Content Library Archives - https://www.memberspace.com/blog/category/content-library/ Description Goes Here Thu, 05 Dec 2024 20:47:01 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://www.memberspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/cropped-favicon-32x32.webp Content Library Archives - https://www.memberspace.com/blog/category/content-library/ 32 32 Free Workshop – Learn How to Build, Launch, and Scale Your Content Library https://www.memberspace.com/blog/free-content-library-workshop/ Fri, 15 Nov 2024 16:12:01 +0000 https://www.memberspace.com/?p=6961

Nearly 70% of membership business owners have a content library. Why? Because it’s hands down one of the best ways to keep members happy, engaged, and subscribed! Whether you’re offering videos, templates, or guides, a content library gives your members something valuable they can access anytime.

In this post, we’ll share the details of our free workshop that’ll show you exactly how to set up a profitable content library that serves as a passive income stream for your business. 

Join our free content library workshop!

Learn how top revenue generators set up their content library and sell access using MemberSpace. We’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.

What is a Content Library?

A content library is a collection of valuable resources—like videos, templates, and guides—that you offer exclusively to your paying members. It’s an organized hub where members can easily find what they need, all in one place.
 

What’s great about a content library is that it’s flexible and grows with your business. You can add new content, update existing resources, and keep things fresh over time. Plus, because it’s gated, it feels exclusive, giving your members something valuable that’s worth subscribing to!

Content library membership site template

What’s Covered in the Content Library Workshop?

Our free workshop is designed to guide you through every step of building a content library that engages your members and grows your business. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Content Library Overview – We’ll start by breaking down what a content library is and why it’s such a valuable addition to your membership business. You’ll learn how it can help you generate recurring revenue while keeping your members engaged. Plus, we’ll show you how MemberSpace plays a key role in setting up and managing your content library, giving you the tools and flexibility to make it your own.

Live Example – Next, we’ll take you on a walkthrough of a live demo site with a fully functioning content library. This example will show you how to organize your pages, set up your URLs, and structure your content so everything is easy to navigate for your members. It’s a real-life look at how a well-organized library works.

Planning Your Content Library (Interactive Exercise) – This hands-on section will help you map out your content library’s structure. You’ll define your categories and subcategories, making it easier to organize your content. We’ll also guide you through deciding on pricing—what type of plan to offer, how much to charge, and how often you want to collect payments. By the end of this exercise, you’ll have a clear plan for your content library.

Setting Up Your Content Library in MemberSpace – Now it’s time to bring your plan to life. We’ll walk you through setting up your content library in MemberSpace, including adding a paywall to protect your content, creating pricing plans, and ensuring everything is ready for your members.

Going Live – Launching your content library is a big milestone, and we’ll share tips to make it as smooth as possible. You’ll learn best practices for promoting your launch, keeping your content fresh, and scaling over time to grow your business.

Next Steps and Additional Resources – Finally, we’ll wrap up with resources to support you as you build and grow your content library. From VIP support to additional workshops and guides, you’ll leave with everything you need to succeed. We’re here to help every step of the way!

A look at one of the interactive exercises from this session!

FAQs

1. How long is the workshop?
The workshop lasts approximately 45 minutes, packed with actionable steps and examples to help you get started quickly.

2. Do I have to use MemberSpace to benefit from the workshop?
While we’ll showcase how to set up your content library using MemberSpace, the tips on structuring and managing your content library can be valuable for anyone looking to offer exclusive content, regardless of platform.

3. Who is the workshop best for?
This workshop is ideal for membership business owners, creators, and entrepreneurs who want to offer gated digital resources, from fitness videos to coaching guides, and are looking for a streamlined, effective setup process.

4. Can I start with just a few pieces of content and add more later?
Absolutely! Many successful content libraries start small and grow over time as new content is added.

5. Is MemberSpace beginner-friendly?
Yes, MemberSpace is designed to be intuitive and easy to use, even if you’re new to creating member-only content. Our workshop guides you through each step to make setup simple.

6. What types of businesses benefit most from a content library?
Content libraries work well for any business offering exclusive resources to a niche audience. Fitness trainers, coaches, educators, and content creators can all use a content library to engage members and generate revenue.

Final Thoughts

A content library is one of the most effective ways to offer value to your members while generating consistent revenue. With the right structure, tools, and plan in place, it can become a cornerstone of your membership business.

Our workshop is here to guide you every step of the way—from planning your content library to setting it up and going live. Plus, with MemberSpace’s flexibility and support, you’ll have everything you need to succeed.

Ready to create a content library your members will love? Sign up for the free workshop and get started today!

Join our free content library workshop!

Learn how top revenue generators set up their content library and sell access using MemberSpace. We’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.

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How these Entrepreneurs Gained 20,000 Subscribers with Free Content https://www.memberspace.com/blog/how-these-entrepreneurs-gained-20000-subscribers/ Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:29:10 +0000 https://www.memberspace.com/?p=6873

Building a successful membership business from scratch isn’t easy, but for Sara and Stu from Little Owls Resources, their decision to give away free content helped them grow their subscriber base to 20,000 members. It all started with a simple strategy: offering valuable free resources to attract new members and build trust.

Their journey to scaling their business involved automating tasks, expanding their content library, and finding the right tool to grow with them. Let’s dive into how they achieved it.

Launch a members-only content library!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like podcasts, online courses, communities, content libraries, and more — all from your own website!

