Guides, how-to videos, tips, comparisons, features, and instructions regarding membership websites for nonprofits, small businesses, trade associations, clubs, and organizations.

Need Help Implementing MembershipWorks?

How to Finish Your MembershipWorks Setup (When You’re Stuck)

Many organizations and nonprofits start setting up MembershipWorks themselves and they make great progress, until they reach the point where everything needs to be connected to their website.

That’s usually when things get confusing and possibly frustrating, especially if you don’t regularly work with WordPress or Squarespace website content creation.

If you’re searching for help implementing MembershipWorks or trying to figure out why your pages aren’t displaying correctly, you’re in the right place.

I mostly help clients from the get-go and do all the planning with them. However, I also work with clients who have done most of the setup but get stuck when it comes to creating pages, adding shortcodes, and making sure everything works together correctly. If that sounds familiar, I can help.

Sidebar menu for help implementing MembershipWorks on a WordPress website

WordPress side menu with MembershipWorks plugin

Where Most People Get Stuck

By the time clients reach out to me, they may have already:

  • Created their MembershipWorks account
  • Set up membership levels
  • Started adding events
  • Made their sign-up form
  • Customized their member directory

But then they hit a wall with their website.

Common issues include:

  • Thinking that adding the WordPress plugin for MembershipWorks is all you need to do
  • Not knowing how or where to add MembershipWorks shortcode
  • Pages not displaying on their website
  • Login or registration forms not working as expected
  • Events not showing up on the Calendar
  • Confusion between what happens in MembershipWorks vs. WordPress or Squarespace

This part of the process can feel frustrating because everything almost works, but not quite. Even though you have done the work in MembershipWorks, you can’t “see” your forms, calendar, and directory on your site until you do the final steps within your website.

Why This Part Is More Complicated Than It Looks

At first glance, it seems simple: copy a shortcode and paste it onto a page.

But in reality, it’s about:

  • Setting up the correct page structure
  • Placing the right shortcode in the right place (especially for members only pages)
  • Possibly adding a special menu for member only content
  • Testing the full user experience from start to finish

Small setup issues can cause things to break or not look the way you expected, which is why you might feel stuck and need some help. I’d love to talk about where you are now and how I might be able to assist you or your website developer.

shortcode screenshot for help implementing MembershipWorks

See the MembershipWorks shortcode in the bottom box

How I Help You Get Across the Finish Line

This is when I step in and help my clients move from “almost done” to a new, fully functional membership website they can be proud to share with their membership.

Instead of spending hours troubleshooting, I help you:

  • Set up your MembershipWorks completely (by reviewing what you’ve done so far)
  • Connect your new membership system to your website
  • Test the full user experience (signup, login, events, payments)
  • Fix any issues quickly and efficiently

And I’m also available for ongoing help when you need it, now or in the future.

Most of my clients don’t want to keep struggling with setup, they just want it done so they can move forward. I get it. The staff at MembershipWorks offers great support and suggestions but they don’t “do the work” for you. That’s the part I love… let’s get it done! Let me know if you need help setting up MembershipWorks.

“Michelle is an amazing asset to any organisation hoping to build a membership platform. She stepped in after I had procrastinated for months trying to figure out how to get started and got everything up and running within a few short weeks, and to a tight timescale of a significant date for my company. She is clear, efficient, professional and patient. Michelle worked beautifully with my team to support them in building their knowledge and project-managed the whole process. Her communication is clear and the workbooks she provides are outstanding. We were working across very different time zones as we are UK-based, and yet the service was prompt and seamless. Michelle came highly recommended to me and I am delighted to ‘pay it forward’ she is the best.” ~Karen Foy, thecoachtribe.com

Need Help Implementing MembershipWorks?

If you’re stuck and need help implementing MembershipWorks, I can help you get everything set up and functioning the way it should. MembershipWorks is meant to be a time-saver, improving accuracy and being a big benefit to your members and your admins or staff.

In many cases, I help clients get everything fully set up and working within a short timeframe once I review what’s already been done.

Learn more about my MembershipWorks implementation services or reach out to me directly to get started. We can chat via phone or Zoom, whichever you prefer.

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC

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Why Most Membership Websites Stall

Why Most Membership Websites Stall and How to Launch in 30 Days

When your organization is ready to launch a membership website it should feel exciting.

Instead, for many associations and member-based organizations, it can be slow, confusing, and frustrating. Weeks turn into months. Volunteers get overwhelmed. Approvals are slow to come. No one is quite sure who is responsible for what.

The truth is this, most membership websites do not stall because of bad software. They stall because there are no clear plans or detailed checklists.

If you want to launch a new membership system in 30 days, I believe you need structure, organization, accountability, and someone with experience to hold your hand along the way to explain your numerous options and help you make educated decisions the first time.

Why Most Membership Websites Stall

Because of the work I have done with clients implementing MembershipWorks, I see similar patterns and I can help you avoid them. I want to give you and your team a more stress-free experience.

  1. Volunteer or Staff Bandwidth is Limited

Most membership organizations rely on volunteers or a few staff members.

