I’m excited to announce the April 2025 Indie Business Book Club selection: The Membership Economy: Find Your Super Users, Master the Forever Transaction, and Build Recurring Revenue by Robbie Kellman Baxter. I personally chose this book because one of my favorite things to do is help people turn connections into cash by showing them how to create, nurture, and grow a personal brand community that produces endless sales opportunities for life. One of the ways to do that is to integrate membership concepts into your business strategy, and that's what this book is all about. Of course, this should come as no surprise to you, considering that the Indie Business Network—which I founded 25 years ago—is, as far as I can see, the first for-profit membership businesses on the Internet.
Product Makers Can Lead Membership Businesses Too!
For too long, membership business models have been dominated by service-based industries and multi-million dollar companies like American Express, Netflix, and Spotify. Aside from subscription boxes and auto-ship options, smaller product-based brands have yet to fully embrace the power of membership. In so doing, they are leaving money, customer loyalty, and brand visibility on the table. We are going to fix that as we read this book together.
The Membership Economy is Here to Stay
Did you know that repeat customers spend 67% more than new ones? Plus, acquiring a new customer can cost five to 25 times more than keeping an existing one engaged.
Yes, attracting new customers is essential—but long-term business success, financial stability, and the freedom you desire as an entrepreneur come from recurring revenue and loyal customer relationships. A membership model makes that possible.
I don’t just believe this because I read it in a book or heard it on a podcast—I know it from two and a half decades of firsthand experience pioneering the membership business model. If you’re a product maker looking for a smarter way to grow your business, it’s time to explore the power of membership.
What you'll learn …
In addition to enjoying a fresh and affirming entrepreneurial perspective, here are some of the things you'll learn by reading this book with us:
- how to turn connections into cash and reduce revenue uncertainties
- exactly what to do to increase income predictability with self-generating revenue streams
- the importance of leveraging your customers's innate desire to gravitate toward community
- … and so much more!
Reading Plan
The reading plan progresses in our private Entrepreneur Member Facebook Group.
The graphic below displays our easy reading schedule.
Robbie Kellman Baxter is a consultant and speaker who has been providing strategic business advice to Silicon Valley companies for over 20 years. She is the founder of the consulting firm Peninsula Strategies, and regularly presents to professional associations, leading universities, and corporations.
Purchase The Membership Economy
Buy this and other Indie Business Book Club picks at IBN's Amazon shop.
The book is also available on Audible and on Kindle, via Amazon.
Of course, you can also purchase the book at your favorite local book store or check it out of your local library.
Are you ready? Let's do it.
Join us!
If you're not familiar with the Indie Business Book Club, you can click here for more information.
If you're a member of the Indie Business Network, make sure to join us in our private Entrepreneur Members Facebook group to get started.
If you're not an IBN member, what are you waiting for? Join now and enjoy the book club and tons of other benefits to help you and your business become better every day.