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Table of Contents

Offering Free Content to Attract Subscribers

Sara and Stu knew that in order to grow their membership business, they needed a way to consistently attract new subscribers. Their solution? Offer valuable content for free to bring people in and build a connection before asking them to pay for premium access.

Here’s how they did it:

  • Free resources: They created high-quality, useful resources that anyone could access at no cost. This made it easier to get people interested and spread the word about their site.
  • Lead magnets: By offering free downloads and guides, they could capture contact information and keep new leads engaged.
  • Trust-building: Free content allowed them to build credibility and trust with their audience, making people more likely to upgrade to paid tiers later.

This strategy paid off quickly as their free resources started to gain attention. Their subscriber count grew steadily as word spread through organic search and referrals.

Little Owls Content

Automating Tasks to Handle Growth

With a flood of new subscribers coming in, managing the membership site manually wasn’t sustainable. That’s when Sara and Stu turned to MemberSpace, which allowed them to automate tasks and focus on growing their content library instead of getting bogged down in day-to-day operations.

With automation, they could:

  • Process payments seamlessly for premium members.
  • Manage member access without needing to manually update who could see what.
  • Handle content updates more efficiently, freeing up their time to create more valuable resources.

By automating these tasks, Sara and Stu were able to scale their membership site much faster without spending all their time on administration.

Using a Free-to-Paid Funnel to Increase Conversions

Their strategy didn’t stop at free content. Sara and Stu also implemented a free-to-paid funnel that encouraged free members to upgrade to paid subscriptions over time.

Here’s what their funnel looked like:

  • Start with free resources: They drew people in with valuable free content, which helped establish trust and credibility.
  • Introduce premium content: Over time, they introduced premium content tiers with exclusive resources and deeper materials.
  • Upsell with targeted offers: For subscribers who engaged with their free content, Sara and Stu used email marketing to offer special discounts and incentives to upgrade to paid plans.

This funnel allowed them to consistently convert free members into paying subscribers, helping them generate more revenue while still providing value to their community.

SEO and Organic Traffic Fueled Their Growth

Sara and Stu’s free content strategy worked hand-in-hand with SEO to drive traffic. By optimizing their free resources for search engines, they were able to attract a steady stream of new visitors without relying on paid advertising.

They focused on:

  • SEO-friendly content: They created content that answered questions their target audience was searching for, helping them rank higher in search engine results.
  • Consistency: They regularly updated their content library to keep it fresh, ensuring they continued to rank well and attract organic traffic.
  • Lead generation: As their traffic grew, so did their list of free members, which in turn fed their free-to-paid funnel.

This approach helped them scale to 20,000 subscribers without needing a huge marketing budget.

Building a Community to Keep Subscribers Engaged

Beyond offering free content and driving traffic, Sara and Stu understood the importance of community. They worked hard to keep their subscribers engaged by regularly updating their content library, sending newsletters, and staying active on social media.

Here’s how they kept their community involved:

  • Regular content updates: They made sure to consistently add new resources to keep members engaged and coming back.
  • Newsletters: Regular emails helped them maintain a relationship with their subscribers, keeping them informed and offering sneak peeks of upcoming premium content.
  • Social media engagement: They shared free resources and community updates across their social media platforms to keep their audience engaged and spread the word about their membership.

By staying active and engaged, Sara and Stu were able to turn their subscribers into a loyal community that continues to grow.

Little Owls Email List

Final Thoughts

Sara and Stu’s journey shows that offering free content can be one of the most effective ways to grow a membership business. By focusing on building trust, automating their workflow, and creating a strategic funnel from free to paid content, they were able to gain 20,000 subscribers and scale their business.

Need help setting up your content library?

Connect with our friendly team, weekdays 10am - 6pm ET.

Let's chat!

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How to Create and Sell a Content Library on Squarespace https://www.memberspace.com/blog/squarespace-content-library/ Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:17:10 +0000 https://www.memberspace.com/?p=6712

If you’re looking for a way to monetize your digital resources, creating a content library on Squarespace might be the perfect solution. A well-organized content library can transform your website into a source of recurring revenue, whether you’re offering videos, templates, or any other digital resource. In this post, we’ll walk you through the steps on how to sell a content library on Squarespace

Launch a content library on Squarespace!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like content libraries, online courses, communities, and more — all from your own website!

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Table of Contents

Why Create a Content Library on Squarespace?

Creating a content library is a great way to build passive income and add value to your online business. If you’re already creating digital products such as videos, educational resources, or design templates, selling them in an organized library can help you scale your business and earn recurring revenue. Tools like Squarespace and MemberSpace make this process simple, even if you’re not a web design expert.

Step 1: Create and Organize Your Digital Products

The first step to building a content library is deciding what digital products you want to include. Think about what your audience needs and values the most. Some ideas for digital content include:

  • Fitness videos for different skill levels or fitness goals
  • Design templates for professionals or creatives
  • Educational podcasts or how-to guides

The key to a successful content library is high-quality, valuable content. Your audience should feel that they’re getting something exclusive and useful.

Once you have your content, it’s time to organize it. A well-structured content library helps users easily find what they’re looking for. Here are some ways you can organize:

  • By media type: separate videos, podcasts, templates, and other resources
  • By themes: fitness topics (yoga, strength training), creative themes (branding, photography), or educational subjects

Tip: Make navigation as intuitive as possible so users can quickly locate the content they need.

