We talk about membership engagement a lot here on the MemberPress blog…because it’s everything! Engaged members renew their subscriptions, participate in discussions, and bring in referrals. But when engagement drops, churn sets in.
A couple of weeks ago, I talked about membership churn and how much more expensive it is to replace lost members than to keep the ones you’ve got.
Well, guess what? Engagement is the secret to member retention. Keep members active, involved, and excited, and they’ll stay subscribed, participate more, pay more, and even bring in new members.
At MemberPress, our customers have collectively raked in over $2 billion in revenue.
And with our ever-growing lineup of features, integrations, automations, and expert recommendations, we’re here to help you keep your members coming back – and that revenue rolling in.
Let’s get into the strategies that actually work!
What Is Membership Engagement and Why Does It Matter?
First off, what exactly is membership engagement? Simply put, it’s how often and how meaningfully your members interact with your site, community, and offerings.
A highly engaged member regularly:
- Logs in and browses multiple pages
- Leaves comments, joins discussions, and attends events
- Completes courses and actively participates
These members see the value in their membership, making them more likely to renew, refer others, and take advantage of upsells and cross-sells.
On the flip side, low engagement is a red flag for membership churn. It could mean a member:
- Struggles to navigate your site
- Doesn’t realize everything you offer, or worse,
- (Brace yourself) has completely forgotten about you
Some members might still be subscribed but never interact – passive membership can be an early warning sign.
Not everyone engages the same way. Some prefer reading content quietly, while others thrive on community discussions or live events. Tracking different types of engagement helps you better understand and support your members.
That’s exactly what we’ll cover in our 12 strategies.
Ways to Measure Membership Engagement
As we’ve already touched on, high membership engagement looks different depending on what you offer. It also depends on who your audience is.
For example, if you run a business coaching membership, engagement might mean members attending live Q&A sessions and completing training modules.
But if your site is for self-paced learning, members might primarily engage by consuming content and completing courses independently rather than participating in discussions.
Because engagement isn’t one-size-fits-all, the best way to measure it is against your own past performance. Ask yourself:
- Are members engaging more or less than before?
- Is engagement keeping pace with membership growth, or is it lagging behind?
Key Engagement KPIs to Track
Choose the metrics that best reflect what matters most for your membership site:
- Login frequency – How often are members signing in?
- Forum activity & post engagement – Are discussions active?
- Course/module completions – Are members making progress in their learning?
- Email open & click-through rates – Are they engaging with your emails?
- Event attendance – Are members showing up for live sessions?
Tracking the right KPIs will help you spot trends, identify disengaged members, and refine your engagement strategy.
Key Strategies to Boost Membership Engagement
You don’t have to wait until engagement becomes a problem to start making improvements.
Here are some of the techniques our customers use to keep members engaged. We’ve included tips, best practices, and tools to help you build a more interactive membership site on WordPress.
1. Build an Online Community
Have you noticed how often Reddit appears at the top of Google search results? Google hasn’t explicitly explained why, but we can take an educated guess: people value real conversations and shared experiences.
A first-time mom wondering what she actually needs for her newborn will trust advice from other moms over a generic product list.
A freelancer trying to land higher-paying clients will look to a community of fellow freelancers for tips and strategies.
Your membership site serves a niche audience with shared interests, and connecting those people adds enormous value.
Whether they’re networking, seeking advice, or sharing experiences, a private community can become one of the most valuable parts of your membership.
And with social media often feeling like a chaotic, hostile space, a members-only community offers a protected, high-quality environment where people can connect meaningfully. No ads, trolls, or irrelevant noise.
How to Set It Up
WordPress has several great plugins to help you build a community right on your site. MemberPress customers have found success with:
- bbPress – A simple yet powerful forum solution.
- BuddyBoss – A more feature-rich option for social networking and group discussions.
If you’re open to hosting your community outside your website, consider:
- Discord – Great for real-time chats, especially if your audience is tech-savvy.
- Facebook Groups – Convenient if your members are already active on Facebook.
2. Add Gamification
I’m a sucker for gamification. In fact, I owe my ability to speak Spanish to a certain green owl, a stack of badges, and a very competitive race to the top of the leaderboard with a colleague.
Even if points and leaderboards don’t do much for you, I can guarantee there’s a subset of your members who thrive on them.
For some (myself included), earning rewards is so gratifying that they’ll purposefully seek out your site for their next dopamine hit!
