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How to Launch a Membership Site in 2013

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This is a guest post by Karol K.

It’s no secret that various membership based services are getting more and more popular every year. Actually, the whole craze is not that much about the individual successful services, but more about the whole idea of making something membership-based in general.

We all know companies like Netflix and Hulu – both have been using the membership model for years now. But video streamed on demand is not the only niche for memberships. These days, customers can sign up to a range of interesting things. For instance, some of the more intriguing ones:

  • BagBorroworSteal – handbags on demand (members can rent handbags instead of buying them).
  • NewBeauty TestTube – sampling new beauty products every month.
  • BeCouply Dates – one awesome date a month; for couples (now this is what I call true online dating!).

And this is just a small part of what’s available (I don’t even want to get started on all the online games). Plus, there are more and more services sprouting up every week.

The reason is simple. People. Love. Memberships.

Why? Because they’re cheaper than buying something for keeps. Let’s take a look at the handbags on demand service – BagBorroworSteal. It’s no mystery that a designer, quality handbag can cost you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars. It simply makes sense to rent it for a fraction of the price and then amaze your friends at a party just as much.

(If you need some more data to believe that memberships are indeed the new black then just take a look at how Netflix is doing (via WolframAlpha) – the section labeled as recent returns indicates a 630%+ growth in the last 5 years.)

The big picture here is this: Membership sites and services are here to stay. They are just a more customer-friendly way of doing business and delivering goods.

Which brings me to…

What if you’re a business owner and you want a piece of this membership pie too?

Surprisingly, launching a membership-based online business is quite simple, and cheap (at least when it comes to the technical stuff).

Now, let me set one thing straight. It is cheap, as long as your product can be delivered in a digital form. If you’re the next handbags-on-demand company then it will require some additional setting up.

For instance, I’m a freelance blogger and writer. The membership program I would launch would be focused on digital training for fellow writers and people who want to take their freelance writing career to another level. In a word, everything would be computer-based, so no additional expenses for me. You can easily imagine similar membership programs in other niches. Some more examples: software, content, online articles, videos, tutorials, training materials, freelancing resources, and other digital products.

Without further delay, here are some of the most cost-effective methods of today:

WordPress + WishList Member

WordPress is a pretty recognizable brand online, but just to make sure that we’re on the same page, let me give you a quick heads up. WordPress is one of the leading website management platforms available, and there’s a good reason for this… It’s free, easy to manage, customizable, and extremely functional. In fact, the very blog you’re reading right now is a WordPress blog.

However, it still gives you kind of a manual way of launching a site. I mean, you have to get a domain, a web host, and then install WordPress by hand (either yourself or with some help).

And what you need to do then, since we’re talking membership sites, is to get WishList Member – a premium WordPress plugin. Single site license is $97, multisite is $297.

This is a solution designed for the more internet and website savvy crowd. The fact that you have the site self-hosted means that you can do a lot more when it comes to customization, but you have to be knowledgeable about the internet technologies in order to do so.

That being said, WishList Member provides just way too many cool membership features to list them all here, so feel free to check the official site.

WordPress + Membership

Another possible combination, which I like to call “free + free” is the pair of WordPress and a different plugin that’s simply called Membership (free).

Essentially, launching a site through WordPress + Membership is very similar to doing it through WordPress + WishList Member, only this time you don’t have to invest money. (Well, okay, you still need to get a domain and a web host, but that’s a whole different thing.)

The plugin Membership offers a nice range of features, but it’s not as rich as the other solution on this short list. In the end, if you just want to get started with membership sites as quickly as possible then this may be the best way for you to test this whole business model and concept.

What’s next?

No matter what method of launching a membership site you choose, you still have a lot of work to do when it comes to the actual business tasks, which I’m sure you’re aware of. After all, software won’t do everything on its own. The businesses mentioned above didn’t become popular purely because of the quality of the software solution they were using.

That being said, the membership model is working quite well for mid to big sized brands online already. Will it work for small businesses and startups? I guess we’ll have to wait and see. But products like WishList Member and Membership surely make it easier to happen.

Personally, I think that the sole fact that a person with a cup of coffee by their side sitting at home can launch a membership site in a matter of minutes is simply amazing. Thank you, 21st century!

What do you think about membership sites and their place among modern business models? Is it just a fad or will it last?

About the author: Karol K. (@carlosinho) is a freelance blogger and writer. Every day, he uses SEO and blogging to grow his brand. He writes and publishes posts about freelance writing (to be exact, about how to get paid to write online). If you want to join the freelancing world yourself then feel free to pay him a visit at Writers in Charge.

4 Tech Innovations to Grow Your Business

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This is a guest post by Amanda Green.

