# Membership Site Plan > Plans membership site content libraries, tier structures, pricing, drip schedules, and retention strategies. Use this skill when a creator or coach wants to build recurring revenue through a membership model, needs to design tier levels, or is planning content delivery for a subscription community. - Skill: `reaperinvest/membership-site-plan` (Agent Skill) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add reaperinvest/membership-site-plan` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/reaperinvest/membership-site-plan/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: AI & ML - Author: reaperinvest (https://skillmd.com/u/reaperinvest) - Updated: 2026-09-22 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/reaperinvest/membership-site-plan --- # Membership Site Plan ## When to Use This Skill - User wants to launch a membership site or subscription community - User needs to design pricing tiers and what each tier includes - User wants to plan a content library and drip schedule - User is converting one-time products (courses, templates) into recurring revenue - User needs a retention strategy to reduce membership churn ## Core Principle A MEMBERSHIP LIVES OR DIES ON MONTH-TWO RETENTION — THE CONTENT DRIP AND COMMUNITY MUST DELIVER ENOUGH VALUE IN THE FIRST 30 DAYS THAT CANCELING FEELS LIKE A LOSS. ## Workflow ### Phase 1: Define the Membership 1. Confirm the user's expertise area and target member 2. Identify the core value proposition — what ongoing problem does this solve that justifies monthly payment? 3. Determine the content format mix: - Video lessons / tutorials - Templates and swipe files - Live calls (Q&A, coaching, workshops) - Community access (forum, Slack, Circle) - Written guides or newsletters - Tools or software access 4. Choose a platform: Skool, Circle, Kajabi, Teachable, Mighty Networks, WordPress + MemberPress, or custom 5. Default recommendation: **Skool** for simplicity or **Circle + Stripe** for flexibility ### Phase 2: Design Tier Structure 6. Create 2-3 tiers (never more than 3 — decision fatigue kills signups): | Element | Tier 1 (Entry) | Tier 2 (Core) | Tier 3 (Premium) | |---------|----------------|---------------|-------------------| | Name | Descriptive, not "Basic" | Make this the obvious choice | VIP or inner-circle framing | | Price | $19-$49/mo | $49-$149/mo | $149-$499/mo | | Content | Library access | Library + live calls | Everything + 1:1 access | | Community | View-only or limited | Full community access | Private channel + direct access | | Support | Self-serve | Group Q&A | Direct message access | | Positioning | "Try it out" | "This is for you" | "For the serious few" | 7. **The middle tier should be the primary offer** — price it where most members will land 8. Annual pricing option: offer 2 months free (e.g., $97/mo or $970/year) to improve retention and cash flow ### Phase 3: Plan the Content Library 9. Design the foundational content library (available on day one): - 5-8 core modules covering the essential knowledge - Each module: 3-5 lessons, 10-20 minutes each - One quick-win resource per module (template, checklist, swipe file) 10. Design the drip schedule for ongoing content: **Month 1 (Onboarding — CRITICAL):** - Day 1: Welcome video + "Start Here" guide + community intro prompt - Day 3: First quick-win template or tool - Day 7: First live call (or replay) - Day 14: Module 1 unlocks (if using drip, not open library) - Day 21: Second live call or workshop - Day 28: "Month 1 check-in" email asking for feedback + wins **Month 2+:** - Week 1: New lesson or tutorial (15-20 min) - Week 2: Live Q&A or coaching call - Week 3: New template, swipe file, or resource - Week 4: Community challenge or engagement prompt 11. Plan at minimum 3 months of content ahead before launch ### Phase 4: Build Retention Systems 12. Implement these retention mechanisms: **Onboarding sequence (first 7 days):** - Automated welcome email with "3 things to do first" - Personal DM or video from the founder (even if recorded) - Community introduction prompt ("Tell us about your business") - First quick-win assignment with a deadline **Ongoing retention:** - Monthly "wins" thread — members share results - Quarterly content refresh — update outdated materials - Annual member survey — ask what to build next - Cancellation flow: offer pause (1 month) before cancel - Win-back email at 30, 60, 90 days post-cancellation **Churn warning signs to monitor:** - No login in 14+ days - No community posts