9 Easy Steps to Build a Membership Website with Strikingly
9 Easy Steps to Build a Membership Website with Strikingly
That's where Strikingly comes in. Strikingly is a powerful website builder that offers a range of features specifically designed for building membership websites. In this guide, we'll explore why building a membership website is beneficial and why using Strikingly as your website builder is an intelligent decision.
Why Build A Membership Website?
Membership websites offer numerous advantages for businesses and organizations. By creating an exclusive online community, you can provide valuable content, services, and resources to your members while fostering a sense of belonging and loyalty. Whether you're running an online course, a professional organization, or an e-commerce store, a membership website can help you engage with your audience on a deeper level and establish recurring revenue streams.
Benefits Of Using Strikingly Website Builder
Strikingly stands out among other website builders when building membership websites. With its user-friendly interface and intuitive drag-and-drop editor, Strikingly makes it easy to create stunning websites without any coding knowledge. It offers various customizable templates designed explicitly for membership websites, allowing you to create a unique online presence that reflects your brand.
Moreover, Strikingly provides essential features like registration systems, member profiles, subscription management tools, and secure payment gatewaysโall built-in within the platform. You don't have to rely on multiple plugins or integrations to manage your memberships effectively.
In this guide on how to create a membership website using Strikingly as your chosen platform, we will cover everything from choosing the right builder for your needs to setting up membership levels and pricing, adding exclusive content for members, managing subscriptions, and securing your website. We will also discuss how to promote your membership website effectively to attract more members.
Let's continue!
Choosing the Right Membership Website Builder
SalesMaster Membership Template
When building a membership website, choosing the right website builder is crucial. There are several options available in the market, each with its own set of features and benefits.
Overview Of Different Website Builders
There are various website builders that cater to different needs and requirements. Some popular options include WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Strikingly. Each of these builders has its own strengths and weaknesses.
WordPress is a widely used platform known for its flexibility and customization options. It offers a wide range of plugins and themes that can be used to create a membership website. However, it requires some technical knowledge and may not be suitable for beginners.
Wix is another popular website builder that offers a user-friendly interface and drag-and-drop functionality. It provides pre-designed templates that can be easily customized to create a membership website. However, it may lack some advanced features required for complex membership models.
Squarespace is known for its sleek designs and professional-looking websites. It offers an intuitive interface and provides built-in features for e-commerce functionality. However, it may have limitations when creating complex membership structures.
Benefits Of Using Strikingly For Membership Websites
When considering different website builders for your membership website, Strikingly stands out as an excellent choice. Here are some key benefits of using Strikingly:
1. User-friendly interface. Strikingly offers an intuitive drag-and-drop editor that makes it easy for beginners to create stunning websites without any coding knowledge.
2. Membership-specific features. Strikingly provides built-in tools specifically designed for creating membership websites, such as member registration systems, login portals, and content restriction options.
3. Customization options. With Strikingly's extensive collection of templates and design elements, you can easily customize your membership website to match your brand identity and attract your target audience.
4. Mobile-responsive design. Strikingly ensures that your membership website looks great on all devices, whether it's a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone. This is crucial for providing a seamless user experience to your members.
5. SEO-friendly features. Strikingly offers built-in SEO tools that can help improve your website's visibility in search engine results, making it easier for potential members to find you online.
When it comes to choosing the right membership website builder, Strikingly emerges as an excellent option due to its user-friendly interface, membership-specific features, customization options, mobile-responsive design, and SEO-friendly features.
Build a Membership Website Step #1: Planning Your Membership Website
Strikingly Editor on a Mobile Device
When it comes to building a successful membership website, careful planning is essential. This section will guide you through the important steps of identifying your target audience and defining your membership model.
Identifying Your Target Audience
Before diving into creating your membership website, it's crucial to identify who your target audience is. Understanding their needs, interests, and demographics will help you tailor your content and offerings to cater specifically to them.
To identify your target audience, start by conducting market research and analyzing data related to your niche. This can include studying competitor websites, conducting surveys or interviews with potential members, or utilizing tools like Google Analytics to gather insights about your potential audience.
By gaining a clear understanding of who you are targeting, you can create a more personalized and engaging experience for your members.
Defining Your Membership Model (Free Vs. Paid)
Once you have identified your target audience, the next step is to determine the type of membership model that best suits your goals and offerings. There are two main options: free memberships or paid subscriptions.
Free memberships can be a great way to attract a larger user base and generate leads for future sales or upsells. However, keep in mind that offering valuable content for free may require alternative monetization strategies such as advertising or selling products/services alongside the free content.