Running a successful business requires you to get things right on many levels. This is where new tech innovations come in that help you with your business. Right from document management software to simple gadgets that make your job easier as an an entrepreneur – tech innovations are all around the business world. In the following article we discuss four such innovations that can help you take your business to the next level…

#1: Adapx Capturx Forms for Excel

Digital pens aren’t new – they’ve been around for a long time now. But a lot of them are confusing to use and are focused on “general note taking”. Adapx Capturx Forms for Excel comes with an Anoto digital pen along with a software that helps you focus only on forms. When you fill out a particular form with this pen, only the data acquired from this form is captured, details such as name or social security number. This very limited approach can prove to be a great innovation for businesses who want to use the digital pen technology more effectively.

#2: Dymo LabelMaker PnP

Any device that is “plug n play” makes things easier, and thus can be branded as an innovation. Most of the hardware gadgets out there either require a difficult to find driver or do a confusing software install. The Dymo LabelMaker, which costs only $60 bucks, simply plugs into your computer’s USB port. Its software is directly housed in the device and appears on the screen automatically when you start using it. So all you need to do is take care of the label design and do the printing, nothing more. The app utilizes your computer’s font and lets you add your logo.

#3: Addonics NAS 3.0

You’ll find many reputed companies out there that offer cloud enabled storage devices, helping you make your files available/accessible from anywhere. For small companies/businesses, you may not have a way to access your data over the web, even though you already have a USB drive. The Addonics NAS 3.0 is an adapter that you can simply connect to your current USB drive using a regular USB cable. You also have an Ethernet port to help you connect your adapter to the router. It’s great for bootstrapping businesses that are on a budget, and want easy access when going mobile for a day.

#4: SnapShell® Camera Scanner

The SnapShell® camera scanner happens to be one of the fastest camera ID scanners available in the market today. Its 3 megapixel camera allows you to place an ID card face down, on its window, and press the scan button to capture a high quality digital image in less than 3 seconds. Right from giving you high quality picture resolution (600 dpi true color) to getting easily integrated into a 3rd party software – it is the real deal.

It’s a perfect solution for your business if you have to deal with lots of “human traffic” in a short amount of time. For example, if you run a car rental agency, you can use this camera scanner to get a copy of the customer’s driver’s license as a part of the overall registration process.

Word of Mouth Advertising isn’t Dead; Altered Maybe but not Dead

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This is a guest post by Amanda Green.

In the days of the internet and social media, word of mouth advertising has altered a bit. This doesn’t mean it is dead just because it has changed shapes. In fact the opposite is true. Personally, I think it is stronger than ever. There aren’t any statistics to prove this, or at least I haven’t found any. But I am one to pay attention to marketing and the strategies that businesses take and the success each approach offers.

Think about your Facebook or Twitter feeds. How many times do you come across a post that shares a deal or a new item that was recently purchased? Well, my friend, that is word of mouth. Better yet, how often do you see one of your “friends or followers” ranting about a product that just irked them when they tried it? I see it at least a few times a day and between work and play, I don’t spend as much time on social media as most.

Just a few weeks ago I updated my profile picture on Facebook. This new picture wound up with 117 likes and 70 plus comments. I was impressed, thought I must have really looked good. But the truth is that picture was taken by an aspiring photographer. She is a good friend and needs to build her online portfolio. Always one to help I sat through the awkward session and let her snap away.

Through my picture she gained recognition and booked a wedding and a few pregnancy sessions from people that would have never known about her otherwise. This too is a type of word of mouth advertising in our current world.

Giving away free gifts is another twist on word of mouth. No it’s not simply saying, “I love such and such company and I think you should love them too.” But if you are forcing people to share information essentially it falls into the same category.

Another story that comes to mind happened a few months back when I was looking into renting new office space. I was given a pen by a lady who worked in one of the buildings. I love pens. It is maybe somewhat of an obsession. As a writer, I soak in the moments I get to take it back to my roots and put pen to paper. So for me this was the perfect way for me to not only remember them but to talk about them to my friends later.

Today I am working in that space, and while the pen isn’t the sole reason for that… it was definitely a selling point. They made me remember them and now I have an item that I use regularly and has been the start of many conversations.

If you don’t have branded office items that will start random conversations you may want to change that. InkHead is where we purchased our customized pens, apparel, and electronic accessories and they had everything we wanted plus some. All of which came without breaking the bank.

Marketing comes in many forms, but without doing the little things that cause people to talk about you randomly, you will not find the amount of success you are really looking for. Even bad publicity is still publicity. While you are always aiming for positive feedback, just be thankful when people are talking about you.

Keep Your Business Running Smoothly

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This is a guest post by Amanda Green.

Running a business consists of a ton of details that you may not be prepared for until the situation arises. There are simple things you can do to ensure that your business is functional and productive. Having a solid plan and goal is the first step to achieving success.