Volunteers are generous, capable, and mission driven, but they likely already have full time jobs or they lack the intuitive nature and skills to figure out something new. Adding “set up a new membership platform” to their list often leads to delays. I get it. This process requires commitment for a short period of time. The longer a launch drags on, the more energy it loses.

  1. No Clear Process

When everyone is responsible, no one is responsible.

Who is defining membership levels?
Who is drafting the welcome email and renewal notice emails?
Who is setting up the payment gateway?
Who is testing before we launch?
Who will manage the system after it’s completed?

Without a clear roadmap and a single point of leadership, I have seen my inquiries go unanswered. I send an email with questions, and no one responds because they think it’s not up to them, someone else will respond and take responsibility.

  1. Domain Names and Payment Gateway Accounts

I have worked with nonprofits who could not figure out where their domain name was registered or how to transfer it to a new hosting provider (if required). They didn’t know who owned it officially. In one instance, the person who set it up passed away, and it was in their personal name, yikes. Getting and keeping ownership of your domain name and your hosting account is important. You should be clear about these things before we set up MembershipWorks and maybe a new website to go with it.

Related to this is the payment processing or payment gateway account.

If you have one already, do you have access to it?
If you need a new payment processor account, should you use Stripe or PayPal?
Should you allow offline payments (paper checks) or keep it strictly online?

If these questions are not answered early, the technical setup becomes messy. The project is delayed until this information is confirmed. It can get stressful when your organization isn’t prepared before we even start to configure MembershipWorks. I can help get your ducks in a row.

  1. Trying to Do It All Internally

Some organizations try to save money by doing everything themselves. You may have even already set up your account with MembershipWorks and started the process. That’s great.

However, because it’s new to you, it often takes you much longer to figure things out, settings and checkboxes might get overlooked, things don’t flow or show up at all on your website. I know, I’ve had clients call me saying, “I started, but I’m stuck and need help.” I don’t want you to struggle and get frustrated or give up. I appreciate your initiative. I want to help; I enjoy this kind of work, that’s why I specialize it in!

There are many elements and options, and I work in this system daily, so let me help you get it set up and train you on how to manage it moving forward. Asking busy staff or volunteers to become software implementation experts is rarely the best use of their time.

If you’re a website designer looking for a MembershipWorks implementation partner, learn more on my Developer Partners page.

The Real Cost of Delaying Your Membership Website Launch

Every month you delay:

  • You delay membership and donation revenue
  • You delay automation that could save hours of admin time
  • You delay better member communication and engagement
  • You delay growth

And perhaps most importantly, you just might increase the frustration among the very people who care most about your mission. I don’t want you or them to get burnt out.

How to Launch Your Membership Website in 30 Days

A successful membership website process requires clarity, structure, and action. Three of my top strengths (according to the StrengthsFinder Assessment) are Activator, Communicator, and Focus. These strengths help me immensely with MembershipWorks implementation services. You can read what each one means on my StrengthsFinder post. I highly recommend leadership teams know and understand each others strengths.

To make it easier for my clients to navigate this process, I created a structured Membership Launch Framework™ that focuses on:

  1. Clear Decisions Up Front

We define:

  • Membership levels
  • Pricing and renewal structure
  • Payment processing
  • Required custom fields and labels
  • Online sign-up forms, donations, shops items
  • Email notification language and frequency
  • Your membership information and prep it for data migration
  • Member only content and website navigation/sign-in structure

Before technical setup begins, we make the key decisions together or I give you the information to get feedback from your team so you can decide. This prevents rework and confusion later. I will provide my input and examples of what has worked for my clients in the past that might be helpful to you too.

  1. Expert Setup, Done for You

Instead of asking volunteers to figure it out, I will handle the primary system setup for you. There are a lot of details and customization to complete during the setup. Let me help.

This saves you time.
This reduces your frustration.
This keeps your project moving forward.

Volunteers or staff can stay focused on strategy, leadership, and member engagement, instead of struggling with configuration options.

  1. Training Your Admin to Maintain It

My goal is not to create dependency. After MembershipWorks and your website are properly set up, I train you or team so you can confidently:

  • Assist members
  • Run reports
  • Send email communications
  • Manage the renewal and new member process
  • Update and export the database
  • Find answers to questions

You get a strong foundation, and your team gets the skills to sustain it.

  1. A Defined 30-Day Timeline

When there is a clear timeline, momentum builds. If you need your implementation done in 30 days, it’s possible. Most of the time we take 30-60 days, but I can move quickly if you can.

Step 1 – strategy and decisions
Step 2 – core system setup
Step 3 – website and testing
Step 4 – refinements, final training and launch

Instead of endless meetings and dropped balls, you move forward with clarity.

Save Time, Reduce Volunteer Strain, and Launch with Confidence

I know you care about your mission. You should not be overwhelmed by software implementation. By hiring me as your experienced membership implementation specialist, you:

  • Protect staff or volunteers’ time
  • Avoid costly setup mistakes
  • Launch faster
  • Start collecting revenue sooner
  • Reduce frustration across your leadership team
  • Gain confidence knowing it was all set up correctly

A new or improved membership website does not have to stall.