Paid subscriptions offer exclusive access to premium content or additional features in exchange for a recurring fee. This model allows you to generate consistent revenue while providing high-quality content and services to paying members.
Consider factors such as the value of your content, competition in the market, and the willingness of your target audience to pay for access when deciding on which membership model suits you best.
Planning plays a vital role in creating a successful membership website. By identifying your target audience and defining the right membership model (free vs paid), you can lay a strong foundation for your website's success.
Build a Membership Website Step #2: Setting Up Your Strikingly Account
Strikingly Landing Page
To start building your membership website with Strikingly, you must create an account on their platform. Creating an account is quick and easy, allowing you to start designing your website in no time.
First, visit the Strikingly website and click on the Sign Up button. You'll be prompted to enter your email address and create a password for your account. Make sure to choose a strong password to protect your website's security.
Once you've entered your email and password, click the "Get Started" button. You may also be able to sign up using your Facebook or Google account for added convenience.
After creating your account, you'll be directed to the Strikingly dashboard, where you can customize your membership website. But before diving into design options, it's crucial to choose a template that suits your needs.
Strikingly offers a wide range of professionally designed templates specifically tailored for membership websites. These templates are customizable and user-friendly, allowing you to create a unique and visually appealing website without any coding knowledge.
To choose a template, browse the available options and select one that aligns with your brand or desired aesthetic. You can preview each template before making a final decision.
Once you've chosen a template, click on it to start editing. From there, you can customize various elements such as colors, fonts, layout, and more to make it truly reflect your brand identity.
By setting up your Strikingly account and selecting a template that fits your vision, you're one step closer to creating an engaging membership website to attract and retain members.
Build a Membership Website Step #3: Designing Your Membership Website
Strikingly Website Editor
Designing your membership website is an essential step in creating a visually appealing and user-friendly platform for your members. With the right layout, colors, and branding elements, you can create a professional and engaging online community.
Customizing Your Website's Layout And Colors
One of the first things you'll want to do when designing your membership website is to customize its layout and colors. Strikingly offers a variety of templates that you can choose from, allowing you to find the perfect design that suits your brand and target audience.
When customizing the layout, consider the ease of navigation for your members. Ensure essential sections such as member profiles, exclusive content, and subscription management are easily accessible. You can also add widgets or sections for announcements or upcoming events to keep your members informed.
Choosing the right colors for your website is also crucial in creating a visually appealing site. Consider using colors that align with your brand identity or evoke particular emotions related to your membership niche. For example, if you have a fitness membership website, vibrant and energetic colors may be more fitting than muted tones.
Adding Relevant Images And Branding Elements
In addition to customizing the layout and colors of your membership website, adding relevant images and branding elements can enhance its overall appeal. Images can help convey information or set the mood for your community.
When choosing images for your website, ensure they are relevant to your membership niche. For example, if you have a photography membership website featuring high-quality images taken by members, you can showcase their skills and attract potential new members.
Branding elements such as logos or taglines can also help establish a strong brand identity for your membership website. These elements should be strategically placed throughout the site to reinforce brand recognition among members.
Remember that visual content is vital in capturing users' attention and conveying information quickly. Use high-quality images that are visually appealing and align with your membership website's theme.
Designing your membership website is an essential part of creating a successful online community. By customizing the layout and colors, adding relevant images and branding elements, you can create a visually appealing and engaging platform for your members.
Build a Membership Website Step #4: Creating Membership Levels and Pricing
Remote Joy Membership Website Template
When building a membership website, it's essential to create different membership tiers to cater to the diverse needs and preferences of your target audience. By offering multiple membership levels, you can provide varying access levels and benefits, allowing members to choose the option that best suits their needs.
Setting up different membership tiers is a crucial step in creating a successful membership website. This allows you to offer different levels of content, features, and privileges to your members. For example, you can have a basic tier that offers limited access to certain content or features, while a premium tier provides exclusive access to premium content and additional perks.
Determining the pricing for each level is another vital aspect of creating membership levels. You need to consider factors such as the value of the content or services you provide, the competition in your niche, and the affordability of your target audience. It's essential to balance offering competitive pricing and ensuring that it aligns with the value you are delivering.
By carefully planning and designing your membership levels and pricing structure, you can attract more members and generate revenue for your website. Remember to conduct market research and analyze what similar websites are offering in terms of both content and pricing.
