Membership Geeks Podcast with Mike Morrison

Membership Geeks
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Join Mike Morrison - founder of the Membership Geeks - for advice, tips and insight on planning, running and growing a successful membership website plus interviews with existing membership owners and industry experts.

  1. Time Management Techniques I Use to be a More Productive Membership Owner

    4D AGO

    Time Management Techniques I Use to be a More Productive Membership Owner

    In this episode, I dive into the time management and productivity techniques I've personally honed through years of running a membership business. I share the exact frameworks and mental models I use each day to structure my workload, prioritize tasks, and maintain focus amidst the constant demands of membership ownership. You'll hear about the Eisenhower decision matrix, the “big rocks, little rocks, and pebbles” method, and my own 3x3 daily structure. Whether you’re overwhelmed by your to-do list or just looking for more consistency in your routine, I break down practical approaches you can try right away. In this episode:How do I quickly decide which tasks to prioritize and which to ignore as a membership owner?What practical system can help me distinguish the size and impact of different tasks?How can I structure my typical workday to ensure that both big projects and smaller tasks get the attention they need?What mindset should I adopt to stay flexible and consistent with my time management approach, even when days don’t go as planned? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"Some people will use this grid to essentially categorize tasks into 4 things: the tasks they do, the tasks they decide on scheduling, the tasks they delegate, or the tasks they delete. Handily comes out as 4 Ds: do, decide, delegate, delete." "I can't remember where the whole big rocks, little rocks came from, but it lodged in my brain. I look at, okay, what are my big rocks? So the stuff that's going to take forever. What are my little rocks? So the stuff that I could get done today. And what are the pebbles? What are the little 5, 10-minute things that could be done?" "The decision matrix helps give me that quick ability to prioritize, to determine what needs my attention, what needs a simple decision on the scheduling, on where it's going to be taken care of, what I could look to have someone on the team do, and what I can just cast off the list forever." "Rigidity, that lack of flexibility, is what I often have found makes methodologies, structures, frameworks, or whatever you want to call it for trying to be productive, kind of fall apart."

    17 min
  2. 3 Clever Ways to Get More Members to Your Live Calls

    APR 28

    3 Clever Ways to Get More Members to Your Live Calls

    In this episode, I discuss three practical strategies to boost attendance for your live member calls, whether you run Q&As, workshops, masterminds, or office hours. I share actionable tips that can easily fit into your workflow, from leveraging technology to personalizing member onboarding. If you’ve ever worried about empty seats during your live sessions, you’ll find plenty of fresh ideas here to increase engagement and ensure your members get the most out of their membership experience. In this episode:How can you make it easier for members to remember and RSVP to upcoming live events?What’s an effective way to invite new members to live sessions to improve their chances of attending?How can you help first-time attendees feel more comfortable and included in your live calls?What small tweaks to your onboarding and event reminders can make a big difference in live call participation? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"The first is to use a subscribable calendar. So there's a fantastic service called addevent.com that enables you to set up an events calendar where you can give the link to your members. You can also embed it in your member area. That then enables them to subscribe to that calendar so that whether they're using Google Calendar, whether they've got the calendar in Outlook, Apple Calendar, whatever it is, the events you add to it will automatically populate that calendar." "Set up a subscribable events calendar embedded in a location on your membership website, but also email the link out to your members so they can subscribe to it so that all events that you add automatically get pulled into their calendar." "You could actually start it 15 minutes early and have that first 15 minutes exclusively for first-time attendees, whether they are brand new members to your website or just someone coming along to a live session for the very first time. That can be your newbie 15 minutes." "People are getting what they pay for because they're using what they pay for. And if people are using what they pay for, they're less likely to go and cancel it."

    13 min
  3. The Way You Market Might Be Killing Retention - Here’s How…

    APR 21

    The Way You Market Might Be Killing Retention - Here’s How…

    In this episode, I dive into the crucial relationship between your marketing strategy and member retention. I explore how the way you attract new members to your membership business lays the foundation for whether they'll stick around long-term. I break down why focusing solely on sign-ups can backfire and how certain marketing tactics may actually set you up for higher churn rates. The aim is to help you develop a retention-first mindset that keeps your membership thriving. In this episode:Why does retention start with the way you market your membership?How can urgency and scarcity tactics impact member retention negatively?What are the risks of relying on discounts, offers, and bonuses to drive sales?Why is overpromising in your marketing strategy detrimental to long-term member success? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"Without question, we all know memberships are a retention business. If this is news to you, then this is something you need to get to grips with pretty quick." "Retention starts with the way that you market. I really want you to understand and to embrace that and to develop this long-term view when it comes to your marketing, because marketing for a membership, the success is not measured by how many new signups you get. True success comes from how well those signups, those sales you get, actually stay subscribed. How long do they stick around?" "If somebody can't afford $50 a month, but they'll afford $40 a month. That's too small and too narrow a margin to be sustainable because all that it needs is for one of the things that that person's paying for in their life to become a little more expensive. And then all of a sudden your membership's potentially on the chopping block." "The biggest culprit, or one of the biggest culprits, for the kind of marketing that ends up backfiring in terms of long-term retention is membership owners who hugely overpromise. They oversell, you know, they really, really go over the top with their value proposition."

