Focus on strategic growth instead of constantly chasing the next client.

Clients who invest in a recurring membership aren't just customers. They're committed partners in their own success. For you, it means higher retention and lifetime customer value.

With a membership model, you can offer exclusive content, personalized support, and a thriving community of people who are supportive of one another. You're not just delivering a service, you're creating an ecosystem where your clients feel deeply connected and engaged. It's the ultimate leverage, turning your expertise into a powerhouse of recurring revenue and lasting impact.

Building this new model requires shifting from a transactional approach into building a scalable, loyal enterprise.

But, how do you go about designing a membership? Read on...

Step 1: Define Your Audience

Start by identifying the demographic and psychographic characteristics of your ideal members. Consider age, gender, occupation, interests, and pain points. Their behaviors, preferences, and motivations will drive decision-making.

WHO will be invited to be a part of your membership...

#1 Hobbyists

Your audience has the common interest of a shared hobby. This type of community will have people coming and going, often due to their own time constraints and interest in the subject matter.

#2 Business Owners

An audience of business owners, on the other hand, have a drive to make more money as their side business or main business. As long as they are implementing your strategies and their business is growing, they will likely maintain in your membership.

If you're currently offering a hobbyist community, could you also help those hobbyists become business owners in this niche?

Step 2: Clarify Your Membership’s Purpose and Focus

Identify the core objectives of your membership. What problems are you solving? This involves understanding the unique needs and aspirations of your target audience and aligning your membership benefits to fit them.

Clarifying the mission and goals of your membership helps ensure that your membership offerings are aligned.

Which of the following fits your membership...

a. Entertainment

b. Community

c. Mastering a Skill

Step 3: Determine Your Role and Responsibilities

As a leader, your primary responsibility is to set the vision and direction for the membership.

Your role involves strategic planning, content creation, and engagement with the community as well as delivering value through exclusive content, resources, and events. Additionally, you'll have administrative tasks such as managing subscriptions, tracking metrics, and analyzing feedback for improvement.

Which of the following describes your role in the membership...

a. Subject authority or teacher

b. Facilitator of bringing in guest authorities

c. Community leader over group discussions

d. Coach or therapist

Step 4: Choose Your Membership Style

Each membership style offers unique benefits and caters to different audience needs.

For instance, a tiered membership can provide various levels of access and benefits. An all-inclusive membership might attract those looking for all encompassing value. A content-specific model could cater to niche interests or specialized expertise.

Consider what aligns best with your business goals and the preferences of your target audience. Think about the type of content and resources you can consistently provide to maintain engagement.

a. Regular Content Publications: This would be similar to a monthly magazine subscription, but instead could take the form of a monthly paid podcast, video, blog or PDF packed within current information.

b. Mailed Box: Each month, a package arrives full of tangible products, all with a central theme.

c. Group Coaching: Once monthly or bimonthly group coaching is over Zoom during which you either present new information or coach individuals in a hot seat format.

d. Community: Connect like-minded people into one group for discussion, either as an ongoing chat model or weekly/monthly meetup, creating a bonded gathering.

e. Drip Content: Evergreen content works well if dripped one stage at a time, from beginner content to more advanced as the member grows into what they need to move along in their journey.

Step 5: Inclusive or Exclusive?

Despite today's movement of inclusivity, a private membership is exclusive by definition.

You've designed your membership for a particular audience with a similar interest, problem to solve, or demographic. Those not fitting the membership requirements are not invited to join.

That said, it helps your member retention if you're able to specifically define the purpose of the community. How will they become different (or undergo a mini transformation) from the moment the join? What will they be left feeling that was not the case prior to joining?

Give your community a name that defines the group.

Give it a single rule that defines the group.

Is there a NEED for this type of group?

Is there a DESIRE for this type of group?

You're creating a space for others to connect inside a private community. Their transformation begins once they feel they've found "their people" because you've defined the purpose of the group.