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The Membership Engagement Playbook (12 Strategies That Really Work)

Feb 20, 2025

Reader Disclosure

    It's a topic we discuss frequently on the blog...because it's everything! Engaged members renew their subscriptions, participate in discussions, and bring in referrals. But when engagement drops, churn sets in.

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Some time ago I wrote about the churn of memberships and how much more expensive it is to replace those who are gone than keeping your current ones.

So, what do you think? keep members engaged, active and enthusiastic to stay on the list, participate more, pay more and attract new members.

At , our customers have collectively earned over $2 billion in income.

Let's get into the techniques that actually perform!

What is Membership Engagement? And What is the significance of it?

First off, what exactly is member engagement? Simply put, it's the frequency and amount of time meaningfully your members interact with your site, community, and offerings.

A highly engaged participant often:

  • Logs in and navigates through multiple pages
  • Comments, participates in discussions, and attends events
  • Completes courses and actively participates

These members appreciate the benefits from their membership, which makes them more likely to renew their membership, recommend to others and benefit of cross-sells and upsells.

  • You're having trouble navigating your site
  • Don't you realize that not everyone appreciates what you have to offer and more importantly,
  • (Brace yourself) has completely forgotten about you

A few members may still remain subscribed, but not engage - passive membership could be a signal to be aware.

Different people do not interact in the same way. Certain people prefer to read content in a quiet manner, while others thrive in conversations with others as well as live events. Tracking different types of interaction helps you better know and assist your members.

We'll go over exactly that in our 12 strategies.

How to measure the level of engagement in a membership

As we've already touched on, high membership engagement looks different depending on what you offer. Also, it depends on the type of audience you're targeting.

If your website is for self-paced learning, members might primarily consume content, taking courses on their own, rather than participating in discussions.

As engagement isn't a one-size-fits-all thing It is the best way to measure the quality of your engagement is by comparing it to your past performances. Ask yourself:

  • Do members engage more or less than in the past?
  • Does engagement keeping pace with increase in membership, or are you seeing a slowdown?

Key KPIs for Engagement to Monitor

Pick the metrics that best represent what is most important to your website's members:

  • Frequency of log-in - How often do users signing in?
  • Forum activity and participation in discussions Do discussions remain ongoing?
  • Module/course completions - Are members making improvements in their knowledge?
  • Click-through and open rates Are they being engaged in your email marketing?
  • Event attendance Do participants show in for live events?

Tracking the right KPIs will help you spot trends, identify disengaged members, and refine your engagement strategy.

Key Strategies to Boost Membership Engagement

It's not necessary to wait for engagement to become a problem to start improving your business.

Below are a few methods our clients employ to keep their members interested. We've provided suggestions, the best practices, and instruments to assist you in creating an engaging membership website on WordPress.

1. Create an Online Community

Are you aware of how frequently Reddit shows up on the first page of Google results for search? Google hasn't explained the reason however, we can make an educated guess that users value genuine conversations and sharing experiences.

An first-time mom looking for what she needs for her newborn is likely to seek advice from fellow mothers rather than a standard checklist of items.

The freelancer seeking to find higher paying clients will look to the community of fellow freelancers who can offer advice and tactics.

Your site's membership service provides an small group of people with similar passions as well as connecting these members is a huge benefit.

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

Create premium forums for community members in .

With social media frequently being a chaotic and dangerous place it is important to have a private community for members only provides an environment that is secure and high-quality where people can connect in a meaningful way. It is free of ads, trolls or other noise that is not relevant.

 How To Configure It

WordPress offers a variety of great plugins to help you build a community right on your website. customers have found satisfaction with

  • bbPress A basic yet powerful forum solution.
  • - A more feature-rich option for social networking and group discussion.

If you're open to hosting your community outside your website Consider:

  • It's great for chats that are real-time, especially if your customers are technologically adept.
  • It is convenient if your customers are already actively using Facebook.

2. Incorporate Gamification

I'm an avid fan of gamification. Indeed I owe my ability to communicate in Spanish due to a specific green owl. I also have a pile of badges and the extremely intense race to the top of the leaderboards together with a friend.

If points or leaderboards aren't doing much for your organization, I can guarantee you'll find a certain percentage of your customers who thrive on them.

For some (myself myself included), earning rewards are so satisfying that they'll purposefully seek out your site to get their next dopamine hit!

 How To Install It

GamiPress is a great tool for enhancing your membership experience. GamiPress, you can earn badges, points as well as achievements to various actions on your site, including:

  •   Registering or logging in  
  •   Completed lessons or course  
  •   Participating in discussions within the community  
  •   Leaving comments or replying to posts  
  •   New members are referred to as "referrals"  
  •   and many more!  