How to Set It Up
With GamiPress, you can add points, badges, and achievements to all sorts of engagement activities on your membership site, including:
- Signing up or logging in
- Completing lessons or courses
- Participating in community discussions
- Leaving comments or replying to posts
- Referring new members
- and more!
No matter what plugins you’re using on your membership site, GamiPress likely has an integration for it including several we mention in this article:
- MemberPress (for subscriptions and online course activity)
- BuddyBoss & bbPress (for community forums)
- Formidable Forms (for interactive quizzes and surveys)
- Easy Affiliate (for rewarding referrals)
And to top it all off, it’s free!
If gamification gets members excited to engage, why not take advantage of it?
3. Create a Loyalty Program
Want to level up gamification and keep members engaged even longer? A membership loyalty program might be your secret weapon.
Point systems, VIP perks, and exclusive rewards make people stick around and spend more. The success of airline miles and coffee shop rewards speak for themselves. And guess what? It works just as well for membership sites.
Studies show that nearly 80% of consumers are more likely to stay with a membership brand that offers a loyalty program. Even better? Over 95% of businesses say loyalty members spend up to four times more than non-members.
How to Reward Your Most Engaged Members
With a loyalty program, you can turn points and milestones into real-world perks. Here are some ideas:
- Give members a bonus after 1 year of membership, maybe an exclusive Q&A or VIP discount.
- Offer a reward for completing a course or coaching program,like a special certificate or freebie.
- Use points-based perks for engagement, say, extra content or a shoutout in your community.
A business coaching membership, for example, could offer “Platinum Member” status after a year, unlocking exclusive coaching calls and networking perks.
How to Set It Up
MemberPress makes this easy. You can offer tiered access and set up an automated email with an upgrade link when a member hits a milestone – whether it’s time-based (X years as a member) or action-based (completing a course or program).
To take it further, use your gamification plugin to track engagement and manually reward your most active members with:
- Discounts on renewals
- Exclusive content or VIP perks
- Physical swag like shirts or event tickets
We’ve already mentioned GamiPress. MyCred is another plugin you can use to assign points and badges based on activity, then convert engagement into real rewards.
4. Use Email Campaigns
Think email is old-school? Think again. Email is still one of the most powerful tools for keeping your members engaged. It’s direct, personal, and – unlike social media algorithms – guarantees your message actually gets seen.
Consistency and relevance is key. Your emails should remind members why they joined in the first place and keep them excited about what’s next.
Types of Emails That Drive Engagement
Keep your members coming back with:
- Exclusive Content Updates – Share new resources, behind-the-scenes insights, or early access to upcoming content.
- Event Invites & Reminders – Promote live Q&As, workshops, or networking events (and send a reminder so they don’t miss it!).
- Personalized Recommendations – Suggest courses, articles, or discussions based on their activity.
- Re-engagement Emails – Haven’t seen them in a while? Send a friendly nudge with a highlight reel of what they’ve missed.
How to Set It Up
With MemberPress and an email marketing platform like ActiveCampaign, ConvertKit, or GetResponse, you can:
- Automate email sequences for onboarding, course progress, or membership milestones.
- Segment your audience based on behavior – so members only get emails that matter to them.
- Use dynamic content to personalize subject lines and recommendations.
A well-timed email can reignite interest, spark participation, and keep members engaged for the long haul.
5. Giveaways and Exclusive Perks
Everyone loves free – giveaways and exclusive perks create buzz, boost participation, and make members feel valued.
Surprise your members with fun perks and unexpected rewards, and they’ll check in more frequently, engage more deeply, and stick around longer.
Ideas for Giveaways & Perks
- Member-Only Contests – Run giveaways where active members can win exclusive rewards. (Example: “Comment on this post for a chance to win a free 1-on-1 coaching session!”)
- Surprise Bonuses – Send random discounts or exclusive content to engaged members to keep them excited.
- Referral Rewards – Offer perks like free months of membership or exclusive content to members who bring in new sign-ups.
- Milestone Gifts – Celebrate anniversaries, course completions, or community contributions with a personalized reward.
- Partnership Deals – Buddy up with brands your audience loves and offer exclusive cross-promotions to your members.
How to Set It Up
You don’t need a complicated setup. MemberPress Coupons make it easy to offer time-limited discounts to reward participation.
But if you really want to create buzz, we highly recommend RafflePress.
We love this plugin (and use it ourselves!) to run giveaways. Participants can earn extra entries by engaging with your content, referring a friend, or following your social media accounts – just a few of the many available actions.
Plus it helps you select a winner at random.
A well-run giveaway or exclusive perk keeps your community excited, engaged, and talking about your membership.