Step 2: Add Your Content to Your Squarespace Website

Now that you’ve organized your content, it’s time to add it to your Squarespace website. Squarespace is perfect for this because of its drag-and-drop interface, which makes it easy to customize even if you don’t have much technical experience.

Here’s how to structure your content on Squarespace:

  1. Create a members-only homepage where visitors can browse your content categories.
  2. Add hub pages for each category, like videos, design templates, or educational podcasts.
  3. Create individual pages for each piece of content (e.g., individual workout videos or specific templates).

Squarespace offers a variety of customizable templates to display your content exactly how you want.

squarespace content library

Step 3: Add a Paywall with MemberSpace

To monetize your content library, you’ll need to set up a paywall so that only paying members can access it. One of the best tools for this is MemberSpace. MemberSpace adds advanced membership features to your Squarespace site to help you generate more revenue, and it and allows you to lock specific content pages, so only those who subscribe can view your content.

With MemberSpace, you can decide which content is free and which is exclusive to paying members. This way, you can give potential subscribers a taste of your content while encouraging them to pay for full access.

Lock squarespace content library pages

Step 4: Set Your Pricing Model

Choosing the right pricing model for your content library is important. A common model for content libraries is a recurring payment plan. This allows your subscribers to pay on a monthly or annual basis (or however often you choose) for ongoing access to your resources. Here are some pricing models to consider:

  • Monthly subscription: A great option for content that you update regularly.
  • Annual subscription: Offer a discount for customers who commit to a year of access.
  • One-time payment: Ideal for static content libraries that won’t require frequent updates.

Make sure to consider your audience’s needs when choosing a pricing model.

Squarespace content library pricing

Step 5: Add a Sign-Up Link to Your Site

Once your pricing is set, you’ll need to make sure your sign-up process is clear and easy for potential members. This means adding a sign-up link to call-to-action buttons on your website. The easier it is for visitors to find and access your content library, the better your chances of converting them into paying members.

Here are some places to add your sign-up CTA:

  • On your homepage
  • In your website’s navigation menu
  • On multiple pages throughout your site
Fitness membership site signup

Keeping Your Content Library Fresh

After launching your content library, it’s important to continue adding new content and updating older material. This not only keeps your existing members engaged but also justifies a higher price over time as the library grows. Subscribers will appreciate fresh, high-quality content, which can lead to longer membership retention.

Here are a few ways to keep your content library fresh:

  • Regularly upload new resources, such as videos, templates, or guides
  • Update existing content to keep it relevant
  • Offer exclusive bonus materials to paying members

Final Thoughts

Selling a content library on Squarespace is a fantastic way to monetize your digital products and grow your online business. With the right tools and strategy, you can create a seamless experience for your audience while generating recurring revenue.

Remember, success comes down to three main things: creating high-quality content, organizing it well, and making it easy for people to pay for access. If you’re ready to turn your digital content into a profitable library, follow the steps outlined above to get started today.

Need help setting up your content library?

Connect with our friendly team, weekdays 10am - 6pm ET.

Let's chat!

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How to Create a Paid Members-Only Real Estate Marketing Content Library https://www.memberspace.com/blog/real-estate-marketing-content-library/ Fri, 05 Apr 2024 17:44:41 +0000 https://www.memberspace.com/?p=5536

If you’re a pro at real estate marketing and social media, you can turn your skills into a profitable members-only content library for other realtors. By offering ready-to-use social media and marketing materials like templates, guides, and online courses, you can teach other real estate professionals how to market their businesses and earn recurring revenue while you’re at it. 

In this post, we’ll walk through each step of how to launch a real estate marketing content library, from figuring out your niche to deciding on content types to launching your membership.

Launch a real estate marketing content library!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like content libraries, online courses, communities, and more — all from your own website!

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Table of Contents

Figure out your target audience

Before you start creating your content library, it’s important to understand who your target audience is. Targeting all real estate agents is a bit too general, so think about what area of the industry you specialize in and what unique insights you can offer. Consider what your customers’ goals, challenges, and needs are, and what kind of content they’ll be willing to pay for. This will help you create a content library that really speaks to your target audience and provides them with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in their marketing efforts.

Types of content to include

Your content library should have a variety of materials to cater to different needs, such as:

  • Templates for marketing listings (like flyers and brochures)
  • Social media templates and post ideas
  • Website templates
  • Stock photos
  • Online courses
  • Buyer and seller guides

✨ Content Tip: Start small! You don’t have to have hundreds of templates or a comprehensive online course to launch your content library. You can start with a few types of content and add more resources overtime. 

How to create your real estate marketing content library

Once you’ve figured out your niche and the type of content you’ll create, it’s time to add your exclusive resources to your website! Here’s a simple, three-step process to launch your content library with MemberSpace.  

Step 1: Set Up Your Website Pages

Your content library website should have three main pages:

  1. A sales page that showcases what content you offer, prices, testimonials, and clear call-to-action buttons. This page is super important because it’s where you’ll convince potential members to sign up for your content library. Make sure to highlight the benefits of your membership and how it can help them improve their real estate marketing efforts.
Real Estate marketing content library
Use this example real estate marketing content library website as inspiration for your own!

2. A welcome page that your customers see first when they buy access to your membership, giving them a sneak peek of all the content they can use. This page should be engaging and exciting, making your new members feel like they’ve made a great decision by signing up.

