There’s something really special about forums on the Internet. Some people might make the argument that today's society is less and less social. And that's true, I guess, at least when you're talking about in-person interactions.
Indeed, you do walk down the street and see more people on their mobile devices and phones these days. There are certainly parts of that real, human interaction that are missing and that will hopefully return instead of people disappearing more into their devices.
With that said, it would be a mistake to say that there are no positive social interactions online. Some of my best friends have come from my online interactions. You can meet people and connect with people and network with people from all over the world.
The walls have come down. It doesn't matter if you’re in a different state or in a different country, you really can connect with people online.
You might be thinking that social media is the best way to make this happen. Social media is wonderful. I lead a very interactive Facebook group, for example. But, there’s something that works even better for those who want to build great relationships and earn a great income doing it.
You don't own social media platforms. You might choose to set up and lead a Facebook group, but I wouldn't bank your business on that always being around. What happens if you ever lose your Facebook account? What happens if Facebook shuts down years down the road? It’s a lot of hard work for something that’s ultimately out of your control.
A Type Of Membership Site You Can Control
If you plan to start a membership site so you can earn passive, recurring income, then a forum-based membership is something you should consider.
Maybe you belong to a forum-based membership yourself. What is it that you like about it? Why have you stuck around? Why do you pay a membership fee month after month?
Notes About My Own Forum-Based Membership Site
Maybe you even belong to my forum-based membership site. I've become fairly well-known in the Internet marketing world because of my Earn 1K a Day forum based membership site. I'm extremely proud of this site. It has also helped me earn a fantastic income over the years.
There are bound to be people in your niche who would love to have access to something like this. They want to interact with others online. They want a private area where they can communicate with like-minded thinkers, both those more experienced than them and less experienced than them.
Depending on the niche you’re in, people might be willing to pay handsomely for a membership site like this. People want to network. They want to learn information they wouldn't learn anywhere else. They want to feel a part of something—part of an online family.
That's something you can provide with a forum-based membership site. There are so many incredible benefits of being the one who starts a site like this. It can be a very smart business decision.
As the owner of a forum-based membership site, you have the benefit of people paying you every single month. This can happen on autopilot. For example, you can set up PayPal subscriptions so people can subscribe. The money will come out of their account without them having to lift a finger beyond the initial subscription.
In exchange, you’ll provide fantastic value. As an example, people in my Earn 1K a Day membership site get to rub elbows with those who are in-the-know in business.
I also often make most of my paid products available to Earn 1K Day members. People, including myself, are always on hand to answer questions people have. I also acquire rights to products that can really help people. For that reason, among others, people tend to stay members of my membership forum for much longer than average.
Community And Autopilot Content
One of the great things about a forum is that people other than you add content and value. People really start to feel a part of the community and they want to give back. They start to feel loyal to you and to the membership.
While I do recommend that you post every day or at least try to, the pressure is off of you because other people are posting as well. It's not all down to you. This can lead to a more passive feeling as the owner of your membership site.
That doesn't mean you can set the forum up and walk away forever. You will need to add value on a consistent basis. With that said, I have to say that running a forum-based membership site has been one of the best experiences of my life. As I’ve said, it has been very profitable for me as well as enriching for members and me.
It's a wonderful feeling to have a consistent income month after month. It's something you can count on. Running a forum-based membership can be one great way to accomplish that.
Starting Your Forum-Based Membership Site
If you’re convinced that this is the right path for you, it’s time to get started.
Do some research—which forum-based membership sites already exist in your niche? How can you stand out while targeting a segment of your audience you’re sure is ready and willing to pay for a membership site?
Think about how you’re going to structure and set up your forum. Which forum software will you use? How will you collect your membership fee? There are a lot of technical things to think about—although a lot of it can be automated via PayPal and your cPanel hosting these days. It’s certainly easier today than it was when I first started out with Earn 1K a Day.
Make sure you get some early adopters in your forum. You really don’t want people to show up to a dead forum—at the very least, get some posts on the forum.
I’ve seen some people recommend that you hire outsourcers to place posts in a forum to get it started. I didn’t need to do that myself, but it’s certainly an option if you’re somewhat desperate to avoid it looking like a ghost town in the beginning.
Make sure people feel like your forum is a really great value. It should be something that they truly can’t find anywhere else on the web.
You’re going to get your forum up and running. You’ll create a sales page and start to drive traffic to your sales page.
Get people to sign up and then over-deliver so they’ll stick around, month after month.
I like to send out a weekly newsletter that updates people on what happened throughout the week. This keeps people coming around and I’ve found that it helps with retention of members.
Post regularly yourself. Share things you wouldn’t share anywhere else. Be willing to help those who need help.
I think you’ll like the reaction people have to your forum membership. This is something different and probably much needed in your niche. People need a way to connect with others. They need someone, like you, who will help them and truly deliver an awesome experience. You’re the perfect person to do this.
As a huge, huge bonus and motivator, you can earn a great living doing this. You can earn passive, recurring income by running a forum. This can boost your authority and help take your business to the next level.
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