6. Surveys and Quizzes
Noticing a theme yet? Interactivity keeps members engaged. The best membership experiences go beyond delivering content – they give members ways to actively participate and shape their journey.
How to Add Interactivity with Surveys and Quizzes
- Use surveys to collect valuable member insights and find out what they enjoy and want more of.
- Add quizzes to online courses to help members self-assess and track their progress.
- Offer deeper engagement with assignments – these require 1:1 feedback, giving members a more personalized experience.
How to Set It Up
- Formidable Forms is a favorite amongst our users. It has pre-built survey templates that make it easy to create interactive feedback forms. It also offers AI-generated forms or a simple drag-and-drop builder for full customization.
- MemberPress Courses includes unlimited, auto-graded quizzes so members can test their knowledge and evaluate their progress.
- MemberPress Pro customers also get access to the Assignments add-on, allowing members to submit videos, portfolios, presentations, and more – opening up endless possibilities for deeper engagement.
The more interactive your membership experience, the more invested your members will be.
7. Live Chat
When members have a question, they don’t want to wait hours for an email reply – they want answers now. Real-time support makes your membership site feel more responsive, accessible, and community-driven.
Live chat keeps members connected by giving them real-time access to support. Quick answers help them stay engaged, avoid frustration, and continue making the most of their membership.
How to Set It Up
- Offer instant support for common questions – Help members stay on track instead of getting stuck.
- Use chat for community-building – Live chat features can encourage real-time interactions among members.
- Automate responses with AI chatbots – Provide quick answers to FAQs while keeping your team available for bigger issues.
Best Live Chat Tools for Membership Sites
- LiveChat – Feature-rich and integrates with popular help desk platforms.
- Zendesk – Ideal for combining live chat with a full support ticket system.
- Olark – Great for small teams needing a simple, effective live chat and chatbot solution.
Adding live chat keeps members engaged, reduces friction, and makes your site feel more like a community than just a content hub.
8. Live Events, Webinars, and Office Hours
We love helping MemberPress customers create automations and passive income streams to keep their membership sites sustainable and profitable.
But live events have special engagement powers that make the extra effort worth it.
Whether it’s a virtual Q&A session, AMA, webinar, or 1:1 office hours, these events give members a reason to log in at a specific time.
Why is that so important? Because when something is available 24/7, members often delay participation – and sometimes forget about it entirely.
Live events also create a unique two-way connection between you and your members. It’s a chance to give them VIP treatment with your direct attention, building stronger relationships and trust.
Why Group Sessions Work So Well
Group Q&As, AMAs, and webinars are also a way for members to learn from each other. When members hear questions, insights, and real-world examples from their peers, they’re more likely to:
- Feel part of a larger, active community.
- Gain new perspectives or tips they might not have considered.
- Be inspired to share their own experiences, building even more engagement.
These events can create a feedback loop where members grow together and feel more invested in the community.
How to Set It Up
Here are a few tools to make hosting live events a breeze:
- Zoom – A great all-around platform for webinars, group calls, and 1:1 office hours.
- GoToWebinar – Ideal for professional webinars with advanced attendee tracking.
- Google Meet – A simple, free option for smaller sessions.
- Crowdcast – Excellent for interactive webinars with easy-to-use engagement features.
Live events give your members a reason to show up, connect, and stay engaged. Whether you host a small Q&A or a full-scale webinar, it’s worth the effort to bring your membership community together in real time.
9. Member Challenges & Milestones
I’m a sucker for a 30-Day Challenge. The idea of making a positive change in a specific, manageable time frame is so appealing.
And content creators have known this forever – who doesn’t know someone who’s joined a Yoga with Adriene challenge?
Challenges are also a powerful way to show your members how you can deliver real value in a short time frame. They’re actionable, motivating, and proof that your membership can make a meaningful difference in their lives.
That’s why challenges are an engagement goldmine. They keep members focused, driven, and coming back to track their progress.
And don’t forget milestones. Breaking longer challenges into smaller, celebratory moments gives members extra motivation and keeps the momentum going.
Ideas for Member Challenges
- 30-Day Productivity Challenge – Help members boost their focus with daily productivity tips or tools.
- 7-Day Writing Sprint – Perfect for writers or bloggers looking to kickstart their next project or build a writing habit.
- 21-Day Fitness Kickstart – A program designed to build strength, flexibility, or endurance in small, achievable steps.
- 30 Days to Master a Skill – Teach a key skill like photo editing, coding, or public speaking through short, actionable lessons.