Creating Membership Levels:
1) Offer different tiers with varying levels of access
2) Provide exclusive content or features at higher tiers
3) Consider member preferences when designing levels
Determining Pricing:
4) Assess the value of your offerings
5) Research competitors' pricing strategies
6) Ensure affordability for your target audience
Build a Membership Website Step #5: Adding Membership Features and Content
Yoga Studio Membership Template
Integrating registration and login systems is a crucial step in building a membership website. With Strikingly's website builder, you can easily create a seamless registration process for your members. By adding a registration form to your website, users can sign up for an account by providing their basic information, such as name, email address, and password. This allows you to keep track of your members and provide them with personalized experiences on your website.
Creating exclusive content for members is another critical aspect of building a successful membership website. With Strikingly, you have the flexibility to create different levels of membership and offer exclusive content based on those levels. For example, you can have a basic membership that provides access to particular articles or videos. At the same time, premium members get access to more advanced content or additional perks like discounts or special events.
By offering exclusive content to your members, you not only provide value but also incentivize them to stay subscribed and engaged with your website. This can help increase member retention rates and ultimately drive more revenue for your online business.
In conclusion, integrating registration and login systems and creating exclusive content are essential steps in building a successful membership website. With Strikingly's easy-to-use website builder, you can effortlessly implement these features and provide an exceptional user experience for your members.
Remember to optimize your content using keywords such as build a membership website, membership website, create a membership website, membership website builder, and how to create a membership website. By strategically incorporating these keywords throughout your content, you can improve its visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) and attract more potential members to your site.
Now that we've covered the importance of adding membership features and content, let's move on to the next section: Managing Member Profiles and Subscriptions.
Build a Membership Website Step #6: Managing Member Profiles and Subscriptions
Dolce Membership Template
Setting up member profiles and user dashboards on your membership website is essential for providing a personalized experience to your members. With Strikingly's user-friendly interface, this process becomes incredibly easy.
Setting Up Member Profiles And User Dashboards
When setting up member profiles, you can gather important information from your members, such as their names, email addresses, and preferences. This information can be used to tailor their experience on your website and provide them with relevant content.
With Strikingly's membership website builder, you can easily create customizable user dashboards where members can update their profiles, access exclusive content, and manage their subscriptions. This feature allows for seamless interaction between you and your members.
Handling Subscriptions And Payments
Managing subscriptions and payments is a crucial aspect of running a membership website. With Strikingly's integrated payment gateways, you can easily set up recurring billing for your membership levels.
You can determine the pricing for each membership level and choose whether to offer free or paid subscriptions. Strikingly's secure payment processing ensures that transactions are smooth and protected.
Strikingly's membership website builder provides all the necessary tools to manage member profiles and subscriptions effectively. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to set up user dashboards, handle payments, and create a seamless experience for you and your members.
Build a Membership Website Step #7: Securing Your Membership Website
Strikingly Editor - Membership Set Up Page
To ensure the security of your membership website, there are two critical aspects to consider: implementing SSL certificates for secure transactions and protecting member data and personal information.
Implementing SSL Certificates For Secure Transactions
One crucial step in securing your membership website is implementing SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificates. SSL certificates encrypt the data exchanged between your website and its visitors, making it nearly impossible for hackers to intercept and misuse sensitive information such as credit card details or login credentials.
By obtaining an SSL certificate, you provide your members with a secure browsing experience, instilling trust in your website's credibility. This is especially crucial if you plan on handling payments or collecting any personal information from your members.
To implement SSL certificates for your membership website built with Strikingly, you can easily enable HTTPS encryption through Strikingly's platform. This ensures that all communication between your website and its visitors is encrypted and protected from potential threats.
Protecting Member Data And Personal Information
In addition to implementing SSL certificates, it is essential to take measures to protect member data and personal information stored on your membership website. This includes following best practices for data security, such as:
1. Regularly updating your website's software and plugins to patch any vulnerabilities.
2. Using strong passwords for admin accounts and encouraging members to do the same.
3. Employing firewalls and intrusion detection systems to prevent unauthorized access.
4. Backing up member data regularly in case of any unforeseen incidents.
5. Limiting access privileges only to those who require it, reducing the risk of internal breaches.
By prioritizing the security of member data, you not only safeguard their trust but also mitigate potential legal liabilities that may arise from a breach.
Remember that building a secure membership website is an ongoing process that requires constant vigilance against emerging threats. Stay informed about the latest security practices and regularly update your website's security measures to ensure the continued safety of your members' information.
To successfully build a membership website, it is crucial to prioritize the security of your visitors' data and personal information. By implementing SSL certificates for secure transactions and taking proactive measures to protect member data, you can create a safe and trustworthy environment for your members.
