website

You need members for your membership site to succeed — without them, your content is invisible.

That’s why promoting your membership website is essential to generating that attractive recurring income.

There are several methods of promoting your membership site, depending on where your business is at:

Affiliate marketing — Turn your members into affiliates and reward them for successfully getting new members to join
Paid advertising — If you have the budget, using Facebook or Google Ads can send more viewers to your pages so that you can convert them
Content marketing — A slower strategy with long term effects that will build your authority while reaching a wider audience
Email marketing — If you already have a list of contacts interested in your offers, you can promote your membership to them as well

This is where your choice in a membership hosting provider really comes into play.

While some platforms (like systeme.io) come packed with all of the features you need to run email promotions and an affiliate program, others just don’t.

If you opt for a membership subscription platform, you’ll likely end up wasting time and money on unreliable integrations.

2.5. Monitor your membership site’s performance

The final step in building your membership website is all about monitoring the key performance indicators (KPIs).

These are specific metrics you can use to measure the success of your membership.

Here’s a list of membership KPIs you should be tracking:

Website traffic — Track how many people visit your site over a given time period and note any patterns
Conversion rate — How many of those visitors actually sign up to join your membership site
Growth rate and member retention — How many new members you get each month and how many old members you retain
Customer lifetime value — Total income you get from your average customer
Overall profit — How much money you make after deducting the costs involved in running and maintaining your membership site

Metrics like these are also useful in identifying areas for improvement and how to scale and take your membership to the next level.

We suggest you assess these metrics at quarterly intervals so that you can see whether your membership is generating a sizable return on your investment.

3. Membership monetization strategies

When you’re launching your membership website, there are several ways to make it make money.

First, ask yourself these questions:

Is this a free membership or a paid membership?
Is this my main offer or a supplementary one?
Is this a high-ticket or low-ticket offer?

Once you’ve answered these questions, it becomes a little easier to determine how you’ll make money from this venture.

If you choose to create a free membership, there are still several monetization strategies you can apply:

Create multiple membership levels so that paying members get access to even more exclusive content
Provide different membership options that members can upgrade to, when they’re ready
Offer exclusive discounts and deals to your members to encourage them to buy your other offers
Establish yourself as an authority figure in your niche and offer your services to your members
Turn your members into affiliates and reward them for successfully promoting your other offers
Promote relevant products to your members and receive an affiliate commission whenever they purchase them

As you can see, free membership doesn’t mean that you won’t make money — you can also implement these within a paid membership to boost your income and increase your customer lifetime value.

4. Membership website FAQs

Still got some burning questions about building your membership website?

We’ve got your back — keep reading to find answers to some frequently asked questions about memberships.

4.1. Can I create a membership site for free?

In short — yes! There are plenty of online platforms with membership features that offer free trials or a free plan.

To create membership sites that continue to function and grow, you’ll probably eventually need to pay for more advanced features.

Also, be careful with completely free membership software like Patreon. Often, such software comes with high transaction fees that can cost you more than you realize.

That’s why systeme.io is truly the best option — you’ll never pay more than $97/month to run your entire business and there are no transaction fees.

4.2. Are membership websites profitable?

Membership sites can be highly profitable, but only if you have members.

LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) charges members $29.99/month to access a library of courses, resources, and workshops — generating over $200 million in sales every year.

Here are 5 best practices to help you catch and keep more members:

1. Simplify the membership process so that becoming a member is easy.

2. Accept payments from a wide array of processors and locations to minimize hiccups when members pay for their subscriptions.

3. Make time for a regular, personal and meaningful conversation with your members so they feel included in and important to your business.

4. Use members of your sales or marketing team to handle member management.

5. Ensure that the exclusive resources you offer are valuable, up-to-date, and suited to your audience’s needs.

A final top tip to apply here is that it’s cheaper to retain old members than it is to get new ones, so don’t neglect your loyal customers.

4.3. What kind of niches work best for membership sites?

While you could build a membership website for anything, there are some niches that see better returns and engagement than others.

Here’s a list of the best niches for membership sites as well as some examples:

E-learning — Cake Craft School teaches members sugarcraft and other dessert-based design techniques
Hobbies — Training Beta provides rock-climbing enthusiasts with a blog, podcast, training programs, and nutritional plans
Digital marketing — Codeable links its WordPress developers to clients through their service membership portal
Premium support forums — Stewart Gauld has created a small business community where members share techniques and advice
Template libraries — In addition to their programs and free resources, Mind Your Hero has a template library for their members
News and industry updates — The Point magazine provides exclusive articles about modern life to their subscribed members

Keep reading to get a complete step-by-step demo of how to create a membership site using the most powerful software available.

5. How to build a membership website with systeme.io today

It’s pretty clear that systeme.io offers the best membership features at the most competitive price.

Better yet, our software is incredibly easy to use — you can build your entire membership website in just a few clicks.

Here’s how:

1. Log into your systeme.io account, click on the drop-down menu, select “Products/Sales” and then click on “Courses”

systeme.io’s main menu

2. Select “+ Add a new course” and complete the details of your membership website

systeme.io’s membership and course creator page

3. Add “modules” to make your members-only content easy to navigate and add “lectures” to insert separate exclusive content items to your membership website

systeme.io’s membership page and lecture creator

4. You can easily edit the layout of the membership pages and add content

systeme.io’s easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface

5. Manually add members to your membership website by selecting “Add student” and inputting their details

systeme.io’s manual member enrollment process

You can also automatically add members with automation rules and contact tagging in your sales funnel.

It really is as simple as that!

Systeme.io is a true all-in-one digital marketing platform, so your membership site is automatically integrated with your contact list, website, sales funnel, and other products.

Using time-saving software like this is the best way to get a head start on your competition.

6. Conclusion

Building an amazing membership site is a combination of several factors — to achieve success, you need to:

Choose the right membership model for your niche
Create exclusive content that your members will love
Promote your membership site and get more members
Monitor your membership metrics and keep improving

To get a head start on your competition, partner with the best membership website building software available: systeme.io!

Sign up today and build your entire membership site in just a few clicks — it’s 100% free forever, so what have you got to lose?