What I've learned as the founder of an online membership community

At the end of this week, I will be releasing a course titled, “How to build a positive and profitable membership community.”  The course is only $49, but if you’re thinking about starting a membership community, I’m certain you’ll consider that a bargain.  And if you use the code SAVE25 and order it before it officially launches, you can have the course for only $24.  That code will instantly chop $25 off the regular price.

I started Platform Launchers in September 2021, so we’re rapidly approaching the three year anniversary.  I have learned a lot over the course of the past three years, and as I prepare to launch my new course, I thought it would be fun to share some of the biggest lessons leading a membership community has taught me.

And as I share these lessons, I’d like to give a huge “THANK YOU”  to everyone who has been a member of our community.  On a weekly basis, I get to interact with some of the most inspiring people.  They’re absolutely wonderful, and they have each contributed to the lessons I’m about to share.

1.  Prepare to lead.  When people tell me they’re planning on starting an online membership community, I celebrate their idea, but I often ask, “Are you prepared to lead?”  Being the founder of a membership community means you’ll be assuming leadership responsibilities.  You need to be comfortable with leading people if you’re going to take on this kind of role because it’s different from being a content creator.

As a content creator, you may be able to find a private place to get alone with your thoughts while writing and recording helpful information.  Leading a community is different because it requires you to be social, engage in problem-solving, grieve with those who are discouraged, and celebrate with those who are experiencing victories.  In rare instances, you may need to ask members to leave.  You may also need to correct false assumptions that are holding certain members back.  Make sure you’re prepared to lead if you start an online community of your own.

2.  Make sure you understand what people are asking you for.  This is one of the biggest keys to success if you’re starting a membership community.  Make sure you’re very clear about whether or not people really want you to do what you’re thinking about doing.  I have heard some ideas for membership communities that sounded good on paper, but they never succeeded because the founder tried to create something that suited his or her interests but didn’t meet the needs of their ideal clients. 

3.  Be patient and persistent.  Building a membership community takes time.  It also takes time for it to gain momentum, find its rhythm, and develop a culture.  You need to be persistent in building your community, but please be patient as it develops.  The first few months of Platform Launchers were fun, but they also had some awkward moments and hiccups while we were fine-tuning things.  That season didn’t last long, so I’m glad I kept pressing forward and dedicated time and effort to make our membership community the best experience I could make it for our members.

4.  You can never be too generous.  Some people approach their lives and businesses with a tight fist.  Don’t act that way toward your membership community.  If it is within your power to be generous toward them, don’t hesitate.  Share books and resources.  Be generous with your time and knowledge as well.

5.  Offer courses and coaching as well.  When I first started Platform Launchers, I offered stand-alone courses for people who weren’t members, but I didn’t offer coaching.  My view on that has changed over time.  Now I offer courses and coaching, and that has become a big part of my overall business.  In the near future, I also plan to offer a mentorship program.  Having multiple training solutions for people at different stages of platform development makes more sense than only offering a single solution.

6.  Maintain an honest and positive culture.  Our weekly meetings are always a joy to participate in because we’re able to give each other honest feedback in a positive way.  That tone will most certainly be set by you, the leader.  I have experienced online groups that had the capacity to become quite negative at times and I think it’s much more valuable for members when that can be avoided.  It is 100% possible to “speak the truth in love” and maintain honesty and positivity at the same time.

7.  Bless people when they need to leave.  One of the hardest parts of leading a membership community is saying goodbye to some of the wonderful members who have been part of your group.  It hurts because you’re going to miss them, but it’s not reasonable to expect people to stay forever.  Sometimes people need to leave because of financial or family needs.  It’s also possible they may decide to do something different for other reasons.  Don’t get upset with them or act petty toward them.  Thank them for the time they spent with you and bless them as they move on to new things.

8.  Don’t expect to be profitable until your third year.  You may be profitable long before year three but don’t expect it.  That way you won’t feel disappointed when you’re in the building phase of your online platform.  As your online authority grows, your momentum will build and you will gradually experience financial profitability.

9.  You need to have a plan for promoting your community.  Promotion doesn’t happen on its own.  I promote through podcasts, YouTube, blog posts, newsletters, guest appearances, books, and through my affiliate program.  Content marketing can be highly effective along with word of mouth.  The best promotion you’ll ever get, however, is the testimonies that come through the success of your members.

10.  The success of your members is the measuring stick.  This is how you should determine whether or not you’ve built something good.  I hope you personally succeed, but your membership community isn’t about your success.  It’s about your members’ success.  That’s the measuring stick you should use if you want to really determine whether or not you’ve created a valuable online membership community.

I hope this is helpful, and if you’d like some additional training on starting an online membership community of your own, please visit the University page at PlatformLaunchers.com to participate in the presale of my upcoming course “How to Build a Positive and Profitable Membership Community.”  Don’t forget to use the code SAVE25 to chop an additional $25 off the price.

© John Stange, 2024