Modern creative news

A Playbook for Membership Engagement (12 Strategies that Really Work)

Feb 20, 2025

Reader Disclosure

    The topic of membership engagement is discussed often on our blog...because it's everything! Active members renew their subscriptions as well as participate in forums as well as bring in referrals. When engagement declines the churn process begins.

WHAT'S INSIDE          Toggle

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about membership churn and how expensive replacing those who are gone than keeping those you already have.

So, what do you think? Keep members active, involved and enthusiastic so that they'll remain subscribed, participate more, pay more, and even get new subscribers.

At , our customers have collectively raked in nearly $2 billion of revenue.

Let's look at methods that work!

What exactly is membership engagement and Why is it Important?

What exactly is membership engagement? Simply put, it's the frequency and amount of time people interact with your website or community as well as the offerings.

A highly engaged member frequently:

  • Logs in and navigates through multiple pages
  • Comments, participates in discussions as well as attends meetings
  • Actively participates in courses and completes the course.

These members recognize the value from their membership, which makes them more likely to renew, refer others, and take advantage of cross-sells, upsells, and other benefits.

  • It is difficult to navigate around your website
  • Isn't it obvious that you can offer everything and more importantly,
  • (Brace yourself) is completely devoid of the fact that

A few members may still have a subscription, but they don't engage - passive membership could be a signal to be aware.

Different people do not interact in the same way. Some prefer reading content quietly and others prefer to participate in community discussions or live gatherings. The tracking of different types of engagement can help you understand and support your members.

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

Ways to Measure Membership Engagement

As we've previously discussed, high membership engagement looks different depending on what you offer. It also depends on who your audience is.

But if your site is for self-paced learning the members may be engaged by reading content and working on courses by themselves rather than participating in discussions.

Since engagement doesn't come in a single size The ideal way to evaluate the level of engagement is to compare it against your prior performance. Ask yourself:

  • Are members engaging more or less in the past than they did before?
  • Does engagement growing at the same rate as membership growth, or is it falling behind?

Key Engagement KPIs to Follow

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

  • Login frequency What is the frequency of members logging in?
  • Forum activity & participation in discussions - Are discussions ongoing?
  • Completion of a course or module - Are members making improvements in their knowledge?
  • Email open & click-through rates - Are they engaging through your emails?
  • Event attendance Do participants show at live events?

Tracking the right KPIs can help you identify trends, identify disengaged members as well as refine your engagement strategy.

Key Strategies to Boost Membership Engagement

There is no need to wait until engagement becomes an issue to begin taking steps to improve it.

Here are a few techniques our customers use to keep their members interested. We've provided tips, best practices as well as instruments to assist you in creating an engaging membership website on WordPress.

1. Build an Online Community

Did you notice how often Reddit shows up at the top of Google search results? Google hasn't explained the reason however, we can make an educated guess that users value genuine conversations and sharing experiences.

A new mom thinking about what she needs for her newborn is likely to seek advice from fellow mothers rather than a standard product list.

The freelancer looking to secure higher-paying clients may turn to a community of fellow freelancers for tips and strategies.

Your membership website provides an niche audience with shared interest that connects those individuals adds tremendous value.

Whether they're networking, seeking guidance, or sharing their experiences, a private group can be one of the best parts of your membership.

create premium community forums in .

In addition, with social media appearing to be a chaotic, hostile place and it is important to have a members-only community provides an environment that is secure and high-quality where people can connect in a meaningful way. It is free of ads, trolls or irrelevant noise.

 How to Configure It

WordPress offers a variety of great plugins to aid you in establish a community on your web site. customers have found satisfaction with

  • bbPress Simple but powerful forum software.
  • A better option with more features for group and social network discussion.

If you're willing to host your online community on other websites take a look at:

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

2. Incorporate Gamification

I'm a huge fan of games that are gamified. In fact, I owe my ability to speak Spanish to a certain green owl, a stack of badges and a highly competitive race to the top of the leaderboards alongside a coworker.

Even if points and leaderboards aren't doing much for you I'm able to guarantee you'll find a certain percentage of your members that thrives on them.

For some (myself including), earning rewards is so gratifying that they'll purposefully seek out your website for the next dose of dopamine!

 How Do I Install It

GamiPress is a great tool for enhancing your membership experience. GamiPress it is possible to include badges, points and awards to various actions on your website, such as:

  •   Logging in or signing up into  
  •   Completing lessons or courses  
  •   Participating in discussions with the community  
  •   Leaving comments or replying to posts  
  •   Referring new members  
  •   and much more!  

