Community Creators with Shana Lynn

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersEp 129 - Create a Valuable Personal Brand with AJ Vaden: https://www.shanalynn.com/podcast/create-a-valuable-personal-brand-with-aj-vadenFaceless brands may be trending, but are they built to last? In this episode, AJ Vaden shares why hiding behind anonymity can cost you trust, loyalty, and long-term success — and why personal branding is more than just vanity metrics.What You’ll Learn in This Episode Highlight:Why the “faceless brand” fad can be risky for your businessThe difference between authenticity and transparency — and why you don’t have to share everything onlineHow offline relationships can fuel massive growth, even without followers or fancy websitesThe role of purpose and mission in building a personal brandWhy trust and human connection still outperform algorithms and trendsIf you’ve ever been tempted to hide behind a logo, this conversation will make you rethink your strategy.Additional Resources:Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersIn this episode, we dive deeper into how to strategically apply the Retention Accelerator Framework—introduced in a previous episode—specifically to the onboarding process within your membership or community program.Shana walks us through her thought process as she evaluates and optimizes onboarding, showing how to use the 3 R’s of retention: Results, Recognition, and Relationships. Whether you're just starting or looking to refine your member journey, this episode gives practical insights to create an onboarding experience that reduces churn, increases engagement, and builds long-term loyalty.What You’ll Learn:Why onboarding is the highest-impact place to start improving retentionHow to reduce friction and guide members to a clear next step and quick winWhy reselling the vision during onboarding keeps motivation high and prevents churnHow to use personalization, celebration, and stories to build connection fastBy applying the Retention Accelerator Framework, you can create an onboarding experience that not only welcomes your members but sets them up for long-term success.Additional Resources:Ep 181: 3 Accelerators to Reduce Churn & Keep Members Longer https://www.shanalynn.com/podcast/3-accelerators-to-reduce-churn-keep-members-longerWant expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersEp 144 - Pinterest Marketing Secrets to Build Your List and Grow Your Membership with Meagan Williamson: https://www.shanalynn.com/podcast/pinterest-marketing-secrets-to-build-your-list-and-grow-your-membership-with-meagan-williamsonWhen most business owners think about growing their audience online, Facebook and Instagram usually top the list. But there's a powerful and often overlooked platform that deserves your attention—Pinterest. In this highlight from Shana’s podcast interview with Pinterest strategist Meagan Williamson, we explore how Pinterest works more like a visual search engine than a social media site, and why that matters for your business growth.What You’ll Learn in This Episode Highlight:Why Pinterest isn’t just about promoting launches—but building top-of-funnel visibilityThe unique way users search on Pinterest (and how it differs from Google and YouTube)How to optimize your boards, pins, and profiles using strategic keywordsThe evergreen nature of Pinterest content (pins can bring traffic for years!)Tips for effective Pinterest SEO: from keyword mapping to writing compelling pin copyThe importance of user intent and why Pinterest visitors are often closer to making decisionsMeagan shares her expertise on how to leverage Pinterest’s SEO potential to build long-lasting, evergreen traffic that feeds your funnel over time. Whether you’re trying to grow your email list, boost podcast listeners, or drive traffic to a free group, Pinterest can play a crucial role in your strategy.Additional Resources:Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

Discover the five key obstacles that hinder member progress, including belief, clarity, skills, motivation, and time. Explore the psychology behind member disengagement and why simply adding more content isn't the answer. Learn practical strategies to create an engaging membership experience that boosts retention and motivates members to take action. Design your offerings with members' challenges in mind to eliminate barriers and foster meaningful progress.