With the right framework, the right structure, and the right support, you can confidently launch in 30 days. If that’s too fast, we can work over a period of 60 days. We just don’t want it to drag on. We want to keep everyone engaged until it’s complete, then celebrate!

Let’s Connect

The best first step is to schedule a simple phone call with me. I’d like to learn about your organization and where you are in the process of creating a better membership system for your small business, nonprofit or membership-driven organization.

During our call we can decide if you’d like to schedule a personalized demo via zoom or move right into working on the MembershipWorks Implementation Framework™ project management questionnaire.

You can see a few websites I have set up with MembershipWorks and read testimonials on my Completed Websites page. Learn more about my services.

Questions? You can send me an email too.

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
My Developer Profile on MembershipWorks.com
Call/Text: 952-484-6015
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC

membership website launch graphic with 4 steps

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Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites

Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites: Which Is Right for Your Organization?

If you’re trying to decide between Squarespace vs WordPress for a membership website, your head might be spinning. Many small businesses, nonprofits, and associations struggle to choose the right platform. Most organizations I talk with want a site that’s easy to manage but still powerful enough to handle memberships, renewals, and member only content and events. I have built and supported membership websites using both WordPress and Squarespace and implemented MembershipWorks on each platform. I’ve seen where each option shines and where it can fall short.

Without going into too much detail, here are some key differences between Squarespace and WordPress specifically for membership websites—not eCommerce sites or large-scale platforms, but the kinds of “brochure-style” membership websites many organizations actually need. My goal is to help you make a confident, informed decision based on your organization’s needs and comfort level with ongoing website maintenance. I want to give my clients what they need.

A Quick Note on Membership Websites

When I talk about “membership websites,” I’m referring to sites that include things like:

  • Online membership signups and dues renewals
  • Automated renewal reminders
  • Member directories
  • Events and registrations
  • Members-only content pages
  • Dues, donations, and sponsorship payments

For the organizations I work with, MembershipWorks handles your membership database system. The MembershipWorks software integrates with your website platform (WordPress or Squarespace).

You can read my post about Is MembershipWorks Right For Your Organization if you’d like to learn more about MembershipWorks.  Or visit my MembershipWorks page where I outline the features and benefits.

WordPress for Membership Websites

I’ve been building WordPress websites for small organizations since 2010, and it’s still a powerful option, especially when flexibility and writing blog posts are important.

WordPress logo black and white

Why WordPress Can Be a Great Choice

WordPress works well if your small business or nonprofit organization needs:

  • Advanced customization
  • Robust blogging or content publishing
  • Strong SEO tools and analytics
  • Integration with other third-party tools and plugins
  • Full control over hosting and email management

MembershipWorks integrates very well with WordPress, and when set up correctly, the combination can be extremely effective. We can customize MembershipWorks to match the colors and branding on your website so it’s a seamless experience for your members.

The Trade-Off: Complexity

The downside of managing a WordPress website is ongoing complexity.

WordPress sites typically require:

  • Choosing and managing a hosting plan
  • Domain setup and potential domain transfers
  • Purchasing and maintaining a theme
  • Installing and updating the right plugins
  • Managing security and backups

None of this is wrong, but it does add more responsibility and requires you to be more attentive to your website. For small organizations with limited staff or volunteers, that complexity can be a burden. I understand when leadership turns over and new volunteers or staff come in. You want them to be able to maintain the website too. We don’t want it to be too technical or frustrating. We want it to meet your requirements. I get it.

Squarespace for Membership Websites

Squarespace is often a better fit for organizations that want a simpler, lower-maintenance website.

I’ve built Squarespace websites from scratch and helped clients integrate MembershipWorks into existing Squarespace sites, and it works very well for many membership organizations. I would say it’s more of an all-in-one solution. Because of this, it does cost more per month than WordPress. But you may find the convenience worth it.

Squarespace logo black and white

Why Squarespace Can Be a Great Choice

Squarespace may be ideal if your organization wants:

  • A clean, professional website with minimal setup
  • Hosting, security, and updates handled for you
  • Fewer technical decisions to make
  • An easier learning curve for staff or volunteers
  • A stable platform that “just works”

MembershipWorks integrates smoothly with Squarespace, allowing you to manage memberships, renewals, events, and payments. There are no plugins to manage in Squarespace, no additional theme to purchase. I add shortcodes from MembershipWorks to integrate membership features into your website.

The Trade-Off: Flexibility

Squarespace is more structured than WordPress. That means:

  • Fewer layout and customization options
  • Less control over advanced SEO settings
  • Blog features that are solid, but not as robust as WordPress
  • Costs a bit more per month for this platform

For many organizations, this is a perfectly acceptable trade-off, especially if the website’s primary purpose is to support membership rather than writing blog posts and adding a ton of content.

How I Help Clients Decide

I don’t push my clients to one platform over the other. Instead, we talk about it together. I want to understand who will be managing the website and how comfortable they are with technology. I want to know if your organization wants to write blog posts and how important SEO is to you. We need to find out what you value most and make the best choice for now and the future of the organization.

