Why You Should Use Email Marketing to Promote Your Membership Website

By Jeanne Berg

September 14, 2023

One of the most effective strategies to connect with your potential customers is through email marketing. By harnessing the power of well-crafted emails, you can not only promote your membership website but also engage with your members, drive conversions and foster lasting relationships.

In an age where social media often takes the limelight, it's essential to recognise that email marketing remains a steadfast and compelling strategy that delivers results. We've highlighted six of it strengths:

1. Targeted communication

Email marketing lets you to send personalised messages to your audience. You can segment your email list based on demographics, interests, or behavior, ensuring that your messages are relevant and engaging for each group. This targeted approach increases the chances of members engaging with your content and offers.

2. Building relationships

Email marketing fosters a sense of community and trust among your audience. Regularly sending valuable content, updates and exclusive offers through emails helps build a strong relationship with your audience. By consistently providing value, you can strengthen member loyalty and encourage them to remain active subscribers.

3. Cost-effective promotion

Email marketing is a cost-effective way to promote your membership website compared to traditional advertising methods because it targets an audience that has already demonstrated an interest in your product. They may have visited your website, read your content or interacted with your brand in some way, indicating that they are already engaged with your niche or product.

Because subscribers to your email list have already given their consent, they are more receptive to hearing from you.

Email marketing lets you reach a large audience without the high costs associated with paid advertising on social platforms. You also have the ability to automate your campaigns, saving time and resources.

4. Member retention and upselling

Email marketing is an effective tool for member retention and upselling. You can send renewal reminders, anniversary offers, or recommend additional premium services or products to your existing members. This proactive approach helps retain members and can increase their lifetime value to your membership website.

5. Higher conversion rates

Since your email list consists of individuals who have willingly expressed interest, they are more likely to convert. Whether it's making a purchase, signing up for a membership, or taking some other desired action, engaged subscribers are more inclined to follow through on your calls to action.

6. Measurable results

Email marketing platforms provide valuable analytics and reporting tools that allow you to track the performance of your campaigns. You can monitor open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, and more. These insights enable you to fine-tune your email marketing strategy, optimising it for better results over time.

In conclusion

Email marketing is a powerful tool for promoting your membership website because it enables targeted communication with an interested audience. This targeted approach, combined with the trust you've built, significantly enhances the likelihood of achieving your marketing goals and successfully growing your membership website.

Checklist for Building a Valuable Mailing List

For many online businesses, the most valuable asset they have is their mailing list.

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to connect with and nurture an interested audience and drive business growth. The key to success lies in the quality of your mailing list. A valuable mailing list is not just about quantity but also about the quality of your subscribers.

In this checklist, we provide insights and actionable tips to help you build a valuable list with an engaged subscriber base.

Best practices to building your mailing list

Think about how you will use the list.
Make sure you have an opt-in box: it’s the law.
Don't place restrictions on the data you collect: for example if you say, ‘sign-up for a monthly newsletter’, you can only send a monthly newsletter. If you say ‘sign up to regularly receive tips and offers’ you can send emails as frequently as you want.
Give your visitors a good reason to hand over their personal information: give value to get value.
Give away a free resource: a free ebook, discount voucher, video or anything else with a low cost to you and a high perceived value to your prospect.
Make it easy for visitors to sign up: ask for the minimum information you need, which is usually name and email address. The more information you ask for, the fewer sign-ups you will get.
Highlight your privacy policy: next to every place where you ask for customer data you should have a link to your privacy policy and a statement like ‘we take your privacy seriously’.
Have a refer a friend option: there is no better time to ask people for referrals than at the point when they have just signed up for your list.

Deliver quality, valuable content to your email list subscribers

Remind email recipient that they have given you their permission to correspond with them.
Think carefully about the subject line: it will determine how many of your emails are opened.
Make sure every message you send is relevant and valuable: always ask yourself “How will this information help my audience?” Will it make them money, save them money, make them healthier, or thinner, or wiser?
Give enough information in the email to deliver value: but don’t give away all the information. Link to your website for the full story.
Develop a consistent voice and personality for all correspondence.
Don’t send too many emails.
Don’t send too few emails.

Strategies to maintain your email list

Reward loyalty.
Stay legal: you must allow people to unsubscribe (but always ask them why they are leaving).
Study unsubscribe rates to try to reduce them.
Remember it’s not size that matters! The most valuable lists are the ones with highly engaged recipients. They open a lot of emails and they take action.
Get more information over time – every bit of information you get from recipients increases a lists value.
Prune your list: if some recipients never open your email, try to re-engage. If that fails ‘re-permission’ them to see if they still want to receive your correspondence . . . if they don’t opt back in, remove them.
Never abuse your list.
Never sell your list, unless you have got permission from the recipients, to pass it on to third parties.
Nurture and care for your list. Help it to grow and flourish. It is your future success and prosperity.

In conclusion

A high-quality mailing list is the foundation upon which you can forge lasting connections with your audience, drive engagement and achieve your marketing goals. By focusing on the acquisition of genuinely interested subscribers, maintaining their trust and delivering relevant content, you can ensure that your mailing list remains a valuable marketing asset.

How to Use Email Marketing to Enhance Your Membership Business

Email marketing is a is still considered the superpower of marketing tools for any business, but it can be especially effective if you’re running a membership website. Here are 6 ways to use email marketing to boost engagement and retention in your membership business.

Welcoming new members

An initial email to welcome new members is an opportunity to set expectations, provide important information, and get members excited about being a part of your community. More than a confirmation email, a welcome email gives you the opportunity to provide more information and an expanded welcome message, which often has the effect of feeling like a personal welcome from you, rather than a simple acknowledgement. Here are some tips for making the most of your welcome email:

Make it a personalized greeting: Who doesn’t like to read their own name on an email? Take this opportunity to begin by acknowledging that you know who you’re talking to, rather than just launching into your content with no salutation. Addressing the new member by name will help to establish a personal connection and make the email feel more engaging.

Provide an overview of the community: Provide new members with a brief overview of what your community is all about, including its mission, values, and key features. This should reiterate the information on your website so the member is reassured they have signed up for the right program.

Offer key resource information: Make sure new members know how to access any resources that are available to them as members. Your confirmation email will have let members know generally how to access membership content but don’t assume your member is willing to check back into that email. Your welcome email is a chance to give them everything they need to know to access the content they just signed up for.

Inform about upcoming events: If you have any upcoming events that new members can attend, include information on these in your welcome email. This will help to get new members excited about being a part of your community and provide them with an opportunity to connect with other members.

Include a call to action: Include one primary call to action in your welcome email. Try to avoid sending new members somewhere other than your website to start, such as to join a social media group. This might be confusing if it drops them into a group with other members at very different experience levels.

You're better off to promote your website with a call to action that takes them directly to the web page that is referenced in the link, whether it's a sign-up page for a welcome package, or a calendar page to book a call.

Provide a contact person: Whether it’s you or your assistant, make sure new members now where to reach out for help. If there are several different avenues, such as Facebook group, Messenger, a customer service email address or a contact form, include them all.

email news updates for membership businesses

Regular newsletter updates keep your audience informed and engaged, especially if you can use images, videos, and infographics to make it more visually appealing. And newsletter content can be repurposed as social media content…or the other way around. Remember to keep your newsletter updates interesting, informative and engaging. Here are some specific content tips on how to make the most of regular newsletter updates.

Industry news: Lest this become a copy and pasted somewhat dry summary of an update from an industry source, be sure the headline is enticing. Which is more engaging: “New data suggests holistic medicine sales on the rise” OR “Learn how these 3 mavens in the spiritual healing space made six figures in their first year of business…”?

Company news: Keep your tribe informed of new services, new products or even a new business model you’re trying. Keep them not only informed, but involved. You’d be surprised how well members will respond to being included in new decisions you’re making about your business. Polls and surveys asking them what they think or better still, what services THEY would like to see in your business are a great way to keep members engaged and retained.

Customer success stories: Not only does this keep members reminded that they are making the right decision by starting with your membership, it also gives everyone a chance to shine. Offer your students or members an opportunity to be spotlighted in the newsletter.

Tips and advice: Everyone loves a listicle! But they also love a live interaction. Why not offer a “Hot Seat” opportunity to one or two members per month or per quarter? This takes tips to another level and everyone benefits. If you don’t want to create a specific event around it, simply turn your regular coaching or group session into a hot seat session, or tag it onto the end of your call instead of a Q & A.

Promotions & discounts: These should be offers that aren’t available to non-members, whether it’s the aforementioned Hot Seat opportunity or a discount on a new service you have decided to offer. Use seasonal opportunities like Black Friday, Valentine’s Day or simply the advent of spring to create your promotions.

Include a call to action: End every newsletter with a call to action, whether it’s a direction to something related to the content, or a generic link to your website.

Choose the right tech: This one has a tendency to trip people up. If you’re using the SubHub platform, you don’t necessarily need an email service provider to provide an opt-in opportunity and then send out newsletters. The opt-in banner layout is available to include in your homepage or landing pages (also provided within the platform).

The opt-in contacts are saved in the backend of your website, or can be directed to your Mailchimp list, or both. News can be easily imparted to all members, or even segmented by member group, through the Email Members option in the SubHub member manager.

Deliver targeted content

target content in email marketing through segmentation

Segmentation in email marketing can be a huge boost to your overall marketing strategy. Most email marketing programs including Mailchimp offer the ability to segment your lists by various criteria, allowing you to send targeted campaigns to specific groups of members.

Design your segmentation

There are three most frequently used types of segmentation:

Buyer Persona:

Your “ideal client” might have more than one profile. Let’s say you’re a business coach. You might market to one buyer persona that is a new business owner, and another that is more seasoned. If you’re a lawyer, you might have different buyer personas for victims of personal injury and those at fault in an accident. Each of these buyer personas might have different problems, issues and have completely different questions about their situation.

Sales Cycle:

Visitors to your website may be at different stages of your sales cycle. They might be just trying to learn about your industry. They might be interested in your service but trying to find out more about you. Or they might already know all about you, love you, and are ready to buy from you. In each case, your message is likely to be different.

You can differentiate among those stages by offering different opt-in options on your website. For example, someone who opts in to receive a free e-book on a fundamental aspect of your service could be assumed to be a new visitor. Someone who opts in for a consultation would likely be more serious. They already know enough about you to want to talk. These types of website visitors could be segmented within your email program.

