Membership Geeks Podcast with Mike Morrison

Behind-the-scenes changes to a decade-old membership as it shifts from launches to long-term growth. New growth roadmap modules cover audience building, conversions, onboarding, engagement and retention. Tech tutorials are being retired in favor of advanced tool training and proprietary solutions. Expanded services include coaching, audits, AI prompts, copy feedback and a small-cohort accelerator with in-person events.

In this episode, I dive into what it really means to be a productive membership owner with special guest Louise Miller.We explore why traditional approaches to productivity might be missing the mark and how to create more space and intention in your day-to-day operations.This conversation is packed with practical insights for redefining productivity, regaining focus, and helping both yourself and your members achieve more—without the overwhelm or burnout.In this episode:What does productivity actually mean for membership owners, and why might traditional definitions be holding us back?How can you shift your mindset and daily habits to focus on what’s truly important—instead of just getting more “stuff” done?What practical steps can you take to create more space, clarity, and effective action in your business, even amidst daily chaos and unexpected challenges?How can you support your own members’ productivity and implementation, reducing churn and helping them achieve the transformation they joined your community for?Thank You For ListeningI 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:"I had to redefine productivity for myself before I started doing the work that I do, because the definition I've been carrying around with me, which I think is probably what a lot of other people carry around with them, actually made me ill.""Was it taking a moment to just stop and get a bit of perspective? And that's where I think productivity starts in understanding that when you're in. I call this a kind of frantic and frazzled overwhelm loop of maybe sitting down at your desk going, oh, my God, I've got all this to do, man, your brain immediately starts going into overdrive.""I was putting my own business development at the end of the week and I was doing it on Fridays, thinking, oh, Friday, a nice day to do my business development, by which time I was knackered and. Or mopping up stuff that I hadn't managed to get done during the week, which meant the signal I was sending to my brain was that my stuff, not a priority.""And what I see quite a lot is memberships are really good with the inspiration and the information, but can fall down a little bit when it comes to the implementation piece."

The host passionately critiques the myth that scarcity marketing is essential for growing memberships. He distinguishes between closed-door and open-door enrollment models, highlighting when each can be appropriate. Real-world examples illustrate the success of always-open memberships, disproving the need for manipulative tactics. Furthermore, he discusses the long-term pitfalls of relying on gimmicks, stressing the importance of honest marketing for member satisfaction and retention. The episode serves as a call to discard deceptive practices in favor of genuine engagement.

Join Colin Gray, founder of The Podcast Host and Alitu, as he unpacks the latest trends in podcasting. They dive into the challenges independent creators face amid the rise of celebrity and AI-generated shows. Colin reveals strategies for enhancing discoverability, emphasizing the importance of unique perspectives and storytelling. He also shares tips on leveraging video, building trust through consistency, and using newsletters for audience growth. Discover why authentic, human-led podcasts will thrive, even in an AI-driven world.

Discover the top five priorities for membership success in 2026! Learn why grasping your KPIs is crucial and how to set meaningful goals. Shift your focus from selling content to showcasing transformations that resonate with members. Diversifying your offerings can safeguard your revenue while meeting evolving needs. Embrace experimentation as a means to innovate and grow, and surround yourself with a supportive community for accountability and advice. Practical insights await to help propel your membership business to new heights!

In this episode, I explore the importance of truly stepping away from your membership business over the holiday season.I share personal stories and practical advice on setting boundaries and embracing rest, debunking the myth that constant hustle is required for success.I also discuss how taking a real break not only protects your wellbeing, but can spark creativity and increase your effectiveness as a membership owner in the new year.Tune in for actionable tips to help you (and your community) enjoy the festive period guilt-free.In this episode:Why is it essential for membership owners to take genuine time off during the holidays, rather than just reducing work hours?What are the consequences of always being available and not properly disconnecting from your business?How can you plan and communicate your holiday break effectively to your team and members?What are the benefits—both personal and strategic—to stepping back from your membership, and how can it set you up for success in the new year?Thank You For ListeningI 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:"If you burn yourself out because you're not able to pull yourself away from your business, you're going to take all of that exhaustion, all of that resentment, because that will build. You're going to take all of that into the new year and that will absolutely bleed into every aspect of what you do. Your members don't want a version of you that's running on fumes, that's not rested.""When the brain is distracted by other things is when some of the best actual ideas and creativity comes up. When you take that time out, when you allow yourself to step back, you make space for those big ideas to show up.""You'll find that any time going forward that you want to take a break away, it no longer feels like it's a risk. It no longer feels like something you should be guilty about. You start to see it as a normal, healthy part of running your membership, because it is. And you'll come back from that break fresher, motivated, with a clearer idea of how the next year is going to look than you would if you'd spent the holidays balancing your laptop on your knee when you should be having Christmas dinner and enjoying the break."

This discussion highlights a critical mistake in membership businesses: neglecting the onboarding process. Effective onboarding can significantly boost member retention and satisfaction. The speaker shares actionable strategies, including the importance of initial experiences and personalized communication. Learn four essential steps to enhance onboarding, such as easy first tasks and automated follow-ups. Discover how even large memberships often overlook these basics and why focusing on onboarding is vital for long-term success.

Explore how to rise above the overwhelming tide of AI-generated content, often dubbed 'AI slop'. Discover the significance of showcasing your authentic voice and unique perspective in a world flooded with generic material. Learn why storytelling, vulnerability, and real-life case studies are essential for building trust with your audience. Gain insights into how your membership can thrive by prioritizing genuine human connections and personalized support over sheer content volume.

In this episode, I dive into the power of feedback loops and how they've been instrumental in driving membership growth for our community.I share exclusive insights from my session at Retain Live 2025, breaking down how to effectively gather, analyze, and act on feedback at every stage of the member lifecycle.You'll learn practical tactics for not only getting useful member input, but also using it to shape your offerings, refine your marketing, and boost retention.If you're ready to make your members feel heard and create a more engaging and successful membership, this episode is for you.In this episode:What exactly is a feedback loop, and why is it so vital for membership businesses?How can you effectively gather and use feedback from non-buyers, new members, existing members, and those leaving your community?What are the key stages in the member lifecycle where feedback loops should be implemented for maximum impact?How do you close the loop by showing members the tangible results and changes that result from their feedback?Thank You For ListeningI 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 need to speak to your audience, to your members, to your buyers, your non buyers, your ex members. That feedback is critical for guiding the growth of your business. But it's not enough to just get that feedback. You need to know what feedback to ask for and what to do with it.""And when they respond, listen, reply, have that conversation, but also take the responses and start creating content from it. Address the frequently asked questions, the frequent obstacles and objections that come up.""If someone's leaving, we need to know why and this shouldn't be a passive thing. We need to survey our outgoing members. We need to ideally have something in place before the cancellation is final, where we ask them why they are no longer staying in the membership and then respond to that before the final decision is made, offer them some alternatives to cancelling, acknowledge any frustrations, show that we care and we want them to stay so it's not just a case of them clicking the button and they're gone."

Explore effective strategies for managing stress in membership businesses. Discover how to set realistic expectations and treat your membership as a long-term journey. Embrace the power of incremental growth and avoid the pitfalls of perfectionism. Learn the benefits of outsourcing tasks to focus on what truly matters. Understand the importance of setting boundaries and keeping stress in context to maintain balance. This insightful discussion will help you enjoy the process and prevent burnout on your entrepreneurial adventure.