4 examples of content to develop for your membership website |

Creating contents for your membership website might be a daunting task at beginning, but it doesn't have to be. You can simply give these proven templates a try.

Then, in the dead of night, you wake in a sweaty state and realize:

If you're anything like me, you'll need two cups of tea to get out of the panic and formulate an idea.

But since no one should need to consume that amount of coffee this late at evening, unless they're writers with the edge of the finals season that they dread, I've decided to share my strategy -- with some examples of content types that you can develop for your membership site.

#1. Downloadable resources

How often do you browse for templates on the internet for when you want to make a new workbook or throw together an official form?

A lot of times, surely? I use it all the time. I'm there in Typeform's theme gallery whenever I want to create something sleek without putting too much effort or my time into it (or even worse, pestering my designer).

Are you not a model or a person? No worries. Downloadable resources don't require templates or forms even though they are some of the most classic examples.

eBooks are especially beneficial if your audience is predominantly female, in fact. About twice as many women have access to ebooks as males.

The success of making short ebooks using Google Slides -- part of the free suite we mentioned in the previous section -- is shown. One entrepreneur uses Google Slides to make each of his lead magnets (short delicious ebooks to help grow his email lists).

Open Jazz Studio includes audio downloads as well as transcriptions, lead sheets, and workbooks, as part of their offerings for their Piano Access Pass membership program.

Worksheets and guides are also a popular staple for downloadable products on membership sites.

Here's an example of this via the " Quick Wins " perk included in the Smart Insights' membership program.

For topics you can be addressed with your download resources, go back to the drawing board , and examine your target audience. What kind of information can help them reach the objectives of your members?

Do they need in keeping track of their improvement? Put together a checklist to help them, or even a book.

Does your membership provide business consultations? Make a spreadsheet that can be edited so that they can input their data and run through the most important indicators.

The idea is obvious. If it's helpful for your members, it's something you need to create..

#2. Mini-courses , tutorials and lessons

When it comes to being helpful What could be better than a step-by step guideline that actually backs up its advice with data and directs your steps in the right direction?

(Probably, but I'm bias about the data. It's kind of my thing.)

Blog Biz School's Chantel Arnett is the the master in combining this type of content with downloadable resources. Take a look at the resources she has available:

If her material isn't useful in the form of templates, she can use it through a short clear and concise information on topics pertinent to her readers.

Fortunately, mini-courses and tutorials don't necessarily need to be huge expenses to make.

They can be as simple as videos that screen share where you walk members through specific tasks -- such as learning a new skill using an application or learning tips for preparing for an interview -- or unique how-to blog posts in which you explain processes in detail.

However, for best outcomes, you should incorporate video in as many ways as you are able to. Learning via video is available on demand and improves learner retention, in addition to other advantages. .

Furthermore, it's far more portable as opposed to a text wall This is crucial when you consider that the majority of students use their smartphones for accessing learning materials.

Chantel isn't alone that has had success using this type of material via a membership. MarketingProfs has tutorials and videos for learning as the mainstays of their resources for their members, as well.

Did you notice how they've included additional elements found on this content list? If MarketingProfs is a two-time bestseller and marketing guru Ann Handley does it and you're not surprised, then you're on the right path.

Plus, it now lets you monitor a student's progress in your online classes, which is another reason to make use of this particular form of content whenever you study the science behind using and assessing videos-based education.

The topics of content and the inspiration will (again) be based on what's relevant to the users accessing the content.

It is a blessing to be able to keep track of your tutorials' and mini-courses' success using numerous metrics -- not just the remarks and feedback of users, but the progression of the students when they work through their documents -- knowing the most beneficial content is now easier than ever before.

The content you create should not all be static, however. If you'd like to interact with members with more personal interaction, you might consider this type of content for your membership website.

#3. Interactive content

The snag with downloadable Mini-courses and resources is that they're inherently passive. However charming they are, they're uninteresting materials where the primary interaction is through watching.