Member Group:

You may have your members segmented by group on your website. The SubHub platform offers unlimited member group options, so you can have members sign up for different levels of services, different types of services, and access to courses and content tailored specifically for each group. Now you have a couple of options for emailing each group:

In the SubHub platform, simply go to your member manager and search by member group. Click the Email Members button to send out an email to everyone in the group.

Use Mailchimp or another email service to have member group information automatically uploaded from your membership website subscription records to the same email list or separate lists.

Automate your segmentation

You can set up automated campaigns targeted to each list or list segment. For example, your first-time visitors might benefit from a short email tutorial series. Visitors who download a white paper, for example, might be interested in a series of emails containing testimonials, information about your company, and any new services you’re offering.

Test your segmentation

Be sure to send test emails to ensure the right messages are scheduled for the right segments. Then watch for results. Hopefully, by identifying your segments, targeting your messages and automating your delivery, your engagement will increase as will conversion rates. You will want to keep a close eye on analytics so you can tweak and refine your messages and segments as you grow.

Encourage engagement

Segmentation

We've already talked about segmentation, but it’s such an important technique, it bears mentioning again. How can you increase engagement using segmentation? Use data to segment into groups based on previous purchase history, abandoned carts, click through rates and even general interests if you have that information. What better way to encourage feedback than to send an email to specifically address the fact that someone got halfway through their purchase and then stopped for some reason?

There are a few ways to approach this conversation. You might want to just ask if they are still interested in the item. After all, it’s so easy to get distracted these days, you might be doing the person a favor by reminding them that the items is still available, and you can make it super convenient to finish the purchase by providing a link in your email to the shopping cart or payment processor. You can also ask for information about why they didn’t follow through. You may not get a response, but then again, you might find out something extremely valuable, whether it’s an undiscovered technical glitch, or the potential member simply changed their mind.

Personalization

Most email marketing programs make it easy to insert the persons first name in the salutation of the email. If you can personalize it further, that’s even better. For example, you might send an email to someone who purchased your new skin softener with a subject line of “How are you enjoying [insert name of skin softener]?” On the other hand, you might have members on your list who have never purchased from you, and in fact haven’t opened any of your emails for a while. Checking to make sure they still want to hear from you is a great way to encourage feedback. At the very least, you can slim down the size of your list, which might save some money the next time to send out your campaign.

Optimization

Use conversion rate optimization techniques to encourage clicking on a call to action. Some examples of conversion rate optimizations:

Use an enticing headline. You want your headline to be intriguing but not a mystery. Say plainly but succinctly exactly what your message is about.
Break up your text. No one wants to read paragraph after paragraph of text without a break. Use sub-heads to highlight the topic of each paragraph.
Make sure your email is formatted correctly by sending yourself a test message. Sometimes formatting can be tricky because your readers are viewing the email using different email clients and in different browsers. But at least take a look at how you see it as a viewer, and that will give you a good idea of the user experience. For example, make sure that line spacing is appropriate, as is the amount of space between paragraphs.
Avoid technical jargon. Unless you are speaking to a technical niche audience, try to avoid jargon and technical terms in your emails. It's not so much that they may not understand, but the fact is, people read all day for the most part, and your email will get best results if it's easy and quick to digest without your audience having to translate technical terms into layman's terms.
Add images and/or a video to your emails. An email message that is visually appealing has a better chance of being read to the final call to action.
Optimize your emails for mobile. The last thing you want is 5,000 recipients opening your email on their phone and only being able to see the left-hand side of the top banner message. All the elements of your email (images, videos, text and buttons) need to be responsive to desktop, laptop, tablet and phone screen sizes.

Win-Back Campaigns

Email marketing can be a powerful tool for winning back customers you've lost. By reaching out directly to past customers and offering them incentives to return, you can increase your chances of re-engaging with them and bringing them back to your business. Here are some tips for using email marketing to win back customers:

Identify

First you need to identify who these customers are. Search your list for those who have purchased from you previously but haven’t for a certain period of time. If you’re running a membership, this will be easy because their subscriptions will have expired or been cancelled. You may also want to include lost members who simply did not renew because of a lapsed credit card. It’s possible they just forgot. Your email might be just the reminder they were hoping for!

Calculate

Calculate the value of each client. You may already have worked out a cost to acquire a new clients vs. the cost to maintain one. What is the value of each customer to you over a period of time?

Incentivize

For prior customers who left simply because they didn’t see the value anymore, you may want to offer an incentive to give your service another try. A free trial, discount or bonus offerings could be just the incentive for your former client to become a current client again.

Follow up

Didn’t get a response the first time? Send your email again, or follow up with a new message. You can sweeten your offer, but just be sure to stay true to yourself. Make sure the time and effort you’re expending on winning back this customer is going to be worth it in the end, and doesn’t feel like you’re bombarding your client. Remember, you might know what your ideal clients need, but they might not know, or they simply might not be ready.

Analyze

Keep track of how many customers you're able to win back and what strategies are working best for you. Segment your list so that you have a separate segment containing only your win-back clients. You will likely want to address them with different messages than regular clients. This will help you optimize your campaign and improve your results over time.

Reminders and announcements

Here is a great chance to overtly sell products and services to your clientele. After all, they’ve already expressed interest in your work, and may have already purchased from you. From selling off older products and courses bundled at a discount, to announcing brand new exciting offerings to come, your newsletter is the perfect vehicle. Here are a few other ways to use reminders and announcements to stay in close touch with your current and prospective website members.

Event reminders

Whether it’s a live event, webinar, or in-person meeting, event reminders are crucial to maximizing the likelihood of good attendance. Most people forget what they signed up for, never mind the date and time. The good news is the vast majority of these kinds of reminders can be done on autopilot using various kinds of software. Most platforms offering webinars can be embedded into your website, and reminders go out automatically. If your event is in-person, you can use Eventbrite to set up reminders at certain intervals or even a few minutes before the event starts.

Product or service updates

If you’re running a membership website, it’s crucial that you keep your content updated. You can use email to automate reminders that new content is available on your website. If you are offering a new service, remember to let your tribe know. Tell them what’s new about it, how it differs from your current offerings, and what is the primary benefit to your client. Another service update that can be very effective is to remind potential buyers of your money-back guarantee. Your next new student, member or product buyer might be 90% convinced that your program is for them. But what about the 10%. You might be able to cover it with a 30 or 60-day money back guarantee.

Special occasion discounts and incentives

Whether it’s Black Friday or the 4th of July or anything in between, seasonal discounts are not only welcome but almost expected in most industries. You never know who on your list might be just hovering on the verge of buying from you, and that discount or free trial just seals the deal.

Surveys and polls

You’d be amazed at how willing people are to help you understand what they need. Don’t be afraid to send out surveys asking for feedback on your latest webinar or course. Polls can help you understand more about your community’s interests and values, which can help you craft future services and promotions. Let’s say you teach yoga online and you discover by poll that your students like a particular charity. Now you have a prize for your next draw or incentive.

Industry news

Sharing industry news and developments not only helps keep your readers up to date on the latest developments in their field, , but it also helps to position you as an industry influencer. If you are a trainer or coach, your students and clients are going to be interested in any new government regulations, particularly in the healthcare field. Technological advancements are also going to be of interest, including software or tools recently made available to professionals in your field. In addition to announcement s about events that you may be putting on, remember to let your clients know about industry events that they may not want to miss, or that you especially recommend.

Ready to get started on creating some awesome connections with your followers?

Start with a SubHub membership website. The framework and design templates are all included.

Open a free trial today

What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

Tech companies are really good at coming up with innovative products or services that change the very nature of how we do business. Without Skype, Basecamp, Uber, and so on, we’d still be struggling with communication failure, data silos and project chaos. However, when it comes to selling technology or making laymen understand it, tech companies fail big time. The minute marketers try to get a word in about creativity, disruption or conversion, the wisest of tech entrepreneurs clam up. Techies continue to find refuge in doing what everyone else is doing and sending out the same boring emails that their peers are sending. We need to break this cycle and make tech entrepreneurs understand some fundamental facts about email marketing. What we need is a cross of Richard Branson and Elon Musk to make technology and innovation more appealing to the end customer. Content Writing clear and crisp content that connects with the reader has been a thorn in the side for most techies. In the war between marketers and techies, it is usually the techie that wins. And if that doesn’t happen, the result is a 50-50 chaotic mix that confuses the reader even more. Thrice a week, I get emails from TechTarget, a site for tech pros that shares industry news and expert advice. These emails are so dull and lifeless that most of the time, I move them to trash without even opening them. The content of these articles is really good but that knowledge comes only after you open the emails. What if you are not, unlike me, duty-bound to read tech emails? Chances are, you’ll end up deleting these emails. What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

Now here are some ideas how this can be changed… Questions: Look at the following email from ElegantThemes. Including simple question words like “why,” “how” and “what” in your subject line can create inquisitiveness in your reader and encourage him to click. What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

Catchy headlines: I love this headline – “Man Bites Dog” – from Business Applications Digest (TechTarget again). Although there is no continuance in the body of the story, the headline is good enough to get a click. Think of catchy headlines as your favorite crostini or meatballs. Do you like them mushy or soggy? Apply the same rules to your email headlines. What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

Storytelling: Using storytelling in your emails is better than click-baiting – it doesn’t just attract readers but also keeps them hooked. It encourages recall too. Everyone loves a good story; it’s in our DNA and no one can fight it. Product pitches: When it comes to promotional emails, things can become sticky very quickly. Here are a few things you can learn from this email from a project management SaaS provider: soon after I signed up for Wrike, I got this email from their founder and CEO, which I think works way better than getting an email from some sales rep. It’s a perfect example of how straightforward, honest pitches should be. It doesn’t have images or color, but the content does all the talking. [comments mine] What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

A lot of these tips aren’t new, but what I am trying to prove here is that even boring software businesses can turn their brand around with the help of crisp and catchy content. Layout What I always fail to understand is why tech emails have to be so colorless. Blues and whites seem to be their only choices of colors. I love what CyberLink has tried here. It uses bold pictures and colors, and the layout is incredibly clean and user-friendly. What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