Whatever plugins you're using for your site's membership page, GamiPress likely has integrated with it, which includes a few we've mentioned in this article:

  • (for subscriptions and online course activity)
  • BuddyBoss & the bbPress (for communities forums)
  • (for online quizzes, surveys and other interactive activities)
  • Easy Affiliate (for reward-based referrals)

Then, to make it even better, it's totally free!

If games can get people motivated to participate, what better way to make use of it?

3. Create a Loyalty Program

Want to increase the level of gamification to retain members for longer? A member loyalty program may be the best tool.

Points systems as well as VIP perks and special rewards encourage people to remain loyal and buy more. The popularity of reward points at coffee shops speak about themselves. But guess what? Works equally well on the membership websites.

Studies show that nearly 80percent of consumersare more likely to remain with a membership brand which offers a loyalty plan. Even better? Over 95 percent of companies say loyalty members spend up to four times more than those who are not members.

 What Can You Do to Reward Your Most Engaged Users

With an loyalty scheme it is possible to convert the points you earn and achievements into tangible perks. Here are some suggestions:

  • Give members an incentive bonus after 1 year of membership or perhaps the exclusive Q&A feature or Discounts for VIPs.
  • Offer an incentive incentive for the completion of an educational or coaching course,like an exclusive certificate or a freebie.
  • Make use of points-based perks to encourage engagement. For example, extra content or an announcement in your local community.

An business coaching membership such as can provide "Platinum member" status following an entire year which entitles you to exclusive coaching calls and networking advantages.

 How Do I Install It

makes this easy. You can offer an access level that is tied and create an automatized email with an upgrade link each time a user reaches a milestone - whether it's time-based (X years of membership) or an action-based (completing the course or program).

To take it further Use your gamification plugin to track the level of engagement and reward manually the most engaged members by:

  •   Coupons for renewals  
  •   Exclusive Content or VIP benefits  
  •   physical swag such as T-shirts, event tickets or even event tickets  

There's another software that you could use to award badges and points based on activity, then convert engagement into real rewards.

4. Use Email Campaigns

Think email is old-school? You're wrong. Email is still one of the best tools for keeping your members engaged. It's direct, personal, and - unlike social media algorithms - guarantees your message actually gets seen.

Consistency and relevancy is key. Your emails should make members remember why they started the club in the first instance and keep them enthusiastic about the next step.

 Types of emails that Engage Users

Remain committed to keeping your members returning with:

  • Exclusive Content Updates - Discuss new content, behind-the-scenes insights, or an early glimpse of upcoming content.
  • Event Invites & Reminders Promoting live Q&As, workshops or networking activities (and remind them so they don't miss it! ).
  • Personalized Recommendations Provide suggestions for courses, articles, or discussions based on their activity.
  • Have you not seen them for 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 emails for training, onboarding or milestones in membership.
  • segment your target audience based on behavior - so members only get mails that they value.
  • Utilize dynamic contents to tailor subjects and provide guidelines.

An effective email message is able to revive interest, stimulate participation, and keep members active for long periods of time.

5. Prizes and exclusive perks

Everyone loves free and perks - prizes and perks that are exclusive create buzz, boost the participation of members, and help them feel valued.

Surprise your members with fun perks and unexpected reward They'll check in more frequently and engage in more depth, and stay for longer.

 Ideas for giveaways and Perks

  • Only Member-Only Events offer giveaways so that participants can earn exclusive prizes. (Example: "Comment on this article to have a chance to win a free one-on-one coaching session!")
  • Special Bonuses Offers random discounts or special content to your members to keep them excited.
  • Reward for Referral - Offer perks like the chance to get free membership months or exclusive content to members who bring in new customers.
  • Milestone Gifts - Celebrate anniversaries of course completions, milestones in your education, or other community involvement with a personalized reward.
  • Partnership Agreements Partner with brands your audience loves and give exclusive cross-promotions to your members.

 How To Set It Up

It's not necessary to have a complicated setup. Make it simple to provide limited discounts for participation.

But if you really are looking to make a splash We can help.

We love this plugin (and employ it on our own!) to host giveaways. Participants are able to get extra entries through engaging on your blog, sharing it with a friend, or following your social media profiles among the numerous actions you can take.

Additionally, it assists you in selecting the winner from a random selection.

An well-run giveaway or exclusive reward keeps your audience interested, active and talking about your membership.

