You’ve finally decided to organize your content into a paid membership site. Congratulations! This is the day you – and your biggest fans – have been waiting for.
Over my four years working with membership experts, I’ve analyzed and written about the strategies of hundreds of successful memberships. I’ve seen what works, what doesn’t, and most importantly – what separates the top 1% from everyone else.
Today, I’m distilling what I’ve learned into actionable strategies you can use to create your own high-converting membership site, using examples from real-world video membership sites that are crushing it.
But first, you should know how to measure the success of your membership site before you start testing out new strategies!
We have a free guide that covers everything you need to know about measuring the performance of your membership site: from metrics, to benchmarks, and beyond.
Grab your free copy below!
The Key to Membership Growth
Tracking the wrong metrics will slow you down. This guide helps you focus on what drives conversions and engagement.

How to elevate your membership site: 8 strategies (+ examples)
1. Studio Bloom: convert more with messaging that resonates
Niche: Pre/postnatal fitness and wellness
Target audience: Pregnant and postpartum women seeking specialized workout programs and expert guidance
Studio Bloom shows us how a laser-focused niche combined with genuine community support can create a thriving membership. Founded by certified personal trainer Brooke Cates, they’ve turned the common challenge of finding safe pregnancy workouts into a million-dollar membership business.
Stand-out features:
- Comprehensive library of 600+ pregnancy-safe workouts
- Active community forums with regular expert Q&As
- Mobile and TV apps for convenient access
- Flexible subscription options to suit different budgets
Stand-out strategy:
Studio Bloom has strategically designed its website to effectively convert visitors by leveraging the following elements:
- Comprehensive information and clear value proposition. The homepage serves as a complete guide to Studio Bloom’s offerings, highlighting their unique ability to meet the fitness needs of pregnant and postpartum women. Time-efficient workouts, expert guidance, and tailored programs are emphasized through clear, concise language that resonates with busy moms.
- Explicit explanation of offerings and additional benefits. Members get access to pelvic floor specialists, curated workout plans, and a growing library of 1,000+ workouts. The site showcases additional perks like one-on-one training and progress tracking through visually appealing layouts.
- Resonant messaging and social proof. Empathetic messaging like “stronger pregnancy, smoother postpartum” addresses emotional pain points while offering solutions. This is reinforced by prominently featured success stories, before-and-after photos, and video testimonials on their dedicated “Real Results” page.
- Transparent pricing with ‘daily investment’ highlight. Pricing options are presented clearly with a breakdown showing the membership cost per day. This strategic reframing makes the expense feel more manageable and encourages long-term commitment.
- Interactive tools and features Interactive elements like program-finding quizzes create a personalized experience, helping visitors identify their ideal workout plan. These engagement tools guide users toward the right membership option while making them feel understood and valued.
The proof is in the numbers: Studio Bloom has grown to over 5,100 paying members and $1M+ in annual recurring revenue. With a strong 76% watch time across members, there’s no doubt that Studio Bloom is targeting and converting the right members.
Key takeaway: Start optimizing your membership site today by focusing on what matters most to your audience. Take your core offering and break it down into clear, digestible sections on your homepage, add social proof where it counts, and consider reframing your pricing to show the daily investment – then test and refine based on the results you see.
📚 Check out our article on crafting effective membership messaging that converts!
2. Means TV: build trust through transparency
Niche: Alternative entertainment streaming
Target audience: Socially conscious viewers seeking ad-free, worker-owned media content
Means TV proves that when your business model aligns perfectly with your audience’s values, growth follows naturally. As a worker-owned streaming platform, they’ve created more than just another entertainment service – they’ve built a community around independent, quality content.
