150: Start a Membership Site with Amanda McKinney
Have you been thinking about starting a membership site? Perhaps you’ve heard of membership sites and you’re wondering how you can start one as a yoga teacher. Shannon and Amanda McKinney both started their own membership sites in 2019 and dive into what it takes to start and run a successful membership site.
Amanda is a marketing coach for yoga teachers with a membership site, Marketing Yoga with Confidence, which focuses on helping yoga teachers to market themselves and their businesses authentically, without slimy, sales-y marketing. Shannon’s membership site, Pelvic Health Professionals, provides pelvic health advocates including physiotherapists, yoga teachers, fitness professionals and more, with updated information surrounding pelvic health.
Starting a membership site is not something either of them had considered, but eventually they did. They share their journey of why they started their membership sites, and what they have learned along the process. Amanda and Shannon also discuss some of the finer details of running a membership site, from doing launches, the technology and methods for content creation, and how to get started.
If you are wondering how this can be used by yoga teachers wanting to focus on more online offerings, or you’ve wanted to learn more about the inner workings of starting and running a membership site, this episode is for you.
Key Takeaways:
[5:28] Shannon introduces her guest for this episode – Amanda McKinney.
“The idea that my audience was asking for it was reason enough for me to figure it out.” – Amanda McKinney
[7:19] What is Amanda’s membership site and what got her started on that?
[11:56] Amanda was familiar with the technology for her membership site when she launched but didn’t have any of the content ready.
[13:16] Amanda and Shannon had the idea for a membership site at the same time. Shannon shares her journey of starting her membership site.
[15:45] Both Amanda and Shannon initially opened their membership sites and let their founding members guide the direction for the content.
[17:48] What is a membership site and how does it apply to yoga teachers?
[20:30] A yoga membership site has been called an “online yoga studio”. Does this mean that students will no longer be going to classes?
“If anyone’s thinking about creating a membership site, in and of itself, think about who you want in there. … At the beginning, it is really important to have quality.” – Amanda McKinney
[23:12] What are some of the different decisions Shannon and Amanda have made in creating content? They share some of their techniques and methods for conveying content.
[27:43] Shannon and Amanda discuss their platforms for their membership sites.
“Use what you have, and figure out what you need.” – Amanda McKinney
[29:26] Let’s talk tech. What are some of the tech that Amanda and Shannon use?
[35:06] One of the things to manage is people feeling like they’re getting left behind with the amount of content available on membership sites. Be careful with that!
[37:10] Another option is making your own customized platform for your membership site, but be sure not to go off on a tangent or invest too much before you need to.
“Listen to what your audience says.” – Amanda McKinney
[40:44] What’s the best way to gather information from ideal clients?
[44:29] Be open to the possibilities of what your idea could become!
[49:31] Churn (people leaving) is a natural part of running a membership site. Do not become heartbroken or discouraged!
[54:12] Both Amanda and Shannon open and close the doors to their membership sites at certain times. Why have they chosen to go this route?
[1:00:57] Share your ideas for membership sites for yoga teachers or your own membership site in the comments!
Links:
- Schedulicity on Instagram and Facebook
- Amanda McKinney
- The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode: 112: Niche Down to Market Your Yoga with Amanda McKinney
- Marketing Yoga with Confidence Membership Site
- Teachable
- Pixel Wireless Video Microphone Review – Yoga Teacher Review! by Shelly Aaron
- iMovie
- Kajabi
- MemberVault
- Thinkific
- Mac
- Amanda’s webcam
- The Connected Yoga Teacher Podcast Episode 078: Creating an Online Yoga Studio with Brea Johnson
- Heart + Bones Yoga
- Amanda’s behind the scenes podcast episodes:
- The Membership Guys Podcast
- The Membership Guys – Behind the Membership
- It’s a TRIBE Thing Podcast
- Yoga for Pelvic Health Teacher Training
Gratitude to our Sponsor Schedulicity and Pelvic Health Professionals
I am launching a membership for people with chronic pain and fatigue so they can access yoga (accessible means so many things here!) It’s such an exciting time and opportunity to help those who can’t get to a studio!
https://melissavsfibromyalgia.teachable.com/p/yoga-and-meditation-for-the-chronic-life
Oh this is fantastic Melissa! I see you are using teachable as a platform. Is there anything you would share with others who are thinking of starting a membership or do you have any questions now that you are up and going?
Done is better than perfect! And less is usually more.
Teachable isn’t perfect for a membership but as you guys discussed, what we know is easier to start. It is accessible to me as a super new business owner with no capital (I chose to invest in my learning as a yoga teacher).
My big thing is how to get enough members to be able to close and do the open and close launching thing! I am a heart centred sales person and deliver massive value when launching- I don’t email my list without something of value (as in just asking for a sale never happens) so that is a lot of work!