Having a membership is a great way to get the best value for one’s money. This is because one gets access to exclusive benefits and experiences. Besides this, there are a plethora of options and opportunities that members can take advantage of. Whether it’s a gym, professional organization, loyalty program, or monthly club, being a member comes with a lot of perks that often prove to give returns beyond the initial investment of membership fees.

Advantages of having any membership
Here are a few advantages of having any membership:

1. Member discounts
Many brands and services offer special discounts and deals only for their members. Often, such discounts are on the latest offerings, popular services, or products of the brand. Aside from this, brands also have members-only sales during special events, such as holidays, or when the brand has completed a milestone, like 10-year anniversaries. Sometimes, organizations also offer deals that slash the membership fees for the next year. These offer a perfect opportunity to save money while continuing to enjoy the exclusive benefits of the membership. Besides, these discounts and deals are perfect for getting the most out of the membership.

2. Free merchandise and swag
One of the most fun parts of membership is getting free merchandise and swag. For the brand, this is a way to enhance the experience of their members and encourage loyalty. It is an effective promotional tactic. For members, it’s a way to feel connected to the brand. Often, organizations create merchandise tailored according to the interests and needs of their members. For example, a professional organization may send out branded office supplies or technology gadgets.

Meanwhile, a monthly club might give branded tote bags, accessories, or personalized items. Such merchandise and swag are usually given as welcome kits to new members. Sometimes, clubs give away swag to existing members to encourage them to renew their memberships. Besides this, many brands send free merchandise to recognize and celebrate member milestones.

3. Priority service
Brands often want to create a sense of exclusivity, value, and appreciation among their most loyal members.  This is done to drive customer satisfaction, retention, and advocacy. One way they do this is by offering priority service to their exclusive members. These services are offered in various ways. For example, dedicated customer support channels such as priority hotlines or email addresses are especially for members. Besides this, members can also take advantage of fast-track processing, such as expedited shipping, priority processing of service requests, and quicker checkout at physical locations. Besides, brands and services in the hospitality, entertainment, or travel industries also offer priority access to members for reservations and bookings.

4. Special events
Another exciting benefit of having a membership is getting invited to special events. These can be in-person or online events such as webinars, master classes, special sessions, or workshops. Sometimes, non-members may gain access to such events, but they are usually required to pay admission fees or buy passes, which members do not have to. For example, a brand may invite members to an exclusive event that a popular celebrity hosts. In the case of a gym membership, members might be invited to attend special workout sessions or dance sessions, which are not accessible to non-members. Some organizations also host master classes and workshops by industry experts, which only members can attend for free.

5. Affinity programs
Many brands and services often tie up with other brands from different segments to offer affinity programs to their members. From a business perspective, such affinity programs allow brands to gain mutual benefits. Meanwhile, for members, this means getting special opportunities to experience and try out another brand or service. Such opportunities can be in the form of freebies, special discounts, and exclusive experiences. For example, a gym may collaborate with an exercise apparel or nutrition food and beverage brand to offer affinity programs to gym members. Members can get discounts and benefits from these brands because of their partnership with the gym. Such affinity programs are a great way to derive the maximum benefits from the initial membership fees.

6. Exclusive content
Access to interesting and insightful content is one of the most important membership benefits. Brands often release content that is exclusively available to their members. For non-members, such content is often behind a paywall. The content includes newsletters, blogs, podcasts, ebooks, white papers, emails, or short and long-form videos. These are used to share information about topics that the members discuss. For instance, a skincare brand may send out video blogs detailing the latest trends in the industry exclusively for its members. This   can be  quite  useful for those who like to stay ahead of the crowd.  Sometimes, members get an early preview of the content before it is released to the public.

7. Exclusive members-only communication channels
Many organizations create exclusive communication channels only for their members. Through such channels, members enjoy the benefit of connecting and communicating with other members. This enables them to grow their network and find like-minded members who share similar interests. For instance, a brand can set up a private social media page exclusively for its loyalty program members. The members connect and directly communicate with the brand through this page. Usually, brands and services offer members-only communication channels through mobile apps.