Communication is key. Communication is important to making any aspect of your life run smoothly and your business is not an exception. Holding regular meetings that include your key staff is important. Let them know any changes happening internally as well as the direction you are headed. As your business grows your needs are going to change. As you become aware of a new direction you will need to inform your staff.

Just as you will be communicating with key staff, they need to be communicating with those who report to them. Making mandatory meetings within each department will ensure that everyone is well informed. Not just those who report to you directly.

Organize your schedule and stick to it. I recommend doing this every Friday. If your business is closed on weekends or you are off on weekends, you will want to plan out the next week in advance. Monday morning is tough enough, even more so if you don’t have a plan of what you need to get done. Do the same for your employees; emphasize the importance of scheduling their days according to their needs. Of course there will be moments that something comes up that changes that schedule, but if you are organized it will be easy to fit in the things that come up unexpectedly.

Stay on top of your stock. One of the more minor details that can cause major problems is supplies and inventory of those supplies. This can be a tedious job, but it is essential to keep your work moving forward and not getting stuck on a project. Running out of ink in the middle of printing important documents is frustrating, but not nearly as frustrating as going to the supply closet and realizing you are completely out of HP toner cartridges. This will result in either you or another employee headed to an office supply store and your documents are now put on hold.

This should be a job that you take on at the start of your business, just so you are aware of your needs. However, once you have an understanding of what supplies are needed, you should delegate this to someone else. This can be time consuming and there are more important things that need your attention.

Take a break. Give yourself some time to recoup. Running a business comes with a lot of responsibility. It is easy to indulge yourself in your work, but without a break you are risking getting burned out. By scheduling your days off and sticking to it, you will have a fresh positive approach when you are in the office.

Running a successful and smooth business comes with a lot of hard work, organization and dedication, not to mention a good staff. These tidbits touch the surface. It is common for a business owner to be so consumed by the things below the surface that they forget the things that help the day to day operations. Paying attention to these details will help you to take care of all operations more efficiently.

What are some tips for running your business smoothly?

4 Simple Tips for Effectively Marketing your Blog

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This is a guest post by Amanda Green.

Marketing your blog effectively is not rocket science if you know what you’re doing. While there are many different things that you need to do to get your blog’s marketing right, the first key thing to focus on is building a strong foundation. In the article below we discuss a few tips to help you build this very foundation to market and grow your blog.

1. Brand Your Blog

In order to stand out of from the other bloggers and to look “different”, you should customize the overall appearance of your blog with a logo along with a unique blog design. Just the way you’d use a branded conference app to reach out to your target audience at a convention or trade show and be unique in yourself, branding your blog will help you connect with your visitors in spite of the competition.

Make sure you use unique images/colors on your blog. Also, the theme and the colors should be consistent throughout the blog. The aim here is to create a unique brand that your readers will feel familiar or at home with over time. The more you focus on the branding of your blog, the better it is.

2. Don’t Make Your Visitors Think

Keep your blog clean and simple. Make the navigation easy to understand and have a sitemap included to guide new/old readers around the blog. For example, there are different types of plugins available (both paid and free) that let you customize and organize your blog posts along with links to any related content. The overall look and feel of your blog should be straightforward. Don’t have too many bells and whistles that confuse your visitors.The less they think when moving through your the blog, the higher are the chances that they will return for more.

3. Post on a Regular Basis

If you look around you’ll find that most of the reputed blogs post regularly. This gives them enough content to connect with the existing and as well as new readers. Marketing a blog becomes difficult when the posting frequency is inconsistent. People that read blogs are always looking for fresh ideas and unique tips. By giving real and consistent value to your readers, they will perceive your blog higher than the other blogs that don’t give such value. Although this isn’t the only step when branding your blog, it is indeed an important one.

4. Create Top Notch Content

How will you market a product that isn’t of good quality? Your blog is a product in itself and in order to market this product, you have to infuse value into it by writing and publishing great content. There are hundreds of thousands of blogs out there but only a few succeed because they work on providing unique content that gets shared all over the web. Yes it takes real effort to create good blog content, but the effort that you put into doing it will pay off when your readers read and spread the word about it.

Even if one of your blog posts goes viral, it can result in thousands of free visitors and hundreds of targeted subscribers. So the more time (or money) that you invest into creating better blog content, the easier it will be for you to market the blog.

How to Handle Yourself During Client Meetings

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This is a guest post by Amanda Green.

Most Internet marketers build their businesses thinking that, because their business is conducted solely online, they will never have to talk on the phone or meet with a client or potential business partner. They think they can conduct everything via text-chat and email…which, probably, is one of the reasons that this type of business structure can look so appealing to the uninitiated.

