Membership Success Story: SLP Stephen

Membership type: Content Library, Online Course, Digital Downloads
Built with: Squarespace + MemberSpace
Established: 2018

Stephen is a licensed speech-language pathologist helping people who stutter speak more easily.

Effective communication is key to creating meaningful connections with others. But communicating clearly doesn’t come naturally for everyone. That’s why SLP Stephen is dedicated to transforming the world of speech therapy, making it accessible and enjoyable for all.

Stephen, the creator of “Fluency School” and the “7-Day Stuttering Shift,” has developed digital products to help those who stutter speak with confidence!

Stephen is a speech-language pathologist helping people who stutter speak more easily.
The Fluency School Stuttering Toolbox is a content library full of therapy materials and videos.

Meet the owner

Stephen Groner is a licensed speech-language pathologist helping individuals who stutter enhance their fluency. 

Before launching his online business, Stephen was busy working a 9-5 job as a speech-language pathologist for a large healthcare system. Now, he not only aids people who stutter, but also helps other professionals provide effective speech therapy with his provider resources. 

I needed a way to "store" my stuttering help content and "get" it to customers... That's when I scoured Google and found MemberSpace, the perfect Squarespace plugin for memberships.

Membership Q & A

What is the pain point you solve for your customers?

I help people who stutter and those who love them to speak more easily.

What were you doing before your membership business?

I was working a 9-5 job as a speech-language pathologist for a large healthcare system.

What challenges did you have in the early stages of your business? How did you solve those challenges?

I needed a way to “store” my stuttering help content and “get” it to customers. I chose Squarespace for my website, but, at the time, they didn’t offer memberships. I tried a Google Drive folder and then a DropBox folder, but they couldn’t scale with my content. That’s when I scoured Google and found MemberSpace, the perfect Squarespace plugin for memberships.

Were there any keys to success, or big "a-ha!" moments that really elevated the growth of your business?

If I gave extreme value at first for free and then at an extremely fair price (if you were wanting more), people would line up out the door.

💡 Membership Tip
Providing value for free helps to build trust with potential customers. Once they benefit from what you have to offer, they’ll be more likely to purchase your higher tier offerings!

The 7-Day Stuttering Shift is an online course with practical lessons and exercises for Stephen's audience.

Did you have a social media following or large email list before you started your membership? How did you initially grow your audience there?

Yes; I had 2,000 Instagram followers when I launched the first iteration of my stuttering help membership using Squarespace and Google Drive. When I switched over to MemberSpace, I had at least 10,000 followers. Every day, I posted extremely practical advice and tips that no one else was sharing.

💡 Membership Tip
Consistency is key to growing a following on social media. Sharing clear and useful information for your target audience helps to build value and a positive reputation for your brand.

How do you market your membership and find new members?

Instagram, word of mouth, and Google search.

Do you spend any money on paid advertisements?

No

Have you done anything to focus on retention and reduce canceled members?

Thankfully, I charge only a one-time fee, so I don’t get canceled members.

What are some of your favorite online tools for running your business?

Squarespace and Canva

Do you have a team helping with your membership business?

Nope, just me!

Stephen connected his MemberSpace signup links to custom buttons throughout his website.

What's your source of inspiration?

My own lived life experience as a person who stutters.

💡 Membership Tip
Stephen pulled from his own life experiences as inspiration to help others. His membership business has turned his knowledge into income and impact!

If you could give your younger self any advice, what would it be?

There will be a lot you’ll need to say to help others, so don’t give up talking.

What's next for your business?

Live events and conferences!

There will be a lot you'll need to say to help others, so don't give up talking.

Membership Business Takeaways

  • Offering free introductory content is a great way to provide value and build trust with potential customers. When they know they’ll benefit from what you have to offer, they’ll be more likely to purchase one of your higher tier offerings.
  • To grow a social media following, be consistent sharing valuable content with your audience. Bonus points if you share information or perspectives that other accounts are not!
  • Pull from your own life experience as business inspiration. How can you turn your unique knowledge into a digital product, membership, or service?

Need help getting started?

Connect with our friendly team, weekdays 10am - 6pm ET.

Let's chat!

MemberSpace makes it easy to sell digital products and memberships. For additional resources on building, marketing and scaling your business, check out MemberSpace University, our hub of step-by-step guides, educational videos, technical and strategy tips, and more.