A members-only welcome page serves as your members' home base when they sign up or log in, making it easy to find and access all of your marketing resources.

3. Category pages that display all the products in each category, like templates or guides, with download buttons linking to Canva templates or other pages on your site that house your products. These pages should be easy to navigate and well-organized, so your members can quickly find the content they need.

Real estate social media templates
Organizing your content by category is another way to make your marketing content library easy to navigate.

To make launching your content library website easier, you can download our free content library template that includes pre-made category and sub-category pages, as well as individual product pages to help you organize your content. This template will save you time and ensure that your content library looks professional and is easy to navigate.

content library template
If you need some help creating your content library, use our free HTML template.

Also, make sure your content library pages have a clear and organized URL structure. For example:

  • www.yourwebsite.com/content-library
  • www.yourwebsite.com/content-library/welcome
  • www.yourwebsite.com/content-library/templates/template-1

Most website builders let you turn off things like pagination and recommended posts, so your content pages look clean and focused. This will make it easier for your members to find what they’re looking for and navigate your content library with ease.

Step 2: Install MemberSpace

MemberSpace is a powerful tool that helps you protect your exclusive marketing resources and accept payments easily on your website. 

To set it up:

  1. Create an account for free
  2. Add your content library to MemberSpace and protect your members-only pages. You’ll simply add the URLs for your marketing resources, and MemberSpace will restrict access to them so members have to sign up and pay to view them. 
  3.  Connect to Stripe to handle payments securely. If you don’t already have a Stripe account, it takes just a few minutes to set one up
  4. Set a price for your marketing content library. You can choose between one-time, recurring, or multiple payments, as well as free. (Recurring payment is the most popular option for content library memberships.) 
  5. Add the install code to your website to enable MemberSpace functionality (this also only takes a few minutes!).

And just like that, you’re ready to start selling your content library to real estate professionals!

Check out our video tutorial to see how this all works on a live website: 

Step 3: Promote your content library

Once your real estate marketing content library is ready to go, it’s time to let your target audience know about it. Here are a few ways you can promote your website:

  • Use your social media channels to showcase your content library and share snippets of what’s inside. This will give potential members a taste of what they can expect and encourage them to sign up.
  • Create blog content about real estate marketing tips and strategies. Then, add a call-to-action to sign up for your content library membership for more resources. 
  • Partner with other real estate professionals to cross-promote your resources. 
  • Offer limited-time discounts or free trials to bring in new members. This is a great way to get people in the door and show them the value of your content library.
  • Use email marketing to reach potential customers and highlight the benefits of your content library. Send out targeted emails to your list, showcasing specific pieces of content and explaining how they can help improve their real estate marketing efforts.
  • Host a webinar or live Q&A session to give potential members a behind-the-scenes look at your content library and answer any questions they may have.

Final Thoughts

Creating a members-only content library for real estate marketing is a great way to share your knowledge, help other realtors succeed, and make some passive income. By understanding your target audience, offering a range of valuable content, and using tools like MemberSpace to protect and sell your resources, you can build a successful content library that makes you a go-to expert in real estate marketing.

Remember, your content library is a living, breathing thing. Don’t be afraid to update and add to it regularly based on feedback from your members and changes in the industry. The more value you provide, the more loyal your members will be, and the more successful your content library will become. 

To get started, create a MemberSpace account for free and let us know if you have any questions!

Need help with your real estate marketing content library?

Connect with our friendly team, weekdays 10am - 6pm ET.

Let's chat!

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How to Create and Sell a Content Library – The Ultimate Guide to Monetizing Your Expertise https://www.memberspace.com/blog/create-a-content-library/ Fri, 29 Mar 2024 16:48:27 +0000 https://www.memberspace.com/?p=5424

If you have a lot of knowledge to share with the world but aren’t sure what to do with it, creating a content library can be a smart (and profitable!) business move. By curating a collection of digital resources like templates, online courses, videos, and guides, you can offer customers a one-stop-shop for the information and tools they need to learn, grow, and meet their goals. 

Maybe you’re a real estate agent with tons of knowledge around social media marketing. You could create a resource library of post templates, images, captions, and tutorials. Or, maybe you’re a fitness coach with a collection of workout videos to share. You could create a content library with your fitness programs, nutrition guides, and healthy recipes. 

No matter your niche, you can create a sustainable income stream while providing ongoing value to your customers. So, where do you start? In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to create and sell a content library

Launch a content library!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like online courses, communities, content libraries, and more — all from your own website!

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Table of Contents

What is a content library?

Before we get into the steps of how to create one, let’s talk about what a content library is! A content library, also known as a media or resource library,  is a collection of digital resources that businesses, creators, and entrepreneurs can create and sell to their target audience. It’s a way to package your expertise into helpful, valuable content that others are willing to pay for.

content library with on-demand yoga classes
Jenni Rawlings offers a content library with yoga class videos, a members-only discussion forum, and online courses.

Who should create one? 

Anyone can create a content library! You don’t need to have years of content creation experience or any formal training, but we tend to see the most success from people who meet at least one of these criteria:

  • You’re already selling individual digital products and want to shift to earning recurring revenue instead of (or in addition to) one-off sales
  • You have specialized knowledge that can help others
  • You’ve built an online community, whether that’s social media followers, email list subscribers, blog readers, podcast listeners, etc. 
  • You’re an entrepreneur or small business owner looking for a new income stream

Benefits of creating a content library membership

According to our State of Membership survey, the top reason people start selling digital resources is to help others and make more of an impact in the world. Providing a high-quality content library allows you to do just that by helping people overcome challenges, reach their goals, and streamline processes. There are tons of other benefits, including:

1. Passive income and recurring revenue

Creating a content library membership allows you to generate passive income and recurring revenue by offering access to your digital resources on a subscription basis. This model provides a steady income stream without requiring you to constantly be creating new products. As you add more value to your library over time, you can also increase your prices, leading to higher revenue potential!