The truth is, though, that if you really want your business to succeed and want to ensure that you have the best reputation possible there are going to be times when you have to connect on a human level with your clients and business connections. Sometimes this means working over the phone, conducting a video conference or even (as much as you might hate the idea of it) having a meeting in person. Here is how to conduct yourself so that the meetings are successful (and profitable for you in the long run).

1. Sit Up Straight

Even if someone cannot see you, they can hear the fact that you are slouching in your voice. No—really, they can. Practicing proper posture is important for a lot of reasons but in the business world it is important because it adds an extra air of confidence around you. Nobody wants to do business with the slouchy guy. The slouchy guy looks lazy. So sit up straight (if you need to, buy an ergonomic char—like the kind offered by Sitbetter—to force you into proper posture).

2. Smile

Like slouching, people can hear a frown in your voice. Smiling puts the person at ease and can make even a negative statement easier to take. If you aren’t smiling do your best to keep your face in a pleasant expression. Meet the person’s eyes, nod encouragingly, keep the corners of your mouth turned up. The person talking with you will appreciate your energy and be more likely to want to meet with you again. He will also be more inclined to buy from you—your enthusiasm for him makes him enthusiastic for you and what you have to offer.

3. Call to Action

Yes, even in face to face meetings, you want to have a call to action. This can be as simple as handing the person your business card and asking them to call you. In a chat or video conferenced based situation, you can ask the person to email you to follow up on the meeting (make sure you offer to do the same). You can even be so bold, if you are meeting with a client, as to ask “how many products should I put in the queue to ship to you we’re done with this call?” Coming right out and asking for a next step is how you get one. You can’t just hope the other person will take initiative.

4. Follow Up On Your Own

A quick email to say “thanks for the meeting, here’s what I took away from it” and a request for future contact within 24 hours of your meeting is just good business. This is true whether your meeting was in person, over the phone or via video chat. It shows you were paying attention and value your client or business partner’s time. Strengthening these relationships is how you make more money.

At first glance talking about client meetings might not seem like it has anything to do with actually bringing in a profit, but it does.

People are more likely to spend money on someone to whom they feel a personal connection. Meetings are how you cement those connections. They are also how you make business contacts—contacts that can help open up new markets to you and your products, which should lead to future profits!

Are New Businesses Really Doomed to Fail?

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This is a guest post by Amanda Green.

Starting your own business can be an extremely rewarding profitable adventure, but only if you do it efficiently.  Unfortunately, many businesses are doomed to fail within the first six months because those running the companies fell into some of the common ruts that many entrepreneurs run into and didn’t know how to get out of them.  Coming into building your own business prepared and knowing what dangers to avoid will definitely help you get over these humps and get you on your way to having a successful company in the long run.

Sometimes outlining something is more work than the actual project and quite unnecessary.  When it comes to starting your own business, this is simply not the case; the outline is crucial to success.  You have to go into your own business with a very clear road map ahead of you – something that encompasses the plan start to finish even if it starts with something as simple as registering a website.  Failing to do this step, however long it might take, will only set your business up to veer off track in the first six months if not earlier.  Unless you have a clear vision of where you’re taking your company and how you plan to get there, you’re bound to lose sight and ultimately it will fall apart.

Pick a specialty and stick with it.  Many businesses fail early on because they chose a scope of field that is much too general.  Don’t market yourself as an artist – make sure people realize that you’re a graphic designer versed in business logos.  While this might seem counterproductive to gaining customers as it narrows your playing field, the fact of the matter is that choosing such a general term will only serve to get you hidden under the sea of other “artists.”  And the chances are they’ve been in the business much longer than you, meaning you’ll never get noticed.

Learn what will make your job easier in the long run.  When you’re finished outlining your business and choosing a niche, it’s time to start looking at how to run your business effectively.  For most businesses, there is nothing more valuable than a software that will help you with your contract management.  Once your customer base starts picking up, you’re going to get swarmed with various documents and considering you’re only human, you’ll probably end up getting confused and possibly making mistakes.  And when it comes to owning your own business, those mistakes could cost you a fortune.

No matter what you do, don’t give up.  A lot of business owners expect immediate results, which leads them to being discouraged when they realize it will take more than just two months to start seeing their investments pay off and suddenly they’ve done all that work for nothing.  Keep in mind that it’s a competition and you need to work your way to the top.  If you start a new marketing strategy, you need to keep with it.  By dropping it haphazardly, not only are you doing your business a huge disservice, but the people who did notice your business’s name will now think you’re a fly by night operation.  That means if you try to pick up your marketing game again, you’re much less likely to attract any customers at all.

There are quite a few common mistakes that business owners fall into when they first start their own operation, which is why it’s important to be prepared when you’re finally beginning the plans for your business.  Realizing these pitfalls early on will keep you from getting stuck in them six months down the road.