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

  • (for subscriptions, online courses and other activity)
  • BuddyBoss & BbPress (for communities forums)
  • (for interactivity quizzes and surveys)
  • Easy Affiliate (for reward-based referrals)

To add to the excitement And to top it off, it's absolutely free!

Gamification can make members engaged, why not take advantage of it?

3. Create a Loyalty Program

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

Point systems, VIP perks, and exclusive rewards make people remain loyal and buy more. The popularity of earning airline miles as well as reward points at coffee shops speak for them. And guess what? is similarly for websites for membership.

Research shows that over 80% of peopleare more likely to remain with a membership brand with a loyalty program. Even better? More than 95 percent of companies claim that loyalty members are spending up to 4 times more than non-members.

 Rewards for Your Most Engaged Members

By joining the help of a loyalty program that you join, you are able to turn points and milestones into real-world perks. Here are some ideas:

  • Provide members with a reward after one years of being a member or perhaps an exclusive Q&A or Discounts for VIPs.
  • You can offer a reward for completing the course or program of coaching,like a special certificate or freebie.
  • Make use of reward points for engagement, say more content, or an announcement in your local community.

For instance, a Business Coaching membership such as might provide "Platinum member" status following an entire year which entitles you to special coaching sessions and networking benefits.

 How to Install It

makes this easy. You can offer an access level that is tied and set up an automatic email with a link to upgrade whenever a member reaches the milestone of their choice, be it time-based (X years of membership) or an action-based (completing a course or program).

To take it further Utilize your gaming plugin to measure engagement and then manually reward your most active members with:

  •   Discounts on renewals  
  •   Exclusive content or VIP privileges  
  •   Physical swag like T-shirts, event tickets or even event tickets  

As we've mentioned, there's a second software that you could use to award badges and points in relation to the activity you've done, after which you can transform engagement into actual reward.

4. Utilize Email Campaigns

Are you thinking email is an old fashion thing? You're wrong. Email is still one of the strongest tools for keeping your members interested. It's direct intimate, private, and unlike algorithms for social media ensures that your message will be seen.

Relevance and consistency are key. Your emails should be a reminder to members of the reason they signed up in the first place and keep them excited about the next step.

 Types of emails that Increase Engagement

Remain committed to keeping your members returning with:

  • Exclusive Content Updates - Share new resources as well as behind-the-scenes information, or an early glimpse of upcoming content.
  • Event Invites & Reminders Promoting live Q&As, workshops or networking events (and send a reminder so they don't miss it! ).
  • Personalized Recommendations to suggest courses, articles, or discussion topics based on the user's activity.
  • Are you a stranger who hasn't been seen in long? Offer a soft nudge along with the highlights reel of events they've missed.

 How to Install It

By using an email marketing platform like  You can:

  • Automated emails for onboarding, course progress and milestones for membership.
  • You can segment your users based on behavior - to ensure that members receive only emails that matter to them.
  • Use dynamic material to tailor the subject line and make guidelines.

The right email sent at the right time is able to revive interest, stimulate engagement, and keep the members engaged for the long haul.

5. Giveaways and Exclusive Perks

Everyone loves free giveaways - prizes and perks that are exclusive generate excitement, increase participation, and make members feel appreciated.

Surprise your members with fun perks and unexpected rewards that will make them keep checking in more often, engage more deeply, and remain longer.

 Ideas for giveaways and Perks

  • Member-Only Contests - Run giveaways where active members can win exclusive rewards. (Example: "Comment on this post for a chance to win a complimentary one-on-one coaching session!")
  • Special Bonuses You can send random discount offers or special content to your users to keep them engaged.
  • Referral Reward offer perks such as the chance to get free membership months or exclusive content to members who sign up new members.
  • Milestone Gifts Honor milestones, course completions, or community contributions with a personalized reward.
  • Partnership Deals Partner with popular brands and give exclusive cross-promotions to the members of your audience.

 How To Configure It

You don't need a complicated configuration. It is easy to give time-limited discounts to reward the participants.

If you truly are looking to make a splash then we

We love this plugin (and employ it on our own!) to run giveaways. The participants could get extra entries through engaging on your blog, sharing it with someone else to follow your social media profiles - just a few of your many options.

Additionally, it assists you in selecting the best winner randomly.

A properly-run contest or an exclusive perk keeps your community interested, active and talking about the benefits of joining.