2. Scalability

While creating the resources for your media library is a heavier lift up front, it ends up being a highly scalable way to serve a large number of customers. Once that initial investment is complete, maintaining a content library requires far less time and resources than services like 1:1 consultations, and the growth potential is unlimited. 

3. Profit from your passion

For many digital entrepreneurs, money isn’t the only motivation. Being able to monetize your passion while helping others by sharing your knowledge and expertise can be fulfilling and lucrative. 

 4. Establish yourself as a thought leader

By creating a high-quality resource library, you are positioning yourself as an expert in your industry. Don’t be surprised if this attracts new opportunities and expands your reach and influence!

Choosing a niche for your library

Before you dive into creating your content and adding it to your website, you’ll want to do some planning around your ideal target audience. What topic or industry do you specialize in? Who are your customers and what are their goals, challenges, and needs? What kind of content will they be willing to pay for? 

Start by doing some research around other creators and businesses in your niche, as well as thinking through what kind of unique value you can provide. The more specific you can get, the better! This will make content creation and marketing much easier, as you’ll know exactly who you’re speaking to. 

Some examples of content library niches include: 

  • Resources for wedding planners who need help with client management and event design, including digital downloads like vendor contract templates, client questionnaires, expense tracking spreadsheets, and tutorials on marketing and growing a wedding planning business
  • A content library for artists with drawing and painting tutorials, sketchbook prompts, guides on developing artistic style, portfolio templates, and resources on pricing and selling art
  • A personal finance content library with budgeting templates, investment guides, financial goal-setting worksheets, and resources on building passive income streams.

Types of content to include

Once you’ve honed in on your niche, you’ll want to think through the kind of content that would be helpful for your ideal customer. Based on what you know about their needs, challenges, and goals, what document types and formats would they be looking for? 

Here are some popular types of content to add to your library: 

  • Videos
  • Tutorials
  • Templates
  • Images
  • Downloadable guides
  • Printable worksheets 
  • Ebooks
  • Podcasts or audio lessons
  • Webinar recordings and live workshop replays
  • Stock photos and illustrations 

Best practices for creating high-quality content

As you work on curating your content library, start by focusing on quality over quantity. You can always add to it overtime; in fact, you should add to it in order to retain your members. While you’re in the beginning stages of content creation, consider these best practices for creating high-quality content:

1. Know your audience.

Before diving into content creation, take a step back and really get to know your target audience. What makes them tick? What are their pain points, goals, and preferences? The more you understand your audience, the easier it will be to create content that resonates with them. Once you’re up and running, don’t be afraid to engage with your audience and ask for their feedback – it’s a great way to ensure your content stays on track and provides real value.

2. Provide actionable insights, tips, and strategies.

When it comes to creating content, it’s not enough to just scratch the surface. Dive deep and provide concrete, actionable advice that your members can put into practice right away. 

3. Consistency is key!

When it comes to building a strong brand and creating a cohesive content library, it’s important to develop a consistent brand voice, visual style, and content format. Consistency helps build trust with your audience and reinforces your expertise in your niche.

4. Offer unique value.

To make your resource library stand out, focus on sharing your real-world experiences and turning them into practical advice. Instead of just repeating generic tips, tap into your own unique journey and the lessons you’ve learned along the way.

 5. Update and expand your library regularly.

Keep your content library fresh and relevant by consistently adding new resources and updating existing ones. Pay attention to member engagement and feedback to identify areas for improvement. Regularly updating your library shows your commitment to providing ongoing value and encourages members to stick around for the long haul.

 6. Utilize the right software and tools.

You don’t need to be a design or writing pro to create polished, professional content.  Use platforms like Canva to create eye-catching graphics and templates and Grammarly to ensure your writing is error-free and easy to read. If you’re creating video, you might consider using tools like Veed or iMovie. 

Choosing a content library tool

To sell your media library, you’ll need a platform to host it and handle payments and member access. Look for software that offers features like:

  • Secure and easy payment processing. Your content library tool should integrate with a reliable payment gateway and allow you to easily accept payments from your members.
  • Content access management and restriction. You’ll also need a platform that allows you to set up different access levels, such as free or premium access and easily manage member permissions. 
  • Membership tiers. If you plan to offer different levels of content access or want to create a sense of exclusivity, choose a tool that supports the creation of membership tiers. 
  • Flexible content sharing. Your content library tool should allow you to share any kind of content or document type, whether it’s downloadable PDFs, videos, or audio files. 
  • Customizable design – Look for a tool that offers customizable design options, allowing you to create a content library that aligns with your brand aesthetic. 
In the next section, we’ll talk about why MemberSpace might be the ideal option for your content library! It’s an all-in-one software that makes it easy to add member-only content to any website, charge for access, and manage your members.

Launch a content library!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like content libraries, online courses, communities, and more — all from your own website!

