Engaged Groups Podcast with Sandra De Freitas

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Sandra shares her evolving perspective on business success, emphasizing building recurring value, creating assets over constant activity, and aligning your business with the life you want. She encourages listeners to design businesses that reflect who they truly are.

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Sandra reflects on summer productivity, sharing five powerful strategies to set yourself, and your membership business, up for a calmer, more successful fall. Focus on systems, evergreen content, and making thoughtful decisions that future you will appreciate.

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Sandra challenges listeners to rethink their priorities by asking, "What if you only had five hours this week?" Focusing on CEO work and what truly grows your business, she shares practical tips to help entrepreneurs maximize impact and clarity.

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Sandra highlights the importance of building memberships that support your life, not consume it. She shares why consistency and simplicity matter more than constant new content, and challenges listeners to make their business lighter and more sustainable this season.

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Sandra explores how busy work (even when successful) can sidetrack you from your true business goals. She shares her own experience of saying no to good opportunities, emphasizing the importance of intentional focus and alignment with your long-term vision.

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Sandra shares a simple mid-year business reset, guiding you to pause, reflect, and refocus on what’s working. She emphasizes sustainability, letting go of draining tasks, and setting just three priorities so you can finish the year stronger, not busier.

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Sandra tackles quiet communities, busting the myth that comments mean success. She shares why members often go silent and offers actionable ways to spark real engagement, without exhausting yourself posting daily or trying to be endlessly entertaining.

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Sandra explores the top seven signs your membership growth may have plateaued, from declining engagement to dependence on you as the owner. She shares actionable tips to break through these ceilings and keep your community thriving, focusing on clarity and strategic improvements.

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Sandra breaks down the top membership mistakes she’s seeing this year, from overwhelming content to weak onboarding, and shares actionable fixes like clear member paths and building on owned platforms to boost retention and growth.

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Sandra reveals what truly makes a membership healthy: active engagement, clear onboarding, regular communication, and a strong promise, showing how these elements reduce churn and create a supportive, results-driven community for your members.

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Sandra shares how small implementation challenges can spark engagement and genuine smiles in your membership. By focusing on quick wins, community connection, and fun prizes, members stay motivated and your community thrives.

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Sandra tackles the myth that you need a massive audience to launch a membership. She shares why smaller, engaged groups can be more powerful, how to build momentum without burning out, and encourages starting simple with the people already paying attention.

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Sandra dives into the hidden pitfalls that cause memberships to fail before launch. She highlights the dangers of overbuilding, stresses the value of clarity over perfection, and shares practical tips for creating a sustainable, burnout-free membership experience.

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Sandra shares a behind-the-scenes look at running her third half marathon and draws sharp parallels to the challenges membership owners face, highlighting the importance of pacing, consistency, and sustainable plans over perfection.

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Sandra shares a behind-the-scenes look at Membership Audit Week, highlighting the importance of auditing memberships, re-engaging audiences, trying new strategies like YouTube lives, and the power of community and affiliate support in growing and improving your membership.

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Sandra walks through her real-time price increase launch strategy for her membership, sharing why raising prices matters, how to communicate changes clearly, and ways to use price adjustments as a momentum-building event for both you and your members.

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Sandra sheds light on why many memberships struggle—not due to lack of effort, but because core systems are rarely reviewed. She reminds everyone that Membership Audit Week, a free 5-day event to assess and improve membership foundations, engagement, content, and growth strategies, started today and it's still not too late.

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Sandra outlines 7 key signs your membership may need an audit, emphasizing that more content or effort isn’t always the answer. Instead, she recommends stepping back, reviewing systems, and joining her free for Membership Audit Week to uncover actionable insights and improvements.

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Sandra continues this series by highlighting the importance of regularly auditing memberships. She outlines five critical areas—foundations, onboarding, engagement, content, and growth—showing how small adjustments can dramatically boost retention and member satisfaction. Join the free Membership Audit Week here.

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Sandra explores why memberships slow down, emphasizing that random fixes aren’t the answer. She introduces the Membership Audit Week—a 5-day event to review foundations, onboarding, engagement, content, and growth, helping owners identify what really needs attention for lasting improvement.

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Sandra interviews Liz Wilcox about her $9/month email membership, the inspiration behind its "Walmart" model, and why serving beginners matters. They share tips on engaging emails, gamified templates, and why keeping things simple can help both you and your members thrive.

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Sandra reveals a simple, no-prep strategy to boost email engagement: the AMA (Ask Me Anything) email. She explains how time-limited AMA invites spark replies, build trust, and offer valuable market research that can fuel future content and community growth.

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Sandra shares her experiment with running ads in her email newsletter via Kit, revealing real numbers and lessons learned. While not a major revenue stream, it opened doors to new monetization strategies, including digital products and paid recommendations.

