Membership

**D* G* <g*@gmail.com>**

Gene - I just did a summary of membership sites for the GWA newsletter tech
corner that was in the most recent issue.  That's pretty much what I'm
doing at mine.  It's operational at www.online-gardening-courses.com BUT
don't bother checking it out today - it's on a massive FTP delete and
 rebuild program where I'm deleting existing content and installing a full
backup. (long story)

The key is to have a mailing list. That's step one. Building something
without one of those - or an established platform - is pretty much a recipe
for losing money.  Some folks have done it but I'd never recommend it.

I've written in GWA before about mailing lists - and they're quite the rage
now as the majority of big independents move off social media to their own
lists and products.

It's a whole 'nother business climate.

Step one is to create a membership list and give folks a reason to sign up.
Step two is to ask them what they want - and then deliver that - at a price.

My best .02 - don't build something because you think it will sell - make
sure it will sell before you build it.  Build it and they will come is no
longer true on the Net.

That's my general reaction.

If you want to move it off-list- drop me a note.

D

On Sun, Aug 16, 2015 at 2:38 PM, Gene Bush <genebush@netsurfusa.net> wrote:

> Doug,
> I took a look at your Pinterest site and your website. I did not locate the
> 'high end content behind a firewall' Is that to come? Any interest in
> taking
> some of this off line and private?
> When I had a nursery, content was king, and all was to be freely shared ..
> worked well enough when there were plants subsidizing the time and effort
> behind all those photos and newsletters, questions answered. Social media
> chat. The nursery is no longer. I find very few, and I do mean very few,
> will convert from free content to paying. Heard of newspapers?
> I do have a subscription only monthly newsletter now: The Must Have
> Messenger http://www.shadegardenexpert.com/must-have-messenger/ I have
> been
> considering taking it behind a wall instead of monthly emails on content. I
> have found Facebook and Google ads of no value in subscription sales.. or I
> placed the ads poorly. Lots to discuss about our ever changing digital
> world.
>
> Gene E. Bush
>

Doug Green
Head Weeder, Head Wordsmith
http://www.douggreensgarden.com/about.html <http://www.simplegiftsfarm.com>
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