# How to set up memberships

Build recurring revenue by letting fans subscribe to your content. This guide covers everything from setup to engagement.

## Step 1: Check if memberships are enabled for your profile

1. Go to **Settings** (top right)
2. Look for **Memberships** option
3. If you don't see it, memberships may not be enabled for your profile type

**Who can use memberships:**

* ✅ Drivers
* ✅ Teams
* ❌ Individual profiles (supporters can't host memberships)

**If memberships aren't showing:**

* Feature may be disabled for your region or account
* Contact <support@sponsordriven.com> to enable it
* May require approval or minimum profile criteria

**Expected result:** You can see the Memberships settings section

***

## Step 2: Navigate to your Memberships section

1. Go to **Settings** → **Memberships**
2. You'll see:
   * Any existing membership tiers
   * An **Add tier** or **Create tier** button
   * Membership settings and rules

**Expected result:** You're in the Memberships hub

***

## Step 3: Plan your membership tiers

Decide what fans get at each level:

### Simple structure (recommended for starters):

* **Fan** – £2–4/month – Weekly updates, photo gallery
* **VIP** – £5–10/month – Above + monthly video call + exclusive content

### Extended structure:

* **Supporter** – £3/month – Weekly updates + early race previews
* **VIP** – £7/month – Above + exclusive posts + monthly video
* **Premium** – £15/month – Above + merchandise discounts + VIP pass

**Pro tip:** Start with 2 tiers. You can add more later.

***

## Step 4: Create your first (entry-level) membership tier

1. Click **Add tier** or **Create membership tier**
2. Enter **tier name**: "Fan" or "Supporter"
3. Set **monthly price**: £2–5 (sweet spot for entry-level)
4. Set **billing frequency**: Monthly (most common) or Yearly
5. Enter **description** (1–2 sentences):

   > "Get exclusive weekly updates from my racing journey, early access to new photos, and direct messages to chat about races."
6. Click **Save draft**

**Expected result:** Your first tier appears in the list

***

## Step 5: Add benefits to your entry-level tier

1. Click on your tier to edit it
2. Look for **Tier benefits** or **Member perks** section
3. Click **Add benefit** and enter 3–5 member benefits:
   * "New exclusive post every week"
   * "Access to private photo gallery"
   * "Early access to race results and updates"
   * "Member-only Q\&A posts"
   * "Monthly shout-out as a valued member"
4. Each benefit can be marked **public** (everyone sees it) or **private** (only members see it)
5. Click **Save**

**Expected result:** Benefits are listed for your tier

***

## Step 6: Create your second (premium) membership tier

1. Click **Add tier** again
2. Enter **tier name**: "VIP" or "Premium"
3. Set **price higher**: £7–15/month (2–3x your entry tier)
4. Set **billing frequency**: Monthly
5. Enter **description**:

   > "Exclusive VIP membership with everything from Fan tier, plus monthly private video calls with me, merchandise discounts, and priority message access."
6. Click **Save draft**

**Expected result:** You have two membership tiers

***

## Step 7: Add premium benefits to your VIP tier

1. Click on your VIP tier
2. Add 5–7 benefits that enhance the entry tier:
   * Everything from Fan tier (automatically included)
   * "Monthly 30-minute video call with me"
   * "Exclusive VIP-only posts (×2 per month)"
   * "20% discount on any merchandise"
   * "Priority message response (within 24 hours)"
   * "Feature in monthly VIP spotlight post"
   * "Suggest one race weekend topic for coverage"
3. Click **Save**

**Expected result:** VIP tier feels noticeably better than Fan tier

***

## Step 8: Set up your membership posting schedule

Before launching, plan what you'll post:

### Weekly posts (required for all members):

* Race update (even if just practice)
* Behind-the-scenes photo or video (training, team prep)
* Personal story or learning moment

### VIP-exclusive posts (monthly):

* Long-form story or essay (10–15 min read)
* Exclusive training footage or data
* Personal Q\&A or advice session

### Both tiers monthly:

* Month-in-review post
* Goals for next month
* Member appreciation post

**Pro tip:** Use a content calendar to plan 4 weeks ahead

***

## Step 9: Create your first membership-exclusive post

1. Go to **Settings** → **Memberships** (if there's a content section)
2. Or go to **Updates** and create a new post
3. Create a post and mark it as **membership only** or **exclusive**:
   * Write compelling content (50–100 words)
   * Include a photo or video
   * Make it feel special and exclusive

**Example exclusive post:**

> "Behind the scenes at the workshop: Here's the data from today's tire testing. We tried three different compounds in the heat and found something interesting... \[rest of post]. This kind of technical deep-dive is VIP exclusive, because I can only share so much of our strategy publicly!"