Stand-out features:
- Curated content library that aligns with member values
- Ad-free viewing experience across six different platforms
- Netflix-style catalog with easy content discovery
- Offline viewing capabilities for on-the-go access
Stand-out strategy:
Means TV uses a few different elements to build trust with their visitors, helping to drive conversions. Here’s what stands out:
- Messaging that resonates with their audience’s values. The homepage leads with Means TV’s core identity as a 100% worker-owned and ad-free streaming platform. This immediate focus on their differentiators resonates with visitors seeking alternatives to traditional, corporate-driven media.
- Transparency that builds trust. They openly communicate how subscription revenue is used to fund new content, pay creators, and sustain their cooperative model. This transparency builds trust and helps visitors understand the real impact of their subscription.
- Objections are addressed head-on. A strategic ‘Why Subscribe?’ section outlines specific membership benefits, from exclusive content access to participation in their cooperative business model, addressing potential concerns before they become barriers.
- A free trial to reduce perceived risk. By offering a free trial and cancel-anytime policy, Means TV reduces the perceived risk for potential members, making it easier for interested visitors to try the platform.
- Strategic CTA placement. Three identical sign-up CTAs are strategically placed throughout the homepage, ensuring visitors can easily take action whenever they’re ready to convert.
The proof is in the numbers: With over $40,000 in monthly revenue and 65% of members actively using their apps, Means TV shows the power of alignment between platform and audience.
Key takeaway: Start building trust today by clearly explaining how your membership makes a real impact – whether that’s through helping members achieve their goals or supporting a larger mission. Then, reduce the barrier to entry by offering a risk-free trial period that lets potential members experience your value firsthand.
📺Watch our video on how to build the ultimate free-trial strategy (based on 1,000+ memberships).
3. Prodigies: package and bundle your offering
Niche: Children’s music education
Target audience: Parents and educators seeking interactive, digital music lessons for children
Prodigies shows how to transform traditional classroom challenges into digital opportunities. Founded by Rob Young in 2014, they’ve revolutionized how children learn music by making it accessible, engaging, and scalable through technology.
Stand-out features:
- Interactive digital music courses designed for children
- Six customized apps for seamless access across devices
- Downloadable resources to complement video lessons
- Multiple purchase options from once-off purchases to lifetime memberships
Stand-out strategy:
Prodigies demonstrates how thoughtfully packaged offerings can simplify purchasing decisions and enhance perceived value. Here’s how their kit-based strategy drives membership growth:
- Clear progression and entry points Their tiered kit system creates a clear journey for members, starting with an affordable starter option and scaling up to comprehensive premium packages. Each tier is designed to meet members at their current level while showing a clear path forward.
- Value demonstration and cost benefits. The kits are strategically priced to show cost savings compared to purchasing items separately, making the investment more appealing. This bundling approach helps members feel they’re getting maximum value for their money.
- Strategic value scaling Each kit builds upon the previous one with additional tools and resources, demonstrating increasing value without overwhelming beginners. Their best-selling mid-tier option strikes a perfect balance – offering enough extras to justify the higher price point while remaining accessible.
- Physical and emotional investment. Physical materials create a stronger commitment to the program – when members receive instruments and books, they’re more likely to engage consistently with the digital platform. The excitement of unboxing these materials also creates positive first impressions that encourage word-of-mouth referrals.
The proof is in the numbers: With over 7,000 subscribers and $40,000+ in monthly revenue, Prodigies has successfully scaled beyond individual families to include entire school districts. Their diverse revenue streams – from subscriptions and lifetime memberships to merchandise and equipment – create a sustainable business model.
Key takeaway: Start packaging your offerings today by identifying key milestones in your members’ journeys. What tools, resources, or courses will they need at each stage? Bundle these into valuable offerings to create clear entry points and upsell opportunities.
📚Read our article on how to effectively upsell your members (and generate 6x more revenue)!
4. The Studio Membership: provides an effective alternative to free trials
Niche: Digital art and design education
Target audience: Aspiring artists and designers seeking to develop their creative style
The Studio Membership shows how transparency in your offerings can build trust and drive growth. Founded by artist and designer Liz Kohler Brown, they’ve created an innovative approach to helping creatives find their unique artistic voice.
