Chances are that you’ve heard of a membership site before. Even if it doesn’t ring a bell, I can bet you that you’re a part of one. Membership sites are everywhere on the internet these days. They’re a steady source of income for businesses and an effective way for communities to connect.
However, it’s not all roses and chocolates. As you probably know, things can get tricky when users are required to disclose certain information or pay a certain fee for a product or service. It’s usually best to keep things clear and make sure all parties know the rules of the site. This is where the online membership agreement comes in. But before I head on to that, let’s get clear on the basics.
What is a membership site?
A membership site is a website that contains protected content or offers that can only be accessed through a member login page. A lot of websites offer free courses or content to their audience, but certain offers are kept aside for users that have subscribed as members.
Membership subscription can be either paid or free or a combination of both. Free membership subscriptions usually require only your email address for signup. After subscription, visitors would have a unique username and password which they’d use to access the membership site and all the goodies within.
Let’s take the Copyblogger site as an example. Visitors don’t need to subscribe to anything before they access the tons of blog posts about digital marketing and writing available on the site. However, visitors that opt for any of the different membership offers available can get email updates delivered to their inbox and have access to exclusive courses and training.
Fees for paid membership sites can be in form of a one-time payment for lifetime access or the fees could be paid monthly, quarterly or yearly. Point is, as someone who owns a blog or business you’ll get paid for the content you offer. As long as you keep producing top-notch content, visitors to your site will keep opting for membership offers.
Benefits of hosting your membership site:
§ You increase your revenue
§ You build trust and loyalty amongst your audience
§ You build relationships with them
§ You increase the value your website offers
§ You establish yourself as an authority in your niche
§ You drive a lot of traffic to your site
Examples of membership sites.
There are loads of membership sites out there, whether paid, free, or combination sites. Below are some examples:
· International Gem Society – Online community for gemstone enthusiasts.
· Sew It! Academy― Online academy for people that wish to learn how to sew.
· BizChix.com ― Natalie Eckdahl, a business strategist and coach helps female entrepreneurs build, grow, and scale their businesses.
· KetoConnect – A hub for all things Keto.
· The Point Magazine – A thoughtful print & digital literary publication.
What is an online membership agreement?
This is a document that outlines the terms and conditions of being a member of a membership site. It’s usually presented to visitors of a website when they opt to become members. It is a type of online contract document drawn up by the owner of the site to clearly state the expectations for both the members of the site and the owner.
Other names used for this document include:
1. User agreement:
Some web owners use this term interchangeably with ‘membership agreement’. However, this is usually used for guidelines and agreements that concern all the users of a website. It’s not exclusive to subscribed members of a site.
2. Website terms:
Just like the term ‘user agreement’, this name is also very inclusive.
3. Member Agreement
4. Member Policy
5. Community Agreement
6. Club Membership Agreement
7. Agreement for Membership
I’d advise you simply use the term, ‘Membership agreement’. It’s straightforward and lacks any form of ambiguity. To be more specific, you can include the type of community e.g. Social Savings Club membership agreement or Gym membership agreement.
Who needs a membership agreement?
Every blogger and business that offers membership services need this. No exclusion. Simply put, you’ll need a membership agreement if you have a membership site that:
a) Collects information from members (email address, name, age, etc.)
b) Offers products or services to members for a stipulated fee.
c) Hosts an online community where members can post content and interact.
d) Allows members to buy or sell their products or services.
It doesn’t matter if the type of membership subscription for your site is the free one. You need to have a membership agreement as long as something is required from your users, whether it is personal information or money for a subscription.
Importance of online membership agreements.
There are a lot of reasons why this document is important. But here are a few of them-
· To give structure to your online community.
· To inform your members of what their data is being used for.
· To ensure that users who wish to be members are well-informed of the terms and conditions governing the site.
· To protect your online business from legal actions against it.
Dangers of hosting a membership site without a membership agreement.
Without an online membership agreement,
· You leave your membership site bare and unprotected from unnecessary lawsuits.
· Members would have no idea what is expected of them on the site and this can lead to cases of cyberbullying, fraud, etc.
· The exclusive content offered on your site would be at risk. Without a contract to protect your intellectual property, you risk the chances of it being stolen, altered, or claimed by someone else.
· Members might get suspicious because they have no idea what their details are being used for. This can lead to a reduction in subscriptions and even decrease traffic to your site.
Leaving your membership site without a membership contract is like being the boss of an office with no ground rules. You could come to work one day and all the laptops are gone, stolen by your secretary! And you wouldn’t be able to blame anyone for such a situation because you didn’t put any measures in place to prevent it.
Now that we have established what these agreements are and why it’s dangerous not to have one prepared for your membership site, let’s get to the next step.
Information contained in an Online Agreement.
1. Member’s information
You need to research thoroughly to know what information you need for the smooth running of your site. Try not to ask for too much or extremely sensitive data as this can scare members away.
2. Benefits:
State very clearly all the benefits and services that a member I entitled to if he/she subscribes to your site. This is to prevent assumptions on the part of the member.
3. Member Requirements/ Terms of Use:
This is where you state what is expected of each member. The “do’s and don’ts” of your membership site and the consequences if any member violates them.
4. Disclaimer:
This is necessary for protecting you, your income, and your business. Here, you have to separate our business and site from the actions of the members. You’re letting new members understand that you’re not responsible for what other members post or do on the site.
5. Payment terms:
For sites that make use of paid subscriptions, information on how and when payments are made should be included in the agreement.
6. Refund policy:
What happens if your members want to cancel their subscription? What are the requirements before the cancellation? Do members get their money back and how?
7. Privacy Policy:
Inform members of what their details are being used for and how secure they are on your site.
8. License:
This is where you protect your content. You assert ownership over your site, products, and services while informing members that they have only a limited license to them.
9. Contact Information
Make sure you include an active email address, phone number, and physical address, if applicable.
10. Conclusion
End your document with a signature and dateline for the member to fill. This serves as a sign of their acceptance of the terms given and their willingness to comply.
How to use a membership agreement.
The membership agreement has to be read and acknowledged by users BEFORE they subscribe to your site. There are usually two types of online membership agreements:
1. Clickwrap ― This type is the most legally binding because users must take an action before they can proceed with a subscription. This action makes it clear that they read and agree to the terms of use of the membership site.
2. Browserwrap ― These types are like notices, informing users of terms and conditions they will be subject to when they become members of the site. Users can choose to read them or not.
Membership agreements are an indispensable part of every membership site. There are multiple membership policy examples available online: gym membership agreement templates, social savings club membership agreement templates, etc. However, it is best to opt for one drafted by a lawyer. This is because they are in the best position to advise you on what is good for your business. Also, they would be more thorough and will suggest a template that is most suited for your online business.
With the online membership agreement template available on my site, you would be effectively protecting yourself and your business from any legal issues. Better to be safe than sorry, I always say.