#311: How to Build a Successful Paid Community | Growth in Reverse

The highest month of membership revenue in Lab history was also the setup for the highest month of churn. One year later, February delivered both records. I have been building community in some form since 2012. I ran Startup Weekend events in Columbus, led online Mastermind groups, consulted on the launch of SPI Pro, and spent 2021 leading the community team at Smart Passive Income before going back out on my own. In early 2022, I launched what became the Lab, a membership for creators earning at least $10,000 per month in non-service revenue or with 10,000 followers on a single platform. The Lab now has around 340 members across three tiers and is still standing after years of waves of communities coming and going. In this episode, we talk about: Why scarcity and urgency drive signups but can crater your retention a year later The two onboarding "secrets" I kept quiet for a while The mastermind paradox How to think about scaling a community without accidentally eroding the culture you've built What I would tell anyone thinking about launching a membership before they write a single line of copy By the end of this episode, you will have a clearer picture of how a membership actually works over years, not just at launch. Subscribe to Growth in Reverse Watch on YouTube The Lab Membership⁠ ⁠The Lab Membership Teardown (free)⁠ ⁠Circle (community platform)⁠ ⁠Kit Craft and Commerce Conference⁠ ⁠Chenell Basilio on Creator Science⁠⁠ Full transcript and show notes *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Introduction and episode context (02:08) How Jay started the Lab (from Startup Weekend to SPI Pro to Creative Companion Club) (09:37) The scarcity play: record revenue month followed by record churn (10:38) What actually works as a marketing lever for a community (13:46) Why Jay runs applications and has a 90% conversion rate for accepted members (16:30) The design philosophy: reduce effort, increase impact (24:19) Mid-boarding: the missing piece between onboarding and renewal (35:13) Jay's onboarding framework and the two secrets he's been keeping (40:46) Why offline events matter for retention (not necessarily growth) (47:00) How to think about scaling community without destroying culture (49:19) Who shouldn't launch a membership (and what to figure out first) *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE #292: Chenell Basilio — The state of email in 2026, growing your list without social media, and new predictions. *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE Submit your question here *** WHEN YOU'RE READY Creator Science Newsletter Get CreatorHQ (creator operating system) Join The Lab (private membership community) Get a Personalized Offer *** CONNECT Connect on Twitter Connect on Instagram Connect on LinkedIn Subscribe on YouTube *** SPONSORS View all sponsors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices