Membership Geeks Podcast with Mike Morrison

Membership Geeks
  • 4,9 (152)
  • MARKETING
  • CHAQUE SEMAINE

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. From The Vault: 6 Things to Do After You’ve Launched Your Membership

    -4 J

    From The Vault: 6 Things to Do After You’ve Launched Your Membership

    In this from the vault episode, I dive into the essential steps every membership site owner should take after launching their membership. It’s not just about getting started—the real work begins once your site is live, and what you do next can make or break your success. I revisit some timeless strategies for keeping your momentum strong, nurturing your new members, and planning for steady growth. Whether you’ve just launched, stalled, or are looking ahead, this practical guide will help you set a solid foundation for your membership’s future. In this episode:How can you effectively assess what worked (and didn’t) during your membership launch?What steps should you take to ensure new members are engaged and set up for success?How do you gather and leverage early social proof to fuel continued marketing?What are the best ways to follow up with non-buyers and plan your ongoing organic marketing efforts after launch? Key Quotes & Takeaways: “90% of success is all about what happens on the inside of a membership.” “In the afterglow of your launch, those first 30 days or so, really keep an eye out for any posts, comments, and feedback that you can use from your community…and then turn that into marketing collateral.” “You want those people that were on the fence during your launch and decided against joining to be kicking themselves for not signing up.” Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    25 min
  2. From The Vault: Busting the Most Common Membership Marketing Myths

    4 NOV.

    From The Vault: Busting the Most Common Membership Marketing Myths

    In this special "From the Vault" episode, I dive deep into the biggest and most frustrating marketing myths that circulate in the world of membership sites. After more than a decade of helping membership owners, I've heard it all—from secret silver bullets to outdated pressure tactics. I unpack the myths, the nonsense, and the misleading advice that could be steering your membership off course. Join me as I challenge some of the most common misconceptions and share what actually works for building and marketing a successful membership. In this episode:Why is the idea that you have to pressure people to "buy today" potentially harmful to your membership business?Do you really need scarcity tactics to effectively market and sell your membership?Is it true that "a good product sells itself" and what role does audience building play in your success?Do you need a massive audience to launch and grow your membership, or can dedicated superfans be enough? Key Quotes & Takeaways: “Successful marketing is all about getting the right message, to the right person, at the right time.” “Some people are just not ready to buy when you’re ready to sell. Your business and how you market it is actually more about being there when someone is ready to buy, rather than trying to force the sale too quickly.” “If you’re not able to connect the dots and to compel people to put their hand in their pocket and pay you for the solution to their problem then it doesn’t matter how great your membership is, it doesn’t matter how great your product is. “Build it and they will come” is not a valid strategy.” Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    35 min
  3. Love Your Lurkers: Why Quiet Members Are Often The Most Valuable

    28 OCT.

    Love Your Lurkers: Why Quiet Members Are Often The Most Valuable

    In this episode, I dive into the often-overlooked group within membership communities: the "lurkers"—those quiet members who rarely participate publicly but remain subscribed and engaged in their own ways. I break down why silence doesn't mean disengagement, how these silent members may actually be some of your most valuable, and what you as a membership owner can do to serve and retain them. I also share practical tips for balancing your community to support both vocal and quieter members, ensuring your membership thrives for everyone. If you're ready to rethink how you look at engagement and create a space where all types of members feel valued, this episode is for you. In this episode:Who are the "lurkers" in membership communities, and why do they matter?Does silence from members really mean they're disengaged or not finding value in your membership?What mistakes do membership owners make when trying to increase engagement, and how can these backfire?How can you better serve and retain your quieter members without alienating them or making them uncomfortable? Key Quotes & Takeaways: "Some of your longest standing, most loyal members may be the ones that you've never heard from. They don't need to be active in your community to get what they came for. They don't need to turn up to live calls to actually see value. They might be quietly in the background, binging your courses, downloading and utilizing templates, or simply taking comfort from knowing that your resources, your content, your support is there when they need it. They might not be visible, but they're still quietly succeeding because of what you provide." "Your courses, your downloads, your templates, your toolkits, whatever content you're creating, they should still deliver value, even if someone never once sets foot in the community. That way lurkers will still feel like being part of your membership is worthwhile and is valued." "Lurking is a perfectly valid form of participation, and the silent majority in your membership are often just as valuable, if not more valuable, than the vocal minority." Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    14 min
  4. How to Spot If Someone Is At Risk of Leaving Your Membership

