If you’ve considered starting a membership program or club on your website you might be wondering what the best way to do that is, how expensive and difficult it might be, or just where to begin. Today I’m sharing an article from Rebekah Zobel Jones, who specializes in membership site setup and is a fantastic resource if you’re considering adding a membership site to your business.

I met Rebekah last year at the Attract Clients Like Crazy seminar, where she had to put up with me as a roommate.  ;)  She’s a patient person and very smart cookie.

Creating Membership Sites – 3 Myths of Membership Site Creation Debunked!

As with any information product, there are many myths that surround the membership site creation process. The end result seems completely out of reach of the normal coach, consultant or small business owner. Yet, creating a membership program can be done in a simple, yet comprehensive fashion. Here are three myths that keep cropping up in discussions with prospective membership site owners and the truth behind them.

MYTH #1: “The technical aspects are way beyond me.”
The truth is, you don’t have to know HTML or CSS or PHP (or even what those acronyms mean) to create a membership program. Membership sites can be built on many different platforms, and many sites are very simple indeed. Frequently, once the site is set up it’s just a matter of writing a new blog post to keep the the content updated. And you don’t even have to do that! There are several services that offer membership management – or even website management that can handle all the tech-y stuff for you.

MYTH #2: “I couldn’t keep up with the content.”
There are many types of membership sites and not all of them require you to be constantly adding information to the site. For instance, if you have a class that you regularly teach live, you can offer the recordings as a home study course and use the membership site platform to deliver the class. Once the site is set up, students can pay and register for the class, work through the material, and be done! All with little or no input from you. And it’s evergreen too! If you choose to go the “traditional” route, and are worried about writing lots of content, you can always record what you want to say and have someone transcribe it for you. Instant content!

MYTH #3: “I can tweet up a storm, but add content to a web site?”
If you can tweet, post on Facebook or your blog, then you can update your membership site quickly and easily. A very popular platform for creating membership programs is WordPress. WordPress is super simple to add content too! It’s just like writing an email. To add audio and video to your membership site is super simple; if you are using WordPress, there are some great plugins available that make adding content a breeze!

Bonus Myth: “The cost is just too much.”
Having a membership program is very cost effective. Depending on the platform you choose, the cost can vary from free to $100 or so. Of course, you can spend thousands of dollars if you’d like! But why when you can use those funds somewhere else?

Want to learn more about the best software for Membership Sites? Check out http://WishList4WordPress.com!

Rebekah Zobel Jones, My Fabulous VA, is a Membership Site creator, coordinator and consultant. She assists coaches and consultants in adding Membership Sites to their businesses, resulting in increased value to their clients and increased cash flow.