6. Questions and Surveys

Have you noticed a pattern already? Interactivity keeps participants engaged. The best membership experience goes beyond providing contents - they offer members ways to be active and actively shape their experience.

 How do I add interactivity by incorporating Surveys and Quizzes

  • Use surveys to gather useful information from members, and find out what they enjoy and want more of.
  • Include quizzes to online courses so that students can to self-assess and keep track of their progress.
  • Offer deeper engagement with assignments These need 1:1 feedback to give participants a better experience.

 How Do I Install It

  • It is the most popular among our customers. It has already-designed survey templates that allow you to build form-based feedback that is interactive. The software also provides automated forms or a simple drag-and-drop builder for full customization.

 The more interactivity you can provide your membership experience and the more involved your members will become.

7. Live Chat

If members are faced with a problem, they don't want to wait hours for the response to their email - they want answers immediately. Real-time support makes your site's membership feel more responsive, useful, and a community-driven.

Live chat keeps members connected through real-time access to support. Fast responses help members remain engaged, avoid disappointment, and make the most out of their membership.

 How Do I Install It

  • Offer instant support for the most common issues Helping members stay on track instead of getting stuck.
  • Use chat for community-building Live chat capabilities can encourage real-time interactions among users.
  • Automate response with AI chatbots Give quick responses to questions while having your team available for bigger issues.

 The Best tools for Live Chat on membership sites

  • - Ideal for combining live chat along with a comprehensive support ticketing support ticket system.
  • - Great for small teams needing a simple, effective chatbot and live chat solution.

 Live chat is a great way to keep members engaged, reduces stress, and helps make your site feel more like a community instead of a mere content hub.

8. Live Events, Webinars, and Office hours

We are passionate about helping our customers design automated systems and income streams to keep their membership sites viable and profitable.

 However, live events possess particular engagement abilities which make the effort worthwhile.

If it's an event, instances give participants a reason to log in at a specific time.

What is the significance of this? Because when something is readily available 24/7, members often delay their participation, and even do not even think about it at all.

Live events can also provide an special two-way connection between you and your members. This is a chance for you to offer your members VIP treatment and direct presence, while building more lasting connections and trust.

 Why Group Sessions Work So Well

Questions and answers from groups, AMAs and webinars can also be ways for participants to gain knowledge from each other. When members hear the answers, questions and examples of real-world situations from their peers, they're more likely to:

  • Feel part of a larger and active group of people.
  • Get new perspectives and learn suggestions they've never thought of.
  • Be inspired to share their personal experiences and build greater engagement.

They can also create a feedback loop where the participants are able to grow closer and feel more invested within the local community.

 How to Set It Up

Here are some tools that will make hosting live events easy:

  • It's a great platform for group calls, webinars, and one-on-one office hours.
  • Ideal for professional webinars that feature advanced attendee monitoring.
  • 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 show up, connect and remain active. Whether you host the occasional Q&A event or large-scale webcast, it's worthwhile to bring your members to one place in real-time.

9. Member Challenges and Milestones

I'm a sucker for a 30-Day Challenge. The idea of making an positive change within a predetermined, manageable duration is enticing.

And content creators have known for a long time - surely you know someone who's joined a Yoga with Adriene contest?

They're also an effective method of showing your members that you are able to deliver significant value within a brief duration. They're arousing, action-oriented, and proof that your membership can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their members.

That's why challenges are a great Engagement mine of gold. They keep members motivated, focused and coming back to track their accomplishments.

And don't forget milestones. Breaking longer challenges into smaller, joyful moments gives members extra motivation and helps keep momentum up.

 ideas for member challenges

  • 30 Day Productivity Challenge help participants improve their productivity by providing daily productivity tips or tools.
  • 7-Day Writing Sprint This is a great option for bloggers and writers who want to start their next venture or establish a habit of writing.
  • 21 Day Fitness Kickstart This program was designed to build the strength, flexibility or endurance in small, achievable stages.
  • 30 Days to Master an Ability - Teach a key ability such as photo editing, programming, or public speaking through brief, concise lessons.
  • Personal Finance Challenge - Help members get their finances under control with practical steps, such as keeping track of the amount they spend, creating a budget, or saving a specific amount at the conclusion of the test.

 How to Set It Up

In this way, tackling and overcoming the challenges are easy.

  • Build goals-driven programs which guide participants step-by-step.
  • Make use of habit tracking to motivate either weekly or daily biweekly participation.
  • Automatically reward members whenever you reach milestones by rewarding them through customized messages or access to exclusive content.

