Haiden Hibbert
Successful membership sites all have one thing in common: they know how to turn leads into paying members. If you’re wondering how to increase membership conversion rates, you’re in the right place. Today, we’re going to break down three effective strategies used by top membership sites to boost conversions and keep memberships growing.
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Table of Contents
Offer a Free Trial
One of the simplest yet most effective ways to increase membership conversion rates is to offer a free trial. People love the opportunity to try something before they commit, and a free trial gives potential members the chance to experience the value of your membership without any upfront cost.
A common example of this is offering a 7-day free trial, which allows people to test out the features and resources your membership provides. You don’t have to do anything extra, and it works as a low-pressure way to attract new signups.
Not only does it give people time to explore, but it also builds trust in your offering. Free trials are especially effective when followed up with a clear and engaging onboarding process that helps guide new users through your site, showing them exactly what they’ll be missing out on if they don’t sign up.
Why Free Trials Work
- People prefer to experience the product risk-free before making a decision.
- It helps build trust and credibility for your membership.
- It’s a low-effort way to attract new signups without adding extra work.
Use Abandoned Signup Reminders
Did you know that many potential members start the signup process but never complete it? A simple but effective strategy to capture these leads is to send abandoned signup reminders.
Once someone shows interest by entering their email but doesn’t complete the purchase, you can automatically send them an email reminder. A good tactic here is to offer an additional incentive, like a limited-time discount. For example, the Goodnewspaper uses this strategy by sending emails with a link and discount code to remind people to complete their signups.
In addition, on your MemberSpace dashboard, you can see the total revenue that these abandoned signup reminders have helped save. This is a great way to track how much potential income you’re recovering by reminding people to join your membership.
Key Benefits of Abandoned Signup Reminders
- Helps recover lost leads and potential revenue.
- Adding a discount or bonus offer increases the likelihood of signups.
- Keeps your membership top of mind for people who were interested but didn’t convert immediately.
Simplify the Signup Process
The easier it is for people to sign up, the more likely they’ll become paying members. One of the best ways to simplify the process is by offering one-click signups and one-click payments. With tools like Google single sign-on, your potential members won’t have to create yet another username and password—they can simply sign in with their existing Google account.
What’s more, one-click payments with Google Pay or Apple Pay eliminate the need for people to dig out their wallets and enter credit card details. These seamless payment options can drastically reduce friction, making it as easy as possible for someone to become a paying member.
Tip: Avoid lengthy forms and make sure the entire process can be completed in just a few clicks. The more you reduce the effort required, the higher your conversion rates will be.
Benefits of Simplifying the Signup Process
- Faster signups with fewer steps mean less chance of drop-off.
- One-click options remove friction, making the experience smoother for your members.
- Eliminates the need for manual data entry or searching for credit cards.
Final Thoughts
By implementing these three strategies—offering free trials, using abandoned signup reminders, and simplifying the signup process—you’ll be well on your way to increasing your membership conversion rates. Remember, the key is to reduce friction and give potential members the opportunity to see the value of your offering before making a commitment.
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