If you decide to create a prive area just for your members, possibly a paid-entrance area, it is a good practise to make sure few details are handled properly so that your members not only will be pleased they joined (and not dissapointed) but also advertise the membership to others. Here's briefly what to think of:
1. Give you member's area an unique title or subtitle. Try to get it also a special logo, slogan or graphics. This is cosmetic surgery but it pays back. The devil is in the details ;)
2. Make sure to include certian types of content for your members. They didn't pay/register for nothing. This is main thing that made them come here, you ought to give them what they want -ebooks, articles, pictures, software, interview transcripts, etc.
3. Will your members only web site host a member community? Message boards, chat rooms, online classes, online consulting, etc. This is a very strong force that pulls members back to visit your site again and again...
4. Why should you be the only content provider for your website? Give your members bonuses for adding content. They will contribute more then you could expect! This may build up your site very very fast.
5. Navigation and content accessibility, allow members to search and browse your website in many ways so they can find themselves easily. It boosts up user experinece ;)
6. Consider also your members only web site to be sold as a product be used as a promotional tool. If you are planning so think of it ahead! Or maybe you will be promoting back end products in it. Planning a basic strategy is what makes you win ;)
7. Think if you want to give your members any guarantee, testimonials, strong headline, a major benefit, limited offer, free bonuses, etc.
8. Plan types of payments for the members only web site entrace. The more methods the more users should feel welcomed, but your security should go first, there is a lot of frauds, make sure the gateways you use guarantee you anti-fraud system. Also will you be billing them once, monthly, quarterly or yearly. This should really depend on type of sevice/products you offer to your members.
9. A Free samples - basics of the marketing. Let people taste content excerpt, ebook chapter, article, a free hour pass, free limited membership, etc. They like it and their yours...
10. Protection. Your members pay to get to your web site, use an honesty system or change the url every now and then or best method - a strong password protected urls. Otherwise why pay if you can get it free... Make sure you back up your back ;)
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IT tech support and project manager