This really only scratches the surface of all you could do using CoachKit(tm). Check out this instructional video for more information:

How to Create Online Coaching on WordPress Using CoachKit (tm) (Full tutorial)

10. Member Spotlights and Success Stories

It makes the featured members feel valued and makes others feel at ease within your network, all the while highlighting the importance of your membership to the world.

It's also an excellent method to build connections. When members can see people hitting milestones, tackling challenges, and thriving this 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, complete with their story, insights, and suggestions for others.
  • Social Media Shoutouts - Highlight members on Instagram or Facebook with photos, quotes, or a quick video.
  • Video InterviewsJoin Zoom with a standout member and allow them to share their journey through their own words.
  • Members AwardsCreate with a "Member of the Month" tradition to celebrate the achievements of members with a special feature.
  • Milestone spotlights - Share updates when members hit major milestones, such as finishing the course or taking part in the 30 day challenge.

 How to Configure It

  • Reach out to your members by email or via surveys to inquire about their achievements.
     Use a tool like Formidable Forms to let members submit their stories quickly.
  • Tell their tales within your network and on your website, or as part of your next email campaign.

As well as being a feel-good-moment, celebrating the success of your members is an effective method to increase engagement, build community, and demonstrate to your members that they're the beating heart of your website.

11. Drip Content

We all know that keeping a steady stream of exclusive content is the backbone of any good user experience. But providing that content every week, at frequent intervals is not an easy task!

Drip content is tried and tested that is a well-known approach to keep people entertained for a long period of long periods of time. It also builds anticipation and ensures they're not inundated by too much information simultaneously.

 How To Configure It

It's incredibly simple to establish drip rules for content to be released on every page, blog post, course, or individual lesson.

  • The freedom in deciding:
  • Which items you want to drip-release
  • Frequency (daily, weekly, etc)
  • The exact date of release
  • If you wish the content to end after a certain length of time.

12. Accountability Groups & Mastermind Sessions

Did you not know? 70 percent of people who establish targets never meet them. Think of your New Year's resolutions made in January, but then completely abandoned by - wait, when is the next month? It's February, yes.

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 percent with an accountability meeting that is specifically scheduled.

 Accountability turns good intentions into real progress - including engagement on your website.

When members connect in smaller groups in small groups, they remain motivated, help each other, and make tangible progress for themselves - whether working toward a business goal or advancing their skills or taking a class.

 How To Install It

  • Create group coaching cohorts using CoachKit(tm)
  • Set up private forums with and bbPress, or BuddyBoss
  • Host weekly or biweekly Check-ins where members report the progress made, establish goals and are given feedback.
  • Live mastermind calls can be conducted via either Crowdcast or Zoom where participants are able to collaborate to solve problems, stay accountable

Accountability groups are great to increase engagement and retention because members form strong bonds with other in your community. And if members feel connected, they're more likely to stay signed for.

If you don't have a accountability process in place yet, this could be the missing piece which will help take your involvement to the highest step.

The Final Words: Maintain Members Engaged and Invested

There's been a fair amount of ground. Don't you think? I hope this article has opened your eyes to the ways you can improve participation on your site.

We've reviewed twelve opportunities that your subscribers can be involved, connect and gain value from the ongoing membership.

That's what's important: ongoing. Keeping engagement fresh, exciting and valuable for a long the course of time is what makes a membership truly valuable.

cta character

Get today!

Start getting paid for the content you produce.

Much of your success comes in observing how your members respond to and adapting as you go.

There is no need to adopt each of the twelve strategies at once. Start small. Pick one or two which are suitable to your organization and try them out. Simple, deliberate actions can result in big victories.

 What strategies do you plan to try first? Please let us know by commenting below!

If you found this article helpful, follow our page on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn!

author avatar

Victoria Lloyd       Victoria has a knack for creating small, humble beginnings into massive successes, having elevated her jewelry business out of the buzz of the London's market streets to prestigious spots like the Royal Academy of Arts and the Topshop's Oxford Circus the flagship shop. The expertise she has isn't limited to physical products. Victoria is a pro-active experience of increasing online engagement for a variety of brands. From innovative startups to household names like Nokia and Jack Daniels, Victoria has utilized her powerful mix of wordsmith wizardry, strategic insight, and digital expertise to boost up brand engagement and SEO. In her blog , Victoria leverages her diverse experiences to help simplify and decode the world of membership sites as well as business growth. Victoria is here to help readers through her insightful insights, helping them to effectively and imaginatively create their membership and online community websites.