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Membership Engagement Playbook (12 Strategies That Really Work)

Feb 20, 2025

Reader Disclosure

    The topic of membership engagement is discussed frequently on the blog...because it's the most important thing! Active members renew their subscriptions as well as participate in forums and bring in referrals. However, when engagement decreases the churn process begins.

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In the past few weeks, I talked about the issue of churning memberships and how much more expensive replacing the members who have gone away than keep the ones you've got.

Well, guess what? keep members engaged, active with the organization to stay on the list to participate in more activities, pay more and bring in new members.

In our company, our clients have collectively raked in more than $2 billion in revenue.

Let's get into the strategies that actually work!

What is Membership Engagement? And Why is it Important?

What exactly is the term "membership engagement"? It's the amount and frequency with which meaningfully your members interact with your site, community, and offerings.

A very active member frequently:

  • Logs in, and then browses several pages
  • Leaves comments, joins discussions, and attends events
  • Actively participates in courses and completes the course.

They appreciate the benefits from their membership, making them more likely to renew, suggest to others and benefit of cross-sells and upsells.

  • It is difficult to navigate around your website
  • Don't you realize that not everyone appreciates what you have to offer, or worse,
  • (Brace yourself) have completely forgotten about you

A few members may still have a subscription, but they don't engage - the passive status can be an early alarm sign.

There are many who do not engage in the same way. Some prefer reading content quietly, while others thrive on community discussions or live events. Tracking the different kinds of engagement helps you better comprehend and help your users.

That's exactly what we'll cover in our 12 strategies.

Methods of evaluating Membership Engagement

As we've previously discussed, high membership engagement looks different depending on what you provide. The same goes for the type of audience you're targeting.

However, if the site is for self-paced learning users may primarily engage by consuming content and taking courses on their own, instead of participating in discussion.

Because engagement isn't one-size-fits-all The most effective way to gauge the quality of your engagement is by comparing it to your past performance. Ask yourself:

  • Do members engage with their customers more or less as in the past?
  • Are you increasing in tandem with membership growth Or is it falling behind?

Key Engagement KPIs to Track

Select the best metrics to represent what is most important to your site's membership:

  • The frequency of logins - How often are users signing in?
  • Forum activity and post engagement Do discussions remain being conducted?
  • Module/course completions Do students make improvements in their knowledge?
  • Open and click-through rates Are they engaging in your email marketing?
  • Attendance at events - Are members showing in for live events?

Monitoring the appropriate KPIs can help you identify trends, identify disengaged members and improve your strategy to engage them.

The Key Strategies to Increase Membership Engagement

You don't have to wait until engagement is an issue before you can begin taking steps to improve it.

Here are some of the strategies our customers employ to keep members engaged. We've provided guidelines, tips and other instruments to help you build an engaging membership website on WordPress.

1. Build an Online Community

Have you noticed how often Reddit shows up in the top position of Google results? Google hasn't explained the reason However, it's possible to make an educated guess that People value conversations with real people as well as shared experiences.

An first-time mom thinking about what she needs for her newborn is likely to seek advice from fellow mothers rather than a standard listing of products.

A freelancer trying to land higher-paying customers will turn at a group of freelancers to get tips and methods.

Your site's membership service serves your small group of people with similar interests as well as connecting these members is a huge benefit.

If they're looking for networking opportunities, advice or sharing stories or sharing experiences, an private group can be one of the most valuable aspects of your membership.

Create premium forums for community members in .

With social media frequently being a chaotic and hostile environment it is important to have it is important to have a private community for members only provides a protected, high-quality environment where people can connect in a meaningful way. No ads, trolls, or other noise that is not relevant.

 How to Configure It

WordPress has several great plugins that can help you build a community right on your site. customers have found success with:

  • bbPress A basic yet powerful forum solution.
  • A feature-rich alternative for group and social network discussion.

If you're interested in hosting your own community off of your site, consider:

  • - Great for real-time chats particularly if your target viewers are tech-savvy.
  • - Convenient if your members are already active on Facebook.

2. Include Gamification

I'm a sucker for gamification. Indeed I owe my capacity to communicate in Spanish to a certain green owl, a stack of badges, as well as an very fierce battle to get on the top of the leaderboard with a colleague.

Even if points and leaderboards aren't doing much for you I'm able to guarantee you'll have a small portion of your customers who are thriving on them.

For a few (myself included), earning rewards are so satisfying that they'll actively search your website for the next dopamine hit!

 How To Install It

GamiPress is a great tool for enhancing your membership experience. GamiPress it is possible to add points, badges and achievements to a variety of actions on your site. This includes:

  •   Signing up or logging in  
  •   Learning lessons or courses  
  •   Participating in discussions within the community  
  •   Comments or replies to comments  
  •   New members are referred to as "referrals"  
  •   and much more!  