If however, you want to send strictly text emails and still want them to make them more aesthetically pleasing, here are some layout styles you can follow. These layouts are designed to provide enough breathing space between each section and allow you to categorize news/stories in a hierarchy of importance. This not only makes them easy on the eyes but also ensures your most important messages are not missed. What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

It is about time technology sites and software providers started making their emails a little more pleasing to the eye rather than those immensely cluttered and randomly thrown-together lists of links. Apart from a few forward-thinking startups, no one seems to have mastered the art of aesthetic email marketing. That said, well-designed emails need not be expensive or resource-intensive. An uncomplicated email marketing suite such as GetResponse makes designing and optimizing emails with personalized layouts a breeze, with pre-designed email templates, free stock images, and a responsive email builder that doesn’t need coding. Frequency We come across the “right times” and “right number of times” to send email all over the place. And every study varies from every other study in its results, industry and insights. While Rohan Ayyar wrote the seminal post on email timings over at the Search Engine People blog, he offered a nail-on-the-head sum up: “Persistence is key, together with content quality and segmentation.” If your website generates a lot of awesome content and a weekly or monthly roundup won’t do justice to all of it, try customizing your email lists based on the type of content and handing over the control to your subscribers by asking them to select the frequency and type of emails they wish to receive. While you’re in the formative phase of your email marketing strategy, lock in the schedule for your drip campaigns, newsletters and promotional emails. Here’s a prototype that might help: What Tech Entrepreneurs Still Don’t Get About Email Marketing

As they say, strike the iron while it is hot – send newsletters more frequently in the first two months after people sign up for your emails. In the next 2 months, reduce the frequency to 2 a week or less, so as to not annoy people. If you still see people unsubscribing from your mailing lists, reduce the frequency even further. If you provide SaaS-based or similar services with annual (or periodic) renewals, start increasing the frequency of your emails after 10 months or so, as the renewal date draws near. Takeaway Tactics The days of “spray and pray” marketing are long over. In the MarketingSherpa Email Summit 2015, a lot of ideas on content, layout and frequency were discussed; give this case study a quick read and sign up here if you’d like video replays of the sessions delivered to your inbox.cas If you don’t have time to do either, here are some quick tips: • Create something easy to remember about your product/service. • Infuse feelings in your messages. • Tell great stories that can be shared. • Give a hierarchal structure to your layout. • The “rule of thumb” in white space is to have 40-60 pixels between elements. Finally, segment your lists and customize and personalize your emails to keep your subscribers engaged. Retaining an existing customer (or subscriber) needs far less work than acquiring a new one. I’ll leave you with a quote from Diana Primeau, Director of Member Services at CNET: “I work in a world where it doesn’t matter how many subscribers we have. It's about more engagement.”

About The Author

Tracy Vides - Digital Content Strategist Tracy is a content strategist and serial blogger who gives small businesses and entrepreneurs online marketing advice. Hit her up any time on Google+ for a chat. You can also find her on Twitter.

5 Email Missteps Every Online Marketer Must Know

Email is by far one of the best digital marketing solutions to have in your toolbox. However, with this approach there is plenty of room for error amid an industry rife with regulations; delivery, filtering and other technology concerns and a glut of ever-evolving best practices. While email marketing is definitely not rocket science, there is a certain degree of skill and artistry involved in crafting a winning email campaign. Proceed with abandon and it’s likely you’ll end up wasting time and money on failed email campaigns. Email campaign failure can happen for a multitude of reasons, and the 5 missteps listed below are among the most common and easily avoidable offenses that every online marketer should take proactive measures to avoid.

Boring The Audience: There are a ton of ways online marketers can bore their audience, from lackluster subject lines to verbiage-laden text only emails, to emails that only talk about the company and provide nothing of tangible or even perceived value—the all-important “what’s in it for me” factor. While email can feel one-sided, it is really intended to be a conversation—the start of one. Savvy marketers understand this. For a better success rate, provide an enticing offer and certainly an eye-catching subject line to encourage positive open rates. Design colorful and well-branded graphics to appeal to our world’s love of visual content. Provide valuable resources, articles, offers and calls to action that truly give something to your email audience. Ultimately, think about how you can provide value to those on your email list.
Annoying The Audience: You know the feeling when you get interrupted by a little fly buzzing around your head, and then again 30 seconds later, and then yet again 30 seconds after that? Don’t be the little fly pestering people too frequently. Of course, finding the “sweet spot” for the timing tolerance of each audience takes a little experimenting, observation and an understanding of the industry in which they operate. Your audience will love hearing from you if you are providing value in a way that gives them room to breathe—to consider your office and how it fits into their own needs and objectives. Understanding the “pulse” of an industry and the standards by which they operate is a great starting point to determine a suitable frequency and timing of emails. When you find the sweet spot, you’ll know it and your audience will respond to your campaigns in kind.
Confusing The Audience: All too often online marketers try to cram too many messages into one email, trying to accomplish or convey too many things at once. There should always be one clear call to action and any messaging or imagery, and links should always direct the customer to a landing page where they can act upon that main call to action. When an email campaign vehicle is cluttered with multiple messages—to purchase one thing, call for a free consultation, follow the brand and more—the recipient can be distracted from the main reason for the email. Stick to one primary message around which all else is focused and be sure to tell your potential customer what you want them to do next. Don’t cause them to wander aimlessly around your website or landing page.
Bombarding The Audience: Marketers get excited when they’re embarking upon an email marketing campaign. It’s where the rubber meets the road. As touched on above, they often try to throw everything they've got at their audience in the form of too much written copy and too many design features such as star bursts or complicated shapes. While you can include all of these bells and whistles from a technical standpoint, it’s simply not necessary or even beneficial to do so. The best email campaigns are those that keep the design interface and messaging simple. That means clearly written and formatted content as well as clean, fresh graphics and design. Keep in mind that even the best email marketing vehicle won’t convey your message as effectively as a well-conceived and executed website. This is why the email campaign should compel the recipient to head in that direction and facilitate in an intuitive, efficient and streamlined fashion.
Missing The Audience: At a high level Email marketing seems simple enough but, when you dig into all of your options with data filters in particular to specifically target certain audiences, it becomes clear just how complex the endeavor really is. Today, online marketers have countless list segmentation options but, sadly, they often choose poorly when it comes to filtering their email list. There are many mission-critical segmentation options to consider like geographic, socioeconomic and demographic filters that allow the user to refine a list. For example, a localized Mercedes dealership would target potential customers who live within a certain zip or area code radius of their location, have certain interests and make enough in salary to afford a high end vehicle. In this way, online marketers can use list segmentation filters to target an audience with a high likelihood of being receptive to your message.

While nothing in the advertising and marketing realm with notable upside comes without risk and there are definitely ways to waste money and ruin opportunities with email marketing, there are even more ways to increase site traffic, lead generation and revenue among other goals. The key is to invest the time up front to design an effective email campaign, which starts by heeding the blunders detailed above. For extra assurance, digital marketers often enlist the help of field experts and outside voices who can consult on the preparation process and catch errors that may have otherwise been missed. When executed properly, email marketing can grow a business in a very strategic and calculated manner, not just delivering a good return on investment for a single campaign but also ultimately growing your business over the long-term.

Latest Content

How to Create an Effective Member Homepage That is Built for Retention

Your member homepage is one of the most important pages on your site. It's where members land each time they log in, and it should be designed to keep them engaged, help them easily navigate your content, and encourage them to remain active subscribers.

How to Resize Images in Bulk Using 3 Popular Tools

Resizing images in bulk is essential when optimizing photos for websites, social media, or storage. Instead of resizing each image manually, using bulk processing tools can save time and effort. This guide will walk you through three popular methods: Adobe Photoshop, Picsart, and Imageresizer.com.

1. Resizing Images in Bulk Using Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a powerful tool that allows you to resize multiple images at once using its Image Processor feature.

Steps to Resize Images in Bulk Using Photoshop:

Open Photoshop and go to File > Scripts > Image Processor.
Select the folder containing the images you want to resize.
Choose the destination folder where resized images will be saved.
Under File Type, check Resize to Fit and enter the desired width and height (e.g., 800x600 pixels).
Select the file format (JPEG, PSD, or TIFF) and adjust quality settings if needed.
Click Run, and Photoshop will resize all images in the selected folder automatically.

Pros: ✔ High-quality output ✔ Supports batch processing with additional adjustments (e.g., sharpening, color correction) ✔ Saves time when handling large projects

Cons: ✖ Requires a paid Adobe subscription ✖ May have a learning curve for beginners

2. Resizing Images in Bulk Using Picsart

Picsart is a user-friendly tool with bulk resizing capabilities, available as a desktop app or online editor.

Steps to Resize Images in Bulk Using Picsart:

Open Picsart (either the desktop app or the online version at picsart.com).
Click on Batch Editor in the tools menu.
Upload multiple images by selecting or dragging them into the editor.
Choose the Resize option and set your desired dimensions.
Apply the changes and click Export to save all resized images.

Pros: ✔ Simple, user-friendly interface ✔ Free version available ✔ Additional editing options like cropping and filters

Cons: ✖ Free version has limited features ✖ Web-based version may be slow for large batches

3. Resizing Images in Bulk Using Imageresizer.com

Imageresizer.com is a free, web-based tool that allows you to resize multiple images quickly without downloading software.

Steps to Resize Images in Bulk Using Imageresizer.com:

Go to Imageresizer.com.
Click Upload Images and select multiple files from your computer.
Set the desired width and height under the Resize Options section.
Click Resize Images to process them.
Download all resized images as a zip file.

Pros: ✔ Free and easy to use ✔ No software installation required ✔ Fast processing for small batches

Cons: ✖ Limited customization options compared to Photoshop ✖ Requires an internet connection

Final Thoughts

Whether you're a professional designer or just need to resize images quickly, these three tools offer great solutions:

Use Photoshop for high-quality, advanced bulk resizing.
Use Picsart for a balance of simplicity and features.
Use Imageresizer.com for quick, free, and online resizing.

Choose the tool that best suits your needs and start resizing images efficiently today!

Case Study: Starting an Online Yoga Studio Website

Yoga continues to thrive as one of the most adaptable and accessible fitness practices, making it an ideal discipline for online instruction. With minimal equipment and the flexibility to practice anywhere, transitioning from an in-person studio to an online membership-based platform is easier than ever.

