A year is a long time in a membership. Long enough for members to forget their renewal date, let their card expire, or get hit with a charge a few days before payday.

In this episode from the vault, I walk through exactly how I handle annual renewals in Membership Academy so members are never caught off guard. I share the email sequence that kicks in 11 months after someone joins, why I tell members how to cancel, and why keeping renewing members on their original price is one of the strongest retention levers you have.

I also share how one membership switched to manual renewals, offered a renewal-only lifetime deal, and saw its renewal rate go up.

If you offer annual or six-monthly plans and want fewer failed payments and more members choosing to stay, this episode is for you.

• Understand why longer billing cycles lead to failed payments, disputes and surprised members
• See the final-month email sequence I use in the Academy, starting 11 months after someone joins
• Learn why pointing members to the cancel button actually protects your business
• Discover how recapping past value and signposting future value creates a “pain of disconnect”
• Find out how a renewal-only lifetime offer increased renewals and lifetime value for one membership

Want the exact setup I use to stop annual renewals from failing? Grab the free Renewal Safety Net at membershipgeeks.com/497. It includes the final-month email sequence, a failed payment fix table and a setup checklist.

And if you’d like a wider view of where the gaps in your membership business actually are, our free Membership Healthcheck is built for exactly that.

Key Quotes & Takeaways:

“We’d far rather somebody who doesn’t actually want to renew take that action and cancel their account than have them get billed again and then complain to us, or dispute the payment, or kick up a fuss.”

“That signposting of future value creates a bit of pain of disconnect. It means they need to make a decision to not get this stuff that’s coming up.”

“Showing that people continue to get the rate that they first signed up for is huge for retention.”

“When that renewal payment goes through automatically, the decision stays a passive one. You don’t need to do anything if you want to stay.”

You might also find useful:

• Should I Charge Monthly Or Annually For My Membership Site?
• 4 Essential Email Automations Every Membership Website Needs
• How to Identify Your Member Drop-Off Points
• Tips For Dealing With A Downturn In Your Membership

Thank You For Listening

We really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast.

We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show.

They’re extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally!

Finally, don’t forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

As fantastic as your membership may be, not everyone sees joining as a no-brainer. Some people sit on the fence for weeks, almost ready to sign up but held back by something they never quite tell you.

In this episode, I'm heading back into the Membership Geeks vault to break down the five most common objections people have to joining your membership, and what you can do to overcome each one.

I also share the one question you should be asking your audience right now to find out which objection is really costing you sales.

• Why dropping your price is the wrong response to "it's too expensive," and what to do instead
• How to reassure people who are wary of recurring subscriptions
• The social proof and risk reversal tactics that prove your membership delivers
• Simple ways to make people feel safe entering their card details
• How a "who this is for (and who it isn't for)" section helps people decide whether the timing and fit are right

Want to find out exactly which objection is keeping people on the fence? Grab the free Fence-Sitter Planner at membershipgeeks.com/496. It includes the email to send your non-joiners, a bank of questions to ask, and a tracker that matches each objection to the right fix.

And if you'd like a wider view of where the gaps in your membership business actually are, our free Membership Healthcheck is built for exactly that.

Key Quotes & Takeaways:

"So social proof is your strongest weapon against this objection. You want to be getting testimonials, ideally video testimonials."

"The less conditional your money-back guarantee is, the more someone will actually value it as a valid form of risk reversal."

"People are usually too scared of putting anything out there that might turn away members, but you don't actually want to attract people who aren't the right fit."

"It's one of the most valuable questions you can ask. Why have you not joined the membership yet?"

You might also find useful:

• Overcoming 5 Common Objections to Joining Your Membership
• Are You Using Risk Reversal To Increase Membership Sales?
• Essential Features of a Successful Membership Sales Page
• Should I Offer a Trial for My Membership Website?

Thank You For Listening

We really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast.

We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show.

They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally!

Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.

At some point in every membership's journey, you'll have to decide whether to raise your price. That's a good thing! It means your membership has grown more valuable since you launched.

But there's a right way and a wrong way to do it, and this week I'm on my soapbox about the very, very wrong way. My video host took my annual renewal from about $900 to $4,500, with less than one months notice and a single email that was easy to miss...

If it isn't obvious to spot, I break down exactly what they got wrong, why I only raise prices for new members, and what you can take from it for your own membership.

If you're thinking about a price increase, please make sure you never handle it like this.

• Why considering raising your price is a healthy sign for your member
• How an upcoming price increase becomes one of the most profitable promotions you can run
• Why legacy pricing is a silent retention tool that gives members more reasons to stay
• What Vimeo got wrong, and the communication, clarity, and fairness lessons you can apply
• Where the line sits between a smart save offer at cancellation and rubbing it in

Want a clear plan for doing it the right way? Grab the free Member-Centric Guide to Raising Your Prices.

And if you'd like tailored advice and support on where the gaps in your membership business actually are, join Membership Academy here.

Key Quotes & Takeaways:

"That price increase promotion is phenomenally successful. It's always one of the most profitable, the most successful types of promotions that I see other members in the academy running."

"Because if they do, they obviously lose that legacy pricing. So it becomes really good for member retention."

"When we're doing price increases, communication, clarity, fairness is absolutely paramount."

"Putting existing subscriber prices up should be the absolute last resort. It's unfair. It's difficult to do."

You might also find useful:

• The Hidden Costs of Legacy Pricing (And What to Do About It)
• Should You Increase the Price Existing Members are Paying?
• 11 Signs That it's Time to Increase the Price of Your Membership
• How to Deal With Member Cancellations

Thank You For Listening

We really appreciate you choosing to listen to us and for supporting the podcast.

We would be eternally grateful if you would consider taking a minute or two to leave an honest review and rating for the show.

They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience and we read each and every one personally!

Finally, don't forget to subscribe to the podcast to make sure that you never miss an episode.