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Setting up your content library with MemberSpace [FREE TEMPLATE]

Once you’ve done some planning around your niche and mapped out what content you will include in your resource library, all you need to get started is a live website and a MemberSpace account

Step 1: Use our free template to add a content library to your website. 

The easiest and quickest way to launch your content library is to start with our free template. The template includes category and sub-category pages, as well as individual product pages to make it simple for your to organize all of your content. 

content library template
Use MemberSpace's free content library template, complete with category, sub-category, and product pages.

Now, let’s walk through each section of the template to give you a better idea of how you’ll want to structure your content. First, provide a preview of your content library on a sales page or your homepage with a call-to-action to sign up or get started with a free trial. This allows interested customers to learn more about your content and what you have to offer before committing to sign up. 

 

Content Library template homepage
Previewing your resource library on a landing page or your homepage gives people a chance to see everything they will get access to when they purchase a membership.

Then, you’ll add a Member Homepage that will display all of the types of content and resources you’re offering. How you decide to organize your categories is totally up to you. You might have content broken up by document type/format (videos, downloadable PDFs, and templates), by goal, or by topic. 

Content library template
Our free content library template gives you a clean, easy-to-navigate layout for your website, including a home page, category, sub-category, and individual product pages.

Next, you’ll need to create Category Pages that display the resources within each category – your tutorials, templates, videos, etc. This is the beauty of a content library – your members get immediate access to tons of tools and resources so they can decide if they want to binge watch all your videos or fit in your online courses when they have some extra time. 

Showcase each product within a category so your members can easily browse your resources and find what they are looking for.

And finally, you’ll create a Product Page for each individual resource. When a member selects the product that they want to use, they’ll navigate to the dedicated page for it and be able to view it or download it, depending on how you’ve set up your pages. 

Content library template product page
Each resource should have its own page that allows members to view or download the full document or file.
It’s also important to have a clear and organized URL structure for your content library pages. Here are some best practices:
  • It often makes sense to structure your content library the way you would a blog (i.e. yoursite.com/blog/category/post-name). For your content library, it might look something like this:
    • www.yourwebsite.com/content-library
    • www.yourwebsite.com/content-library/videos
    • www.yourwebsite.com/content-library/videos/video-1
  • If you use a blog to structure your content library, most CMS platforms will allow you to turn off features like pagination and recommended posts, so that does not appear on your content pages.
  • With MemberSpace, you can protect pages en masse. For example, protecting /content-library/* will protect all pages that begin with /content-library/, which in the example above, would include all category and content pages.

Step 2: Create your content library in MemberSpace

Once you’ve gotten your content library pages set up on your website, it’s time to head to your MemberSpace account to protect those pages, so only paying members can access them. First, you’ll go to Products > Add Product > What type of product are you selling? > Content Library. Then, fill in the name of your content library and the URL(s) that you want to protect. 

Create new content library
MemberSpace allows you to create and protect any type of digital product, from content libraries to newsletters to online courses.

Step 3: Set a price for your content library.

Now that you’ve protected your content library pages, you’ll need to set a price for your resources. MemberSpace allows you to charge customers however you’d like, including one-time fees for lifetime access to your resources, recurring subscription fees, multiple installments, or even free access. 

To set pricing, you’ll go to the Pricing tab in the left menu and select Create Plan. From there, you’ll select how you want to accept payments and add in all your billing details. 

MemberSpace offers lots of billing flexibility, allowing you to choose a price, billing date, payment intervals, and more.

✨ Pricing Tip:  We recommend a recurring payment model as this allows you to increase prices over time as you continue to add value to your content library.

Step 4: Add signup links or buttons to your website so people can easily pay for access.

Finally, you’ll take the Signup link that MemberSpace generates for you and add it to your website! The link will take customers to a signup form that will require them to quickly create an account and pay for access to your content library. The built-in Stripe integration makes this process quick and easy and allows customers to pay securely via credit card, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.
content library signup
You can add the signup link to call-to-action buttons throughout your website, on your homepage, a sales page promoting your resources, etc.

Content library examples

Want to see some content libraries in action for inspiration? Check out these examples from MemberSpace customers:

Ladies of Real Estate

Ladies of Real Estate is a content library for female realtors, helping them grow their brand, sell more of their listings, and master marketing. They offer coaching, social media tools and templates, and business building content.  New resources are added frequently to provide even more value for the community.

Meeteor

Meeteor is a resource center focused helping transform how people and organizations collaborate and manage meetings. By subscribing to the Meeteor Resource Center, members gets access to: 

  • Webinars and online trainings
  • Podcasts, webcasts, and keynotes from the Founder & CEO
  • A private Facebook community
  • Regularly added new content 

The Social Broker

 

The Social Broker is a content library membership empowering real estate agents to build a polished & thriving online brand. They provide monthly content plans with daily post ideas, images, graphics, and captions. There’s a curated library of photos along with editable templates. There’s also a hashtag guide and social media tips to drive engagement along with complimentary coaching and training via a private Facebook group.

Withsara

Withsara is a health and fitness content library for women, designed to improve their health and happiness by giving them the best at-home classes available. The membership offers on-demand classes, weekly schedules, challenges, and 1-to-1 coaching sessions. 

Ben and Jay

Ben and Jay is a faith-based resource library offering video series on different topics as well as guest interviews and discussion guides. Their target audience is anyone from pastors to youth ministry leaders to church attendees. 