No matter what plugins you're running on your site for membership, GamiPress likely has integrated with it, which includes a few we've mentioned in this post:

  • (for subscriptions as well as online course activities)
  • BuddyBoss and the bbPress (for community forums)
  • (for interactivity quizzes and surveys)
  • Easy Affiliate (for rewarding referrals)

Then, to make it even better It's completely cost-free!

If gamification gets members motivated to participate then should we not make the most of it?

3. Make a Loyalty program

Want to level up gamification and engage your members longer? A member loyalty program might be your secret tool.

Points systems, VIP perks, and exclusive rewards make people stick around and spend more. The popularity of reward points at coffee shops speak about themselves. But guess what? It works just as well for the membership websites.

Studies show that nearly 80% of consumersare more likely to stay when they are a member of a brand which offers a loyalty plan. Even better? Over 90% of businesses claim that loyalty members are spending up to 4 times more than non-members.

 How to Reward Your Most Engaged Members

By joining a loyalty scheme that you join, you are able to turn the points you earn and achievements into rewards in real life. Here are some suggestions:

  • Give members a reward after one year of membership or perhaps the exclusive Q&A feature or Discounts for VIPs.
  • You can offer an incentive reward for completing a course or coaching program,like the award of a certificate or even a gift card.
  • Make use of points-based perks for engagement, say additional content, or even an announcement in your local community.

An business coaching membership such as could offer "Platinum Membership" status after one year which entitles you to private coaching sessions as well as networking benefits.

 How Do I Set It Up

It makes this simple. The system allows you to provide an access level that is tied and create the possibility of sending an automatic email with an upgrade link when a member hits an important milestone, whether that's time-based (X years of membership) or an action-based (completing a course or program).

For a more advanced approach Utilize your gamification plugin to track participation and reward manually your most active members with:

  •   Discounts on renewals  
  •   Special content or VIP privileges  
  •   Physical swag like shirts or tickets for events  

There's another plugin that can be used to give badges and points in relation to the activity you've done, and then turn engagement into real reward.

4. Make use of email campaigns

Are you thinking email is an old fashion thing? Think again. email is one of the most powerful methods to keep your customers engaged. It's direct and personal. It also unlike the algorithms of social media - guarantees your message actually gets seen.

Relevance and consistency are key. Your emails should be a reminder to members of the reason they joined in the first place and keep them excited over what's to come.

 Types of E-mails that Increase Engagement

Remain committed to keeping your members returning by providing:

  • exclusive content updates - Share new resources, behind-the-scenes insights, or an early glimpse of upcoming content.
  • Invitations to Events and Reminders Promoting live workshops, Q&As or networking occasions (and send a reminder to make sure they don't miss the event! ).
  • Personalized Recommendations Provide suggestions for classes, articles or discussion topics based on the user's activities.
  • - Haven't seen them in long? Give them a friendly push and the highlights reel of events they've lost.

 How to Configure It

Through an email marketing platform such as , you can:

  • Automate email sequences for the onboarding process, progress in courses, or membership milestones.
  • Segment your audience according to their behavior to ensure that members receive only messages that are important to them.
  • Make use of dynamic contents to tailor subject lines and recommendations.

The right email sent at the right time will revive interest, stimulate engagement, and keep the members active for long periods of time.

5. Prizes and exclusive perks

Everyone likes to get free stuff giveaways - giveaways and exclusive perks bring excitement, encourage participation, and make members feel valued.

Make your friends feel special by offering them exciting perks and surprising benefits that will make them check in more frequently as well as engage with you more thoroughly and stay longer.

 Ideas for giveaways and Perks

  • Members-Only Competitions Offer giveaways in which the active members are eligible to win unique benefits. (Example: "Comment on this article to have a chance to win a complimentary 1-on-1 coach!")
  • Extraordinary Bonuses Offers random discounts or exclusive content to active members to keep them excited.
  • Reward for Referral - Offer perks like complimentary membership for a period of time or exclusive content to members who bring in new members.
  • Milestone Gifts Honor milestones of course completions, milestones in your education, or contributions to the community with a customized reward.
  • Partnership Deals Join forces with popular brands and provide exclusive cross-promotions for the members of your audience.

 How To Configure It

It's not necessary to have a complicated setup. It is easy to give time-limited discounts to reward the participants.

However, if you want to create buzz We can help.

We are awestruck by this plugin (and employ it on our own!) to run giveaways. The participants could gain additional entries by engaging in your posts, inviting someone else to follow your social media profiles among your many options.

Plus it helps you select the best winner randomly.

A properly-run contest or an exclusive perk keeps your community active, excited and talking about your participation.