For many small nonprofits, associations, and member-driven organizations, the cost of complexity can outweigh the benefits of a highly customizable platform. While I have primarily worked with WordPress, I do think Squarespace offers an excellent solution also.

The Most Important Piece: Proper Implementation

No matter which platform you choose, the success of your membership-based website depends on how MembershipWorks is implemented.

A thoughtful setup ensures:

  • Membership levels make sense
  • Renewals are customized and automated
  • Volunteers and staff can easily access your membership database
  • The system continues to work as leadership changes
  • Custom training materials are provided

I have a clear process for managing the implementation of MembershipWorks. I have a project spreadsheet we share during the process, and I offer written and video tutorials for my clients.

Next Step

WordPress and Squarespace can both support effective membership websites when paired with MembershipWorks.

If you’re considering a membership website and want help deciding between WordPress and Squarespace, or have questions about implementing MembershipWorks on either platform, please contact me. I’m happy to help you find the solution that fits your organization best. Ultimately, I want my clients to be happy with their website and their membership management solution. Learn more about my services and how I work with my clients.

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
View my Developer Profile on the MembershipWorks website
Read Reviews about me or Connect with me on LinkedIn

Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC
Based in Colorado, USA.

Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites graphic image
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Is MembershipWorks Right For Your Organization?

If your small business, nonprofit or association manages memberships, renewals, event registrations, or dues, you may be asking yourself is MembershipWorks right for your organization. Is it the platform for you?

I’ve been implementing MembershipWorks for organizations since 2018. I have a lot of happy clients who are using it now. I can share with you who MembershipWorks is a great fit for, who it may not be right for, and the kinds of problems it solves so you can make an informed decision. I am always available to answer your questions during this discovery process.

What Is MembershipWorks?

MembershipWorks is an online membership management platform that integrates directly with your website. It allows organizations to manage:

  • Membership signups and renewals
  • Online payments
  • Member directories
  • Events and registrations
  • Announcement boards and classified ads
  • Donations and sponsorships
  • Revenue Reporting

It works with WordPress, Squarespace, and Weebly, and is designed specifically for organizations that want a centralized, easy-to-manage membership system without building something custom from scratch. Many of my clients have outgrown the spreadsheet method of tracking membership, who has paid, who hasn’t, etc. They are ready to automate and allow multiple members of their leadership team to have access to their membership data when they need it vs relying on one person with “the spreadsheet”. But they don’t want an overly complicated system with too many bells and whistles they will never use and don’t want to pay for.

MembershipWorks Is a Great Fit If…

MembershipWorks works especially well for:

✔ Small nonprofits and associations

Local associations, chambers of commerce, professional groups, and community organizations that rely on memberships to operate.

✔ Organizations tired of spreadsheets and manual tracking

If membership data lives in Excel files, email inboxes, or paper forms — MembershipWorks can replace all of that with one system.

✔ Groups collecting dues, renewals, or recurring payments

Automated renewal reminders and recurring payments reduce late or missed payments and save enormous administrative time.

✔ Organizations with volunteers or leadership turnover

MembershipWorks is easy to train new staff or volunteers on, which is critical when roles change frequently. I provide written documentation and how-to videos specific for each client.

✔ Groups that want members to manage their own information

Members can update their own profiles, pay dues, register for events, and renew memberships from their own member account, reducing administrative work.

✔ Organizations that want everything in one place

Memberships, events, donations, directories, and reporting all live in the same system instead of across multiple tools.

You can see some websites I have created displayed on my Completed Websites page. There are testimonials there, and more on my MembershipWorks developer page on the MembershipWorks website. To learn more about how to implement MembershipWorks, see my Services page.

Common Problems MembershipWorks Solves

Most of the organizations I work with come to me because they’re struggling with:

  • Tracking memberships in spreadsheets
  • Chasing checks or unpaid renewals
  • Manually sending invoices and reminders
  • Keeping member directories accurate
  • Managing events and registrations separately
  • Using systems that don’t talk to each other
  • Finding an affordable option to manage their organization and membership

These challenges often lead to wasted volunteer time, frustrated staff, lost revenue and increased costs.

A common problem I hear from nonprofits is that a talented volunteer builds a robust website with their technical skills and it works great, until they leave the organization. Remaining volunteers don’t know how to manage the website or the membership platform because it’s too complicated, too customized, or it was built with an outdated platform. That’s not good.

MembershipWorks solves these issues by centralizing everything into one integrated system that becomes a seamless part of your website. It’s a system that doesn’t rely on knowing code or deep website knowledge. Plans start at just $35/month too, which makes it very reasonable considering everything that’s included.

If you are a start-up business or organization, it’s hard to know where to begin. It can feel overwhelming. I have a detailed checklist and know just how to manage the project to make sure it’s customized the way you want it to be.

When MembershipWorks Might Not Be the Best Fit

MembershipWorks is a powerful tool, but it’s not for everyone. I tell my clients it’s customizable software, but not custom software.

It may not be the best choice if:

  • You only have a handful of members and no plans to grow (it’s free for up to 50 members)
  • You don’t need online payments, renewals, or event tickets/registration
  • You want a fully custom-coded CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software
  • You’re looking for a marketing automation platform

That said, many organizations start simple and grow into MembershipWorks over time — especially when it’s set up correctly from the beginning. I can implement it in phases or all at once, depending on what you need, your budget, and your timeframe.