    16 min
  4. 1000 True Fans Are All You Need for Membership Success

    APR 14

    1000 True Fans Are All You Need for Membership Success

    In this episode, I dive into the concept of "1,000 true fans" and why it's the key to building a thriving membership business. Forget chasing massive audiences and vanity metrics—what truly matters is finding and nurturing a core group of highly engaged superfans who love what you do. I break down the myths about audience size, share why smaller, more passionate communities lead to deeper connections (and profit!), and show you how to shift your focus from quantity to quality when growing your membership. If you've ever felt discouraged by your follower count or overwhelmed by the competition, this episode is for you. In this episode:What does the "1,000 true fans" theory mean, and why is it crucial for membership success?Do you really need a massive audience to launch and grow a successful membership site?How can having a smaller, focused, and passionate audience be more valuable than chasing big numbers?What practical steps can you take to find and connect with your own 1,000 true fans? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"You don't need to have hundreds of thousands of people on your email list or millions of followers on your social networks before you can be in a position to start something like a membership." "Some of the advice that you see out there that tells you just start, doesn't matter if you don't have an audience, doesn't matter if you don't have an email list or waitlist, all you need is one member, that's all it takes. Honestly, it's some of the most dangerous, nonsensical advice you'll ever find out there." "All you need to build a sustainable business is 1,000 true superfans who will hang on your every word, who put in extra effort to consume your content, to buy what you're selling. They're so engaged, they're so connected with you. They are your people. Everything you put out speaks to them, and they absolutely love you for it. 1,000 people like that is all it takes to accomplish fantastic success in the online space." "Because by drilling down into that smaller audience, you're more likely to find your people. You can appreciate the value of that smaller, more specific, more targeted market who have the sort of connection with you that simply wouldn't be feasible if you were trying to be all things to all people, trying to please everyone, trying to tick everybody's box."

    13 min
  5. From The Vault: Why You're Losing Members and What You Can Do About It

    APR 7

    From The Vault: Why You're Losing Members and What You Can Do About It

    In this episode, I dive into the most common reasons why membership site owners lose members—and more importantly, what you can actually do to prevent it. Taking a trip into the Membership Geeks archives, I unpack actionable strategies to tackle member cancellations, improve retention, and boost overall engagement in your community. xWhether you’re battling churn or simply want to keep your members around for longer, these practical tips will help you plug the holes in your retention strategy and maintain healthy growth. In this episode:Why do members leave after consuming all available content, and how can you continue delivering ongoing value?How can technical issues and poor onboarding lead to cancellations—and what solutions can reduce frustration?What strategies can you use to re-engage members who’ve forgotten about your site or slipped into inactivity?How should you handle pricing, failed payments, and members who leave after achieving their goals to improve retention and customer loyalty? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"Techie gremlins can cause an immense amount of frustration, particularly if your members are having issues from day one of their membership. And in a lot of cases, they'll simply cancel their account rather than trying to persevere, rather than trying to figure out what's going on, and sometimes rather than contacting you and giving you that opportunity to fix the problem." "We've all done it— signed up for a product or a service with the best intentions of using it to its fullest, only for it to fall to the bottom of the to-do list because life simply gets in the way." "Even if you get a lot of signups for a product that has a high monthly premium, if those same members quit after a month, then it's likely they never intended or were never able to pay that amount on a regular basis." "Make use of testimonials, case studies, endorsements, and interviews so that even if you aren't in a position to offer something to help that particular member on the next stage of their journey, you can at least utilize the fact they have achieved their goals as a way of bringing in new members to replace them by leveraging that social proof."

    17 min
  6. From The Vault: How Membership Owners Can Combat Subscription Fatigue