6. Questions and Surveys

Are you noticing a trend yet? Interactivity keeps participants engaged. The best membership experience goes beyond providing information - they provide members with ways to be active and actively shape the course of their lives.

 How to Add Interactivity through Quizzes and Surveys

  • Utilize surveys to collect important information about your members and find out what they enjoy and want more of.
  • Include quizzes on online courses so that students can self-assess and monitor their performance.
  • Offer deeper engagement with assignments These need 1:1 feedback to give members a more personalized experience.

 How to Install It

  • This is one of the top choices among our clients. It has pre-built survey templates which make it simple to create online feedback forms. It also offers artificial intelligence-generated questionnaires as well as a drag-and-drop constructor that lets you fully customize.

 The more interactive your member experience, the more invested your members will be.

7. Live Chat

If members are faced with a problem, they don't want to have to wait for hours for an email reply and they're looking for answers immediately. Real-time support makes your site's members look more accessible, responsive and driven by community.

Live chat helps keep members in touch through 24/7 access to help. Quick answers help them keep their attention, prevent disappointment, and make the most out of their membership.

 How Do I Install It

  • Instant support is available for common questions - Help members stay on the right track and avoid getting lost.
  • Use chat for community-building Live chat functions allow for real-time interaction between members.
  • Automate responses with AI chatbots - Provide quick answers to frequently asked questions, while also keeping your team available for bigger issues.

 The Best tools for Live Chat on Member Sites

  • - Ideal for combining live chat and a complete support ticketing system.
  • Ideal for smaller teams that require an easy, reliable chatbot and live chat solution.

 Adding live chat keeps users engaged, decreases stress, and helps make your site feel more like a place for interaction rather instead of a mere content hub.

8. Online Events and Webinars, Live Event, and Office hours

We enjoy helping customers develop automated systems and revenue streams to make their membership websites financially viable and sustainable.

 However, live events possess unique engagement capabilities that make the extra effort worth it.

Whether it's a , these occasions give users the motivation to login for a particular time.

Why is that so important? Because when something is available all the time, people often put off their participation, and even forget about it entirely.

Live events create the unique two-way connection between the participants and you. You can give the members VIP treatment and direct focus, thereby building connections and trust.

 What makes Group Sessions work Very Well

Group Q&As, AMAs, and webinars can also be an opportunity for members to benefit from one another. When members hear inquiries, tips and examples of real-world situations from peers, they're more likely to:

  • Feel part of a larger vibrant group of people.
  • Learn new perspectives, or get suggestions they've never thought of.
  • Get inspired to share their own experiences, building even more interest.

These events can create a feedback loop where members are able to grow closer and feel more invested within the local community.

 How To Configure It

Here are a few tools that will make hosting live events effortless:

  • It's a great platform to host webinars, calls with groups and even one-on-one office hours.
  • Ideal for professional webinars with advanced attendees trackers.
  • Google Meet - A simple, free choice for small-sized sessions.
  • Great for live webinars that can be easily engaged with.

Live events give your members a reason to be there, stay connected, and stay engaged. Whether you host a small Q&A or a large-scale webcast, it's worthwhile to bring your community together in real time.

9. Member Challenges & Milestones

I'm in love with a 30-Day Challenge. It's a great idea to make an positive impact in a specific, manageable period of time is so appealing.

Content creators have been aware of this forever - who doesn't have someone you know who's participated in an Yoga with Adriene challenge?

Challenges are also a powerful method of showing your members that you are able to deliver real benefits within a brief period of time. They're motivating, take action as well as proof that your membership can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their members.

This is why challenges can be an Engagement goldmine. They keep members motivated, focused as well as re-evaluating their performance.

Remember milestones too. By breaking longer tasks in smaller celebratory moments gives members extra motivation and keeps the momentum going.

 Ideas for Member Challenges

  • 30-Day Productivity Challenge Let participants improve their productivity by providing everyday productivity tools or tips.
  • seven-day writing sprint This is a great option for bloggers or writers looking to start their next venture or to establish a regular writing routine.
  • 21-Day Kickstart to Fitness - A program designed to build endurance, strength, and flexibility endurance with small, achievable steps.
  • 30 days to master the skill Learn a crucial ability such as photo editing, programming, or public speaking through small, practical lessons.
  • Personal Finance Challenge Help participants put their finances in order by taking practical steps, such as keeping track of spending, creating a budget, or saving a specific amount before the end of the challenge.

 How to Set It Up

In this way, tackling and overcoming problems is easy:

  • Create plans based on goals which guide participants step-by-step.
  • Use routine tracking to motivate either weekly or daily biweekly participation.
  • Reward members automatically when you reach milestones by rewarding them through personal messages or access to exclusive material.