Since the pandemic, the demand for virtual yoga has only grown, with more people seeking convenient ways to incorporate wellness into their daily routines. Taking your yoga classes online offers numerous advantages, including:

Global Reach – Connect with students worldwide.
Lower Overhead Costs – Eliminate expenses associated with running a physical studio.
Flexible Income Streams – Generate passive income through on-demand classes, memberships, and live sessions.
Personalised Learning – Provide students with an extensive library of yoga sessions categorised by style, duration, and focus, allowing them to tailor their practice.

Deborah Stanley, founder of ThriveYoga, successfully launched her online yoga studio with these benefits in mind. She leveraged the SubHub membership platform to create a seamless experience for her students. We spoke with her about her journey, insights, and tips for building a thriving online yoga community in 2025.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what led to you to setting up your site?

I've been a yoga teacher for 12 years and I wanted to offer my classes online so my pupils could practice at home and people who couldn't attend my in-person classes could enjoy the benefits of yoga whenever they wanted to.

Why did you decide to use SubHub and how long did it take for your website to be online?

I wanted a membership site that did everything - hosted the website, managed the members, linked to the payment method, that I could update and add to myself and offered support and back-up when I needed it.

How involved were you in developing the website, and did you have any experience in creating a website before?

I was involved in building the website from scratch and worked closely with the developers to ensure the site worked as I needed it to. I have created a very basic website for my in-person classes before.

How hands on are you with updating your site? Do you create everything yourself, do you have any staff, or do you outsource?

I create everything myself. I write a weekly blog and add a weekly video myself. I don't have any staff, except a slightly more tech-savvy and willing-to-help husband.

How much time do you spend updating your website?

I don't make many changes to it apart from writing my weekly blog and setting up my weekly video. How do you interact with members and what’s the key to keeping them happy? I keep in contact with them via my blog, newsletters and social media. A variety of different classes and different information about yoga keeps people happy, plus a smooth-running, straightforward membership process with no surprises or glitches so they can view their videos whenever they want to.

How has SubHub enabled you to grow?

I am able to teach yoga to many more people than I could in my in-person classes and potentially make more money from doing so.

What kind of content is most popular on your website and why do you think that is?

The videos - people join Thrive Yoga to practice yoga with an experienced teacher who offers varied classes suitable for all abilities.

How have you grown your email subscribers and how do you manage them?

I have not done much advertising yet but some members have found me through word-of-mouth, the Thrive Yoga Facebook page and Google search. I manage them via Mailchimp.

How important is your website for your business?

My website IS Thrive Yoga. Without it I can't offer the videos or the membership.

Now that you've created a website, how do you make money from it?

I sell a monthly membership package.

From your experience, what are the basic steps somebody needs to take to setup and develop a successful website?

Help from an expert - it is extremely time-consuming if you don't know what you are doing. To develop it you need to be consistent with what you are offering in a clear and easily-understandable way.

What advice would you give to somebody thinking of starting their own website with SubHub?

I would say that if they don't have any experience of putting together a website or membership site then getting everything done 'all under one roof' with SubHub rather than trying to piece individual bits together using lots of different providers saves time, sanity and money. SubHub has yoga membership website temples that you get started with.

What can people expect from your site or company the next 6 or 12 months?

I'll be consistently delivering good yoga classes and focusing on marketing strategies to grow my membership.

Free membership ebook

Download our five-step guide to a profitable membership website

Client Spotlight: Melody White of Sacred Space NC

Melody White launched Sacred Space Online to provide comprehensive support for yoga teachers and students. Her vision was to create an online platform offering teacher training resources, expert sequencing guidance, and a full studio of yoga classes based on Samdhaana Yoga’s healing movement patterns. After extensive research, she chose SubHub for its affordability, support and ease of management.

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what led to you to setting up your site?

This website has long been the dream and vision of Melody White, founder of Samdhaana Yoga and owner of Sacred Space yoga studio and Sacred Space Online.

Her vision was to create a site that provided:

1. Full online support for our in-house Yoga Teacher Training programs.

2. Online resources for yoga teachers to learn how to masterfully sequence yoga classes and to understand patterns of movement and the energetic aspects of the yoga practice

3. A full online studio of yoga classes, all of which are founded upon Samdhaana Yoga's healing patterns of movement, and which build precept upon precept, allowing our site members to evolve their own yoga practices seamlessly, at their own pace, from beginner to advanced; along with specialized yoga videos to address using yoga to maintain a healthy back, reduce stress and anxiety, and more.

Why did you decide to use SubHub and how long did it take for your website to be online?

We thoroughly researched all of our options for creating a subscription-based website. We needed a beautiful robust site that we could manage on our own, but that also offered us support when we need it, all at an affordable price. SubHub was by far the best option for meeting our needs. The process took 6 months only because we had to put the project on hold for several months - had we not, it probably would have taken about 2 - 3 months.

How involved were you in developing the website, and did you have any experience in creating a website before?

We had SubHub custom design our site. We had a very clear vision of how we wanted the site to look and function and SubHub's team did a brilliant job of bringing that to life. We also created all of our written content and a substantial library of videos before we started the process of creating the site. I have managed a number of websites before, but I've never done the technical side of creating a website.

How hands on are you with updating your site? Do you create everything yourself, do you have any staff, or do you outsource?

We are 100% hands on, from writing our content to filming and editing our videos.

How much time do you spend updating your website?

I spend from 1 to 3 hours per week updating the website. It's always evolving and we're always adding new content.

How do you interact with members and what’s the key to keeping them happy?

We interact with members through social media, monthly e-newsletters and by promptly responding to any questions or comments they email to us. The key to keeping them happy is to be extremely responsive to their needs and wants. For instance, we created our Yoga for Runner series of videos at the request of some of our clients who are runners.

How has SubHub enabled you to grow?

It enables us to reach people worldwide, far beyond what we would ever be able to do with our physical yoga studio (which is located in a town with a population of just 10,000).

What kind of content is most popular on your website and why do you think that is?

Our Online Yoga Classes and Specialized Yoga videos are the most popular content on our site because we offer something for everyone, from 5 minute Workday Quickie routines to full classes (Beginner, Foundations, Vinyasa, Power Hour, Restorative). We also have a lot of free content, no subscription required, so that people can dip their toes in the water before taking the plunge and subscribing.

How have you grown your email subscribers and how do you manage them?

Our email list has grown gradually and organically over time as our physical studio has grown. Our website subscribers are now being added to that list. We are very consistent in communicating, sending out an e-newsletter on the first of every month, as well as emails about special events or to highlight specific features of the website. Our goal is to keep people informed without pestering them with too many emails.

How important is your website for your business?

Our website is absolutely essential for the growth and future of our business.

Now that you've created a website, how do you make money from it?

We make money through subscriptions to our online yoga classes, as well as separate subscriptions that provide teaching tutorials and other resources for yoga teachers.

What has been the most effective way to drive traffic to your website?

This is an area we are constantly working on and experimenting with. So far, Facebook and Facebook ads have been the most effective tools for us.

From your experience, what are the basic steps somebody needs to take to setup and develop a successful website?

1. Decide what the main purpose of your site is.

2. Think about what kind of experience you want your site visitors to have.

3. When you're online, pay attention and identify sites that you like and dislike. This will help you decide what features to include or avoid when you set up your own site.

4. Create as much of your initial content (written and otherwise) as possible before you begin the process. This will help tremendously in thinking about how to set up your site to best deliver that content.

5. Get professional help in areas where you or your team do not have the skills needed. For instance, if writing is not your thing, there are many talented and affordable freelance writers who can help you. First impressions really matter. For us, it was well worth paying to have SubHub custom design our site.

6. Be prepared for some bumps along the road, but keep going! What advice would you give to somebody thinking of starting their own website with SubHub? Take advantage of SubHub's excellent support - schedule a phone call to ask questions and then start a free trial so you can learn more.

Final thoughts

Building a successful website requires careful planning, clear goals and a strong user experience. By defining your site's purpose, researching design preferences and preparing content in advance, you can streamline the development process. Seeking professional design can ensure a polished final product. While challenges may arise, persistence is key. For those considering SubHub, start by opening a free trial and leverage their outstanding customer support to help you build your website.

Case Study: Launching a Financial Advice Membership Website

Eric Tyson is the best-selling author of personal finance guides Let’s Get Real About Money and Personal Finance For Dummies (the first non-computer title in the ‘For Dummies’ series.) After working as a management consultant for a number of Fortune 500 firms, he started offering personal financial advice back in 1990.

Since then, his work has featured in hundreds of local and national publications, while he has also lectured at the University of California and even appeared as a guest speaker at the White House.

In 2008, with traditional print media on the decline, EricTyson.com was launched in an effort to reach a wider audience. We asked him a few questions about running the website.

How and why did you get started?

Over the years, I have seen many otherwise intelligent people make major mistakes in managing their money. Additionally, much of the personal finance writing and reporting I see is biased, jargon-laden and, in some cases, filled with bad advice.

For example, rather than telling people the hard truth - that one must live within one's means as a prerequisite to building wealth - many publications offer unrealistic ‘get rich without taking risks’ hype.

I came to realize that I could reach many more people and a more economically diverse audience through writing and I began my website out of concern that I wouldn't be able to continue to reach folks through traditional newspapers.

I don’t accept endorsement deals or fees of any type from companies in the financial services industry. As such, readers can be assured that they’re getting real, honest, independent advice.

Did you face any problems in the beginning?

Given the unfolding financial crisis in 2008, I had plenty to write about. Over the years, I've been able to cover timely topics in many areas of personal finance and the business has continued to grow naturally.

Few people realize the enormous conflicts of interest that exist when small publishing enterprises (websites, local newspapers, magazines) give away its content for free and generates revenue from advertising.

Whenever I go to a ‘free’ site, I spend time thinking about what the agenda is. If they accept advertising, this creates a major conflict of interest.

In order for me to continue offering impartial advice, I have to charge my members.

How has SubHub enabled you to grow your audience?

SubHub does all the technical background stuff that I lacked the expertise and desire to do. Their pricing is fair and they are available for service in a timely fashion.

The subscription model works well, with my members paying an annual fee of $19.95 - which is tax deductible! This allows me freedom to provide objective expertise, free of commercial interest, as I offer insights on breaking news stories, archived articles, exclusive book excerpts and much more.

How do you interact with members and what's the key to keeping them happy?