    21 OCT.

    How to Spot If Someone Is At Risk of Leaving Your Membership

    In this episode, I dive into one of the toughest aspects of running a membership business: spotting the signs that someone is about to leave your membership. I discuss the clear and subtle warning signals you need to watch for and share practical strategies you can use to proactively re-engage at-risk members before it’s too late. From leveraging technology to understanding behavioral patterns and key milestones, I aim to give you actionable steps to strengthen your retention strategy and keep your community thriving. In this episode:What are the warning signs that indicate a member might be at risk of cancelling their membership?How can you use technology and data to identify members who are becoming disengaged?What are the common “off ramps” or critical moments when cancellations are most likely to occur—and how can you address them?Which proactive steps can you take to re-engage at-risk members and boost your overall retention rates? Key Quotes & Takeaways: "If someone has come and said, I think I might need to go, the worst thing you can do is ignore it or dismiss it, or treat it with hostility. Even if their specific issue can't be fixed overnight. Just taking the time to listen, to respond quickly and with care can be the difference between them leaving or deciding to stick around a little longer." "Technology can help you to flag these things. Some software and plugins will have reporting features that will show you when someone last logged in. Some learning management systems will actually show you how long since someone completed at a lesson. You can use tools like WP Fusion, which is fantastic in enabling you to not only add tags to members that haven't logged in for a while, but also let you add a tag when someone completes a lesson or views a piece of content." "But if you can reach out with something personal and supportive that can make the difference. Remind them that you're there. Remind them that you have resources, you have tools, you are a support service that you can help them out." "Retention in memberships is not just about reacting when someone hits the cancellation button. Often when someone's hitting cancel, it's already too late. Retention is all about being proactive, having your eyes open, having your finger on the pulse, knowing what to look for and taking small but meaningful steps to re engage those members before it's too late." Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    18 min
  5. Why I Pulled the Plug on Our Cheapest Membership Option

    14 OCT.

    Why I Pulled the Plug on Our Cheapest Membership Option

    In this episode, I give you a transparent, behind-the-scenes look at a major strategic shift at Membership Academy: why I decided to discontinue our lowest-priced membership tier. I dive deep into the challenges, member feedback, and business data that informed this big decision. I share the lessons learned, the impact on our community and sales, and why simplifying our offerings makes more sense for both our members and our business as we move forward. If you're considering multiple membership tiers, or are curious about evolving your pricing strategy, this episode unpacks it all. In this episode:What prompted the initial move to a two-tier membership strategy at Membership Academy, and what were those tiers?What unexpected challenges and downsides did introducing a lower-priced tier create for both the business and members?How did having multiple tiers affect member retention, sales performance, and customer experience over time?Why did I ultimately decide to revert to a single-tier membership, and how was this transition communicated to existing members? Key Quotes & Takeaways: "They join on the lesser membership tier so they don't get all the great things that will ensure that they are as successful as they can be. And then they look at their membership and say, oh, well, I haven't had the success I wanted, so why would I upgrade?" "As the membership industry, and indeed the online education industry, changes and evolves, with the proliferation of AI, with the shift away from search engines to answer engines that are powered by AI, as all these new challenges face us coming into the next five, ten years and beyond, then memberships are going to need an entirely different level, an entirely different kind of support." "But what it's done is it's created that clarity, it's removed that friction, it's taking confusion out of the joining process because a confused mind doesn't buy." "Making that pivot, making that change has been a big decision, but a one that I'm extremely confident is the right one for where we want to take the academy going forward." Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    39 min
  6. 3 Things I Want Membership Owners to Know About AI