Don't let security concerns hold you back from creating your own membership website. With the right tools and strategies in place, you can confidently embark on this exciting journey while ensuring the privacy and security of your members' information.
Build a Membership Website Step #8: Promoting Your Membership Website
Strikingly Affiliate Program Announcement
To ensure the success of your membership website, it is crucial to promote it effectively. In this section, we will explore two key strategies: utilizing SEO techniques and implementing social media marketing.
Utilizing SEO Techniques To Improve Visibility
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) plays a vital role in increasing the visibility of your membership website on search engine results pages. By optimizing your website for relevant keywords and improving its overall structure, you can attract organic traffic and potential members.
To start, conduct keyword research to identify popular search terms related to your membership website. Incorporate these keywords naturally into your website's content, including page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and body text. Remember to avoid keyword stuffing as it can negatively impact your website's ranking.
Additionally, focus on creating high-quality and engaging content that provides value to your target audience. Regularly publish blog posts or articles that address their pain points or offer solutions. This not only helps with SEO but also establishes you as an authority in your niche.
Lastly, optimize the technical aspects of your website by ensuring fast loading speeds, mobile responsiveness, and easy navigation. Search engines prioritize user experience when ranking websites.
Implementing Social Media Marketing Strategies
Social media platforms provide an excellent opportunity to connect with potential members and promote your membership website effectively.
Start by creating profiles on popular social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or LinkedIn โ depending on where your target audience is most active. Share engaging content regularly that highlights the benefits of joining your membership community.
Utilize visual content such as images or videos to capture attention and encourage sharing among users. Collaborate with influencers or industry experts who align with your niche to reach a wider audience.
Engage with your followers by responding promptly to comments or messages and encouraging discussions within online communities related to your industry. This helps build trust and loyalty among potential members.
Consider running paid social media advertising campaigns to target specific demographics or interests that align with your membership website's niche. This can help increase brand awareness and drive traffic to your website.
Remember to track the performance of your social media efforts using analytics tools. This will allow you to identify which strategies are most effective and make data-driven decisions for future promotions.
Promoting your membership website requires a combination of SEO techniques and social media marketing strategies. By optimizing your website for search engines and leveraging the power of social media platforms, you can increase visibility, attract potential members, and ultimately achieve success in building a thriving membership community.
Build a Membership Website Step #9: Testing and Launching Your Membership Website
Simple Splash Template
Now that you have designed and added all the necessary features to your membership website, it's time to thoroughly test its functionality before launching it to the public. This step is crucial in ensuring a smooth user experience for your members.
Conducting Thorough Testing Of All Features And Functionality
Before launching your membership website, it is essential to conduct comprehensive testing of all its features and functionalities. This includes checking the registration and login systems, ensuring that members can easily access their profiles and dashboards, and verifying that the payment and subscription processes are working seamlessly.
Test each membership level to ensure that members are granted the appropriate access based on their subscription tier. Additionally, check if any exclusive content or resources are correctly restricted only to paid members.
It is also important to examine the responsiveness of your website across different devices and browsers. Ensure that it looks visually appealing, loads quickly, and functions appropriately on desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Announcing The Launch Of Your Membership Website
Once you have thoroughly tested your membership website and are satisfied with its performance, it's time to announce its launch to the public. Creating buzz around your website launch can help generate excitement among potential members.
Consider sending out an email newsletter or creating a blog post announcing the launch date of your membership website. Share details about what sets your website apart from others in terms of content or benefits for members.
Leverage social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn to spread the word about your new membership website. Create engaging posts highlighting key features or exclusive content available on your site.
Collaborate with influencers or industry experts who can promote your membership website to their audience. Offer them free access or special perks in exchange for promoting your platform.
To create a successful membership website requires careful planning, designing, and testing. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently build a membership website that offers value to your target audience and generates revenue for your business.
Remember to continuously monitor and update your website based on member feedback and changing market trends. Building a thriving membership community takes time and effort, but with the right tools and strategies, you can create a successful online platform.
Now that you have completed all the necessary steps, it's time to get started on creating your own membership website. Don't wait any longer; take action today!
Conclusion
Personal Life Coach Template
Building a membership website with Strikingly is a simple and efficient process that can be accomplished in just 10 easy steps. By following the outline provided in this guide, you can create a professional and functional membership website that meets the needs of your target audience.
Now is the time to get started on creating your own membership website with Strikingly! With its user-friendly platform, customizable features, and robust functionality, you have all the tools you need to succeed.
Don't wait any longer - unleash your creativity, engage with your target audience, generate revenue through memberships, and build a thriving online community!