Our annual fee is modest and we allow a free-look period for folks to make sure that getting expert personal finance insights and information is for them.

Members get priority when it comes to answering questions, and I receive letters and emails from folks all the time. I enjoy these interactions because it allows me to understand what folks are thinking about and struggling with. While you can't make everyone happy all of the time, if you offer good information at a fair price along with good service, you will generally keep people happy.

Final thoughts

Using a subscription model, Eric ensures his content remains free from commercial influence, allowing readers to access expert insights with confidence. The SubHub platform has helped streamline the technical side of his business, enabling him to focus on delivering high-quality financial guidance. Through affordable memberships and direct interactions with subscribers, Eric continues to grow his audience.

Free membership ebook

Download our five-step guide to a profitable membership website

Case Study: Starting a Magazine-Style Membership Website

Herself360 is an online magazine that supports and encourages women everywhere offering them a space to connect through stories. Herself360 fosters a community where women can find inspiration, advice, and solidarity.

Co-founded by Cathie Briggette, Herself360 is a magazine-style membership website designed for women who "embrace, engage, and support each other." Covering a wide range of topics—including lifestyle, finance, news, fashion, food, and wellness—the platform remains committed to amplifying women's voices and championing empowerment.

Herself360 is a relatively new venture, and was launcSince its launch in January 2018 on the SubHub platform, Herself360 has evolved into a thriving online space where women can exchange experiences, find valuable insights, and build meaningful connections.ed in January 2018 on the SubHub platform.

A brand new online magazine

Cathie and her co-founders knew they wanted to create an online media magazine with a membership option. But they didn’t want to build the whole website from scratch by themselves, so they turned to Google to research their options, and there was SubHub.

Cathie says, “I loved the pricing structure [of SubHub] - that was really good. Because we had no members whatsoever, I liked the way that the pricing tiers worked: so as we started out it was not so much and then we got bigger the price got comparably bigger. I really like that. I liked the examples that you showed because a lot of them were of what we were thinking about doing, so that was helpful too.”

No pressure

Cathie also appreciated our low-pressure sales approach. She says, “I did a trial and Louise was the one who got in touch me. She was just so helpful and easy to talk to. At the time I wasn't quite ready to make a decision but she was ready to wait for me. She was right with me all the way through all of us [the co-founders] making the decision, and she made it easy to make that decision. That made me feel much more comfortable.”

Speedy setup

Cathie took advantage of our Speedy Setup Service, which got her new site up and running in a month, and meant that her and her team were able to concentrate on doing all the other tasks a new business requires, without having to worry about their website.

Cathie says, “It was kind of bumpy in the beginning - we didn’t have a logo yet and we hadn't picked our font and our colours – but the support was really good. Jean was our main person to get in touch with, and everything that we were looking to do she just made it happen.

“I think the biggest thing with us was that we were a start-up company and there was only three of us. We had a whole bunch of other things that were going on, so it was really great that we could throw stuff at you guys and then you could start building it in the background while we were trying to get the rest of our stuff together.”

Marketing savvy

Initially Herself360 was open to everyone, with none of the articles pay-walled behind a subscription. Cathie and her team were keen to use all of their content to generate interest and awareness – a canny marketing strategy.

Cathie says, “We wanted to get people into it first. To see what the site was about, understand what it was we were doing, and be interested in it before we locked it all down.”

Herself360 has now done just that – a few articles are still available on the site to be read by anyone, but the majority of the content, and the community, has been transferred to a members-only area. The site continues to grow, and reaches over a thousand women every month. A wonderful achievement after only six months online, and we’re sure they’ll continue to go from strength to strength.

A bit of advice

Finally, we asked Cathie if she had any advice for someone who wanted to set up a membership site. She said, “I would say you should try SubHub. They're really good - they're very easy to use and their customer service is excellent. The people over there are very easy to talk to and understand what it is that you're looking for and how you want it to show up. The SubHub platform is very comprehensible, and so far everything is just been really easy to do.”

How to Write the Perfect Article: Content That Keeps Your Members Coming Back for More

As a membership website owner, your primary task is to write content for your members. This is especially important if you are collecting recurring payments from them in return for fresh content. So obviously, you want every article you write to shine!

Writing the perfect article may sound like a daunting task, but with a little planning and some best practices, you can craft content that captivates your members while imparting real information or advice. The steps here are a great start. The only missing piece is to make sure all your content has your distinctive stamp on the voice, tone, and flavour of your articles.

Know Your Audience

This should be easy since your members have already committed to you. Therefore, they already know, like and trust you. But before you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), take a moment to think a little more deeply about who they are, their habits, their needs and wants. You may even know some of them personally. This is a golden opportunity to tailor your piece to answer a question you know they have, or to speak to a particular segment of your group.

Questions to ask yourself:

What does my audience care about?
What problems are they trying to solve?
What kind of tone will resonate with them (formal, conversational, humorous)?

For example, as a nutrition expert, your membership is varied. Some may be vegan, some paleo, some who like everything! They are each going to have slightly different problems day to day. You could answer questions like “is there such a thing as too much protein?”, or “how many carbs is too many?” The list is endless!.

Start with a Strong Hook

First impressions matter. The opening of your article should grab your member’s attention and make them want to continue reading. A strong hook could be:

Examples:

A compelling statistic: “Did you know that over 90% of Americans fail to meet daily vegetable intake recommendations?”
A question: “Are you struggling to understand what ‘eating clean’ really means?”
A personal story: “Last year, I decided to cut out processed sugar. The first week was tough, but the results were life-changing.”

Structure Your Article with Care

A well-structured article keeps readers engaged and ensures your points come across clearly. Follow this basic structure:

Introduction: Introduce the topic and explain why it’s important (e.g., “Why meal prepping saves time and money while improving health.”)
Body: Break down the main points into easily digestible sections, using subheadings and bullet points.
Conclusion: Summarize key takeaways and provide a call-to-action (e.g., “Start your journey to better nutrition by trying these three simple meal prep tips!”).

Using subheadings, lists, and short paragraphs also improves readability, especially for online content.

Write with Clarity and Confidence

Good writing is clear, concise, and confident. Avoid jargon and unnecessary fluff that might confuse or bore your members. Instead (continuing with our nutritionist example):

Use active voice: “Include leafy greens in your meals” is stronger than “Leafy greens should be included in meals.”
Be concise: Replace long explanations with direct, impactful sentences.
Explain complex concepts: Use examples, such as describing how fiber aids digestion by comparing it to a “broom” sweeping out your digestive system.

Add Value with Examples and Data

Readers appreciate actionable advice and real-world examples. Back up your points with data, case studies, or personal experiences. For example:

Share meal plans, recipes, or client success stories to make your points relatable.
Share a success story or cautionary tale to illustrate your point.

Example: Rather than saying, “Fiber is important for digestion,” say, “Studies show that increasing dietary fiber can reduce the risk of heart disease by up to 30%.”

Include a Call to Action

Never leave your readers hanging. A strong call to action (CTA) directs them on what to do next. Whether it's subscribing to your newsletter, leaving a comment, or sharing your article, make your CTA clear and compelling.

This is also a great place to upsell your members. Perhaps you are introducing a new program or challenge. Invite your members to apply to get a free pass or fast action discount.

Example CTA: “Ready for the next level? Join my new 90-day no-carb challenge for free!”

Use Gripping Headlines

Your headline is the first thing readers see, so make it count. A good headline is clear, intriguing, and gives a promise of value. Tools like CoSchedule Headline Analyzer can help refine your titles for maximum impact.

Instead of “Nutrition Tips,” try “7 Science-Backed Nutrition Tips to Transform Your Health.”
Use power words like “Ultimate,” “Proven,” or “Life-Changing” to add impact.

Use Subheads and Bullet Points

Breaking up your text with subheads and bullet points makes it easier for readers to scan and digest your content. This is especially important for online readers who tend to skim rather than read word-for-word.

Use subheads to introduce new sections.
Use bullet points for lists or key takeaways.

Inject Personal Stories and Opinions

Adding personal stories or opinions makes your article more relatable and engaging. Share your experiences, challenges, and insights to build a connection with your readers.

Example: Offer opinions on debated topics, like plant-based diets or intermittent fasting, to spark discussion.

Edit Ruthlessly

This is a phrase that you sometimes here from editors and publishers. What they mean is that you should be ruthless with your editing. You many have just written the cutest, most creative title in the world for your article. But does it tell your member what the article is about?

Consider a cute headline like “You Say Potato, I Say Potahto!”, or “Do You Want Fries With That?”. Do these tell you what the article is about? Not really. It’s usually a good idea to err on the side of the obvious. Something like 5 Ways to Ditch French Fries for Good – With No Regrets”. Now you have a headline that is still engaging but is also more explanatory.

Your first draft is rarely perfect. Once you’ve finished writing, you should also take the time to edit your article. Look for:

Spelling and grammar errors.
Sentences or sections that are unclear or repetitive.
Opportunities to improve flow and readability.

Tools like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor can help polish your writing, but don’t underestimate the value of a second pair of eyes. Ask a friend or colleague for feedback.

Final Thoughts

Writing the perfect article isn’t about following a rigid formula; it’s about understanding your audience, communicating clearly, and providing value. And don’t forget to be authentic in your writing. Use your writing voice to spark or deepen your connection with your members. They want to hear from you, in your unique style. So give the people what they want!

Start Your Membership Website Today for Free!

Website Design Trends for 2025

It's a fact that website design styles evolve rapidly from year to year, reflecting changes in technology, user behavior and aesthetics. Just think about how far websites have come since the early days of the late 1990's and early 2000's. Back then, websites were packed with dense information, featuring clunky elements like left side navigation, small text, minimal images and definitely no video. A quick trip to the Wayback Machine can offer a glimpse into that era’s chaotic, cluttered, and often confusing designs.

Here is a snapshot of microsoft.com from way back in 2002:

Microsoft website design in 2002 - from the Way Back machine

By today’s standards, those early websites are hard to imagine as functional, especially with modern design's focus on clarity, simplicity and seamless navigation. The emphasis now is on user-centric design, where every element serves a clear purpose and enhances the user experience. We’ve come a long way - and aren’t you glad?

Now here is microsoft.com in 2025:

Now let's explore at a few web design trends shaping 2025. There won't be a huge change from last year but there are some impactful innovations redefining what websites can do and how they look.