4. Set **visibility** to **Members only** or **VIP only**
5. Click **Publish**

**Expected result:** Your first member-exclusive post is live

***

## Step 10: Launch your memberships publicly

1. Go to **Settings** → **Memberships**
2. Look for a **Publish** or **Make public** button
3. Click it to make your membership tiers visible on your public profile
4. Optional: Post an announcement update:

   > "I'm starting a membership community! Join my fan club for exclusive updates, behind-the-scenes content, and monthly video calls. Links in my profile. 🏁 #CommunityFirst"
5. Share the link on your social media

**Expected result:** Fans can now join your membership

***

## Step 11: Post member-exclusive content regularly

**Weekly routine:**

1. Go to your Updates or Memberships content section
2. Post your exclusive weekly update (photo + message)
3. Make it feel worth the subscription
4. Encourage comments and interaction

**Monthly routine:**

1. Post a special exclusive video or long-form post
2. Do a live Q\&A or AMA (Ask Me Anything)
3. Highlight and thank your top members
4. Show members you value their support

**Expected result:** Members feel engaged and get ROI on their subscription

***

## Step 12: Engage with your members

1. Check for member comments and replies regularly
2. Respond to comments within 24 hours
3. Thank members for their support publicly sometimes
4. Ask members for feedback (e.g., "What would you like to see more of?")
5. Occasionally do exclusive polls or votes (e.g., "What should I wear for qualifying?")

**Example member engagement:**

> "Thanks so much for being part of the community! Your support genuinely matters. What do you want to see more of – training videos, family stories, or behind-the-scenes mechanic chat?"

**Expected result:** Strong community bonds form; members feel valued

***

## Common Issues & Fixes

### "Memberships option isn't showing in my Settings"

Memberships may not be available for your profile type yet.

**Fix:**

1. Check your profile type (drivers/teams only)
2. Check if you're in a supported region (primarily UK/Europe)
3. Contact <support@sponsordriven.com> to request it be enabled

### "I can't set a monthly price – only yearly"

Subscription frequency might be set to yearly by default.

**Fix:**

1. Look for **Billing frequency** or **Subscription period** dropdown
2. Change from "Yearly" to "Monthly"
3. Save changes

### "I created a tier but it doesn't appear publicly"

Tier may not be published.

**Fix:**

1. Click on the tier
2. Look for **Status** field – should say "Active" or "Published"
3. If it says "Draft," click **Publish**
4. Wait 5 minutes for it to appear on your public profile

### "I posted exclusive content but members say they can't see it"

Content may not be marked as member-only.

**Fix:**

1. Edit the post
2. Look for **Visibility** option
3. Make sure it's set to **Members only** or **Member exclusive**
4. Save changes
5. Tell members to refresh their browser

### "Member tried to join but payment failed"

Payment issue – could be card, region, or payment processor problem.

**Fix:**

1. Tell member to try a different payment method
2. Check if they're in a supported country (payments available in UK, EU, US, etc.)
3. Have them try again in 5 minutes (temporary connection issue)
4. If still failing, have them contact support with their error message

### "I want to change a tier price"

You can update pricing anytime.

**Fix:**

1. Click on the tier
2. Update the **price** field
3. Click **Save**
4. New price takes effect for new members immediately
5. Existing members keep their old price until renewal

***

## Membership Best Practices

✅ **Post at least weekly** – Members expect regular content\
✅ **Make it exclusive** – Don't post same content to free social\
✅ **Respond to members** – Make them feel valued and heard\
✅ **Show progression** – Share training, improvement, goals\
✅ **Behind-the-scenes > polish** – Authenticity beats perfection\
✅ **Include VIP perks** – Video calls, Q\&A, direct access matter\
✅ **Thank members publicly** – Sometimes spotlight them in public posts\
✅ **Start small** – 10 members is success; it grows from there

***

## Membership Growth Tips

### Month 1–2 (Launch phase):

* Invite your closest supporters to join
* Post daily exclusive content
* Make VIP tiers attractive with special perks
* Goal: 5–10 members

### Month 3–4 (Growth phase):

* Mention memberships in every race update
* Create FOMO with exclusive content previews
* Host first member-exclusive video call
* Goal: 20–50 members

### Month 5+ (Maturity phase):

* Maintain regular posting schedule
* Create special events (voting, Q\&As, challenges)
* Refine pricing based on retention
* Add new tiers if demand exists

***

## Pricing Guidance by Profile Type

### Emerging drivers (new to platform):

* Entry: £2–3/month
* Premium: £5–8/month

### Established drivers (consistent top-5 finishes):

* Entry: £4–6/month
* Premium: £10–15/month

### Championship contenders:

* Entry: £5–10/month
* Premium: £15–25/month

### Professional/top-tier drivers:

* Entry: £10–20/month
* Premium: £25–50/month

***

## What Members Want Most

Research shows members value:

1. **Consistency** – Regular posts (more valuable than perfect posts)
2. **Authenticity** – Real moments, not just highlights
3. **Access** – Feeling connected to you
4. **Community** – Feeling part of a group
5. **Exclusivity** – Content they can't get elsewhere
6. **Appreciation** – Being thanked and recognized

***

## Next Steps

* **Ready to track members and revenue?** See [Understanding Analytics](/reference-guides/analytics-and-transactions.md)
* **Want to combine with sponsorship?** Check [Sponsorship Tiers and Deals](/reference-guides/sponsorship-tiers-and-deals.md)
* **Need content ideas?** Go to [How to Post Updates](/step-by-step-guides/how-to-post-updates.md)
* **Questions about payouts?** Read [How Payouts Work](/funding-and-payouts/how-funding-works.md)


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.sponsordriven.com/step-by-step-guides/how-to-setup-memberships.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.