    7 OCT.

    3 Things I Want Membership Owners to Know About AI

    In this episode, I dive into three crucial things I want every membership owner to know about AI. Drawing on insights from a recent Membership Academy roundtable, I break down some common misconceptions about how AI tools like ChatGPT actually work, the real impact they’re having on memberships, and how to adapt your approach to make the most of these changes. Whether you’re excited about AI or feeling a bit overwhelmed by the hype, I’ll help you put things in perspective and understand where the real opportunities (and challenges) lie for membership businesses. In this episode:What is the true business model behind popular AI tools like ChatGPT, and why does it matter for membership owners?How should membership owners critically approach the use of AI-generated content, given the current landscape of online information?What unique advantages do human-driven elements add to memberships in an age of AI-produced educational content?How are search engines shifting toward "answer engines," and what does that mean for content marketing and discoverability for memberships? Key Quotes & Takeaways: "I don't think there's going to be a continuous trend upwards of the amount of poor quality AI generated content that's out there. I think we are at a tipping point now." "We can't rely on the fact that we know that our content is better than someone can get from AI, because your audience don't know that. And someone can get a step by step action plan of how to solve a problem from an AI tool faster than they can log into your membership or log into your courses. And they aren't discerning or informed enough to know the difference in quality. So we need to give something more than just education." "Citing your website is not equal to your website appearing page one in Google. So a lot of marketers I'm seeing are equating the two and they're kind of telling people, hey, content marketing is still as powerful as it's ever been. But now it's just a case of making sure that you cater towards the AI tools, that you cater towards these so that they'll reference you. But the context really matters. Because someone's getting a full answer from an AI tool, they're not as likely to actually click through to the website. Like click through rate on AI answers are not a fraction of what they were for search engine listings." Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    16 min
  7. The 5 Best Investments I’ve Made for My Membership Business

    30 SEPT.

    The 5 Best Investments I’ve Made for My Membership Business

    In this episode, I dive into the five best investments I’ve made for my membership business—investments that made a significant impact and helped the business to grow sustainably. I reflect on where I chose to put my time, money, and attention, and why those decisions moved the needle more than anything else. You’ll hear candid insights drawn from my own experiences, including both the mindset behind these choices and the practical benefits they brought. If you’re looking for guidance on where to best invest for maximum results in your own membership business, this episode is for you! In this episode:What types of investments have delivered the biggest positive impact on my membership business’s growth and sustainability? Why is attending live, in-person events so valuable for online business owners, and what unique benefits do they offer? How can joining other memberships, upgrading audio/video equipment, and hiring specialized support each play a critical role in membership business success? What’s the value of masterminds and high-level group programs for established membership business owners looking to hit the next level? Key Quotes & Takeaways: "Not only does that help me know that I'm doing my job in helping as many membership owners as I can the right way, but it helps us to reach much wider and make more of an impact across the membership industry." "Some of the best returns that I've ever had in an investment for my business has been getting in those rooms, getting on those zoom calls with people of a certain level, at a certain point on their trajectory, with similar ambitions, similar mindset and ethos, working towards common goals, that has just been such a difference maker." "I cannot understate the value of being in a collective that is focused, that is aligned in terms of their ambition, in terms of the kind of challenges you're facing, the kind of experiences you're having, that is so, so valuable and critical." "Seriously, we are all online business owners and we can often forget the power of meeting up with people offline, but live events are where it's at. Make sure you go there. There's so many ways in which you can leverage them for your business." Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    24 min
  8. I've Been Lying To You - There Actually Is a Secret Formula for Membership Success

    23 SEPT.

    I've Been Lying To You - There Actually Is a Secret Formula for Membership Success

    In this episode, I come clean about a big lie I’ve been telling for years: that there’s no secret formula to membership business success. I reveal that, while there’s no easy button or magic tactic, there actually are two “magic bullets” behind thriving membership sites—but they’re not as flashy as you might hope. Join me as I break down what these real secrets are, why they matter more than any marketing trick, and how you can use them to drive growth and retention in your own membership. Get ready for a candid chat about data, feedback, and building a business that lasts. In this episode:What is the true “secret formula” for membership success that most people overlook?Why aren’t flashy marketing tactics or miracle tools actually the answer to growing a membership?How can you harness the power of data and member feedback to make smarter decisions and fuel your membership’s growth?What practical steps should you take to collect, analyze, and act on data and feedback in your membership business? Key Quotes & Takeaways: "The fundamental truth is that your membership success will be so heavily fueled on data and feedback data. In terms of what are members using when you have your membership up and running? What are members using? What features are they engaged with? What features are they not engaged with?" "People very rarely travel in a straight line from discovering you to joining your membership. And so if you're just looking at the data without the feedback to back it up, you're not getting the full picture." "That feedback, someone who is interested enough in what you do to get on your email list, but not taking that next step. We want to know why they're not joining, not so we can pitch them, but so we can use that to refine our strategy, to refine our value proposition, to look at our offer and make sure it's actually aligned." "How can you possibly create a membership that solves your audience's problems if you're not getting feedback from that very audience on what their problems are?" Thank You For ListeningWe really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast. We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally! Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

    16 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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