Why Implementation Matters

MembershipWorks offers a lot of flexibility. That’s a strength — but it also means setup matters. I work in this platform every day and I can easily guide you through the process.

When implemented thoughtfully:

  • Membership levels and labels make sense
  • Data migration is complete and accurate
  • Renewals run smoothly
  • Reports are easy to understand
  • Volunteers and staff can step in without confusion

When implemented poorly or not completely, it can feel overwhelming.

That’s where I come in.

I help organizations take MembershipWorks from idea → setup → usable system, customized to how your organization works. I want my clients to be happy and I love taking care of all the details to create a system that works for you today and in the future. Read my post Squarespace vs WordPress for Membership Websites to learn more about those two platforms for MembershipWorks.

“I cannot recommend Michelle highly enough! While MembershipWorks has proven to be a wonderful platform, it came with its challenges having no background in website-building. Michelle perfectly listened to and understood our needs/goals and implemented them seamlessly. She is patient, kind, and a pleasure to work with.” Bailey Smith, Club Wheelhouse

Get Started

MembershipWorks is not a complicated CRM overhaul or a bundle of tools that require constant troubleshooting. When set up correctly, it’s a simple, affordable, reliable membership management system that saves time, reduces stress, and supports long-term growth. Its easy to learn, not overly technical.

If you’re considering MembershipWorks and want help deciding whether it’s right for your organization, please give me a call or send me an email.

I’m here to help make managing your membership easier for you!

Michelle Aspelin
MembershipWorks Implementation Specialist
(952) 484-6015
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC
Price quoted above is subject to change. See MembershipWorks.com for current pricing.

MembershipWorks logo is blue and white
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Non-profit Marketing

Non-profit Marketing – Who’s paying attention to that?

Generally speaking, non-profits are run by valuable volunteers in their spare time. They coordinate events, run fundraising campaigns, collect membership information and dues, all in support of their mission.

Who is responsible for your non-profit marketing when you promote your organization as a whole to your local community, nationally or internationally?

Hopefully, you have a volunteer who is well versed in creating websites with keywords so you can be found in search engine results. Someone who understands the value of “the list” for your email marketing campaigns and donation campaigns. And I hope you have a system in place to house all of your contacts and donor information so you can easily reach out to a subset of your membership for a specific need and share those contacts with your leadership team.

If you don’t have a volunteer on your team with true non-profit marketing experience, it might be worth hiring me to take a look at what you are doing and offer some advice. I have many tools in my toolbox that might help you get more organized and more focused, which leads to better results for your team emotionally as well as financially.

No one wants their volunteers to feel burnt-out, but if you ask them to do too much or pile on projects that are beyond their skillset, they start to leave. They resign from their leadership roles and eventually don’t renew their dues or make other financial contributions to your organization. That can be prevented if your group is organized and efficient with the time that volunteers dedicate to your non-profit.

I can help set up systems for your non-profit. I can create instructions and train your volunteers to manage it moving forward. I can help with any major website updates you need in the future.

I work on an hourly basis, so you only pay me for work I perform for you, when you need it. I have worked with several non-profit organizations to get them on track for better success and better relationships among their leadership team and their valued volunteers.

Give me a call if your group could use a boost for your non-profit marketing or organizing your group to be more efficient. I’m happy to help!

“Michelle has been a great help with transitioning to our new website through MembershipWorks. She worked with our leadership panel, was responsive via email, phone and video chat to all of our varied questions, and was very willing to offer her expertise. Michelle provided us with multiple training aids, videos, and step-by-step guides for those of us who are new to managing website. We had a successful, on-time launch of our new website and are very grateful for her assistance.” – Sue Bohnsack, Eden Prairie Professional in Aging

Connect with me!

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How to earn revenue with MembershipWorks

How to earn REVENUE with MembershipWorks to offset the cost of the membership software – a monetization opportunity

By Michelle Aspelin of Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC

View my MembershipWorks Developer Profile

If you are considering implementing MembershipWorks (MW) on your WordPress website but want to defray the costs of this amazing membership software, you will like what you read here. If you already have MW, you can still add some of these elements to your website to help offset the cost of your monthly membership fee with MembershipWorks (see pricing). Keep in mind, these are in addition to the customary ways that websites can defray costs like selling advertising on their website. Even if you choose just one of these, it could be all you need to essentially get MembershipWorks for free! MembershipWorks is an opportunity to monetize your website.

The same opportunity exists with the first three elements/features on the list below. You can charge a posting fee for these elements either to your members, nonmembers, or both. It’s easy to earn revenue with MembershipWorks.

You can include the opportunity to post in one of these elements as a benefit to your members for the amount of your current membership. Gaining you more members who value this benefit.

You can create a new Membership Level or Membership Add-on and upsell your current membership.

You can offer your members a discount on the cost of making a post on one of these first three revenue ideas.