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Sandra explores how to make the most of the digital courses and trainings you’ve collected by integrating learning into daily routines, like treadmill sessions. She shares personal strategies to actually use and benefit from resources, turning passive consumption into real progress.

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Sandra reveals the essential blueprint for launching a lasting membership, stressing the importance of starting with your promise, not your platform. She shares tips to help you design a sustainable, upgrade-ready membership that aligns with your strengths and avoids burnout.

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Sandra tackles the common issue of membership burnout, revealing how overdelivering can turn a membership into a second full-time job. She shares strategies for creating sustainable, energizing memberships and invites listeners to her Map Your Membership workshop for actionable solutions.

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Sandra discusses the dangers of treating memberships like one-time projects, urging listeners to focus on stability, clarity, and ongoing improvement. Consistent engagement and refinement foster trust, growth, and make membership promotion effortless and sustainable.

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Sandra offers a January reality check for membership owners, highlighting how burnout stems from lack of structure, not motivation. She shares how sustainable systems and community support can transform overwhelm into momentum for a thriving membership year-round.

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Sandra shares essential advice for newbies joining summits and bundles, emphasizing organization, early submissions, and supporting hosts. She highlights how positive collaborations and proactive participation can make you a standout partner in the online events community.

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Sandra shares essential Q1 launch planning tips by highlighting key holidays and events that can impact audience attention. Strategically scheduling launches and promotions increases engagement, reduces burnout, and makes results more predictable.

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Sandra shares her predictions for memberships, launches, and communities in 2026—from the rise of AI as a supportive tool, evergreen launch ecosystems, and community-driven products to mid-ticket offers, simplified tech, and the enduring power of real human connection.

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Sandra reviews the top 10 episodes of the year, sharing lessons learned from membership launches, onboarding, tech strategies, and leveraging summits. She emphasizes actionable insights for building thriving communities and previews the upcoming "Momentum Year" project.

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Sandra shares her reflections on 2025 and looks ahead to 2026, highlighting the importance of focusing on what you can control, leveraging and repurposing content, and optimizing business strategies for memberships, launches, and collaborations to build sustainable momentum.

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Sandra hosts a lively roundtable with membership experts from her fall summit to discuss 2026. The group shares insights on experimentation, authenticity, and building community while embracing flexibility, play, and alignment, all to stay energized in an ever-changing online world.

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Sandra shares her reflections on a lackluster Black Friday, explores why sales were slow across industries, and offers community-building tips and advice for planning future promotions. She encourages resilience and highlights the value of recurring membership revenue.

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Sandra tackles the challenge of December membership cancellations, sharing simple, low-effort strategies to boost engagement and retention. From reflection threads to fun holiday prompts, she offers actionable tips to keep members connected without extra work.

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Sandra shares five creative strategies for running successful Black Friday sales for memberships, including early launch timing, exclusive bonuses, bundles, and confidence-building offers, all designed to increase recurring revenue and member retention.

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Sandra shares her unique "Thank You Week" celebration, marking 20 years in business with daily gifts, member engagement strategies, and creative use of business credits, while reflecting on community growth and future plans for more meaningful interactions.

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Sandra celebrates 20 years in business, sharing her journey from tech support to membership expert. She reflects on the highs, lows, key lessons learned, and the importance of email lists and evergreen content for membership growth and community building.

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Sandra welcomes AI expert Maria Elena Duron to discuss how memberships can boost visibility and avoid being the "best kept secret" in AI-powered searches. Learn practical SEO tips, organizing content, and using blog FAQs to ensure your membership is found through AI and search engines.

https://www.smartbrandsystem.com/events

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This past weekend, I took on a challenge that completely stretched me beyond my comfort zone—I ran my second half marathon, one that took me from the U.S. into Canada and back, crossing borders and pushing through more fears and doubts than I’ve faced in a long time. In this episode of Membership Launches and Communities, I wanted to share how this experience surprisingly mirrors so much of the business journey, including the hesitations, the commitment, and the power of community.

I’ll be honest, signing up for this race wasn’t a snap decision. At the holiday party last December, I found myself inspired by someone else’s half marathon training, and before I knew it, I was obsessively hovering over the registration page, debating all those familiar “what ifs.” What if my son’s hockey interfered, what if I couldn’t train enough, what if I just wasn’t ready? That feeling of shaky hands before committing is one that so many of us know, whether it’s buying a course for our business or launching something new. Eventually, I hit that register button, and I instantly felt the full nervous weight of signing up - what was I getting into?