in 30+ days - Skipped 2+ live calls in a row - Downloaded nothing in the last month ### Phase 5: Deliver the Complete Plan 13. Output the full membership plan: - Tier structure with pricing - Content library outline - 3-month drip schedule - Retention system - Launch checklist ## Example 1: Social Media Manager Membership **Context:** A social media consultant with 3,000 Instagram followers and an email list of 1,200 wants to launch a membership for small business owners who manage their own social media. **Membership: The Social Playbook** **Tier Structure:** | Element | Starter | Pro (Recommended) | Inner Circle | |---------|---------|-------------------|--------------| | Price | $29/mo ($290/yr) | $79/mo ($790/yr) | $199/mo ($1,990/yr) | | Content library | Full access | Full access | Full access | | Monthly templates | 5 post templates | 15 post templates + captions | 30 templates + captions + strategy notes | | Live calls | Replay access only | 2 live Q&A calls/month | 2 live calls + 1 private strategy session/quarter | | Community | View + post | Full access + accountability pods | Private channel + DM access to founder | | Bonus | — | Monthly trending audio/hashtag report | Monthly account audit (recorded) | **Content Library (Day One):** ``` MODULE 1: Social Media Foundations (5 lessons) 1.1 Choosing your 2 platforms (15 min) 1.2 Profile optimization checklist (12 min) 1.3 Content pillars framework (18 min) 1.4 The 3-2-1 posting rhythm (10 min) 1.5 Quick win: Optimize your Instagram bio in 10 minutes Resource: Bio formula template + 20 bio examples MODULE 2: Content Creation System (4 lessons) 2.1 Batch creating a month of content in 4 hours (20 min) 2.2 Repurposing: 1 video into 12 pieces of content (15 min) 2.3 Canva templates walkthrough (18 min) 2.4 Quick win: Create 5 posts using the provided templates Resource: 30 customizable Canva templates MODULE 3: Caption Writing (4 lessons) 3.1 The hook-story-CTA framework (12 min) 3.2 Writing captions that drive comments (15 min) 3.3 Hashtag strategy for small accounts (10 min) 3.4 Quick win: Write 7 captions using the swipe file Resource: 50 caption templates by industry MODULE 4: Instagram Reels & Short-Form Video (4 lessons) 4.1 Reels that work for non-video people (15 min) 4.2 Trending audio: how to find and use it (12 min) 4.3 Recording setup with just your phone (10 min) 4.4 Quick win: Record and post your first Reel using the script template Resource: 10 Reel script templates MODULE 5: Analytics & Growth (3 lessons) 5.1 The only 4 metrics that matter (12 min) 5.2 Monthly analytics review walkthrough (15 min) 5.3 Quick win: Run your first analytics audit using the tracker Resource: Monthly analytics tracker spreadsheet ``` **3-Month Drip Schedule:** ``` MONTH 1 — ONBOARDING Day 1: Welcome video + Start Here guide + community intro Day 3: 5 Instagram post templates (Canva) delivered Day 7: LIVE: "Ask Me Anything" Q&A call Day 10: Bonus lesson: "Instagram algorithm in 2026 — what actually works" Day 14: Module unlock: Instagram Reels deep-dive bonus Day 21: LIVE: Content creation workshop (batch 2 weeks of posts together) Day 28: Check-in email: "Share your wins from Month 1" MONTH 2 — BUILDING MOMENTUM Week 1: New lesson: "Story selling — how to sell in Stories without being salesy" Week 2: LIVE: Q&A call + hot seat (2 members get live account reviews) Week 3: 15 new post templates + trending audio list for the month Week 4: Community challenge: "Post every day for 5 days using the templates" MONTH 3 — EXPANDING Week 1: New lesson: "Email list building from Instagram — the link-in-bio funnel" Week 2: LIVE: Workshop — building a simple lead magnet Week 3: New resource: Lead magnet template pack (3 templates) Week 4: Community challenge: "Launch your first lead magnet this week" ``` ## Example 2: Fitness Coach Membership **Context:** A certified personal trainer with a YouTube channel (12K subscribers) wants to launch a membership for busy professionals who want home workout programs. **Membership: FitFoundry** **Tier Structure:** | Element | Move ($39/mo) | Train (Recommended, $89/mo) | Transform ($179/mo) | |---------|---------------|------------------------------|---------------------| | Workout library | Full access (100+ videos) | Full access | Full access | | New programs | Monthly program drops | Monthly + early access | Monthly + custom modifications | | Live workouts | Replay only | 2 live sessions/week | 2 live + 1 small-group (10 max) | | Nutrition | Basic macro guide | Monthly meal