Membership sites are ubiquitous, with marketers constantly creating them and often offering low-cost trials. However, time is finite, and not everyone has consistent internet access. Even with a broadband connection, speeds can fluctuate, and some users still rely on dial-up. To truly leverage these trial periods, consider using an offline browser.
When starting a new membership trial, I use an offline browser to download the entire site to my computer, allowing me to explore the content at my own pace, without internet connectivity issues. These browsers intelligently remap links, ensuring a seamless experience identical to browsing online, but faster and without the delays of peak internet traffic. Be mindful of storage space, as some sites can require a gigabyte or more. I typically transfer these downloaded sites to a DVD for archival purposes.
I only maintain a paid membership if the new content consistently provides value. Dan Kennedy’s membership is one such example, delivering newsletters both via email and physical mail each month. I recently signed up for a trial offering the first month for just a dollar. The subsequent monthly fee is under $30, but it’s crucial to monitor these subscriptions to avoid accumulating unnecessary expenses.
The advantage of combining trial memberships with offline browsers is that you retain access to the content even after the trial expires. Furthermore, many marketers don’t purge inactive accounts, meaning your username and password may still grant access months or even years later, despite not paying a membership fee.
If I were to run a membership site, I would implement monthly password resets, providing a universal password to all members instead of allowing individual creation. This would eliminate the risk of trial users logging back in.