Training for the race brought its own set of rocky moments and revelations. I started out with a “play-it-safe” plan, only looking to finish, not hit a time goal. But as the weeks rolled past, I realized my plan wasn’t challenging me enough, so I pivoted, found better resources, and started to see real change. There were upsides too—I got over my fear of running outside (and found beautiful new paths, even a “vacation horse” in the Azores), ran on the beach, learned to make training fit into family trips, and met people who motivated me in ways I didn’t expect.

But the nerves crept back in as race day approached. I didn’t feel ready, I hadn’t put in as many kilometers as I’d hoped, and logistically, even booking my hotel felt last-minute. The weather forecast was gloomy, my shoes weren’t new, my old injuries started acting up, and the excuses to bail piled up. Yet, thanks to my husband’s pep talk and remembering my son’s “breathe in, breathe out” mantra, I stayed focused—my only true goal was to finish.

Race day was filled with inspiration and real reminders of determination. I watched runners overcoming far bigger obstacles—people running with prosthetics, parents pushing strollers with children who had disabilities, participants running for loved ones, people coming back from spinal surgery. The sense of community was electric: Windsor’s “Fill the Line” program put volunteer cheerleaders, music, and flags representing dozens of countries along the route. Students, border agents, even DJs all celebrated runners from both sides of the border. It was such a vivid example of the value of community—strangers supporting each other through hard moments and big dreams.

Crossing the finish line felt incredible, not just for the physical accomplishment, but for having walked through every fear that tried to hold me back. Medal in hand, hearing my name from a volunteer, surrounded by a crowd of supportive people, I felt the same rush I hope my podcast listeners feel after pushing through business obstacles to reach their goals.

If you’ve ever felt paralyzed by the “what ifs” in your membership journey or business, I hope my half marathon story helps you see that those fears are just steps along the way. The reward—your “medal”—is waiting on the other end. Think about the support you have and the community you can build or lean into along the way, whether it’s fellow runners, volunteer cheerleaders, or your own group of business owners.

Thank you for joining me for this very personal episode. I hope it inspires you to identify your own medal, acknowledge your fears, and move through them, knowing an incredible community is cheering you on. And, if you ever get a chance to experience the energy and camaraderie of a big race, I highly recommend it!

I’m grateful for all the volunteers, the Detroit Free Press event team, my supportive family, and every runner whose story made this race so memorable. Here’s to chasing big goals, wherever they lead us next—even if you have to cross a few borders along the way!

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“Imagine your membership like welcoming a friend into your home. If you just open the door and stare, things get awkward fast. This week, we’re exploring how refreshing your welcome process can turn hesitant new members into loyal, long-term guests.”

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"Hosting a summit is like throwing a party. Day one is pure excitement, day two you’re halfway through the celebration, and by day three, you get that Sunday feeling knowing it’s almost over. But the real magic? Seeing members implement what they’ve learned in real time and watching the energy take off.”

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This week, I kicked off something huge (and yes, a little bit wild) in our membership world. The second annual Memberships What’s Working Now Summit is officially underway, and I couldn’t be more thrilled about how things are shaping up already. If you’re already signed up for the summit, I’m cheering you on! If you haven’t joined us yet, this is your invitation. Seriously, what are you waiting for? Head to whatsworkingnowsummit.com to grab your ticket and jump in.

Let me walk you through what’s happening inside the summit this year and how you can make the most of it. Right now, things are already buzzing. We’ve dropped presentations from our amazing sponsors, including my own session and talks from Krista Miller (all about adding hundreds of members through a virtual summit), Wendy White (on how to make your membership stand out), Charlene Stackel (covering operational strategies that scale), Autumn Wilson (simplifying social media), Leandra Nisbet (custom GPT concierge, anyone?), and Ericka Pardun (the best chargeback responses I’ve seen). And that’s just Monday!

If you grabbed the upgrade pass or all-access plus, there’s even more waiting for you, like podcast episodes, videos, transcripts, and a full month inside my membership. Plus, we’re hosting an implementation week to put everything you’ve learned into practice. The plus pass gets you even more: workbooks and $2,000 worth of presenter products. Don’t feel like you have to snag everything, but definitely grab the resources that click with where you want your business to go next.

Throughout the week, we’re diving into different themes each day, like growth, funnels, marketing, engagement, evergreen strategies, and tech. We’ve got presenters like Sage Grayson, Lindsay Padilla, Sarah and Justin, Liz Wilcox, Cleoniki Kesidis on gamification, Cat Griffin (Instagram tips), and Amy Lynch (on accessibility in memberships). I can barely keep up with all the incredible expertise we’re getting to share.

On top of all of that, I’ll be guiding a membership roadmap session and a membership makeover, plus plenty of live Q&As and a hopping Facebook group where the conversation is already in full swing. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed, don’t worry, I’m sharing tips inside the group to help you avoid summit overload. My biggest advice: don’t try to absorb everything. Pick the sessions that matter most right now and start there.

