Not All Membership Sites Are The Same

There are a number of different membership site models. So we begin by taking a look at some of these, a brief overlook of how they differ from one another, and some points to take into consideration before you jump in with both feet.

Web 2.0 Websites

You’re already familiar with Web 2.0 membership sites, even if you aren’t aware of it. In fact, you likely belong to several of them. These are sites such as YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Social networking sites that provide tools for an interactive network of friends and include such user-submitted things as personal profiles, blogs, groups, photos, music and videos are included here.

Membership in these sites is generally free. The revenue generated is generally on the backs of the content that the members create. In other words, as members add pages of content, ads that generate money for the web site are added. In addition, a huge database of members is developed.

A Web 2.0 membership site can be in a very narrow niche, where people gather to share information, knowledge, experience, etc. It doesn’t have to be the biggest site on the web. So don’t dismiss this model out of hand. It’s quite easy to develop a niche Web 2.0 site using free content management systems such as Drupal or Joomla.

The Exclusive Paid Membership Site

This is probably the most common form of membership site you’ll come across. It thrives on the concept of exclusivity. Become a member and you’ll gain access to exclusive … information, products, software, templates, graphics, behind the scene tricks of the trade, etc.

The exclusive paid membership site is designed for specific group of people. Its members are a group of like-minded individuals who are seeking instruction or information that can only be discovered in exclusive membership websites.

While they can range from something as simple as a place to get master resell rights to a variety of products, to how to use video marketing to grow your business … the exclusive membership site tends to be higher end.

We’ll continue next post.