Stand-out features:
- Interactive platform tour and map
- 50+ comprehensive art classes
- 500+ creative resources and tools
- Regular live drawing sessions
Stand-out strategy:
The Studio Membership introduces an effective alternative to a free trial, and instead builds trust and converts members by providing unparalleled transparency into their offerings. Their strategy centers on a few key elements:
- Comprehensive and detailed membership overview. The membership page serves as a comprehensive information hub, exhaustively detailing what members receive. From classes and resources to community benefits, potential members can see exactly what’s included, reducing uncertainty and building confidence in the value of the investment.
- A unique preview through a virtual tour and map. The Studio Membership offers an interactive virtual tour and detailed “Studio Map” that guide prospective members through the platform’s key features and content organization. These visual previews mimic the actual user experience, allowing potential members to imagine their journey within the membership.
- Personal video explainers. Creator Liz Kohler Brown uses short videos to introduce the platform, explain membership value, and showcase class examples. This personal touch establishes trust and credibility, helping potential members feel connected to the brand.
- Visuals that paint a picture. The site prioritizes visuals, using screenshots, resource mockups, and project examples to support the description of the membership’s offering. This approach not only gives visitors a more accurate idea of what to expect, but resonates strongly with the creative target audience.
- Clear pricing and value. Subscription options and pricing are clearly outlined, emphasizing the wealth of resources provided at a reasonable monthly cost. By framing membership as an investment in creative growth, The Studio Membership appeals to budget-conscious prospects.
The proof is in the numbers: The Studio Membership has grown to 1,800+ active members generating $75,000 in monthly revenue, with an impressive 14% average membership growth over three months.
Key takeaway: Don’t want to offer a free trial? You can start building trust and boosting conversions today by increasing transparency around your membership offerings. Provide comprehensive previews of what’s included, use visual aids like virtual tours and explainer videos to showcase your platform’s organization and value, and clearly communicate your pricing and how it benefits members.
Build, launch and manage your membership, all in one place.
5. M/BODY: hook visitors through easy exploration
Niche: Hybrid fitness training
Target audience: Fitness enthusiasts seeking a blend of barre, dance, and yoga workouts
M/BODY‘s journey from LA studio to global platform shows how to successfully transition a local fitness business into a thriving digital membership. Founded by celebrity trainer Marnie Alton, they’ve managed to maintain their signature personal touch while scaling to serve members worldwide.
Stand-out features:
- Mix of live and on-demand classes
- Holistic training methodology
- Varied workout styles for all fitness levels
- Authentic member testimonials and reviews
Stand-out strategy:
M/BODY excels in converting visitors into members by making it easy – and compelling – to explore their perfectly organized content and community area. Here’s what stands out:
- Comprehensive content library that anyone can browse. M/BODY offers over 400 on-demand workouts spanning barre, yoga, dance, and more. With diverse workout styles and durations ranging from 10 to 60 minutes, there’s something for every fitness level and goal. Importantly, this library is open for anyone to browse, allowing prospective members a sneak peek into the value that they can expect once they join.
- Strategic categorization to reduce overwhelm. Workouts are clearly organized by intensity, duration, style, and focus areas.This categorization simplifies the user experience, allowing visitors to quickly find workouts that suit their needs. Guided programs and challenges provide structured paths, helping new and prospective members to explore without overwhelm.
- Video previews for each category. Short workout previews and sample videos give visitors a taste of M/Body’s high-quality content, reducing hesitation about committing to a membership.
- 7 days to try before you buy. M/BODY offers a well-promoted 7-day free trial, giving potential members a risk-free way to experience the platform’s value firsthand. Prominently featured calls-to-action across the site encourage visitors to sign up, while the trial length provides ample time to explore the content library and get hooked on the M/BODY method.
The proof is in the numbers: Successfully transformed from a single LA studio to a global platform, maintaining strong engagement rates and building a diverse international member base through their hybrid approach to fitness training.
