The key to the success of any online revenue is engagement. But what exactly does the word "engagement" mean in this context?

Engagement is an industry buzzword that's very hot right now. However, it can mean different things to different people. For example, in social media, it means clicks, likes, shares, and comments. But what we're talking about in the context of a membership site, online course or any online revenue is something more personal and organic.

For a membership site, engagement means your members are involved and committed. It means your site is part of their life. They're not just scrolling through content and passively taking it in. They're using the content on your site, taking action, and interacting with others.

Why Engagement Is Important

There are a number of reasons engagement is so important. First of all, an engaged membership, or course is involved and committed. This means they're receptive and they listen to what you say.

Picture someone who isn't engaged. For that person who only occasionally checks the site to see what's new and skim through content, they aren’t taking what you say seriously. On the other hand, if your users are checking in each day to see what new content or replies they have, you're a part of their everyday life. You're like a trusted friend to them.

Engagement is how you build relationships, and this is the whole point of online course or membership sites. If you have a solid relationship with each individual member of your site or course, you'll have more influence over them. This is really the biggest benefit of running any online revenue generating platform. It gives you a deeply personal connection to members of your market.

Finally, engaged members get much more out of your site. When someone is engaged and taking action, working toward a goal, and getting the full value out of what you offer, they'll see results. When a user sees results, they'll realize the unique value you offer, keep using the site, and tell others about it.

How to Create Engagement

There are many techniques you can employ to create engagement. You can welcome each new member with a personalized message and a "start here" suggestion for them. If your customer service and content are spot-on, this will help. Giving plenty of opportunities to engage, such as an interactive forum or free webinars, will create engaged members.

If there's one simple, key ingredient to engagement, it is to listen to your users and deliver what they want from you. Your members signed up for your site or course because they were expecting the unique value you promised on your marketing materials. If you're providing this and meeting their expectations, they will use the site and stick around.

Your membership site, course or coaching will give you a great deal of opportunities to learn about your market. If your members are engaged, it creates a kind of feedback loop. Your members use the site, you interact with them, you learn more about them and make improvements, and then they use the site more. This is the goal, and it will keep your online revenue stream successful for a long time.