6. Questions and Surveys

Have you noticed a pattern already? Interactivity keeps the members involved. The best membership experiences don't just provide contents - they offer members ways to actively participate and shape the course of their lives.

 How do I add interactivity with Surveys and Quizzes

  • Use surveys to gain useful information from members, and discover what members enjoy and want more of.
  • Add tests in online classes for students to to self-assess and monitor their improvement.
  • Provide deeper engagement in assignments - they are based on 1:1 feedback. This gives users a more personal experience.

 How Do I Set It Up

  • It is the most popular among our customers. It comes with pre-built survey templates which make it simple to create interactive feedback forms. Additionally, it offers AI-generated forms or a simple drag-and-drop constructor that lets you fully customize.

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

7. Live Chat

When members have a question, they don't want to have to wait for hours for the response to their email They want their answers immediately. Support in real-time makes your site's members look more responsive, useful, and community-driven.

Live chat connects members with real-time access to support. Fast responses help members remain engaged, avoid irritation, and ensure they are making the most of the benefits of their subscription.

 How to Set It Up

  • Provide instant assistance for the most common issues - Help people stay on course instead of becoming stuck.
  • Chat is a great tool for building community - Live chat features allow for real-time interaction between participants.
  • Automate responses with AI chatbots Answer quickly to FAQs while keeping your team available for bigger questions.

 Best Live Chat Tools for Membership Sites

  • - Ideal for combining live chat with a full support ticketing support ticket system.
  • Ideal for smaller teams who require a quick, efficient live chat or chatbot.

 Live chat is a great way to keep users engaged, decreases the amount of friction and makes your site feel more like a place for interaction rather more than just a hub for content.

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

We enjoy helping customers develop automations and passive income streams to keep their membership websites viable and profitable.

 Live events, however, have special engagement powers which make the effort worthwhile.

Whether it's a , these occasions give users the motivation to login at a specific date and time.

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

Live events create the special two-way connection between you and your members. This is a chance for you to offer them VIP treatment and direct attention, building stronger relations and confidence.

 What makes Group Sessions work so well

Discussion groups, group Q&As, and webinars can also be ways for participants to gain knowledge from each other. When members hear inquiries, tips as well as real-world examples from peers, they're more likely to:

  • Feel part of a larger vibrant group of people.
  • Gain new perspectives or suggestions they've never considered.
  • Get inspired to share their own stories, resulting in more interest.

They can also create a feedback loop where the participants are able to grow closer and become more engaged in the community.

 How to Install It

Here are a few tools to host live events as a breeze:

  • It's a great platform for webinars, group calls as well as time-based office hours.
  • Perfect for professional webinars, with sophisticated attendee tracking.
  • Google Meet - A basic, cost-free option for smaller sessions.
  • Ideal for webinars that are interactive that can be easily engaged with.

Live events give your members a reason to attend, make connections, and stay active. Whether you host an informal Q&A session or a full-scale webinar, it's worth it to bring your members online in real-time.

9. Member Challenges and Milestones

I'm an avid participant in a 30-Day Challenge. It's a great idea to make an positive improvement in a specific, manageable period of time is enticing.

The creators of content have known this for years - and who doesn't have someone you know who's participated in an Yoga with Adriene exercise?

Challenges are also a powerful means of showing your members how you can offer significant value in a short time frame. They're actionable, motivating, and proof that your members can make a meaningful difference in the lives of their members.

That's why challenges are indeed an engaging mine of gold. They keep members focused, driven, as well as re-evaluating their progress.

Don't forget the milestones. By breaking longer tasks into smaller, joyful moments helps motivate participants and helps keep the momentum moving.

 Ideas for Member Challenges

  • 30-Day Productivity Challenge - Help users improve their concentration by giving them everyday productivity tools or tips.
  • seven-day writing sprint - Perfect for bloggers and writers who want to start their next venture or to establish a regular writing routine.
  • 21-Day Fitness Kickstart - A program designed to build endurance, strength, and flexibility endurance through small, manageable steps.
  • 30 days to master an Ability - Teach a key skill like photo editing, programming, or public speaking through brief, concise lessons.
  • Personal Finance Challenge Help participants put their finances under control with actions-oriented steps such as tracking their expenses and budgeting, or saving a certain amount at the conclusion of the contest.

 How to Set It Up

With , creating and managing the challenges are easy.

  • Build goals-driven programs that provide members with step-by-step instructions.
  • Use habit tracking to motivate daily, weekly, or biweekly attendance.
  • Reward members automatically when they reach milestones with personal messages or access to exclusive special content.