It's just scratching the surface of what can do using CoachKit(tm). Check out this instructional video for more information:

How to Set up an Online Coaching Program on WordPress With CoachKit (tm) (Full tutorial)

10. Member Spotlights & Success Stories

This makes members who are featured feel valued and makes others feel at ease to join your group, while highlighting the importance of your membership.

It's also an excellent way to foster connection. If your participants see individuals who are achieving milestones, facing challenges, and thriving, it creates a ripple effect of inspiration and participation.

 ideas for member spotlights and Success Stories

  • Blog Features- Write a piece about someone who's accomplished their goal and tell their experience, insight, and suggestions for others.
  • Social Media Shoutouts Highlight people who are on Instagram or Facebook with photos, quotes, or a quick video.
  • Video InterviewsJoin Zoom with an outstanding member and let them share their story with their own words.
  • Members AwardsStart a "Member of the Month" tradition to celebrate their achievements with a dedicated feature.
  • Milestone spotlights - Share updates as members achieve milestones such as completing the course or taking part in your 30-day Challenge.

 How Do I Configure It

  • Contact your customers through surveys or emails to inquire about their achievements.
     Utilize a software like Formidable Forms to let members complete their story easily.
  • Tell their tales in your community or on your blog or perhaps as part of your new email-based campaign.

In addition to being a feel-good-moment, celebrating your members' success is an effective method to increase engagement, build community, and let your members know that they're the beating heart of your business.

11. Drip Content

It is well-known that maintaining a steady stream of exclusive content is the foundation of any good member experience. But ensuring that you have content available every week, at regularly scheduled intervals isn't an easy feat!

Drip-based content is tried and tested, and a popular method to keep users engaged over long periods of time. It also builds anticipation and ensures they're not overloaded by too many things at once.

 How to Configure It

It's incredibly simple to create drip content rules to release any page, post or course class.

  • There is no limit to decide:
  • Which items you want to release via drip?
  • Frequency (daily, weekly, etc)
  • Exact time of release
  • If you wish your content to be expired within a specific time.

12. Accountability Groups and Mastermind Sessions

Did you not know? 70 percent of people who establish goals never achieve the goals they set. Think of all the New Year's resolutions made in January, only to be completely put aside by what month is it again? Oh yeah, February.

But here's another interesting stat: A study by the American Society of Training and Development (ASTD) found that people are 65% more likely to achieve a goal if they tell someone else about it - and that number jumps to 95% by having a specific accountability time.

 Accountability can turn positive intentions into actual progress - including engagement on your website.

If members join in smaller groups in small groups, they remain motivated, help fellow members, and achieve real gains regardless of whether they're working toward a business goal and stepping up their skill, or completing a course.

 How To Configure It

  • Form groups of coaches with CoachKit(tm)
  • Private forums can be set up with and bbPress, or BuddyBoss
  • Host weekly or biweekly Check-ins where members report the progress made, establish goals and receive feedback.
  • Live mastermind calls can be conducted on either Crowdcast or Zoom in which participants can work together, problem-solve, and stay accountable

Accountability groups work well for participation and retention because members form connections with each other within the community. When they feel connected, they're more likely to remain signed up.

If you're not using a accountability process set up, this might be the missing element which will help take your involvement to the highest level.

Final Thoughts: Keep Members Engaged and Invested

We've covered a lot of ground, didn't we? We hope that this will open your mind to some of the ways you can improve the number of members on your website.

We've examined 12 opportunities for your members to be involved, connect and see real value in their ongoing subscription.

That's what's important: ongoing. Engaging members active, engaging, and useful over time is what makes a membership truly valuable.

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Get today!

Start getting paid for your content.

The majority of your success will come down to seeing what your members respond to and adjusting as you go.

You don't have to implement each of the twelve strategies at once. Begin with a small number. Choose a few options that make sense for your group and test the options. Simple, deliberate steps could lead to huge victories.

 Which strategy will you test first? Tell us in the comments below!

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author avatar

Victoria Lloyd       Victoria is adept at turning small beginnings into big success, elevating her jewelry line from the bustle of London's markets, to prestigious spots like the Royal Academy of Arts and the Topshop's Oxford Circus flagship store. Victoria's expertise extends beyond tangible products. Victoria is a pro-active experience of increasing the online presence of a range of companies. From dynamic startups to household names like Nokia and Jack Daniels, Victoria has employed her unique mix of wordsmith wizardry along with strategic thinking and digital acumen to drive the engagement of brands as well as SEO. With her company , Victoria leverages her diverse experiences to help simplify and decode the world of online membership as well as business growth. She's here to guide users with her exclusive tips, and help them successfully and effectively build their online communities and membership sites.