Trend #1: Bold colors, simplistic hero sections and dynamic interactions

In 2025, the shift toward bold simplicity continues to redefine website hero banners. Instead of traditional background images with overlay text, bold solid colors paired with striking typography and subtle animations have become the hallmark of modern design.

Subtle motion effects or gradient animations give your hero section a dynamic feel.
Large, bold typography paired with clean layouts ensures clarity and accessibility.
Strategic micro-interactions, like hover effects or interactive call-to-action (CTA) buttons, engage visitors without overwhelming them.

This trend aligns with the continued focus on minimalism and extreme contrast, but with added interactivity.

The goal is to capture attention instantly while making navigation intuitive. This approach eliminates the distractions of complex visuals, ensuring your core message stands out. It’s not just visually appealing - it’s functional and user-centric.

Trend #2: Story-centric design

Storytelling remains an essential element of web design in 2025, but it has evolved into a more immersive and interactive experience. Websites now guide users through tailored narratives.

Video-driven narratives: Include fullscreen videos or interactive video segments that walk users through your brand’s story, creating emotional connections.

The essence of storytelling hasn’t changed: it’s still about showing the customer’s transformation. However, the delivery has advanced, making the journey more compelling than ever. Pair these stories with testimonials, infographics and explainer videos to deepen the connection and emphasize real-world results.

Trend #3: Membership, courses and monetization

As creator-driven economies continue to thrive, websites are evolving into comprehensive hubs for monetization. In 2025, membership and course platforms have reached new levels of sophistication, offering seamless integration with diverse revenue streams. By uniting these monetization methods on a single platform, you can provide a versatile and engaging experience that caters to the varied needs of your audience, fostering loyalty while maximizing income potential.

Offer Tiered Memberships: Provide different membership levels with varying benefits (e.g., basic, premium, VIP) to cater to a wider audience.
Skill-Based Training: Develop in-depth courses on a specific skill or topic that appeals to your target audience.
Sell Virtual or In-Person Events: Host workshops, webinars, or conferences with paid tickets.

Trend #4: Focus on Community

More website owners are moving away from Facebook groups and other social media platforms to house their communities. The shift away from social media giants continues to gain traction in 2025 as creators and businesses reclaim control over their communities. Websites now serve as fully-equipped hubs for interaction and connection.

Built-in Forum: Many membership platforms now include built-in forums. SubHub's forum feature allows segmentation by member group, enabling restricted access for premium memberships or separate forums for different groups.
Member Directory: Members can create profiles with photos, videos, and text for others to search and view.

The takeaway for 2025

Website design in 2025 revolves around clarity, connection, and control. Bold visuals, immersive storytelling, monetization tools and community-building features will let your website deliver both a memorable experience and measurable results.

AI Tools for Membership Websites: How AI Can Help You Attract and Convert New Members

AI Tools in some ways are nothing new. Much of the marketing software that has been available for several years could be considered AI. But in the last couple of years, AI tools have come to mean something more useful and elaborate, especially when it comes to marketing.

As a membership website owner, you probably already spend a lot of time on marketing, so you know how important it is to a thriving business. Consistently getting new members to join your website is the most important mission you have, apart from consistently providing value to current members. Artificial intelligence (AI) can help. By using AI’s capabilities, you can create personalized experiences, fine-tune your marketing, and keep your website fresh and engaging. Here are 3 smart ways to harness the power of AI to keep your business growing.

Speak Directly to Your Visitor with Personalized Marketing

Everyone responds better to a personalized communication than a generic one. AI can look at data from social media, website activity, and even search habits to create tailored marketing messages. When your messages feel personal, people are more likely to pay attention and consider joining.

AI Tools: Facebook or Google ad campaign account, AdRoll to retarget ads based on user interactions with your website, Mailchimp to create personalized email campaigns, Google Analytics to track website visits.

Example: Dynamic advertising tools can be used to recommend your membership site to people based on their browsing history or preferences. For instance, if someone recently searched for "online fitness programs," an AI tool like AdRoll or Facebook retargeting ads could identify this and display an ad for your fitness-related membership site, highlighting its most relevant features. If the person seeing the ad clicks on it and ends up contacting you or signing up for something on your website, you can use the same information to target relevant emails to them. Google Analytics can track the process and record the conversion as well.

Find the Right Audience with Predictive Analytics

AI can help you figure out who is most likely to become a member by analyzing patterns in user behavior. This means you can focus on the people who are most interested in what you offer. AI-driven customer relationship management (CRM) tools can help you create targeted campaigns that really resonate.

Tools: Mailchimp for personalized email campaigns and audience segmentation, HubSpot CRM to identify the leads most likely to convert based on behaviour, Google Analytics to track user behaviour and identify engagement patterns, Pipedrive CRM.

Example: Customer relationship management tools like Pipedrive use AI to help you understand what your website visitors are doing and how you can use that information. It can grade leads by which are more likely to convert, and allow you to send personalized email campaigns and follow-ups.

For instance, someone who visits your pricing page multiple times and opens every email you send may be more likely to join your site. These tools can also remind you to follow up with leads at the right time, such as after they’ve completed your free trial but haven’t subscribed yet.

Let’s say you’re a nutrition membership website. AI tools can tell you if visitors are engaging with your website in the morning, in which case you could offer a “daily breakfast menu” to entice these potential members.

Turn Visitors Into Members with Chatbots

AI chatbots can answer questions, guide visitors through your site, and even help them sign up—all in real time. This instant interaction can make a big difference, especially if you have your chatbot offer free resources, like eBooks or webinars, to showcase the value of your membership.

Tools: There are multiple chatbots available, and most are easy to implement on your SubHub website. Simply add the provided embed code to your site and watch the magic happen! Popular chatbots are Intercom, Tidio, Drift, and ManyChat.

Example: Chatbots are smarter than you think. They can actually do a lot more than just tell your visitor to leave an email address and someone will get back to them. For instance, let’s say your membership website sells professional development courses. When a visitor lands on your site, a chatbot can ask a short series of questions. Based on the answers, the bot can direct your visitor to a particular article, course, or webinar. They can also handle common questions in real time. For instance, a visitor might ask “What’s included in the membership?”, “Can I cancel anytime?”, or “Do you offer discounts?” Your chatbot can provide instant, consistent answers, improving user experience and reducing bounce rates.

There you have it—three powerful ways to harness AI to attract and convert visitors into members, plus strategies to keep them engaged and coming back. No tool is foolproof, and AI doesn’t replace your expertise. But it can help you unlock your website’s full potential, making it more efficient and engaging at the same time. Start small, experiment with tools, and see how AI can elevate your membership website.

BONUS CONTENT: Quick Video - How to Install Tidio Chatbot into Your SubHub Website

Open a Free SubHub Trial Today

Using Icons in Your Website Design

When building your homepage, don’t overlook the many benefits of incorporating icons into your website design. These simple yet impactful graphics can elevate your site's aesthetic appeal, enhance user experience, and effectively communicate information at a glance. In today’s visually driven digital landscape, icons are a must-have tool for engaging visitors and guiding them through your content seamlessly.

Why icons matter in website design

Icons are more than just decorative elements. They are functional, versatile, and powerful. Their elementary forms can enrich minimal content and provide structure to your pages by visually dividing text sections. This not only improves readability but also ensures that your content feels organised and approachable.

Icons have a unique ability to encapsulate complex ideas and instantly convey meaning intuitively. Unlike lengthy text, icons communicate universally, making them invaluable for diverse audiences or websites with an international reach.

Benefits of using icons

Highlight Key Content: Icons draw attention to specific sections of your site, such as membership benefits, special offers, or calls-to-action. By visually emphasizing important information, you can guide users to the content you most want them to engage with.
Improve Navigation: Icons make your navigation menus more intuitive. For instance, a shopping cart icon for your e-commerce store or a magnifying glass for search instantly conveys functionality, reducing cognitive load for users.
Enhance Aesthetics: Icons bring a polished and cohesive look to your site. They’re especially effective when paired with a minimalistic design approach, adding visual interest without overwhelming the layout.
Boost Accessibility: Well-designed icons can support users with visual or cognitive impairments by providing clear visual cues, ensuring a more inclusive browsing experience.
Save Space: Icons allow you to communicate more with less. For instance, a single icon can represent an action (like downloading a file) or an idea (such as sustainability), freeing up space for other design elements.

Where to find free icons

Finding high-quality icons doesn’t have to break the bank. Platforms like FontAwesome, Icons8 and Flaticon offer extensive libraries of free icons for nearly every purpose imaginable. Their user-friendly dashboards allow you to easily edit icons for color, scale and style, ensuring they align perfectly with your website’s design.

Other excellent sources for free icons include:

Font Awesome: A popular toolkit that offers scalable vector icons customizable with CSS.
Icons8: A vast collection of free and premium icons, including sets tailored for specific themes or industries.
FlatIcon: Download Free Icons and Stickers for your projects. Resources made by and for designers. PNG, SVG, EPS, PSD and CSS formats.

Tips for effectively using icons

Stay Consistent: Choose icons that share a common style or theme. This helps maintain a cohesive design throughout your site.
Prioritise Simplicity: Avoid overly complex or detailed icons. Simpler designs are easier to recognize and scale well across devices.
Match Your Brand: Ensure that the colors and style of your icons align with your brand’s identity. Customizing colors can help integrate them seamlessly into your design.
Don’t Overuse: While icons are great for enhancing design, using too many can clutter your site. Be strategic and use them to emphasise only the most important elements.

Conclusion

Icons are small but mighty elements that can transform your website into a visually engaging and user-friendly experience. Whether you’re looking to emphasise content, improve navigation, or add a professional touch, the strategic use of icons can make a big impact. Explore the creative possibilities, and let these versatile tools work their magic on your site!

Mailchimp Automation Workflows for Membership Websites

Running a membership website is rewarding, but it can be a lot to manage—especially when it comes to keeping your members engaged and organized. That’s where Mailchimp’s automated workflows come in. Think of them as your behind-the-scenes assistant, handling communication so you can focus on growing your community.

Let’s explore how Mailchimp automation works and how you can use it to streamline tasks like welcoming new members, managing cancellations, and sending renewal reminders.

What Are Mailchimp Automation Workflows?

Mailchimp’s automated workflows are like pre-programmed email sequences that respond to specific triggers. For example, when a new member signs up, an automated workflow can send a series of emails to welcome them and show them the ropes.

