Private Membership Associations: Pros, Cons & How it Works

Imagine a space curated just as per your likes and choices! That’s what a private membership association is. Technically, it is a group of people with exact interests as you and operates privately via a basic membership fee. 

It can be a professional association membership wherein people of a specific profession get together. For example, ABA Membership, APA membership, Australian Medical Association, Canadian Marketing Association Membership, etc. 

On the other hand, a private association can also be around a shared hobby or interest. For instance, fitness memberships, recipe blog memberships, traveler’s membership, etc. a professional or an interest focused membership has become an attractive option for people these days. 

Here, we shall explore everything about a private membership and association. Should you offer that in your business? By the end of this read, you will have the exact answer! 

What is a Private Membership Association?

A private membership association is established to bring together a group of individuals with shared interests, goals, and services. It can be established by an individual or group of individuals who take the head position of the private association and create regulations. Unlike traditional memberships that are open for all, a private association has a certain criteria to become an exclusive member. What makes a private membership unique?

• Privacy First: As the name suggests, privacy and security are at the heart of these memberships. There’s often a membership agreement in place that ensures all the discussions and activities of the association are protected. 
• Legal Foundation: There are bylaws and contracts in place to define member roles and responsibilities. This ensures that a membership is properly understood by the members and the ones that are willing to join. 
• Tailored Purpose: The purpose of a private or professional memberships is very clear. It is formed for a specific purpose. Be it a health related group, a hobby club, or a membership in a professional organization.

Thus, a private membership is set out to provide member specific benefits by creating a close knit group. 

Pros of a Private Membership Association

A private membership provides multiple advantages that make it appealing. If you wish to provide exclusivity and privacy, this is a perfect model for you. Let’s explore the key benefits. 

1. Exclusivity and Privacy As we know, this kind of a membership helps create a private space for your members. Eventually, such an exclusive community builds trust, fosters security, and a strong sense of belonging. Because the activities are within the group, the members can function without any external judgment as it makes them feel more confident. 
2. Autonomy and Control A private membership is an autonomous organization. Thus, the members can set their rules and govern them freely. Everyone’s opinion and voice matters. This freedom is perfect for niches that need creative freedom and flexibility. 
3. Stronger Community and Networking With similar interests and goals, you can establish a tight-knit community that is super engaged. These groups of people would love interacting with one another. Be it a professional network or a hobby group, an association like this offers an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and grow to the members. 
4. Tailored Services and Benefits Specialized training, exclusive resources, digital downloads, multiple tiers catering to different levels, courses, etc. are designed to meet the specific member needs. A private membership further allows you to understand what the members want and design content that suits their needs. 
5. Legal Protections A private membership defines member actions and boundaries. Because of the membership law, the members feel more safe and secure in sharing their expertise and engaging in the community. It is perfect for associations that deal with specialized services like bar association membership, ADA membership, or Canadian medical association membership.

Cons of a Private Association of Members

Member’s private associations do come up with a huge stack of benefits. However, there are certain drawbacks that you must address before starting or joining a private membership. 

1. Limited Accessibility The exclusivity of private membership associations naturally limits accessibility. However, this exclusivity is the foundation of their appeal, as it creates a focused and dedicated community. While this may not cater to everyone, it ensures a more aligned and cohesive member base.
2. Legal and Regulatory Complexities When structured and managed effectively, private memberships operate smoothly and within legal boundaries. That said, a well-thought-out framework and consistent vigilance are essential to avoid potential legal implications, ensuring the association remains compliant and protected.
3. Higher Costs Creating a truly exclusive and private membership association requires investment in legal fees, member benefits, and other operational expenses. While this may lead to higher membership fees, it also adds immense value for members, making it worth the investment for those seeking a premium experience.
4. Potential Mismanagement Since private memberships are governed internally, having strong, transparent leadership is crucial to maintaining harmony within the group. With effective management practices and possibly a dedicated moderator, the association can thrive and create a rewarding experience for all members.

Who Can Benefit from a Private Membership Association?

A private association setup is designed for specific groups. For exclusivity and autonomy, there are certain professions for which this model is best suited. Here’s a quick glance at this idea. 

1. Health and Wellness Practitioners: Health practitioners, therapists, medicine providers, etc. need an organization where they can discuss best practices and support each other. Indian Medical Association Membership is one such example of a private membership.
2. Professional Networks: Bring together industry specific professionals like consultants, freelancers, therapists, etc. This helps an internal collaboration and resource sharing among the members thus promoting mutual support. 
3. Hobby and Interest Groups: Want to bring together like minded individuals? Photographers, dancers, artists, musicians, sportspeople, etc. can come together to form a private membership that promotes best practices and internal collaborations. 
4. Advocacy and Special Interest Organizations: Professionals in the field of advocacy, law, media, realtors, etc. require a legal framework to function. A private association supports that and protects internal operations. 
5. Educational and Training Communities: If you are planning to offer exclusive training and certifications, a membership that is private is for you. This can help maintain the quality of your participants and of the content that you provide. 

How to Create a Membership Professional Associations

Creating a private membership is an easy breezy task with a powerful tool like ARMember WordPress Plugin. Just create a website on the best CMS WordPress and install the ARMember Plugin. The following features will help you build a private association like never before. 

• Multiple Membership Tiers: You can use four different types of membership offering (Free, Paid Finite, Paid Infinite, and Recurring Subscription). This helps create multiple membership levels to cater to professionals with different experience and goals. 
• Content Access Rules: With a robust content access restriction system, your private membership is truly private. You can decide who will see what content to keep the exclusivity of a private association intact. 
• Social Community: Want all the members to interact on a single platform? Then create your own social media community within the membership site. It can provide features like internal feed posting, liking, commenting, private messaging, group creation, follow/unfollow, friend request, etc. 
• Content Dripping: Release content of a private membership gradually or step by step. This ensures stable engagement of members with the community. They wait for the next content launch and keep interacting with your site. 
• Email Integration: With multiple email triggers and email marketing integrations, you can automate internal communication and updates. This keeps members onboard with all the activities and happenings of the private membership association. 
• Perfect Security Features: ARMember comes with built-in security options that are advanced. Site restriction without login, brute force login protection, invisible spam, reCAPTCHA, login lockup system, Email/Username/IP blocking etc.

These and many more ARMember features with its addons make the process of setting up a membership association pretty easy. Try it now and see the difference yourself. 

Examples of Top Private Membership Associations

There are multiple private professional membership associations. Checkout the following list of such private associations and what they do right here!

• ABA Membership: This American Bar Association supports you in your journey of becoming a legal professional. It provides exclusive content, helps build community, and features joint advocacy efforts thus, promoting growth. 
• APA Membership: American Psychological Association enhances professional development as well as boosts your personal growth. 
• Australian Medical Association: This private association helps in ensuring smooth workplace relations, provides journal access, entry to membership communities for networking and much more. 
• National Association for Independent Schools: For private, non-profit, and K-12 schools, this is a great private association. Herein, you get in-depth guidance on creating better learning experiences and much more. 
• The Kennel Club: This private association is dedicated to dog health, training, and welfare across the UK. Its membership provides you access to multiple books, resources, and dog shows. 
• Harry Potter Fan Club: It is well known that Harry Potter is a subject of crazy interest. This Private Association or club provides weekly newsletters, helps sort your house, wand, Patronus, and so much more. It is a truly unique and engaging experience for HP Fans. 

Wrapping Up