Show #25 – Melissa Ingold Talks About Membership Sites
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Melissa Ingold
Melissa Ingold is a savvy online marketer, copywriter and membership business owner. She is the owner of SpecialReportClub.com, an online membership site that provides complete private label rights marketing packages. Melissa has been successfully and consistently building a business on the internet for a number of years now and I want to talk to her today about what she’s learned and how’s she’s got to her current level of success.
See show notes below for more details of what was discussed or click the play button above to hear the full call!
Melissa’s Sites:
www.InternetMarketingSweetie.com
www.SpecialReportClub.com
www.AffiliateManagerSweetie.com
www.SweetieSaturdayReportClub.com
Links mentioned during the show:
Create Your Information Product in 24 Hours or Less
Amember
Wishlist Member
SHOW NOTES: These notes are just a quick summary of some content of the podcast. Make sure you click the play button above so you don’t miss the bulk of the interview!
Welcome Melissa!
Q – Please tell us a little more about YOU
Wife, mother to three children. Been working online since 2001. Two membership sites, six information products, affiliate marketer and have my own affiliate program. Still have my hand in service business.
Q – How did you get started online?
Had one year maternity leave and didn’t want to go back to work. Looked for ways to work from home. Started with print publications and then moved to the internet where the opportunities are wide open.
Q – I imagine a big part of your success has been due to your great copywriting skills. How did you learn to write copy that makes sales and really relates to your target market? This is something a lot of people struggle with.
Yes. Copywriting is very important and it’s much easier when you really know and understand your market. When you understand their frustrations.
Q – Why did you choose the membership model?
Steady income stream.
Q – Let’s bust some myths about membership sites – You’ll often here from various teachers that you must start a membership site so you have passive revenue flowing in and after the initial setup it’s all a breeze from there. Is this true?
It’s not just a breeze. You have to do the work to provide a great product even if membership is low. You must constantly be marketing your membership site, it’s not just a one time set up and you’re done.
Q – I think you currently use Amember for your membership site. If you were to start over, would you choose this software to run your program?
Yes. There are other good programs like the Wishlist plugin which is a popular membership site but one thing I really like about Amember is that it has an affiliate program attached to it.
Q – You also have an affiliate program for your membership site. Do you think you could be at the same level you are currently without affiliates to promote your program?
No not at all. The thing I hear from people when we talk about starting a membership site is that they don’t want to pay others for their product. That’s the wrong way to think about it because you wouldn’t have made those sales if it wasn’t for affiliates. So, if I get $1000 in sales from affiliates and have to pay out $500 I still have made $500 I never would have had without those affiliates.
Q – What keeps you going on the tough days?
My family. I have bills I have to pay and I also know I have team members who rely on me to make a living too.
Q – Who are your mentors?
Q – You’ve partnered with a number of people in business. Have those partnerships been important to growing your business and how?
Yes. Very important. And it doesn’t have to be product creation. You can partner with people to do a promotion to their list.
Q – You have a young special needs son and two other wonderful kids. I’m sure the flexibility of a home business has been an amazing blessing because of your families needs. Let’s talk about that a little bit.
My son gets enzyme treatment, physical therapy, speech therapy and regular doctors visits. There’s no way I could think about even having a regular job because I would need so much time off. I’m thankful to have my own home business because I can do everything I need for my son and still make an income for my family.
Q – WHY do you love your business?
Flexibility.
See you next week for another Marketers Mojo Talk Radio show!
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Great interview! Memberships are a great way to go… keep up the great work!
Thanks Paul, I really enjoyed it
Great interview Angela and Melissa!
Being a mother as well, I think the flexibility that an online business can bring is definitely a big plus. One of my goals for 2010 is to increase my affiliate income, so it will be great to stay connected with you Angela and see how things go for you with that goal as well.
Hey Again Angela,
I received your email about a half hour
ago.I usually check my mail about 10
times a day.Seems to me you are a
real go getter.
This interview was great.I didn't know
you made six figures.Very good.
I will visit again when you email me.
Until then,Later
Gary,
Thanks Paul, I really enjoyed it
Glad you liked it Paul. Thanks for the comment!
Thanks so much Wendy. Awesome goal and yes maybe we can chat and compare plans sometime. I just love affiliate marketing and the lifestyles I've seen people like those mentioned in the interview create
Thanks Gary for your comments! Actually it's Melissa who mentioned she made a six figure income this year, I'm not near that level quite yet. It's certainly inspiring to hear her path though and I had a great time doing the interview.
Good interview Angela and Melissa! Melissa you offer great insight into what it takes to run an internet based business and the benefits of being successfully self-employed from a family perspective.
Thanks Sharon. Glad you liked it! Definitely glad to hear the great response from this interview and it's giving me some very good insight into the kind of questions to keep asking my awesome guests
Good interview Angela and Melissa! Melissa you offer great insight into what it takes to run an internet based business and the benefits of being successfully self-employed from a family perspective.
Thanks Sharon. Glad you liked it! Definitely glad to hear the great response from this interview and it's giving me some very good insight into the kind of questions to keep asking my awesome guests