1. Classified Ads Posts – create a community or member only marketplace. Give your members and website readers first dibs on items your members are selling. Helps generate website traffic as well as revenue for your company, organization, club, nonprofit, etc.

2. Announcement Board Posts – bring your members to your website vs relying on Facebook or other third-party sites. Your Announcement Board can be a public board anyone on the website can view or for members eyes only. Posts can be specific to your organization and offer a benefit to members and others. Helping your website be the “go to” site for news in your industry. See DEMO Announcement Board

Announcement Board screenshot

3. Job Board Posts – allowing posts like this on your website could help your site become a career hub. You could charge employers a fee to list jobs on your board that your members would be interested in. Or your members might be the ones doing the hiring for their own organization. Here’s what MW says about the Job Board feature:

“Job Boards are a powerful retention tool. Members who find a job through your website are more likely to renew their membership so that they can stay on top of career opportunities. If you make the Job Board only available to current members, prospective members are also incentivized to join.”

4. Shopping Cart – create a Shopping Cart to sell items on your website to your members only or make the marketplace public and sell to everyone. Items can be physical products you mail or ship to your buyers or digital content. You can offer item options, quantities, and limits. You can sell sponsorships for your events, expos and other opportunities by using the Shopping Cart feature.

5. Forms – use a Form for a one-time thing like signing up for a class or workshop where you can charge a registration fee. You can also use a Form for sponsorships for a one-time opportunity.

6. Events – similar to Forms but instead you use the Events feature to create an event on your calendar and sell “tickets” to that specific event, helping not only to offset your MW software fee but the event costs as well!

7. Donations – offer a list of suggested donation amounts or allow the donor to fill in the amount they want to donate. And if you are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, be sure to let your donors know that all or part of their donation could be tax deductible and they should ask their tax preparer. Donations can be for your general fund or for specific funds you choose to promote. Great for annual giving campaigns.

8. Membership Directory – let’s not overlook the obvious here. Some clubs are free to join, and that’s great if you don’t ever incur any costs for the club, group or organization. But if your club has expenses, then creating a very specific list of membership benefits and charging a Membership Fee is a great way to offset your costs. See DEMO Membership Directory

 

Membership Directory screenshot

 

9. Specialized Directory – MembershipWorks is all about the Member Directory, but did you know that you can add other Specialized Directories and charge a fee for the listing? For example, several of my clients are dog clubs and they have a Breeder Directory in addition to their Member Directory. Members pay an extra fee at the time they renew their annual membership. Members themselves can add or remove this directory listing at any time, making it easy for your administrators!

10. Credit Card Processing – Some of my clients worry about offering online payments to their members because of the extra fees that credit card processors charge. First, you need to know the laws in the area you are located. You may be able to increase the cost of the item or membership dues to cover your costs. For example, if you are charged 2.5% for credit card processing, simply add that amount to the cost of your item’s price. If your item is $35, the 2.5% fee is $0.875 so you could charge $36 to cover the fee and a little extra for your organization.

We highly recommend using Stripe for your payment processing because they don’t charge a monthly fee and if you are a nonprofit, ask them for a discount off the fee published on their website. Here’s what Stripe has to say about passing along their credit card processing fees to your clients, customers or members.

“You can pass Stripe fees on to customers by including them in the final charge amount, but it’s essential to ensure compliance with any applicable laws pertaining to your business. Calculate the gross amount, taking into consideration that increasing the final amount also increases the Stripe fee. Be aware that charging processing fees may be prohibited by law in some jurisdictions, so always act in accordance with the applicable regulations.” Read Full Suggestion by Stripe

Revenue Reporting

When I customize the ways you can earn revenue with MembershipWorks, I can indicate what type of revenue you are collecting so you can run reports and upload the revenue to QuickBooks. Revenue can be classified as membership, donations, events, cart items or other. Make sure your treasurer or bookkeeper is an Admin on your MW account so they can login and get the sales revenue on a regular basis.

Don’t let the monthly membership software fee prohibit you from using MembershipWorks to strengthen your organization.

It can add so much regarding the organization of your membership, promoting your members, reducing administrative time and increasing accuracy and transparency. Having a system like this makes it easier to pass on the tasks and responsibilities to the next volunteer or employee who does this important work.

My clients claim that the benefits MWs offers far outweigh the monthly fee. See my post about the best MembershipWorks features for association management.

Ask about a custom DEMO to explain all the benefits of using MembershipWorks AND how you can use it to help generate revenue! Read about the DEMO on my website and watch the 3 short introductory videos about what MW is and how it works.

Call me with your questions!

Michelle Aspelin
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC
952-484-6015

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Best MembershipWorks Features for Trade Association Management

I have installed MembershipWorks for dozens of clubs, organizations, trade groups, foundations, and civic organizations. MembershipWorks offers a robust list of features.

renewal notice list showing intervals for sending automated emailsI would say the best MembershipWorks features for trade associations, clubs, and organizations is the automated renewals. I have had multiple clients say how easy it is now to collect annual dues. No more mailing letters, tracking down checks, applying manually to accounts. No more collecting it in one application, like PayPal, only to have to go someplace else, sometimes an excel spreadsheet, to mark the member as paid. It’s all streamlined with online payments. Yes, members can still mail a check, but online payments are strongly encouraged, and many members find this system so user-friendly that they now feel comfortable paying dues and registering for events online.

