Maximizing the Value of the Content For Your Membership Website

Posted on 24. Jul, 2010 by Steve in Tips & Tricks

It has long been said that “Content is King” and this is as true as ever. It is especially important to understand in order to create a successful membership site. It is not only important to supply quality content to your members, but also it in a way that provides the most value to them as well. Here are 5 content rules that will make your membership site more valuable to every member.

1. Multiple Forms

People can learn in a variety of ways. Some people like to read, some like to listen, and some like to watch. This means that you should be providing your content in all three forms. By utilizing the power of multimedia content, you can move beyond simple PDF’s and include downloadable MP3′s as well as videos. This ensures that everyone gets what they want. You also get the added bonus of multiplying your content without as much original substance. You can say everything in 3 different ways. This will make your membership site 3 times larger than it really it. This will add value to you membership site because it makes your site appear larger as well as suited for all audiences.

2. Give Away Some Content

It doesn’t matter if you have an ultra-premium membership site or a free membership site, it is important to give some of the content away to the public at no cost. This will boost your search engine rankings, act as a free method of attracting new members, as well as act as a method of building a relationship with everyone who visits your site. Many people recommend that membership sites share about 20% of their content with everyone.

3. Utilize Guest Writers

Guest writers can be a tremendous value for any website, including membership sites. They provide a few very distinct advantages. The first is that they lend additional credibility to your site. Because they chose to write for you, they are acknowledging that your site provides value. Second, they are a source of free content. This allows you to spend more time doing other things. Third, they will often provide you with free exposure. When someone guest posts somewhere else, they will often alert their followers that they have done so. This provides your membership site with additional exposure.

4. Utilize a Content Plan

One of the fastest ways to kill your membership site is to not continually add fresh content to it. If your members are not receiving anything new, why should they remain a member? The best way to ensure that you are always adding new content is to create a content plan. Ideally, it will plan ahead for 90 days, however a minimum of 30 days should used. This will ensure that you are never left wondering about what content you should be adding next.

There are a lot of ways that you can maximize the value of your content. Four content rules that you should follow include: utilizing multiple forms of content, giving away some content, utilize guest writers, and creating/following a content plan.