Key takeaway: Allow prospective members to browse your content library and community before joining. Make exploration easy and enticing with thoughtfully organized content, and a preview video for each of your main categories.
6. Filmmakers Academy: make your expertise your selling point
Niche: Film education and mentorship
Target audience: Aspiring and professional filmmakers seeking industry-level training
Filmmakers Academy shows how expert-led education can transform an industry. Founded by acclaimed cinematographer Shane Hurlbut, ASC, and Lydia Hurlbut, they’ve democratized high-level film education by bringing Hollywood expertise directly to their members.
Stand-out features:
- Lessons from Emmy-winning industry experts
- Personalized coaching opportunities
- Cross-platform streaming accessibility
- Active filmmaker community
Stand-out strategy:
Filmmakers Academy highlights the value they offer by leveraging a range of industry experts to contribute to their content and provide mentorship. Here’s how they make their expertise such a strong selling point:
- A diverse mentor roster – highlighted on the homepage. The platform features a wide array of active industry professionals as mentors, including cinematographers, directors, colorists, and editors. Notable industry figures provide practical, on-set insights that ensure the educational content is both current and relevant to today’s film industry.
- One-on-one mentorship access. Members can book personalized mentorship sessions to receive tailored guidance and career advice directly from industry experts. These individual interactions create opportunities for deeper learning and valuable professional networking that wouldn’t be possible through content alone.
- Active community that enables unique connections. Through a dedicated community area on the platform, members collaborate and exchange knowledge with both peers and mentors. This interactive environment helps cultivate a supportive learning community where filmmakers at all levels can grow together.
- Regular live learning events. The academy hosts frequent virtual events and consistently updates its content library to keep members informed about the latest industry trends and techniques.
The proof is in the numbers: Since moving to Uscreen in 2021, they’ve seen incredible growth – 180% increase in membership, reaching filmmakers in 96+ countries, with a consistent 8% monthly growth rate.
Key takeaway: Highlight the expertise behind your offerings by showcasing the credentials and unique insights of yourself and your contributors. Create opportunities for personalized interaction between peers and experts, from one-on-one sessions and live events, to an active community space.
7. Your Saltwater Guide: facilitate connections through community
Niche: Saltwater fishing education
Target audience: Beginner to experienced anglers seeking expert guidance and community support
Your Saltwater Guide demonstrates how expert knowledge combined with community wisdom creates lasting member value. Founded by Captain Dave Hansen, they’ve created more than just a fishing tutorial platform – they’ve built a thriving community where anglers help anglers succeed.
Stand-out features:
- Library of 400+ detailed fishing tutorials
- Weekly fishing game plans
- Active community forum
- Mobile apps for on-the-water access
Stand-out strategy:
Your Saltwater Guide demonstrates how expert knowledge combined with community wisdom creates enticing value for new members. Here’s what stands out:
- Leader-driven community engagement. Captain Dave Hansen takes an active role in the community, regularly answering questions, hosting live sessions, and sharing expert insights. This direct access to an experienced guide creates a unique blend of professional expertise and peer learning that keeps members engaged.
- Integrating community into the learning experience. The platform combines exclusive content like fishing tips and weekly game plans with community-generated knowledge through forum discussions and member success stories. This approach ensures members benefit from both expert guidance and real-world experiences from fellow anglers.
- Strategic participation incentives. YSWG gamifies community engagement by featuring top contributors and showcasing standout member achievements. This creates a supportive yet motivating environment where members are encouraged to share their experiences and help others succeed.
- Social proof integration. The platform prominently features real member testimonials and success stories throughout their marketing, demonstrating how community support contributes to better fishing outcomes. This authentic social proof builds trust and highlights the value of joining a supportive group of like-minded anglers.
- Mobile-optimized accessibility. Through their mobile app, members can stay connected to the community and access resources whether they’re planning a trip or out on the water. Offline viewing capabilities ensure anglers can reference key content even when they’re far from shore.
