Top 5 Reasons You Should Join a Membership Site

You probably already know how I feel about focusing on relationships. I believe that building relationships is the most important piece of your business and blogging success puzzle. I can trace every big success I’ve had since starting Blacksburg Belle back to relationships.

So, it should come as no surprise that I’m a fan of membership sites such as The Creative Empire, BlogcastFM Premium, and A-List Blogging Bootcamps. These sites give you so many opportunities to build long-lasting relationships.

During a Skype conversation with Christina from A Closet Writer, she asked what the benefits are of joining a membership site. Once I told her my opinion, she asked if I’d write about this topic for her Blogging Mavens blog series. And, I thought it would be a great topic to cover—because I’ve gotten a lot out of membership sites.

Here are the top 5 reasons that you should join a membership site:

1. You can make strong connections with other members.

Most of the people who join membership sites share similar goals. For instance, most of the members of The Creative Empire are looking to build successful creative businesses. If someone has a question about pricing her products, selling at her first craft show, or keeping financial records, there are members who’ve already dealt with those problems who can offer specific advice.

You can connect with others who know exactly what you’re going through. Have you ever tried to explain to someone who’s not in the blogging world that you landed a huge guest posting opportunity or that you finally reached 100 subscribers? They look at you like you’ve just spoken Japanese. But, when you share this on a membership site filled with other bloggers, they can join in on the conversation.

These connections can help you get to the next level. When you make strong connections with other people in your niche, those people will help you promote your stuff. They’ll cheer you on and celebrate your successes with you.

2. You can get specific advice from experts.

When you join a membership site, you get access to the big names who own the site. For instance, I can ask a question on The Creative Empire and get feedback from Tara Gentile who just had her first $10,000 month in October. Usually, when you want her help, you need to pay for a consulting session. But, if you ask a question in her membership site, you’re likely to get lucky with a response from her.

3. You’re paying for information, so you’ll be more likely to use it.

Let’s be honest. When you pay for something, you’re more likely to take it seriously. If I read an amazing blog post, there’s less than a 50% chance I’ll put the advice into action. Why? Because, I’m super busy and I forget about things unless I include them on my calendar.

But, if I’m paying for something, I try to get as much out of it as possible. Even though I’m only paying $15-20 per month for my membership sites, I use them more diligently than I do free stuff.

4. You have a place for creative brainstorming.

When you have an idea for a new line of products, an ebook, or a series of blog posts, wouldn’t you love to get feedback from people you trust? And, from people who actually know your niche?

When you join a membership site, you’ve got a place to do some creative brainstorming. Before posting your new product, you can get feedback on your pictures, product description, and marketing. Your peers can help you make your stuff even better.

5. The information you get will go far beyond the basics.

One of the main reasons most people join a membership site is to get access to material they can’t find anywhere else. For example, there’s an entire section in A-List Blogging Bootcamps covering the topic of making your blog pay the bills. In this one category, there are 32 resources—videos, articles, worksheets, interviews.

If you’re ready to get to the next level with something {like blogging or building a creative business}, think about joining a membership site that will give you the tools to reach your goals.