 Pop UK

Pop UK is a content library and song bank for primary schools. Their mission is to “to provide schools with free easy-to-use songs & resources that can be used by staff of all levels of musical ability.” 

EK Stock Shop

EK Stock Shop is a media library that sells membership access to stock photos and videos for business owners. Members can browse media by industry, brand aesthetic, and holiday/seasonal content. If members don’t see the images or videos they’re looking for, they can also submit a request to the team. 

 Seaward Surf Training

Seaward Surf Training is a content library that provides four surf fitness programs covering HIIT, strength, stretch, and swim lessons. For a monthly fee, members get access to all programs, as well as the option to book additional support through a custom consultation. 

Marketing and promotion

Once your content library is ready to go, it’s time to promote it and attract paying members. Marketing should be an ongoing priority, but here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Share your media library with your email list and in your newsletters, highlighting the benefits and value it provides. Share snippets of your latest content and encourage subscribers to join.
  • Promote your resources on social media by sharing engaging posts that showcase the unique features and benefits of your library, and encourage your followers to check it out. 
  • Create blog content related to the topics covered in your content library. Provide valuable insights, tips, or strategies that demonstrate your expertise and “tease” your paid resources. At the end of each post, pitch your content library as the go-to resource for those looking to dive deeper into the subject matter.
  • Create a free content library that provides a taste of your paid resources. This could include a limited selection of articles, templates, or videos that showcase the quality and value of your full library. Using MemberSpace, you can easily set up a free content library and then upsell your full paid library to those who engage with your free content.
  • Provide a free trial. Allow potential members to test out your content library for a short period, such as 3-7 days. This gives them a chance to explore your resources and experience the value firsthand. Make sure to highlight the benefits of full membership and provide a simple upgrade process.

Engaging and retaining members, students, and customers

Getting the initial sale is just the beginning. To retain members long-term, focus on continuing to deliver value so they stay engaged with your content. Here are some membership retention strategies:

  • Keep your library fresh and relevant by consistently adding new, high-quality resources. This shows your commitment to providing ongoing value and gives members a reason to stay subscribed. Consider creating a content calendar to ensure a steady output of new material.

  • Make it easy to find what your members are looking for. Ensure that your content library is simple to navigate and use, with a clear, intuitive interface. Consider creating an onboarding email sequence that walks them through all of the resources, how to best utilize them, and how to get help from you as needed. 

  • Build excitement and anticipation by sharing sneak peeks or behind-the-scenes glimpses of upcoming content. This could include exclusive previews, hints about future topics, or collaborations with industry experts. By giving your members something to look forward to, you’ll keep them engaged and excited to see what’s next.

  • When members feel connected to a community, they’re more likely to remain engaged and loyal, so it can be great idea to create some kind of community space when you’re ready. This could be a forum or private social media group where you facilitate discussions, host Q&As, or encourage networking. 

  • Offer cancellation alternatives. Sometimes, customers aren’t cancelling because they don’t like your resources. It could be for financial reasons or life circumstances that are pulling them away. A great way to retain customers is to offer them a way to pause their subscription or offer a discounted price to accommodate them. 

FAQ

Still have questions about creating a content library? Here are some common ones:

What is a content library?

A content library is a collection of digital resources, such as templates, courses, ebooks, videos, or worksheets, that businesses, creators, and entrepreneurs can create and sell to their target audience. It’s a way to package your expertise into valuable content that others are willing to pay for.

What are the different types of content libraries?

There are several types of content libraries, including:

  • Digital video libraries and video course archives
  • Template and resource libraries (social media templates, checklists, worksheets, etc.)
  • E-learning and online course libraries
  • Stock photo and video libraries
  • Printables and worksheet packs
  • Ebook or audiobook libraries

How do I create a content library? 

To create a content library, you’ll need to add your digital content to your website and use MemberSpace to restrict access to that content. Then, when someone goes to access it, they will need to sign up and pay you first. 

What types of content should I include?

This will depend on your niche, audience, and goals. Consider what format and information will be most helpful. Some options are templates, worksheets, stock content, courses, videos, ebooks, audio, etc. You can also include a mix of different content types.

How much should I charge for my content library?

Pricing depends on the value you’re providing. Aim to price based on the outcome you help customers achieve, not just the format. Look at similar offerings in your niche to get a sense of the market rate. Many content libraries charge anywhere from $10-100 per month. You can also offer different price tiers.

What’s the best platform for hosting a content library?

MemberSpace is the best content library tool. It’s easy to use, works with any website, and has all the features you need like paywalls, member management, content protection, and more.

How do I protect my content and prevent unauthorized sharing?

Choosing a secure platform like MemberSpace helps protect your content. For any pages and content you want to protect, MemberSpace has three security options.

Final Thoughts

Building a content library is a powerful way to repurpose and monetize your expertise. By providing helpful content that solves your audience’s problems and helps them achieve their goals, you can make a real difference in people’s lives while also generating income for your business.
 
Whether you’re already selling digital products or your content library will be your first online resource, you can start selling quickly and easily with MemberSpace. Simply sign up for an account for free, check out our University for more tips and strategies, and let us know if you have any questions! 

Need help with your content library?

Connect with our friendly team, weekdays 10am - 6pm ET.

Let's chat!