The best part? It all happens automatically. No more manually sending emails or keeping track of everyone’s status. Mailchimp ensures your members get the right message at the right time, making your life a lot easier.

Why Automation Matters for Membership Websites

Membership websites thrive on connection, but managing communication can be time-consuming. Automation lets you handle these tasks effortlessly:

Welcome new members with personalized emails.
Gently nudge members to renew their subscriptions.
Remove canceled members from your mailing list without awkward manual updates.

With workflows in place, you can focus less on logistics and more on creating an amazing experience for your members.

How Membership Websites Can Use Mailchimp Automation Workflows

Here are five ways you can use Mailchimp’s automation features to make your membership website run more smoothly:

1. Roll Out the Welcome Mat

First impressions count, and a thoughtful welcome series can set the tone for your members’ entire experience.

How it works:

Trigger: A new member joins your site.
What happens next:
1. Email 1: A warm welcome with an overview of your community and resources.
2. Email 2 (a few days later): Tips on getting the most out of their membership.
3. Email 3 (a week later): An invitation to an upcoming event or feature spotlight.

This series helps members feel at home and excited about their decision to join.

2. Handle Cancellations Smoothly

Cancellations are part of running a membership site, but they don’t have to create extra work. Mailchimp can automatically unsubscribe members who cancel, keeping your mailing list up-to-date and avoiding awkward follow-ups.

How it works:

Trigger: Your membership platform (via an integration like Zapier) notifies Mailchimp of a cancellation.
What happens next:
1. The member is automatically unsubscribed or moved to an inactive list.
2. If the unsubscribed member has been moved to another list, you can send a polite goodbye email thanking them for their time and inviting them back anytime. (List members have to be “subscribed” to received list emails.)

3. Send Friendly Renewal Reminders

Keeping members engaged is key to reducing churn. A well-timed reminder can make all the difference when it’s time for them to renew.

How it works:

Trigger: A member’s subscription is about to expire.
What happens next:
1. 30 days before expiration: Send a friendly nudge with a renewal link.
2. 15 days before expiration: Highlight the value of their membership and what they’ll miss out on if they don’t renew.
3. 5 days before expiration: Create urgency with a final reminder—perhaps offering a special discount.

This automated workflow ensures your members don’t miss their renewal window, helping you maintain a steady membership base. This functionality is available on some membership platforms, including SubHub, but you can enhance it using Mailchimp.

4. Encourage Upgrades to Premium Tiers

If your site offers multiple membership levels, automation is perfect for nudging members to upgrade.

How it works:

Trigger: A member hits a milestone, like six months of active membership, or frequently engages with your content.
What happens next:
1. Send an email showcasing premium-tier benefits.
2. Include testimonials from happy premium members.
3. Offer a limited-time upgrade discount to create a sense of urgency.

This approach makes upgrading feel like an opportunity rather than a hard sell.

5. Keep Members in the Loop About Events

Hosting a webinar, meetup, or virtual event? Use Mailchimp to make sure everyone stays informed and excited.

How it works:

Trigger: A member registers for your event.
What happens next:
1. Email 1: Send a confirmation email with event details and a calendar link.
2. Email 2 (3 days before the event): Share a quick reminder to keep it top-of-mind.
3. Email 3 (1 hour before the event): Send a final reminder with the login link or instructions.

With automated reminders, your members are far less likely to forget or miss the event.

Getting Started with Mailchimp Automation Workflows

Here’s how to set up your workflows:

Connect Your Membership Platform: Tools like Zapier make it easy to sync data between your membership site and Mailchimp.
Use Tags and Segments to categorize your lists: Organize your email list by categories like active members, inactive members, or premium-tier subscribers with the Segments feature.
Optionally, you can use the tagging feature to tag certain members of your lists, then segment the tagged group.
Design Your Emails: Use Mailchimp’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor to set up the list or segment you want to mail to, and create a polished, on-brand email sequence.
Test Before Launching: Run a few test workflows to ensure everything works as expected.

The Bottom Line

Mailchimp automation is a game-changer for membership websites. It helps you build strong, meaningful connections with your members while saving time and simplifying operations. From welcoming new members to managing cancellations and renewals, automation keeps your community running smoothly.

Some membership platforms, including SubHub, are integrated with Mailchimp, making these types of workflows a breeze to set up. If you’re on a platform that isn’t directly integrated with Mailchimp, you can most likely use Zapier to create the connection and set up your triggers and actions.

Ready to level up your membership site? Open a free SubHub trial and dive into Mailchimp’s automated workflows.

Open a free 14-day SubHub trial

Why You Should Think of Your Content as Your Marketing

Creating a successful membership website requires a fundamental change in thinking of how you view your content. It's not just a product but a strategic marketing tool. Content is no longer just something you sell. It is the foundation of your value proposition to attract, engage and retain your audience.

Free content can act as a magnet, drawing in potential members while demonstrating the expertise and benefits your membership website offers. Meanwhile, premium content serves as the hook, enticing users to transition from casual visitors to committed subscribers. By aligning your content with both marketing objectives and member needs, you can create an ecosystem that both drives growth and revenue.

5 Steps to transform your content into a powerful marketing tool:

1. Identify what content is valuable in your market

Identifying what content is valuable in your market is crucial for creating resources that resonate with your audience and drive engagement. Start by understanding your target market's needs and pain points. Analyse trends and competitor strategies to pinpoint gaps in existing offerings and uncover opportunities to stand out.

Focus on creating content that educates, entertains or inspires. By delivering high-value content, you can establish your authority, foster trust and position yourself as an indispensable resource in your market.

2. Treat free content as a customer acquisition tool

Free content is one of the most effective tools for customer acquisition, serving as the first touchpoint to attract and engage your target audience. By offering high-quality, relevant and accessible free content, you create opportunities to showcase your expertise, build trust and demonstrate the value your product. Free content can take many forms, such as blog posts, courses, events, digital downloads or webinars.

Free content acts as a gateway to your premium offerings, drawing in potential customers who appreciate the value you’ve already provided and are more likely to invest in your paid products or services. When strategically designed, free content acts as a lead generator moving prospects through your sales funnel and turning them into loyal members.

3. Change your perspective on “free” content

Free content should be viewed as a strategic tool to drive growth and conversions. Instead of lamenting the inability to charge for every piece of online content, you should embrace free offerings as a powerful means to attract a broader audience. Free content can serve as a gateway, showcasing the value and quality of your paid subscriptions while establishing trust and credibility with potential members. By offering high-quality free content, membership websites can drive traffic and convert visitors into paying subscribers. This approach not only widens the reach of your brand but also creates a pipeline for member growth and revenue.

4. Create targeted content for new members

Purposefully create relevant content that focuses on the needs of your audience. Targeted content for new members fosters engagement and builds trust. Tailored content makes new members feel valued and understood. It could take the form of beginner-friendly tutorials, curated guides or live Q&A sessions. By focusing on the specific needs of new members, you create an environment that encourages active participation and long-term commitment.

5. Build a pathway from free to paid content

Once you’ve attracted new users with free content, the next step is to guide them toward becoming paying members. This requires a strategic blend of education, trust-building, and targeted offers:

Teaser content: Allow free users to sample parts of premium content or offer a free trial with limited-time access.
Layered memberships: Offer tiered pricing to cater to different budgets and needs. Start with an affordable basic plan and upsell advanced features or resources.
Cross-promotion: Leverage multiple revenue streams, such as selling tickets to in-person or virtual events, sell online courses or digital downloads.

Additional tips for membership success

Harness Social Media: Use platforms like TikTok and Instagram to amplify your content and connect with potential members. Share snippets of valuable insights, direct users to your website and build communities around your niche.
Invest in Analytics: Track user behavior on your site to understand what content resonates most. Use this data to refine your offerings and better address your audience's needs.
Focus on Community Building: Membership websites that foster a sense of community enjoy higher retention rates. Provide forums, live Q&A events, or exclusive webinars where members can engage with experts and peers.

Conclusion

By thinking of your content as your marketing and leveraging these strategies, you can create a thriving membership website. Success lies in understanding your audience, delivering unmatched value and nurturing a clear journey from free content to paid membership. With the right mindset and tools, your content can do more than inform - it can drive sustainable growth and profitability.

Build Your Online Audience with Virtual Events

Incorporating events into your membership website strategy can be a game-changer for boosting engagement and generating additional revenue. Including virtual events into a subscription plan can elevate the perceived value of membership and set your offerings apart from competitors

How to Run a Virtual Meeting: A Comprehensive Guide

Virtual meetings have become an integral part of modern communication, bridging the gap for businesses, organizations, and individuals worldwide. Whether a team meeting, webinar, or membership session, knowing how to run a virtual meeting effectively is a key skill. A virtual meeting is the ideal environment to encourage collaboration and boost productivity. Virtual meetings are a great way to promote your membership business too, for another way to encourage sign-up to your membership. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you set up and manage virtual meetings with ease.

Step 1: Identify the Type of Meeting

The first step in running a successful virtual meeting is to determine what kind of meeting you’re creating. Different types of virtual meetings include:

Networking events
Meet-and-greet sessions
Job interviews
Classes or courses
Private or public events
Team meetings
Membership discussions
Webinars

Whether you’re part of a company, an organization, or an entrepreneurial venture—you undoubtedly host or attend virtual meetings regularly. This is especially true if your team operates remotely or globally.

Step 2: Define the Purpose of the Meeting

Every meeting should have a clear goal. Set this at the outset. If you a recruiter, your goal might be determining if your interviewee is a good fit for the job opening. If running a course or class, what should the key outcome or takeaway be for your audience?

Step 3: Choose the Right Tools and Equipment

Now that you know what kind of meeting you want to run and its purpose, it’s time to determine the equipment and tools you’ll need to actually set it up. Here’s what you’ll need for this step:

A computer with camera and microphone. Make sure all your participants also have access to the needed equipment. Attendees can participate in the meeting via desktop, laptop, tablet or smartphone, as long as they have access to the platform you’re using.
A virtual platform. Three of the most popular in use today are Zoom, Streamyard, and Slack.