With the automated and customizable renewal notices, membership chairpersons and treasurers aren’t made out to be the bad guy anymore because they don’t need to hound members to pay their dues! They report collecting more revenue faster because of MembershipWorks.

Some of the most important features my clients like are:

  • The customizable, filterable Member Directory that can be public or in a Members Only section on their website
  • Member Only pages for content like minutes, club documents, and forms
  • The Event Calendar that offers registration for members and nonmembers for free and for a fee
  • Automated Renewal Process with customized email reminders and streamlined online payments that update a Member’s Account immediately
  • This one is simple, but impactful… the integration with MailChimp so Members are automatically added to their email list
  • Some clients want more features like a job board, classified ads, a shop for donations or other items, and customized forms for things like new member applications, sponsors, awards, etc.

Comparing MembershipWorks to other Software

If you want to compare MembershipWorks to 9 other club or trade association management software options, you can read this post by MembershipWorks: https://membershipworks.com/best-association-management-software

Increase Your Revenue with MembershipWorks

If you are considering the best MembershipWorks features for trade associations, clubs, and organizations, then I encourage you to read my post about how you can earn revenue with MembershipWorks to help offset your costs.

There are multiple opportunities available, not just membership dues to consider. Some are paid by members, but others are paid by nonmembers, which is even better!

I have been installing MembershipWorks on WordPress websites since I first discovered it in 2018. I love making association management easier. I enjoy training my clients on how we set up MembershipWorks and how they can maintain it moving forward. I empower them to manage it themselves by providing detailed written instructions and multiple video tutorials. I want them to have tools they can hand off to the next person who fills their position. I want to make it simple, efficient, and transparent for associations to manage their membership and other club functions. Learn more about why I love MembershipWorks.

View my MembershipWorks Developer Profile. It includes testimonials from past clients.

Give me a call if you are considering MembershipWorks. I’d love to answer your questions.

Let’s connect on Facebook if we haven’t already, here’s my business page. Follow me on LinkedIn and I will follow you, cheering you on along the way to your membership or association management success!

Email me or call/text 952-484-6015

Michelle Aspelin
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC

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Advice for Nonprofits

Getting Along While Getting Stuff Done

I have some advice for nonprofits. I have been creating websites and assisting with marketing for nonprofits for most of my career. I have worked with large national organizations and small community groups. Some are official 501(c)(3) organizations, some aren’t. I have found no matter the size, they all have one thing in common.

Nonprofits have to work together, despite different backgrounds, personality types, education, geography and skills.

Sounds like a typical workplace environment, doesn’t it? We need to get along with our co-workers and customers/clients at work and elsewhere. And when we volunteer, we have to get along with the people we are teamed up with.

Getting along with others isn’t always easy

Occasionally, one of my nonprofit clients struggles with this. Some people have very strong personalities and can be overbearing. Trying to steer every decision to their way of thinking. Volunteers can get frustrated. Arguments start, bitter emails are sent, it gets out of hand. Sometimes good volunteers leave the organization to preserve their own mental health. Afterall, when you are volunteering, who needs the extra anxiety or toxic interactions? I don’t like conflict or confrontations. I try to stay calm in these situations and work through it. I always encourage open communication and honesty. Respect and taking personal responsibility.

My job is to make my clients happy

That’s my primary goal, happiness. Yes, I want to give my clients a nice, functional website or membership system they can manage moving forward. I want the experience with me to collaborative. I want my clients to know that no question is a bad one. I’m here to answer your phone calls and emails.

Everyone learns in different ways. That’s why I provide support with written documentation, videos, zoom sessions, phone calls and in-person training. I want every client to fully understand what I created for them and how it will help their organization today and into the future. So, how can I provide happiness? By proving the following tips for nonprofits.

What’s my advice?

Here we go, it’s pretty simple, really.

1. DEFINE WHO’S RESPONSIBLE NOW and MOVING FORWARD.

Before we start working together, I want to fully understand the dynamics of the people on the team. I ask questions to determine who will be managing the website after it’s launched. For my clients who use MembershipWorks, I want to be clear who will be keeping it updated in the future, following up with members who don’t renew or helping them complete their online profile for the Membership Directory.

Many times volunteers do this work. And that’s great. Many are eager to learn what needs to be done. Sometimes I continue to be the website administrator because clubs don’t have someone with WordPress skills to take on the website management. I have several clients who ask for MembershipWorks help just once a year for an annual event.

It’s important for everyone to know what roles they will play and what the expectations are for the future. It’s best to work with a small group or one liaison when creating a new website or installing MembershipWorks. When the teams get larger than 8-10 it’s much more difficult to come to a consensus, make decisions, and set up zoom meetings that have to fit into so many schedules.

Once everyone is clear on the role they will play during the project and after, then we proceed.

