Update on Membership Sites–A Way to Protect Your Intellectual Property

Recently, I wrote a Publishing Coach Weekly article about membership sites. If you think your content is valuable enough (and there’s enough of it) for people to pay for access on a monthly basis, please read this article for what to consider. It’s a bit long, but it does coach you through what to think about in terms of membership sites–pros and cons.

One of the resources I review is Wishlist Member. I’ve been doing more investigating into this means of making a WordPress blog a membership site, and the more I learn, the more impressed I am.

There is tremendous flexibility, it’s easy to use, and most of all, it solves a HUGE issue for those of us who are trying to be paid for the information we provide.

Namely, unauthorized “sharing” of content. Violation of our intellectual property.

WishList Member prevents people who have not paid for access from getting access to your intellectual property. Period. It is one of the best ways currently available to protect your intellectual property.

Of course, if you provide downloads to members (and you probably should), there’s nothing to prevent them from passing it on that way.

Nothing, except for a guilty conscience (which doesn’t appear to be a factor for some people).

Still, having added “barriers” and doing all you can should help.

So if you are considering a membership site, read my article on pros and cons of membership sites, and do consider WishList Member software. It’s a one-time cost, there’s a special deal going on right now (3 sites for the price of 2), and if you already have a blog, it’s quite likely you can monetize it in this way.