This also puts more pressure for you as a content creator to produce more in-depth materials.

Eighty percent of professional marketers believe that content that is interactive sets their brand apart from the rest of the market.

Contrary to the other courses, however, you should stay away from being too academic with interactivity. Even though a short quiz about the topics covered in your mini-courses might actually be beneficial, your audience chose a self-paced course because of a reason.

In the simplest sense most likely, they don't have enough time to recreate a classic classroom experience, even if they do wish to.

So instead, try to keep your interactive content -- particularly quizzes -at a moderate level as what you see below .

If you have a membership that is geared towards fledgling marketers, for instance you could make the following tests:

What your favorite burger toppings describe your top advertising channel.

Choose five colors and I'll show you how marketing excellent you are.

Are you a Don Draper or Walt Disney? Find out in just two minutes.

This tongue-in-cheek style of writing may not be popular with the audience you are targeting, but here lies the issue.

Since it's interactive Your audience will let you know if that's true and then you'll be able to shift your direction.

For those who are more serious of things, live webinars are an additional form of interactive content you can create for your members. Like the title suggests, it's content that you create in real time however, the planning should be done in advance.

The entrepreneur Tiffany Williams offers monthly webinars for her members in her Rich Girl Academy program.

Every month, she chooses an interesting topic that is relevant to her listeners and then someone from her "team that includes Oprah" interacts with the audience with a live seminar.

Since live webinars are extremely time-consuming, this schedule is an ideal model for those looking to dive the depths of interactive content without overburdening their work load.

Quizzes and polls, on the other hand can be more flexible and can be created and released at any point. A weekly schedule of once a week is a solid starting point, however, if you notice your participants slowing down or showing poor engagement, consider spreading the quizzes and polls out more.

And then, finish your post with a hint of spoken word.

#4. Podcasts and audio files

This last form of content can be described as a part-interactive and also downloadable. It's such a different content form as what we've covered so far that it deserves the attention of its own.

That's a pretty far cry from posts on blogs which typically have a read-time of around 37 seconds , no matter how long.

The best part about this kind of content:

Amy Porterfield makes usage of these as well using many of the same strategies used by Justin employs by keeping subscribers engaged with interviews from experts, covering relevant trends and topics in her industry, and providing actionable advice for listeners.

Final word:

Audio files and live podcasts are an easy, cost-effective type of content that you can create for your membership website ahead of time and regularly, and with such the high level of audience engagement it is definitely worthwhile adding them to your arsenal.

To make the most of the opportunity, you should invite speakers from industry and other creatives to talk about trends in your industry, and then jam-pack the session filled with practical advice to your audience.

Loose lips might sink ships however, for membership site content, they're a perfect way to stay on top of the levels of customer satisfaction.

The content of your blog

Making content for your website might be a daunting task at beginning However, it doesn't have to stay that way.

Be sure to keep these tips in mind when you're looking for content to watch:

The data should be saved to a cloud-based storage system. Loss of data can cause serious negative consequences for small companies, and given the multitude of choices, there's no reason for you to put your data at risk.

Although you must develop certain material before getting started, you don't have to prepare everything on day one. Actually, you should not. What your members respond to and resonate with will influence your content plan as you progress.

If you decide to get into, start with downloadable materials like templates, workbooks, ebooks, and infographics.

Chances are that people are signing up for your membership as they are eager to learn something. Deliver that desire with mini-courses and tutorials that give them easy wins throughout the day.

You can then mix it up with interactive content like questions, polls and live webinars. Your membership site will go from dime-a-dozen to an engaging standout.

Let loose your mouth and record audio files and podcasts.

Podcasts in particular have proven to be extremely successful on other membership websites and are relatively easy to develop compared to other forms of content.

Be encouraged. While it might seem overwhelming initially, once you get rolling with content, you'll find your groove and your team members will blend seamlessly with you.