Zoom:

Zoom has many features including the ability to set up a series of meetings, and live streaming to platforms like YouTube and Facebook. What Zoom is used most is for meetings, conferences, and classes across a wide range of industries. It offers many go-to features such as screen sharing and an easy to use chat area. Meetings can be recorded with one click, and hosts can implement break-out rooms so participants can meeting smaller groups. Here is how to set up a meeting in Zoom:

Streamyard:

Streamyard is a very popular alternative to Zoom, and is used most frequently for live streaming. You can embed registration forms on your website, and livestream your meeting or event to several different platforms at once. It also has most of the same features as Zoom including virtual backgrounds and recording of meetings. Here is how to set up a live stream in Streamyard:

Slack:

Primarily used for workplace communication, Slack is ideal for team meetings, private meetings, and the ability to share files and information. Once each team member is set up on Slack, they can send messages or chat in real time without having to set up a link in advance. Meetings are known as “huddles” in Slack, and support video, audio, and chat. Here is how to set up a Slack huddle:

Step 4: Send Invitations and Prepare an Agenda

Now that you’ve determined the type of meeting you want to set up, its purpose, and the equipment and platform you will be using, it’s time to send out invitations. Include the meeting link and an agenda in your invitation, explaining your goals for the meeting, structure and timeline. Let participants have a chance to review the agenda prior to the meeting, and offer feedback if desired.

Step 5: Break the Ice and Set the Tone

Once everyone is gathered, there won’t be much in the way of discussion among the participants prior to the start of the meeting, like you have with live meetings. They will be looking to you as webinar leader to get the meeting started. it’s a good idea to have a welcome message ready, and to thank everyone for being there. You might break the ice a bit more by asking everyone to introduce themselves, and/or answer a question. Where they are located, or what their goal for the meeting is as an attendee make good opening questions. Don’t forget to press the Record button if recording the meeting.

Step 6: Follow Best Practices During the Meeting

Once the meeting is underway, follow the agenda you previously set out. You may want to give people a chance to ask questions during or at the end of the meeting. Ensure everyone knows how to use the various features of the platform, such as raising their hand, and using emojis. You can mute everyone while the meeting is going on, which gives you control over the discussion.

Step 7: Gather Feedback

Participants might have feedback for you on the tone or structure of the meeting, which you can use to improve your meetings in the future.

Conclusion

Virtual meetings are the norm these days, even within brick and mortar organizations. With the convenience and accessibility of smartphones and computers, anyone can join a virtual meeting. Virtual meetings save time and money. You don’t have to rent a meeting room, or book time in a conference room. Most of all, they are the perfect environment for information sharing and recording the events of the meeting, as opposed to painstakingly taking minutes by hand.

Whether it’s a quick team huddle or a large-scale webinar, mastering the art of virtual meetings is a skill that will benefit any business or individual in today’s digital-first world.

Ready to start running virtual meetings? You can link to virtual meetings from your SubHub website. Open a free trial today.

Open a free 14-day trial

How to Build a Membership Website Homepage

Converting visitors to members

Creating a membership website homepage is more than just designing a visually appealing page; it’s about crafting an experience that guides visitors seamlessly toward becoming subscribers. Membership homepages need content designed to introduce, inform, build trust, peak interest and prompt the subscription of a visitor. And they also need to be optimised with keywords to be found by search engines.

We've created a checklist of homepage elements and best practices to use when building your membership website.

Key elements of a high-converting membership homepage

1. A simple logo

The first element most people add to their website is a logo. Your logo should reflect your brand identity without dominating the page. Oversized logos can waste valuable space and push important content below the fold. Unless you’re a household name, your logo alone won’t drive conversions—so keep it subtle.

2. Add a favicon

That small icon in your browser tab, known as a favicon, is an often-overlooked detail. It enhances your brand’s visibility when users have multiple tabs open. Including one reinforces professionalism and helps visitors easily locate your site.

When building your homepage, make sure you pay attention to even the smallest detail.

3. Streamlined navigation links

A clutter-free header is crucial for usability. Stick to six or fewer navigation links to maintain a clean and intuitive structure. Essential links like Home, Subscribe, or Services should be prominent, while secondary ones like About or Contact can be placed in the footer.

Take some time to plan how your members will navigate your content. Make sure your site's navigation is logical and user friendly. Good structure is important for both users and search engines when they are crawling your site to index it.

4. Create an impactful banner

Your banner is the first point of engagement for a visitor as it’s ‘above the fold’. This means it’s the content that first fills the screen. Here’s where you need to make an impact and capture a visitor’s interest.

Use a high-quality, appealing image. Make sure you’ve compressed the file so it loads quickly, saves bandwidth and doesn’t ‘dribble’ down the screen. Use online image compression tools like tinyjpg and tinypng.

Your banner headline needs to connect with and inspire your audience AND be compelling enough to convince a visitor to keep scrolling. Exercise “power words” to motivate your audience to convert.

Use the supportive subheadline, to add clarity and emphasise your value proposition or unique selling point.

Anchor the text with a call to action button to trigger further action. Link it to your subscribe, store or learn more page.

5. Showcase member benefits

Dedicate a section to highlight 3–4 key benefits of becoming a member. Use concise, descriptive text and relevant keywords for better SEO. Enhance readability by pairing benefits with icons to draw attention and make your message visually engaging.

6. Tell your story

A well-written “About” section can humanise your brand. Share your mission, values and the inspiration behind your service. This is your opportunity to connect with visitors emotionally, fostering trust and encouraging them to explore further.

7. Highlight results with before & after visuals

For industries like fitness or design, before-and-after images are powerful tools to establish credibility. Real-life examples showcase tangible benefits, encouraging potential members to envision their own success.

8. Build trust with testimonials

Incorporate 2–4 authentic testimonials to validate your service. Member endorsements are a proven way to boost credibility and reduce hesitation. A homepage with social proof is far more likely to convert.

9. Offer free samples

Give visitors a sneak peek at what’s behind the paywall. This could include free tutorials, downloadable resources, or access to a limited section of your content. Not only does this build trust, but it also improves your site’s SEO by offering publicly indexable content.

Having a mix of member and non-member content is essential as Google doesn’t index content behind paywalls.

10. Optimise for SEO

On your homepage and throughout your membership website, you should be optimising your content to get found by search engines (SEO). This means incorporating the keywords and phrases that are being used when people are searching for content like yours.

Keywords help search bots understand your website and identify if it's relevant to a search query.

There are many research tools available to help you find relevant and trending keywords.

Keywords should be present in titles, headlines, body text, image tags and most importantly meta tags. Of course, this doesn't mean to keyword stuff. But to use keywords in a natural and authentic manner meant to inform and accurately describe your content and website.

11. Fast load times matter

Visitors won’t stick around if your site is slow. Large images are often the culprit, so compress files to reduce load time. Make sure to resize and compress large image files so they load fast and deliver a positive impression to visitors.

A pop-up or signup form for a monthly newsletter lets you stay connected with potential members who aren’t ready to subscribe immediately. Use newsletters to share updates, free resources, and exclusive deals, nurturing these leads over time.

13. Transparent pricing plans

Make it easy for visitors to see the value you offer. Display your subscription options near the bottom of the homepage, and include a CTA linking to the signup page. A clear pricing breakdown builds trust and aids decision-making.

14. Prioritise clean design

A simple, uncluttered layout ensures visitors focus on the key elements of your site. Incorporate white space strategically to improve readability and highlight important sections. Additionally, choose colors wisely to evoke the desired emotions and complement your branding.

Final thoughts

This improved version streamlines the content, makes it more engaging, and provides actionable advice with a clear and professional tone.

Update cookies preferences

Blog Import

Why You Should Use Email Marketing to Promote Your Membership Website

1. Targeted communication

2. Building relationships

3. Cost-effective promotion

4. Member retention and upselling

5. Higher conversion rates

6. Measurable results

In conclusion

It's time to build your membership website

Related Articles

Best practices to building your mailing list

Deliver quality, valuable content to your email list subscribers

Strategies to maintain your email list

In conclusion

It's time to build your membership website

Welcoming new members

Regular Newsletter Updates

Deliver targeted content

Design your segmentation

Automate your segmentation

Test your segmentation

Encourage engagement

Win-Back Campaigns

Reminders and announcements

About The Author

Hire our design service

Categories

Latest Content

1. Resizing Images in Bulk Using Photoshop

Steps to Resize Images in Bulk Using Photoshop:

2. Resizing Images in Bulk Using Picsart

Steps to Resize Images in Bulk Using Picsart:

3. Resizing Images in Bulk Using Imageresizer.com

Steps to Resize Images in Bulk Using Imageresizer.com:

Final Thoughts

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what led to you to setting up your site?

Why did you decide to use SubHub and how long did it take for your website to be online?

How involved were you in developing the website, and did you have any experience in creating a website before?

How hands on are you with updating your site? Do you create everything yourself, do you have any staff, or do you outsource?

How much time do you spend updating your website?

How has SubHub enabled you to grow?

What kind of content is most popular on your website and why do you think that is?

How have you grown your email subscribers and how do you manage them?

How important is your website for your business?

Now that you've created a website, how do you make money from it?

From your experience, what are the basic steps somebody needs to take to setup and develop a successful website?

What advice would you give to somebody thinking of starting their own website with SubHub?

What can people expect from your site or company the next 6 or 12 months?

Free membership ebook

Can you tell us a little bit about your background and what led to you to setting up your site?

Why did you decide to use SubHub and how long did it take for your website to be online?

How involved were you in developing the website, and did you have any experience in creating a website before?

How hands on are you with updating your site? Do you create everything yourself, do you have any staff, or do you outsource?

How much time do you spend updating your website?

How do you interact with members and what’s the key to keeping them happy?

How has SubHub enabled you to grow?

What kind of content is most popular on your website and why do you think that is?

How have you grown your email subscribers and how do you manage them?

How important is your website for your business?

Now that you've created a website, how do you make money from it?

What has been the most effective way to drive traffic to your website?

From your experience, what are the basic steps somebody needs to take to setup and develop a successful website?

Final thoughts

How and why did you get started?

Did you face any problems in the beginning?

How has SubHub enabled you to grow your audience?

How do you interact with members and what's the key to keeping them happy?

Final thoughts

Free membership ebook

A brand new online magazine

No pressure

Speedy setup

Marketing savvy

A bit of advice

Know Your Audience

Start with a Strong Hook

Structure Your Article with Care

Write with Clarity and Confidence

Add Value with Examples and Data