The proof is in the numbers: Their community-first approach has proven highly effective at converting trial users into paid members and maintaining strong retention rates – a testament to the value members find in both the expert content and peer support.
Key takeaway: Start building trust today by actively combining expert knowledge with community wisdom. Focus on what each member can contribute – your expertise provides the foundation, but it’s the collective knowledge of your community that creates lasting value. This balanced approach helps you scale while maintaining quality, as experienced members naturally step up to help newcomers succeed.
8. AdjusterTV Plus: funnel new leads into your website
Niche: Insurance adjuster education
Target audience: Independent insurance adjusters seeking professional development and certification
AdjusterTV Plus shows how to transform technical professional training into an engaging digital experience. Founded by Matt Allen, they’ve created a flexible learning platform that meets adjusters where they are – whether they’re looking for comprehensive training or specific skill development.
Stand-out features:
- 100+ hours of specialized training content
- Professional networking community
- Mobile app for on-the-go learning
- Live expert Q&A sessions
Stand-out strategy:
AdjusterTV Plus has mastered the art of generating – and converting – leads by strategically leveraging their free content. Here’s what stands out:
- Strategic content repurposing. The platform clips segments from their premium membership content to create standalone YouTube videos that provide immediate value while showcasing the depth available behind the paywall. This approach lets potential members experience their teaching style and production quality firsthand.
- Platform familiarization funnel. Free content is hosted directly on their membership platform, allowing potential members to experience the interface, app, and premium features before committing. This reduces friction in the conversion process by building familiarity and trust.
- Targeted lead magnet system. By offering two distinct lead magnets – a beginner-focused guide and an advanced guide – they effectively capture different audience segments. These resources are prominently promoted in video descriptions and through strategic self-sponsorship segments.
- Value-driven landing pages. Their landing pages emphasize transformation rather than features, showing clear pathways from “scratching your head” to becoming a “busy, working IA.” This benefits-focused approach, combined with social proof from existing members, helps convert hesitant visitors into subscribers.
The proof is in the numbers: Their hybrid approach to monetization has led to an impressive 409% revenue growth, showing that flexibility in both learning and pricing can drive significant business success.
Key takeaway: Start converting more members today by sharing freebies of your premium content that demonstrates real value, then build a clear pathway to your paid offerings through strategic lead magnets. Focus on showing transformation rather than just listing features – your audience needs to see themselves succeeding through your membership before they’ll commit to joining.
📺Check out our full video that breaks down Adjuster TV’s strategy!
Your action plan for creating a membership site that converts
After analyzing these successful membership sites, clear patterns emerge in how they attract and retain members. Here’s your step-by-step action plan to implement their winning strategies:
- Start with transparency and trust
- Make your value proposition immediately clear on your homepage
- Provide comprehensive previews of your content and community
- Show authentic social proof through member stories and results
- Structure for engagement
- Organize content into clear learning pathways
- Create multiple touchpoints (video, community, live sessions)
- Make exploration easy with thoughtful categorization and search
- Build community strategically
- Take an active leadership role while empowering member contributions
- Create opportunities for peer-to-peer learning and support
- Use gamification elements to reward engagement
- Optimize the conversion journey
- Develop targeted lead magnets for different audience segments
- Use free content strategically to demonstrate value
- Create clear pathways from free to paid offerings
5 Lead Magnet Strategies That Actually Convert for Membership Owners

- Focus on retention from day one
- Structure offerings to encourage long-term commitment
- Continuously gather and implement member feedback
- Regular updates and live events to maintain engagement
Keep in mind that the most successful memberships aren’t just selling access to content – they’re providing transformation through a combination of expert guidance, peer support, and structured learning experiences. Focus on demonstrating that transformation clearly to your audience, and you’ll be well on your way to creating a membership site that converts.
Build, launch and manage your membership, all in one place.
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