This Tip of the Week covers topics including:
- 0:42 – Finding New Members vs. Keeping Existing Members
- 1:22 – 1) Create a Community
- 4:02 – Quote from Daymond John
- 4:33 – 2) Get in Front of Them
- 8:07 – 3) Appoint Brand Ambassadors
- 13:16 – 4) Don’t Be Afraid to Upsell
- 17:41 – Blog Article: Three Ways To Increase Customer Lifetime Value & Membership Upgrades
- 18:18 – 5) Nurture Personal Relationships
- 23:26 – Finding & Keeping Members requires Balance
This is a segment from Webinar Wednesday 92, recorded live on July 1, 2020.
When you’re running a membership website, one of the biggest challenges that you’ll face is how to attract new people to your site. This is obviously a necessary step for any membership website to grow.
The key to attracting people is making sure that you have their best interests at heart. It would be best if you treated them like a friend and partner, rather than a potential sales target.
In this area, there is never just one method of getting new members. You’ll need to try several techniques to discover what will work best for you.
To give you the best ideas for some of the things that you should be looking for, let’s look at some of the most effective strategies that you can try.
1. Create a Community Atmosphere
When you’re building a website, you’ll need to be sure that you’re creating a community atmosphere. People need to feel like they’re playing a role in something bigger than themselves.
This strategy gives them a reason why they should engage with your site. If you can do this, it will be easier to convince them that they should become a paying member.
You can create a community atmosphere in several ways. First, you should drill down on what sets your site apart. Form a secure connection with a smaller, targeted group, rather than trying to be everything to everybody.
By choosing a definite niche, you’ll be able to build an intimate community faster, as everyone will be able to bond over shared interests. Choosing the right niche can make it easier to understand the unique needs of your target group.
2. Get in Front of Your Target Group
One of the worst mistakes that business owners make is waiting for potential members to stumble across their site. This method is the slowest way of growing your membership base.
Instead of waiting for your customers to find you, go to them. In most cases, they’ll already be attending specific events and activities on individual social media sites. Those are the perfect places for you to advertise and grow your presence.
As an example, if you’re running a clothing label, you may want to give free samples to popular influencers, who can get your products in front of the target audience. These labels also pay a lot to make sure that their clothes appear in music videos because they know that’s where the audience is looking.
3. Hire a Brand Ambassador
A brand ambassador is a fancy term, which refers to anyone who is representing your brand. These people are the key to spreading the word about your membership services and get people excited to join. They can help you connect directly with your audience, go to the potential members, and talk about why they should use your services.
There are dozens of ways to use a brand ambassador. For example, you may want them to wear your merchandise, helping people get more familiar with your brand. Or, you can ask them to post about your website, spreading your message on social media.
There are several ways that you can choose your brand ambassadors. However, it’s essential to make sure that you select people who have a genuine passion for your site. They need to honestly believe that they will be offering people a great opportunity that will improve their life.
There are many ways that you can compensate for them. For example, you might want to offer a discounted or free membership. In other cases, you may want to establish an affiliate program, compensating them for every customer that they bring to the site.
4. Don’t Be Scared to Upsell
Some people get nervous about the prospect of upselling, fearing that they’ll be delivering a “hard sell,” which can make customers feel uneasy. Thankfully, this approach doesn’t need to be the case. Remember, this is merely a sales technique, which you can use to introduce additional membership options to people.
There isn’t anything wrong with wanting to get people to use an additional membership layer if you feel it would add value to their lives.
For example, it’s common for barbershops to sell hair care products. This service ensures that they become a one-stop-shop for their customers, with many people appreciating the convenience.
You can upsell with skill in several ways. First and foremost, you want to target people who are already enjoying the products or services that you offer. They’re already enjoying your membership services, so why not offer another option which you feel could add even more value. This feature shows that you are committed to improving their lives. You should make sure that they are aware of the benefits that they will be able to receive through the upsell.
5. Create Personal Relationships
One of the best ways to be assured that your customers want to stick around is by forming an emotional bond with them. As a small business, this should be one of your biggest strengths. Forming a one-on-one relationship is something that many large businesses will not be able to do.
There are many ways that you will be able to grow this relationship. First, you want to respond to all reviews, regardless of whether they are positive or negative. When you see someone praising your membership, make sure to express gratitude. In most cases, a simple thank you will be enough, letting people know that you appreciate the kind words.
You may want to also show your gratitude in other ways. For example, you might want to run a competition where your fans will have a chance to win a prize. These moments will help you show your appreciation for the support. Also, by encouraging people to share their positive experiences, you’ll be able to begin generating more leads.
Attracting members can be a challenging aspect to master, often requiring you to use different strategies. Ultimately, though, you’ll need to build genuine relationships by caring about your customers. For more tips on how to do this, keep updated with Brilliant Directories.