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersEp 147 - How to Hire a Rockstar Community Manager with Paula Maidens https://www.shanalynn.com/podcast/how-to-hire-a-rockstar-community-manager-with-paula-maidensIn today’s episode, Shana shares a powerful clip from her recent interview with hiring and leadership expert Paula Maidens, diving into the most common hiring mistakes and—most importantly—how to avoid them.In This Episode, You’ll Learn:Why hiring based on referrals or familiarity—without vetting—can lead to costly misalignmentThe most common assumptions that sabotage your hiring process (and how to avoid them)How to design interviews that test real skills and bring candidates into your business realityA simple mindset shift to stay confident when hiring and managing team membersWhy clear communication and role expectations from the start lead to better retentionAs your team grows, hiring well becomes one of the most critical (and costly) skills you need to master. Paula breaks down the missteps she sees over and over, and offers actionable advice to help you build your dream team with confidence and clarity.Additional Resources:Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersThinking about changing your membership’s billing cycle? Should you offer monthly, quarterly, or annual options? What about weekly? Every billing cycle has trade-offs, and choosing the wrong one could hurt your conversions, increase churn, or complicate operations.In this episode, we’re breaking down:What the data says about different billing cycles and their impact on conversions, engagement, and retentionThe operational complexity of offering multiple billing options and why every new choice needs a clear ROIHow pricing psychology impacts member perception of value and commitmentWhy annual renewals require a completely different retention strategy than monthly renewalsThe truth about upfront investment fees—do they actually reduce churn, or do they just lower conversions?If you’ve ever wondered whether adding or changing your billing cycle could help your membership grow, this episode will give you the clarity you need.Additional Resources:Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersEp 69 - How to Develop a Winning Framework with Mel Abrahamhttps://www.shanalynn.com/podcast/how-to-develop-a-winning-framework-with-mel-abrahamYou’ve probably heard people talk about frameworks in business. You’ve heard me talk about my frameworks—like the Progress Wheel, Community Cultivated, and the Retention Accelerator. But what is a framework really, and how do you use one effectively?In this highlight from a longer conversation, I’m joined by my friend Mel Abraham, a brilliant business strategist, to break down what a strong framework actually looks like in practice. You’ll hear how Mel builds one of his signature frameworks and why these tools are essential for simplifying your message, structuring your offer, and elevating your sales and strategy.In this episode, you’ll learn:What a business framework really is (and isn’t)Why frameworks help you communicate and connect betterHow to use a framework in a speech or sales conversationA sneak peek into Mel Abraham’s powerful framework processIf you’re ready to turn your knowledge into influence and income, this episode is your invitation to start thinking in frameworks.Additional Resources:Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersEp 45 - Two Types of Member Outreach: https://www.shanalynn.com/podcast/two-types-of-member-outreachIn this insightful episode, Shana was invited by the incredible Heartbeat Community as a guest expert to share her signature Retention Accelerator Framework—a game-changing approach for anyone managing an established membership and ready to scale sustainably.This episode is perfect for you if:You manage an established membership or communityYou're seeing churn and want practical solutionsYou’re looking to build long-term value with your membersIf you’re serious about growth, focusing on retention is key. In this clip, Shana offers a deep dive into how to keep members engaged, reduce churn, and build a thriving, loyal community.Additional Resources:Discover 77+ Connection Ideas for a Stronger Community with our free guide: connectionideas.comWant expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies: Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersCheck out the full episode: Ep 60: How to Have Raving Fans and Lead a Meaningful Community with Lauren GoldenMost membership owners use webinars to sell but what happens to the people who don’t buy right away?Lauren Golden, founder of The Free Mama Movement, has built a powerful strategy that connects her webinar funnel directly to a free Facebook group turning cold leads into warm, connected community members who often convert later.In this episode, I’ll break down:How Lauren uses her webinar funnel to drive Facebook group growthWhy she keeps paying customers inside the free group (and how that boosts conversions)Her strategy for using weekly Facebook Lives to nurture non-buyersHow identity-driven messaging fuels long-term engagementWhy “building the movement first” is the secret to her successIf you run a free group, host webinars, or want to create a loyal audience that buys without pressure, this episode will help you build connection, trust, and long-term value before and after the sale.Ready to boost connection in your community?Get 77+ actionable ways to build engagement and loyalty at connectionideas.comAdditional Resources:Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies:Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated

https://www.retainguide.com/ - Get Instant Access to The Membership Retention Roadmap: 5 Systems You Need to Keep More MembersMost membership owners track churn and retention rates, but by the time those numbers start changing, it’s already too late.Retention and churn are lagging metrics and they tell you what has already happened, but they don’t tell you why members are leaving or what you can do to keep them longer.If you wait until churn increases to take action, you’re already behind.In this episode, I’ll break down:The difference between leading and lagging retention metrics and why both matterKey early indicators that predict churn so you can act before members cancelHow to track member engagement, progress, and activation metricsWhy failed payment tracking is one of the most overlooked retention metricsHow to move from reactive to proactive retention strategiesIf you’re not tracking the right data, you’re guessing when it comes to retention. This episode will show you how to stop relying only on churn numbers and start using leading metrics to improve retention and keep members longer.Additional Resources:Get Instant Access to the Membership Retention & Lifetime Value Calculator: https://www.memberltv.com/Want expert help mapping out your member journey and setting up feedback loops that actually work? Apply for my high-level membership consulting program, Retain: https://joinretain.comListen on the go? Subscribe to the podcast for more membership retention strategies: Apple, or SpotifyMake sure to subscribe for more strategies on keeping members engaged and growing your recurring revenue!Learn how to work with Shana: https://www.shanalynn.com/Learn more about Shana’s Community Training Program: https://www.shanalynn.com/cultivateConnect with Shana: https://www.instagram.com/shanaspeaksWatch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@communitycultivated