prep plans | Quarterly macro consult (1:1) | | Community | Forum access | Forum + accountability groups | Private channel + trainer DM | **Content Library (Day One):** ``` PROGRAM 1: 30-Day Starter (Bodyweight only, no equipment) - 20 workouts, 25-35 minutes each - 3 days/week schedule - Video demos for every exercise - Printable workout tracker PROGRAM 2: Dumbbell Strength (Requires 2 sets of dumbbells) - 24 workouts across 6 weeks - 4 days/week schedule - Progressive overload built in - Form check video library (30 exercises) PROGRAM 3: 15-Minute Express (For days when time is tight) - 12 workouts, 15 minutes each - Mix of HIIT, strength, and mobility - No equipment needed RESOURCE LIBRARY: - Macro calculation guide + spreadsheet - Grocery list templates (budget-friendly) - Warm-up and cool-down routines (5 videos) - Equipment buying guide (home gym under $200) ``` **Retention System:** ``` ONBOARDING (First 7 Days): Day 1: Welcome video + fitness assessment questionnaire Day 1: Auto-assign to "30-Day Starter" or "Dumbbell Strength" based on assessment answers Day 2: Personal DM: "Hey [Name], saw you joined — which program did you pick? Let me know if you need help choosing." Day 3: Community prompt: "Introduce yourself — what's your #1 fitness goal this month?" Day 5: Email: "Your first workout is waiting — here's exactly where to start" (direct link to Day 1 workout) Day 7: First live workout — encourage attendance via email reminder 2 hours before MONTHLY RETENTION: - "Workout streak" tracker — gamified consistency tracking - Monthly challenge (e.g., "100 pushups in a week") - "Transformation Tuesday" community thread - New program drop on the 1st of each month CHURN PREVENTION: - No login in 7 days → automated email: "We miss you — here's a 15-minute express workout to get back on track" - Cancellation flow: "Would you like to pause for a month instead?" (pause option retains 30-40% of would-be cancellations) - Win-back at 30 days: "Come back and try our new [program name] — first month back at 50% off" ``` **Launch Checklist:** ``` PRE-LAUNCH (4 weeks before): [ ] Platform set up (Skool or Circle) [ ] 3 foundational programs recorded and uploaded [ ] Tier pricing configured with annual option [ ] Welcome email sequence written (5 emails) [ ] Community space created with guidelines [ ] Payment processing connected (Stripe) LAUNCH WEEK: [ ] Email list announcement (3 emails over 5 days) [ ] YouTube video announcing the membership [ ] Instagram countdown Stories (5 days) [ ] Founding member discount (first 50 members get 30% off for life) [ ] First live workout scheduled for Day 3 post-launch POST-LAUNCH (first 30 days): [ ] Personal welcome DM to every new member [ ] Weekly live sessions running on schedule [ ] Community engagement — founder posts daily for first month [ ] Day 28 check-in email to all members [ ] Collect testimonials from early wins ``` ## Recovery and Fallback - If the user has no audience yet, recommend building an email list of at least 500 subscribers before launching — use a free lead magnet to attract the target member - If the user is overwhelmed by content creation, start with a single tier and 3 foundational modules — expand after launch based on member feedback - If churn exceeds 10% monthly, audit the onboarding experience first — most churn happens in the first 30 days due to poor onboarding, not poor content - If the user cannot commit to live calls, pre-record monthly workshops and release them on a schedule — live is better for retention but recorded still works - If pricing feels too high for the audience, start lower and increase for new members as the library grows — never lower pricing for existing members ## Constraints - Maximum 3 tiers — more than 3 creates decision paralysis and reduces signups - The middle tier must be the recommended/default option — design pricing to steer members there - Plan at minimum 3 months of content before launch — running out of content in month 2 destroys credibility - Do not recommend "unlimited" anything — scope all deliverables (number of templates, call frequency, response times) - Annual pricing should offer exactly 2 months free — more than that undervalues the membership - Do not recommend launching with a free tier — free members rarely convert and dilute community quality - Content drip must deliver a quick win within the first 72 hours — this is the highest-leverage retention moment - Founding member discounts should be lifetime-locked but capped (first 50 or first 100)