It's just scratching the surface of what you can do using CoachKit(tm). Check out the following video for more details:

How to set up Online Coaching on WordPress Using CoachKit (tm) (Full Instructions)

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 showing off the value of your membership.

It's also a fantastic way to foster connection. When your members see real people achieving their goals, taking on obstacles, and succeeding, it creates a ripple effect of inspiration and enthusiasm.

 Ideas for Member Spotlights & Success Stories

  • Blog Posts- Write a post about a member who's achieved their objectives, complete with their experience, insight, and advice for others.
  • Social Media Shoutouts Highlight people of Instagram or Facebook with quotes, photos or videos.
  • Video interviewsJoin Zoom with one of our top performers and hear them talk about their experiences with their own words.
  • Award for Members- Start with a "Member of the Month" tradition to celebrate their accomplishments with a dedicated feature.
  • Milestone Spotlights Send updates to members when members hit major milestones such as completing a course or participating in your 30-day challenge.

 How to Configure It

  • Contact your customers by email or via surveys and ask about their wins.
     Use a tool such as Formidable Forms to let members complete their story quickly.
  • Tell their tales within your network, on your blog, or as part of your new email-based campaign.

It's also positively uplifting, celebrating the success of your members is an effective means to boost involvement, foster community and show your members that they're at the center of your site.

11. Drip Content

We are all aware that keeping a steady stream of exclusive material is the basis of any successful user experience. But providing that content every week, at regular intervals is not an easy task!

Drip content is tried and tested, and a popular method to keep users entertained for a long period of long periods of time. It also builds anticipation and helps ensure that they don't get overwhelmed by too much all at once.

 How Do I Install It

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

  • The freedom to decide:
  • Which are the items you would like to release via drip?
  • Frequency (daily, weekly, etc)
  • Time of release exact
  • You can choose whether you wish for the content to end at a specified duration.

12. Accountability Groups & Mastermind Sessions

Did you know? 70 percent of people who establish goals never achieve their goals. Think of all the New Year's resolutions that were made in January, only to be completely aborted by which month does it happen to be? 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 percentage with a dedicated accountability appointment.

 Accountability can turn your good intentions into tangible progress - including engagement on your website.

In small groups, they stay motivated, support each other, and make tangible progress for themselves - whether striving to meet a specific business objective or advancing their skills or taking a class.

 How To Set It Up

  • Make groups of coaches by using CoachKit(tm)
  • Set up private forums with and bbPress or BuddyBoss
  • Host weekly or biweekly Check-ins that allow members to report on their progress, set goals, and get feedback
  • Run live mastermind calls via Zoom or Crowdcast where participants are able to collaborate to solve problems, stay accountable

Accountability groups work well to increase engagement and retention as members develop strong bonds with other in your group. And if they feel connected, they're more likely to remain signed for.

If you do not have an accountability system implemented, this could be the missing piece that takes your engagement to the highest stage.

The Final Words: Maintain Members Involved and Engaged

We've covered quite a bit of ground, didn't we? I hope this article has opened your eyes to the ways you can improve the number of members on your website.

We've examined 12 opportunities that your subscribers can join, be active, and realize the value of the ongoing membership.

The key word is: ongoing. Keeping engagement active, engaging and valuable throughout the course of time is what makes membership worthwhile.

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Start today!

Get paid to create the content you create.

The majority of your success will come from observing what people respond to, and adjusting as you go.

You don't have to implement all 12 strategies right away. Begin with a small number. Pick one or two that make sense to your organization and try the options. Simple, deliberate actions can result in big wins.

 What strategies do you plan to try initially? Please let us know in the comments section below!

If you found this article useful, please connect with our page on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram as well as LinkedIn!

author avatar

Victoria Lloyd       Victoria has a knack for creating small, humble beginnings into massive achievements, and has taken her jewelry business from the vibrant buzz of the London's market streets to prestigious spots like The Royal Academy of Arts and Topshop's Oxford Circus the flagship shop. Victoria's expertise extends beyond tangible products. Victoria has an established experience of increasing web-based engagement for a wide range of brands. From innovative start-ups to famous brands such as Nokia and Jack Daniels, Victoria has employed her unique mix of wordsmith wizardry along with strategic thinking and digital savvy to ramp up brand engagement and SEO. At , Victoria leverages her diverse experience to simplify and demystify the world of online membership and growth for businesses. She's here to guide users with her exclusive knowledge, assisting them in successfully and effectively build their membership and online community sites.