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How to Sell Canva Templates – Launch a Template Shop in 5 Simple Steps https://www.memberspace.com/blog/how-to-sell-canva-templates/ Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:48:52 +0000 https://www.memberspace.com/?p=5039

Selling Canva templates on your own website allows you to take control of distributing and profiting from your designs. By removing third-party marketplaces from the equation, you can set your own prices, bundle templates together, and even create a membership site where customers pay a recurring fee for unlimited access. This allows you to build a sustainable passive income stream!

So whether you’re a designer, content creator, or someone with expertise in a particular niche like real estate, selling templates allows you to monetize your skills while helping others create professional, eye-catching content. In this post, we’ll walk through how to sell Canva templates and get your template shop up and running in five simple steps. 

Table of Contents

Sell Canva templates!

The easiest way to accept membership payments or one-time charges for digital products like templates, online courses,  content libraries, and more — all from your own website!

Get started for free! 5 minutes to set up.

Top-selling Canva templates

First, let’s explore some of the most popular and profitable types of Canva templates to sell:

  • Social media templates – Instagram stories, Facebook covers, YouTube thumbnails
  • Blog graphics – banners, badges, layouts
  • Printables – planners, journals, wall art
  • Presentation templates – slides, infographics, reports
  • Marketing materials – flyers, brochures, ads
  • Website elements – headers, footers, icons
  • Wedding designs – invitations, signs, menus
  • Paper products – business cards, letterhead, stickers

Nearly any well-designed Canva template can sell. But templates related to popular hobbies, events, and industries tend to attract the most buyers.

Step 1: Set up your website

Ladies of Real Estate Canva templates
Ladies of Real Estate is a content library that provides Canva templates like flyers, videos, and social media templates for real estate agents. Members get access by paying a monthly fee.

Your Canva template website will showcase your designs and allow customers to purchase and download templates.

While you can certainly build a site from scratch, using a website builder like Squarespace simplifies the process. The beauty of this approach is that you can create a professional-looking website even if you don’t have coding skills.

When setting up your site, focus on showcasing your graphic design abilities by showcasing your best templates on your homepage. 

You’ll also want to focus your website around a specific industry or field. For example, create a site just for real estate or wedding Canva templates. This makes it easier to attract your target audience. 

✨ Design Tip:  Make sure your branding and web design align with the aesthetic of your templates! This helps create a cohesive look and feel for your business. 

Step 2: Add template preview pages

✨ The Creative Template Shop sells templates for email, social media, Canva, Dubsado, Google Docs and more. Customers are prompted to Join the Co-op and save at checkout. Learn more about a Co-op Membership today

Note: the page above is developed with custom code. 

Once your site is ready, it’s time to start adding products. Every Canva template you sell needs its own page that allows customers to preview the design.

These pages should include:

  • A large image preview of the full template design
  • Details like dimensions, file type, etc.
  • The price for the template
  • A purchase button

When buyers click the purchase button, they should be taken to a checkout form to enter their payment details. More on that next.

Step 3: Add your downloadable template files to your website

The easiest way to sell Canva templates is by generating a shareable link. Just click the “Share” button in the Canva editor, then choose “Template link.”

Canva template creation
To create a template link in Canva, click the Share button, and select "Template link."

Add this link to a page on your website. Then, add the page URL to MemberSpace. This will gate your template download page behind a paywall, so customers have to sign up to purchase the template before they can access the file.

Real estate listing canva template
MemberSpace Singup
When customers go to purchase access to your templates, they will have to fill out a form like this to signup and pay.

 

Once the customer pays, they simply click the Canva link to open a copy of the template in their own Canva account. From there, they can edit and customize it.

✨ Business Tip:  Make sure you provide customers with clear terms and conditions for how/where they are able use your template!

Step 4: Set up a payment method

Now you need a way to actually collect money when someone buys your Canva templates. Using a plugin like MemberSpace, you can easily:

  • Sell one-time purchases like individual templates
  • Offer bundled template packages
  • Create a subscription site for ongoing access
  • Password protect content like template download pages
  • Securely process payments through the built-in Stripe integration
Accepting payments for canva templates
With MemberSpace, you can sell access to your templates however you would like, whether you want to sell membership access or sell individual templates for a one-time fee.

Step 5: Promote your templates

With your site set up to sell templates smoothly, it’s time to get the word out about your shop! Here are some easy-to-implement marketing ideas to get you started:

  • Offer a few templates for free on your website in exchange for email signups. This helps build your subscriber list to market to later.
  • Make brief TikTok and YouTube Shorts style videos quickly scrolling through template previews or showing them in use. 
  • Promote your templates by posting samples and driving traffic to your site through platforms like Instagram and Pinterest. Don’t forget to utilize targeted hashtags and tags!
  • Create video tutorials showing how to use your templates from start to finish. Upload to YouTube and TikTok.
  • Post Instagram Stories featuring polls and stickers asking followers which templates they want to see on your store next.
Most importantly, add new templates to your website on a regular basis to show your customers that you provide ongoing value! 

Final Thoughts

Hosting and selling your own Canva templates can give you more control and income potential compared to uploading them to a marketplace.

With tools like MemberSpace, Squarespace, and Canva, anyone can start their own template shop regardless of your tech experience. It does take consistent effort to promote your templates, grow an audience, and bring in sales over time. But the payoff of passive template income is well worth it!

For even more guidance, be sure to check out MemberSpace University which offers tons of helpful resources on launching and marketing a successful membership site selling digital products. 

Need help with your Canva template business?

Connect with our friendly team, weekdays 10am - 6pm ET.

Let's chat!

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