How to Start a Membership Web Site: 10 Steps

In the beginning, the Internet offered visitors a wealth of free information, and the first membership Web sites were not well received. Gradually people warmed up to the idea, recognizing that people work hard to produce quality content, and it might be worth paying for. We pay for books. Why wouldn't we be willing to pay for internet resources? Today membership Web sites are a highly successful business model that brings nearly passive income to those that make a strong initial investment of the time.

This guide will take you through your first steps in creating a highly profitable membership Web site or your own.

1) Choose Your Niche
Decide what business you want to be in. Most membership Web sites are coaching Web sites, though you are only limited by your creativity.

2) Choose Your Keywords
The right keywords will bring incredible natural search traffic. Poorly chosen keywords will leave you unfound and unprofitable. Consider using WordTracker's free keyword tool.

3) Choose a Domain Name
Choose an effective domain name that is short, memorable and uses one or two keywords from your keyword list.

4) Build Your Squeeze Page
Build an effective one page squeeze page that gives visitors an opportunity to sign-up for you auto-responder email newsletter, and download your free resources.

5) Set Up Your Auto-Responder Email Account
An auto-responder email account is a great way to automate your business. It keeps you in touch with your clients, offering them valuable advice, building trust, and providing product visibility. Consider Aweber.com or ConstantContact.com.

6) Set Up Your AdWords Account
Google's AdWords program is a cost effective way to attract prospects to your squeeze page. Take the time to learn about how to write an effective ad before you sign-up.

7) Create Your Free Materials
People love to get things for free. It will be the best way to get them to consider a subscription to your membership Web site. Whatever you choose to offer, it should be amazing. If your freebie is amazing, prospects will believe your have more amazing resources behind your membership doors.

8) Build Your Membership Web site
Building your membership Web site will be your biggest expense. Flash is flashy, but much more expensive and not as productive in terms of natural search traffic. Ask you web designer how you can build a great site that looks expensive but isn't.

9) Market Your Membership Web site
With 162 million Web sites out their you can't put up a Web site and hope someone will find it. You have to get the word out. Try to do one thing every day that let's people know that you are out there, and that you have something just a little better than your competitors.

10) Survey Your Target Market
Building membership Web site means building relationships. Ask your target market what they like about your membership Web site, and what else they need to be successful.