As I work on my book, The Membership Economy, I have received many questions from independent consultants, asking how they can incorporate principles of membership and subscription to grow their reach and the value that they can provide to their own communities.

Here are seven ways even the smallest, leanest community is able to win in the Membership Economy:

1. Start with sound value proposition, even before community is established.
2. Attract new members through an abundance of free and low priced offerings.
3. Create additional value from networked effect.
4. Balance virtual and in-person programming.
5. Balance big group exchanges, small group opportunities and opportunities for individual benefits.
6. Take advantage of technology to enable user-generated content.
7. Change and grow offerings as membership needs change.