- Personal Finance Challenge – Help members get their finances in order with actionable steps like tracking spending, creating a budget, or saving a set amount by the end of the challenge.
How to Set It Up
With MemberPress CoachKit™, creating and managing challenges is seamless:
- Build goal-based programs that guide members step-by-step.
- Use habit tracking to encourage daily, weekly, or biweekly participation.
- Automatically reward members when they reach milestones with personalized messages or access to exclusive content.
This really only scratches the surface of what you can do with CoachKit™. Check out this video to learn more:
10. Member Spotlights & Success Stories
We often think about showcasing success stories and testimonials as a way to get more membership signups but they’re also a fantastic way to boost engagement.
It makes the featured members feel special and motivates others in your community all while showing off the value of your membership to the world.
It’s also a fantastic way to foster connection. When your members see real people hitting milestones, tackling challenges, and thriving, it creates a ripple effect of inspiration and engagement.
Ideas for Member Spotlights & Success Stories
- Blog Features – Write a post about a member who’s crushed their goals, complete with their story, insights, and advice for others.
- Social Media Shoutouts – Highlight members on Instagram or Facebook with photos, quotes, or a quick video.
- Video Interviews – Hop on Zoom with a standout member and let them share their journey in their own words.
- Member Awards – Start a “Member of the Month” tradition and celebrate their achievements with a dedicated feature.
- Milestone Spotlights – Share updates when members hit major milestones like completing a course or participating in your 30-day challenge.
How to Set It Up
- Reach out to your members via email or surveys and ask about their wins.
Use a tool like Formidable Forms to let members submit their stories easily. - Share their stories in your community, on your blog, or even as part of your next email campaign.
As well as being a feel-good-moment, celebrating your members’ success is a powerful way to drive engagement, build community, and show your members that they’re the beating heart of your site.
11. Drip Content
We all know that keeping a steady stream of exclusive content is the backbone of any good membership experience. But providing that content week after week at regular intervals is no small feat!
Drip content is a tried-and-tested solution, and a popular strategy to keep members engaged over time. It also builds anticipation and ensures they’re not overwhelmed by too much at once.
How to Set It Up
With MemberPress it’s super easy to set up drip content rules to release any page, post, course, or individual lesson.
- Use MemberPress Rules to drip any type of content on a timeline that makes sense for your membership strategy.
- The Course Content Dripping feature makes things even easier if you just plan on dripping course content
- You have complete flexibility to decide:
- Which items you want to drip release
- Frequency (daily, weekly, etc)
- Exact time of release
- Whether you want the content to expire after a certain length of time.
12. Accountability Groups & Mastermind Sessions
Did you know? 70% of people who set goals never achieve them. Think of all the New Year’s resolutions made in January, only to be completely abandoned by – wait, what month is it again? Oh yeah, February.
But here’s another interesting stat: A study by the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found that people are 65% more likely to achieve a goal if they tell someone else about it – and that number jumps to 95% with a dedicated accountability appointment.
Accountability turns good intentions into real progress – including engagement on your site.
When members connect in small groups, they stay motivated, support each other, and make real progress – whether they’re working toward a business goal, leveling up a skill, or completing a course.
How to Set It Up
- Create group coaching cohorts with CoachKit™
- Set up private forums with MemberPress and bbPress or BuddyBoss
- Host weekly or biweekly check-ins where members report progress, set goals, and get feedback
- Run live mastermind calls on Zoom or Crowdcast where members can collaborate, problem-solve, and stay accountable
Accountability groups are great for engagement and retention since members build strong bonds with other in your community. And if they feel connected, they’re more likely to stay signed up.
If you don’t have an accountability system in place yet, this could be the missing piece that takes your engagement to the next level.
Final Thoughts: Keep Members Engaged and Invested
We’ve covered a lot of ground, haven’t we? Hopefully, this has opened your mind to some of the ways you can improve membership engagement on your site.
We’ve looked at 12 opportunities for your members to connect, participate, and see real value in their ongoing subscription.
And that’s the key word: ongoing. Keeping engagement fresh, exciting, and useful over time is what makes a membership truly valuable.
Get MemberPress Today!
Start getting paid for the content you create.
A big part of your success will come down to seeing what your members respond to and adjusting as you go.
You don’t have to implement all 12 strategies right away. Start small. Pick one or two that make sense for your membership and test them out. Small, intentional steps can lead to big wins.
Which strategies will you try first? Let us know in the comments below!
If you found this article helpful, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn!
Add a Comment