Creating a membership site is a great way to build an online community and monetize your content. However, there are many members-only websites in the online space. It can be challenging to convince users that your site is worth their time.
Fortunately, rewarding members with bonus content can help your membership site stand out. This material can boost membership value, increase conversions, and improve your website's reputation.
From e-books to online courses, we've outlined five types of bonus content that will take your membership site to the next level. We'll also discuss why offering extra material can benefit your website and its members. Let's get started!
Why You Should Consider Rewarding Your Members With Bonus Content
Bonus content is anything that isn't part of your regular membership offerings. It might include exclusive offers, time-sensitive content, or one-off events. Furthermore, the material can be updates or extensions to existing information on your site.
This content is essential because it can keep members invested in the long term. If you can provide frequent updates and new material, your users might be more inclined to extend their subscriptions. They may even promote your site's reach through word-of-mouth marketing.
Furthermore, bonus content can give your website an edge over the competition. There are likely many similar sites in your niche. You can convince new users to choose your membership over your competitors by offering and promoting unique material.
Finally, developing bonus content enables you to expand your business. You'll need to stretch your skills and creativity to regularly develop new material. As such, your member's only content is likely to be better and more valuable in the future.
5 Types of Membership Site Bonus Content to Give Your Members
The sky's the limit when offering bonus content to your members. Here are 5 ideas to get you started!
1. E-Books
E-books are downloadable resources that package existing content into a new format. You might combine some of the best advice from your membership blog posts into a simple file for your members.
Many membership sites offer informational e-books as part of their regular membership content. However, there's nothing stopping you from including e-books as bonus content, too:
You might offer your e-books free or heavily discounted to your readers. Furthermore, you may consider pre-releasing the content to your users before the general public. That way, your members can enjoy the exclusivity of your material and feel valued by your business.
It might sound intimidating to create an e-book. However, the process is relatively straightforward with an application such as Canva. This platform can format your content and package it into a simple PDF:
Alternatively, you can release your e-book on an official platform such as Amazon. Then, members and new readers alike can access the content.
2. Webinars
Webinars are online seminars that feature talks and presentations from professionals in your industry. They are essentially online alternatives to traditional conferences.
Offering the occasional webinar to your readers can add value to your membership site. These events enable members to learn more about specific topics, ask questions, and feel part of an online community.
For instance, many industry professionals will offer webinars with targeted topics to their audiences:
To run a successful webinar, make sure to choose a relevant topic and team up with experts in the field to create a presentation. For an even more personal experience, you can end the session with a question and answer session. By following these tips, your members will get an engaging and educational experience.
3. Exclusive Interviews
Exclusive interviews are recorded sessions with professionals relevant to your membership site and its users. Ideally, these interviews will contain content that isn't readily available elsewhere online:
Offering exclusive interviews can increase the overall value of your membership website. Your members can benefit from industry-specific knowledge without scouring the internet. Furthermore, conducting interviews is an excellent opportunity to network with professionals in your niche.
Fortunately, with today's video conference technology, conducting interviews with leading professionals from around the world is easier than ever. Depending on your preference, you can even showcase the information in written format.
4. Discount Codes
Discount codes can cross-promote products relevant to your site and make members feel rewarded for their subscriptions. You might offer lower prices on items in your ecommerce store or market products from third-party companies:
You'll typically offer this content via affiliate links. When members click your links, they'll receive discounts on the products. You'll also make a commission percentage on successful sales, making this method an excellent way to further monetize your membership site.
However, take care with the discounts you offer your readers. Promoting affiliate links irrelevant to your membership model and business could feel like overselling or spam to your users. Therefore, we recommend only partnering with companies that can offer value to your members.
5. Online Courses
Finally, you should consider offering online courses to your members. These are typically video-based instructions that teach your users how to do something.
For example, if you run a writer's membership site, you might design courses to improve your members' writing skills:
Online courses can make learning convenient for your members. They can also establish your authority on a given topic. Furthermore, giving your members exclusive access to your industry knowledge shows them their memberships have real value.
If you already have an arsenal of content on your site, it's easy to repurpose it into a course. Another tip is to assess which topics are most popular on your website – make courses out of what your audience is most interested in. When creating your course, you can also use polls to further connect with your members.
Conclusion
Running a membership site isn't easy. You'll need to compete with other websites in your niche and convince users to sign up for your content. Fortunately, offering bonus material can increase the value of your memberships and distinguish your business from your competition.
To recap, here are five types of bonus content you can offer your members:
- E-books
- Webinars
- Exclusive interviews
- Discount codes
- Online courses
Do you have any questions about providing bonus content on your membership site? Let us know in the comments section below!
If you liked this article, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and LinkedIn! And don't forget to subscribe in the box.
EN 
ES 
FR 
DE 
PT 
Hi there, just wanted to mention, I enjoyed this article.
It was funny. Keep on posting!