2. LISTEN.

My second piece of advice is to listen. Even if someone is younger, older or less experienced, they still provide value in regards to the experience you want for your members. Great ideas come from brainstorming when everyone feels they can contribute without being judged or shot down immediately. Everyone involved has value. Sometimes you get more ideas than we can implement! That’s when I start a list for “phase 2” improvements to consider after the initial project is complete. We don’t want good ideas to be lost just because the timing isn’t right at the moment.

3. BE A LEADER.

Some of my best experiences working with nonprofits are when they have a leader who really leads. Someone who empowers others and encourages participation and input. A leader checks in with the progress, knows what’s going on, and who might need some extra support to fulfill their responsibilities. Leaders are observant but don’t micro-manage the project. They keep the overall goals and timeline in mind. I love it when the leader uses tools to create an environment where the team can stay focused and get the project done on time. Happy leaders create happy teams.

Know Your Strengths

I’ve worked with all sorts of personality types and skill levels. In fact, I often have the StrengthsFinders strengths assessment in my mind when I start working with a new group. I like to understand how people are wired and what makes them good at what they do. You can learn more about my top five strengths by reading a post I wrote on the subject. Here’s a clue, my top strength is Activator. I love getting stuff done!

In the end, it’s about happiness. I want my clients to be happy.

Please let me know if you have any questions about how your nonprofit should proceed when starting a new project with me. I’m happily available and ready to help! 🙂

Michelle Aspelin
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services, LLC
Learn more about me and read the recommendations from my happy clients on LinkedIn.

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What’s New? What’s Next for You?

Hello from Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services!

I’d love to hear from you! Send me an email or give me a call and let me know what’s new for you, for your business, organization, or any endeavor. I’m a connecter and if there’s anything I can do for you, let me know. I can help spread the word using a variety of media like Facebook, email, LinkedIn, personal connections, etc. Let me know if you have something new I can promote, share, or encourage others to consider.

If I manage your website, let me know if you need any new content on your site. New blog posts, product or service offerings or if you just want to celebrate the success you are already experiencing! I miss connecting with people, so please, send me an update!

What’s New with me?

I am still loving my work at Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services. Primarily making WordPress websites and lately I have assisted another web designer to implement MembershipWorks (a membership management platform) for two organizations, the DDR German Shepherd Dog Club of America and the Great Pyrenees Club of America. Working for dog organizations sure makes me miss my own Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Oliver, but it’s great to see the photos of happy dogs and help them manage their membership.

I also launched a new website for my longtime client, Meg Adams at Divine Containers. Check out the beautiful flower containers she creates with her team! That was another site that brought me joy to watch it “blossom”. She has many photos of her seasonal container business based in Victoria, MN. And she does fresh floral arrangements too!

What’s Next?

I am looking for more projects and clients I can serve. Small businesses or nonprofit organizations. I can serve as an administrator as well as web designer or membership manager. I enjoy doing work remotely, I have clients outside of my local geographic area. You can find my profile on Indeed, LinkedIn or MembershipWorks.com.

But really, I want to hear from you! I feel like I have allowed the pandemic of the past couple of years to impact my work relationships and I have lost touch. Social media is fine, but I miss specific email updates, phone calls, and, especially, in person coffee/tea gatherings where we can really have some valuable “facetime”. If you are local and would like to meet up in person, let me know! I have a flexible schedule.

Cheers!
Michelle

Michelle Aspelin
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC
GrowYourMindshare.com

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Helping Nonprofits Get Organized

Rottweiler Health FoundationI’m so happy that the Rottweiler Health Foundation found me during their online search for a WordPress Website Designer. They were looking for someone to help update their website AND help them complete their nonprofit membership integration with MembershipWorks, a task they had been trying on their own for over a year.

I was able to create a whole new WordPress website for them and finish setting up their membership process in MembershipWorks to help manage their members, multiple donation campaigns, and sync it up with MailChimp (for email marketing) to keep their lists updated automatically. They were fantastic to work with. Their Board members are all over the country so we did everything over Zoom and it worked out great, see rottweilerhealth.org.

“Our non-profit was looking to move our membership management to MembershipWorks. However, we had issues with several other things and had stalled out. I found Michelle on a google search and contacted her to see if she could help.
After speaking with the people involved, she presented a proposal and got to work!!
Michelle helped to work through our issues. She was right there, guiding us were we needed it, and letting us get comfortable with MembershipWorks. She also was able to fully integrate our WordPress system, and helped us get all of our other issues taken care of, including updating our website.
The Rottweiler Health Foundation is now moving along smoothly with our system. We are hearing good things from our Board and our members. All of the issues were done on schedule and on budget too.
As Membership Chair, I am thrilled with how easy it was to work with Michelle. And I know if I run in to any questions in the future, she will be right there to help.” Pat Carkoski, Membership Chairperson

If you know of a group or nonprofit who is struggling to manage their membership, volunteer or donor databases, have them reach out to me! I will see if my strengths and experience match their needs so we can find solutions for them.

You can view other completed websites to see the clients I have helped, view their websites and read their story.

Connect with me to learn more about how MembershipWorks can help your nonprofit membership management. Read more review on my MembershipWorks profile.

Michelle Aspelin
Mindshare Marketing & Implementation Services LLC

 

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