Membership sites are web sites that offer a product or service that can only be accessed by those who have signed up as a member.
Sometimes this requires a fee upfront before allowing you access to any of the material on the site and other times certain pages and topics will be available to anyone who signs up but they will also offer a paid upgrade. This upgrade will allow the member access to additional information in the form of videos, interviews and forums and any other medium that would offer extra value.
In days past, starting a membership site required the purchase of a membership script or software designed especially for this purpose. But, with the popularity of membership sites exploding on the net, there have been plug-ins created for bloggers that can actually turn a blog such as a WordPress blog into a membership site.
Membership sites have been around for a long time. Think about it, physical products have often been offered through joining a membership site. Sometimes these physical products were offered at a discount for anyone who joined and paid a monthly or yearly fee and some even offered a onetime/lifetime payment.
The same principle has been applied to the Internet as infopreneurs realized the value of the information they were freely giving away and membership sites started cropping up in every conceivable topic/niche. They remain one of the hottest formats on the Internet for offering valuable information.
The benefits of a membership site are obvious:
1) It is the perfect work at home solution with very little overhead to get started. Basically all that is needed is a computer, chair, good/reliable Internet connection and a membership script, software or plug-in. How many offline business' can you start with so little an investment? 2) A membership website is the perfect platform for promoting your affiliate products. You have a captive audience. Make sure they are closely related to your membership site topic. These will be your back-end sales. 3) There are no extra expenses such as transportation costs, manufacturing costs and warehouse rentals to store your goods because you deal in digital information. The costs associated will be minimal and will include items such as web-hosting and auto-responders.
I have seen membership sites online charging anywhere from $4.00 a month upwards to $1,800 a month. So, there is something for everyone's budget.
In order to retain your excitement and enthusiasm it is always best to stay within a passion of yours. Writing on a topic that is really of no interest to you will eventually take its toll as your enthusiasm wanes and your writing suffers.
In order to retain members your content must be unique, of high value and not easily found elsewhere for free.
The Internet is changing how people access information. More and more people are discovering that joining a membership site that offers the information they are seeking, can actually save them precious time and energy that can better be put to use towards their own dreams and ambitions.
We have always paid for information in the past without a second thought. Whether it be newspapers, schooling, magazines, journals...or expanded television choices. The Internet is no different. Soon what was once freely accessed will only be available behind closed doors as the information highway becomes a toll road.
Author Resource:
Kathy Dobson is a free spirited entrepreneur and business owner committed to helping individuals discover personal and financial freedom through membership sites and Internet marketing. If you would like to learn more about setting up a membership site, visit: http://www.crazycashmembershipsites.com Additionally, for more valuable tips and resources, visit: http://www.kathydobson.com
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