Subscription Website Publishers Association (SWEPA)

Now, ask yourself: Is this an "association" as most association executives might define the term?

At first blush, the answer is no, right? This doesn’t appear to really be an "organization." As far as I can tell, it’s just a for-profit website owned by an individual.

Take a closer look. They charge dues. Members get access to information and knowledge resources that are otherwise closed. There’s a very active discussion forum where members interact with each other, ask questions, get answers. SWEPA sponsors training, which members get discounts on. There are products members can buy at a discount.

How is this any different from associations as we know them?

Well, they don’t do "advocacy" — but there’s no reason why they couldn’t if they felt there was a reason to get involved. (And lots of old-school associations don’t really do advocacy, either.) There’s no "governance" structure — no board, no committees. (For this site’s purposes of efficiently providing information its members want to pay for, do you think that’s a hindrance?)

Of course, what really caught my eye about this site is its whole reason for being — and the people who join. People who run "subscription websites" (including self-styled "associations") for niche industries and professions.

SWEPA even offers a couple sample business plans for "membership association websites."

Set aside SWEPA and its resources. The fact is it’s incredibly easy for just about anyone to form a dues-based website that costs next to nothing — and if that individual happens to know a lot about whatever industry or profession niche he/she’s targeting, it’s just as easy to create useful and interesting content.

(Just out of curiosity, I spent about half-a-day researching this, and realized that if I wanted to I could create a fully-integrated paid membership website, using some low-cost software and my own basic html design skills, for less than $500 and some sweat equity.)

While many of these subscription sites remain "pie-in-the-sky" ideas for their owners, there are many successful ones — dues-based for-profit sites that have figured out how to provide engaging content, interactive communities, and useful resources that members want to pay for.

Anybody can do it.

Including your association.

Or people who want to compete with you.

Are you providing the same kinds of resources on your organization’s website? Making it easy for members to join and get the information they want? Providing the "virtual" experience that more and more of your customers/members want today? (Is "networking" as it used to be defined by associations dying or dead? I think it is.)

I’m really curious about other people’s thoughts on this topic.

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