Among all the marketing methods that are available to membership site owners such as web rings, keywords, directory listings, and back linking, there is one method that is often overlooked...your content. The content of your website is extremely important and still wears the crown when it comes to gaining and retaining members.
No doubt you've seen it. The website is full of pretty pictures and wonderful flash design, but the content doesn't match the visual image. Perhaps it is full of inaccuracies, or it simply sounds too much like a tired sales pitch given by a telemarketer. Or maybe there are about three or four grammatical errors in the first paragraph, or it's obvious that the content was written by someone with no understanding of what the website is offering. In any case, what a person reads at your membership site will have a greater influence on whether or not they return than just about anything else.
It's been said through out the Internet, but it bears repeating at least one more time: content is king. It does not matter how often someone is directed to your membership site. If the content is full of holes, bad grammar, or even if it is not written in a friendly style, the chance of them staying and becoming a member is slim indeed. Furthermore, you don't want to give them reason to spread a negative word to their family and friends...that's one viral effect you don't want!
Remember, the Internet has woven the world together in a way that we've never experienced before...we have become more interconnected, which means that a comment by someone in Nebraska can easily influence a potential client in Hong Kong.
So how can you make sure that the talk about your membership site is good and beneficial to you? Truth is you really can't control all the talk out there, but there are certain simple things that you can do. The first and perhaps most important thing is to make sure your content is accurate and well written. If you decide to hire a ghostwriter for your content, you must determine whether or not they are well versed in what your membership site has to offer. Make sure they understand the industry, the various pitfalls,and arguments against it. Ideally, you want to locate a true expert. Don't be afraid to ask for samples or for copies of previous work that they have done. After all, this ghost writer will be submitting content in your name and the reputation of your membership can ultimately depend on it.
The next course of action is to regularly update the content of your membership site. Many of the search engines today base their rankings, and therefore your visibility in part on the number of times that the site is updated. And, they're not looking for an update on the number of visitors, or whether or not the date stamp at the top of your page is current. There are programs out there that will actually look for logical updates to the content in the website itself. However, please don't fall into the trap of trying to update every moment available just for the sake of doing so. Update the information when you have something new, something of value to add to your membership site, such as a new tool, unique content or some exciting news.
A membership site can be one of the most lucrative online business' for you to enter into. Although frustrating at times, for the most part they are very rewarding both financially and personally. As the owner, it's up to you to make the most of it, and great content can be your most valuable tool.
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A free spirited entrepreneur and business owner, Kathy Dobson is committed to helping individuals discover personal and financial freedom through membership sites and Internet marketing. To learn more about membership sites...a very hot trend, visit:
http://www.crazycashmembershipsites.com
