In this episode, I get on my soapbox about one of the most persistent myths in the membership world: the idea that scarcity marketing and closed-door enrollment are absolutely necessary to grow a successful membership.

I break down why this notion is misleading, how it can harm your business in the long run, and why good marketing should never rely on manipulative gimmicks.

I share real-world examples, challenge some of the loudest voices in the space, and lay out the facts so you can make the best decision for your membership business.

1. Do you really need scarcity or closed-door enrollment to sell and grow a membership?
2. What are the long-term consequences of relying on scarcity tactics for membership sales?
3. When (if ever) does a closed-door model actually make strategic sense for a membership business?
4. How can you create genuine urgency and attract committed members without resorting to manipulative marketing gimmicks?

I really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast.

What's your next step?

If you haven't launched your membership yet, I've made my signature Membership Roadmap Course completely FREE, walking you through exactly how to get set up for success!

Already have a membership and looking to grow and scale? Join me inside Membership Academy where I'll help you take your membership to the next level.

And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one!

"A handful of tacky Internet marketers have been pushing this narrative that you need scarcity to sell a membership and that the closed door model is the one true way."

"Closed door can and does work for numerous memberships, and for many of those memberships it's absolutely the right model, based on their audience needs, based on their business structure, based on the topic they're teaching, and so on."

"The overwhelming majority of successful memberships are open door and they always have been. 12,000 members in membership academy, 60,000 in SBL. Same sort of numbers with Drumeo memberships, like Digital Marketer memberships like Masterclass. These are always open doors. We get sales. We don't have to close the doors to give people a reason to join because our memberships are good enough to give people the reason to join in and of themselves."

"If any part of your marketing relies on being sneaky, relies on not being found out, then you're doing it wrong. If you're misleading your audience into thinking something is scarce and trying to use that scarcity to pressure them into a buying decision that they're not ready for, but then even worse, it turns out that it's all a ruse, it's all bs, then you absolutely suck on every level imaginable."

In this episode, I dive into the ever-evolving world of podcasting with special guest Colin Gray, founder of The Podcast Host and Alitu.

Together, we unpack the new rules of the podcasting landscape in 2024, explore how independent creators can still stand out in a space now dominated by big names and AI-generated content, and discuss strategies for using podcasts to grow and deepen your membership business.

Whether you're running a podcast or thinking of starting one, this conversation is packed with actionable insights and real talk on what really works right now.

1. Is it too late for independent creators to succeed in podcasting amid increased competition and the rise of celebrity-led and AI-generated shows?
2. What are the most effective ways to increase discoverability and grow a podcast audience in today’s saturated market?
3. How has podcasting changed in recent years, and what new strategies should membership site owners consider for using podcasts as a marketing tool?
4. In a world of rapidly improving AI content, what makes a human-led podcast stand out and build a loyal, engaged community?

I really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast.

What's your next step?

If you haven't launched your membership yet, I've made my signature Membership Roadmap Course completely FREE, walking you through exactly how to get set up for success!

Already have a membership and looking to grow and scale? Join me inside Membership Academy where I'll help you take your membership to the next level.

And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one!

"It feels like all of the general purpose, general conversation, broad appeal shows, they're now all just run by celebrities because they've all jumped into it, because it's proven that it can make them money, it's become popular."

"You can make a living out of 100 listeners, 200 listeners, because you can build such trust and such credibility that you can sell a really high ticket, consulting package membership, whatever that might be."

"Because they've got to know you, they go and listen to the show. And they're so much more likely to become fans that then pass it on to their friends and pass it around their communities. And those elements just scale so much more in a podcast than they do in any other medium because people spend so much time with you."

"If you want to use clips, generally you want to commit to actually like making sure you've got a decent enough webcam and just get one like nice light that you'll place behind your webcam and that makes all the difference. It can, that can turn you from like a really crappy looking video into something that's like quite passable and quite decent."

In this episode, I dive into my top five priorities that will fuel your membership success in 2026.

I share the key actions and mindset shifts that every membership owner, whether just starting out or looking to scale, should be focusing on to ensure lasting growth.

From getting a grip on your numbers to embracing a results-driven approach, experimenting more, and building the right support network, I break down practical, proven advice to set you up for an amazing year with your membership business.

1. Why is understanding your numbers and KPIs so essential for sustainable membership growth, and how do you get started?
2. How has the value of content changed, and why should you stop positioning your membership as just a library of resources?
3. In what ways can diversifying your offerings safeguard your membership business and better serve your audience's evolving needs?
4. Why is experimentation, as well as surrounding yourself with the right support network, key to overcoming industry changes and staying ahead in 2026?

I really appreciate you choosing us and for supporting the podcast.

What's your next step?

If you haven't launched your membership yet, I've made my signature Membership Roadmap Course completely FREE, walking you through exactly how to get set up for success!

Already have a membership and looking to grow and scale? Join me inside Membership Academy where I'll help you take your membership to the next level.

And if you found this episode valuable, I'd be eternally grateful if you would leave an honest review and rating for the show. They're extremely helpful when it comes to reaching our audience, and I read each and every one!

Key Quotes & Takeaways:

"You can work hard all year bringing in 120 new people over the year, and you'll end the year with pretty much no increase in your member base. Because that 8% churn rate that maybe you don't realize is 8% will mean that you are just hemorrhaging as many members as you're attracting."

"People want certainty. People like being sold proven formulas. That's why a lot of dodgy Internet marketers do so well, because they stand up there and say, you know what, I've got this proven formula. You just do this, then this, then this and this and you're guaranteed results. And yeah, that guarantees not worth the paper it's printed on."

"We bring you that community, we bring you that accountability, that place that you can go to that is safe for you to vent about that problem member and get a little bit of advice for you to admit, you know what, I'm stuck. I've tried all these things and they have not worked."

"But more importantly, you have the room to be in. You have the community that will give you that support network, that will give you the sounding board, that will cheer you on and pick you up, give you their experiences, give you the benefit of their knowledge, share what they're doing and work together to ensure that 2026 doesn't just see one or two of us growing our memberships. 2026 sees us all growing and thriving."