    MAR 31

    From The Vault: How Membership Owners Can Combat Subscription Fatigue

    In this episode, I take you back into the Membership Geeks Podcast vault to revisit one of the most pressing challenges facing membership owners today: subscription fatigue. I share insights into why consumers are becoming increasingly overwhelmed by the sheer number of subscriptions and how this impacts membership-based businesses. I break down practical strategies for making your membership essential so it doesn’t end up on the chopping block when your members review their recurring expenses. In this episode:What is subscription fatigue and how is it affecting membership businesses today?Why are consumers feeling overwhelmed by subscriptions, and what does this mean for your membership?What proven strategies can you use to make your membership indispensable and avoid cancellations?How can you repackage, personalize, and communicate the value of your membership to stay competitive in a crowded subscription market? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"This idea of subscription fatigue was kicking in because more and more businesses have been moving towards a subscription model. Not just memberships, but TV and movie streaming, music subscriptions, subscription boxes, subscriptions for your software, subscriptions for your car. Like, pretty much anything imaginable shifted towards a subscription model." "Anything which makes their relationship with you and your membership have more more of a personal connection will make the decision to end their subscription much harder when they're evaluating their expenses, particularly when they're comparing to other subscription products they're paying for that doesn't have that personal connection element to it." "If you bring them all together under a single product, a single payment, a single subscription, then that can make it far more likely that you'll avoid the chop when someone's reevaluating the services they're paying for." "The easy way to remove subscription fatigue is to remove the subscription element. So consider non-recurring fixed terms. Sell a 3-month pass, a 6-month pass. Maybe sell credit credits to your site that can be redeemed for downloads or courses or something like that. Maybe even go pay-as-you-go."

    17 min
  7. From The Vault: Why Member Lifetime Value is More Important Than Churn

    MAR 24

    From The Vault: Why Member Lifetime Value is More Important Than Churn

    In this episode, I take a deep dive into one of the most debated topics in the membership world: why member lifetime value is actually more important than focusing solely on churn rates. I share my insights on reframing how we look at member retention and challenge the idea that churn makes the membership model less viable than courses or other digital products. Whether you’re struggling to boost retention or just questioning your business model, this episode is packed with practical advice and a fresh perspective on what really impacts your bottom line. Get ready for a mindset shift that could transform how you approach your membership strategy! In this episode:Why is member lifetime value a more valuable metric to track than churn rate in a membership business?How should membership owners reframe their thinking when faced with member cancellations and natural churn?What’s the real financial impact of churn compared to other business models like selling courses or client services?In practical terms, what steps can owners take to improve the overall value of each member rather than just fighting churn numbers? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"If a member only stays for X months, then what's the point? Usually that's followed by, I might as well do X. So why would I run a membership? Because if members are only going to end up canceling after 10 months, then I might as well just sell online courses." "We debunk the whole myth that industry average churn rate is 3 months, and we actually debunk the idea of industry average at all. Now, if you had to pin it down and you absolutely had to give a thumb in the air industry average, it's more like 8 or 9 months." "If you get exactly the same amount of sales of a $500 course, the end result financially is still the same. Each sale of that course to you is worth $500 for the lifetime of your relationship with that person who buys the course. In the same way that the lifetime value of every individual person who joins your membership, that's $50 a month, 10% churn rate, is $500." "Churn rate is merely a factor in determining the end point after which you get no more money from that person. So when you use that definition, courses have a churn rate. It's just that churn rate is instantaneous because you get no more money from the sale of that course after the initial sale goes through. So it has a 100% churn rate."

    27 min
  8. Why Membership Owners NEED to Embrace Off-Platform Engagement

    MAR 17

    Why Membership Owners NEED to Embrace Off-Platform Engagement

    In this episode, I dive into the concept of "off-platform engagement" and why it's becoming essential for membership owners. I discuss how member behaviors have evolved and why relying solely on getting people to log in to your site is no longer the only—or even the best—way to deliver value. I share practical strategies for removing friction and ensuring your membership stays relevant and engaging by meeting members where they already are. You'll walk away with ideas to broaden your engagement approach and make your membership more resilient for the future. In this episode:Why is it no longer realistic to expect members to visit your website every time they want to engage or gain value?How does "off-platform engagement" help reduce friction and improve the member experience?What are actionable ways to deliver value to members outside of your membership platform (such as email and private podcasts)?How can rethinking engagement strategies help your membership thrive in an increasingly distracted and competitive world? Thank You For ListeningI really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast. What's your next step? Whether you're looking to launch your very first membership or scale and grow an existing one, come and join me inside Membership Academy - where I'll give you everything you need to succeed at every stage of your membership journey. And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one! Key Quotes & Takeaways:"We're talking about something that I'm calling off-platform engagement. So By this I mean embracing the notion that not everything about getting your members engaged means getting them to come to your website, getting them to log in, getting them to post in your community hub, or engage and consume stuff within your learning portal." "We can start looking at ways that we can push our value, push the benefits, push the value of being a member into the spaces that are in their world, onto their turf, taking our value to their inbox, to their podcasting app, to their daily workflow, to the systems and the environments that they are operating in." "We embed the value in those emails. Yes, we still want to get people back to our website. But if they don't have time, if they are consuming on the go, just by reading the email, on their email app, on their phone, they're still getting some value from being a part of your membership." "Private member-only podcasts are a fantastic way of doing that. So having a podcast that is only available to your paying members,. So they're the only people who can subscribe, they've got private subscription URLs that only work when they are active and paying. This gives you a channel for off-platform engagement that is ripe with potential."

    19 min
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Join Mike Morrison - founder of the Membership Geeks - for advice, tips and insight on planning, running and growing a successful membership website plus interviews with existing membership owners and industry experts.

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