If you haven’t upgraded yet, there’s still time. Upgrading gives you ongoing access to every session and even credits you can use toward anything in my business later. (Fifty dollars if you go for the Lite package, one hundred if you grab the Plus!)

This summit is about more than just learning, it’s about building recurring revenue that not only works for your business financially but also supports your life. It’s time to leave the hustle and perfectionism behind, focus on real momentum, and find what’s truly working right now.

So grab your summit ticket at whatsworkingnowsummit.com and let’s do this together. I can’t wait to see you inside and I’ll be back next week with more to share!

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This week, I felt like it was time for a real gut check—not just for you, but for me, too. As I’ve been chatting with membership owners lately (which feels like almost daily!), there’s a big recurring theme: what used to work for growing our memberships just isn’t working anymore. People are tired of doing the same launches and getting less traction, or watching members slip out the back door. If you’ve been feeling this shift too, let me tell you—you are absolutely not alone.

So, on today’s episode of Memberships, Launches and Community, I wanted to do two big things. First, I handpicked five of the most essential sessions from next week’s Memberships What’s Working Now Summit. These aren’t just theory—they’re the sessions that directly address what I’m hearing from all of you: launches that fall flat, retention that’s lagging, and just feeling plain stuck.

Here’s a quick taste of what I shared:

Krista Miller is going deep on building momentum and growing your audience with virtual summits—even if your list has totally stalled.
Wendy White’s all about making your membership the obvious choice, so your offer doesn’t disappear into the “too niche” or “too boring” bucket.
Georgiana DaCosta is showing how to run simple, budget-friendly Facebook and Instagram ads so you can grow your email list (without needing a PhD in marketing).
Hannah B’s session is on evergreen onboarding funnels, which can plug the leaks in your retention—because onboarding that starts from the moment they hit “join” is a total game changer.
Then, Sage Grayson is bringing the energy and breaking down a $7 hook that will simplify your funnel and lead people straight into your membership—what she calls strategic simplicity.

And yes, I’m sharing my own session too: Burnout-Free Growth Path. I’ll show you how to choose a growth strategy that fits your actual life, not just the goals you think you “should” have. Because honestly, over-delivering isn’t just eating up your time—it’s probably harming your conversions and your sanity.

But this episode isn’t just a summit preview. I wanted it to be a real pause—a chance to ask yourself, are you growing your membership in a way that still feels right? Or are you just stuck in a loop of outdated advice that used to work in 2020 but doesn’t fit 2025 and beyond?

So, whether you’re ready to binge all 30 summit sessions or just want to pick the top three that resonate, there’s something for everyone. Plus, there’s a free ticket option, or you can upgrade for access to all the notes, bonuses, and an implementation week inside my membership community.

If you’re in the weeds, launching and feeling stuck, or just need a reset—this summit could be the pivot you need. Head to whatsworkingnowsummit.com to register, and message me on Facebook to share which sessions you’re picking first. And don’t forget: next week’s podcast drops right on Day 1 of the summit, where I’m walking you through how to get the absolute most from your week.

Ready to pause, reflect, and get back into alignment with what’s actually working? I’ll see you inside the summit!

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Wow, today I’m feeling so excited to share something I’ve been working on for months, and I can hardly believe it’s finally ready to announce. If you’ve been in the memberships space for a while, you probably know exactly what I mean when I say things have changed. What used to work – big flashy launches, super-involved content calendars, and those non-stop “go live” calls – just isn’t landing like it used to. Members are more selective, engagement is harder to spark, and even the creators (myself included!) are feeling the content fatigue.

But here’s the really good news: membership models aren’t dead, not by a long shot. People are still joining and staying, when things are done right. That’s exactly why I couldn’t wait any longer to share a big announcement: mark your calendar for October 6th through 10th, because my second annual “Memberships What’s Working Now” Summit is coming up—and you’re invited!

This summit isn’t just another line-up of fluffy, recycled strategies. I went out and brought together 30 speakers who are all in the trenches, running real memberships in 2025 (yes, you read that year right—these are the folks who are out there, adapting and thriving despite the changing economy and shifting member behavior). Every session is under 20 minutes, so you can actually fit this into your schedule and walk away with actionable, current tactics.

Inside this episode, I wanted to give you a little taste of what’s to come at the summit—think launching without the hustle, evergreen funnels, using AI and automation to get your time back, low-ticket tripwires, radically simplified tech, and new ways to get your members engaged in a way that brings you joy (not burnout). We’ll also explore how to boost retention without piling on more content, and how to reimagine your own role as a membership leader.

I shared some behind-the-scenes looks at what’s working for myself and these other brilliant creators, including real-world frameworks, tools, and subtle shifts that can lead to some pretty huge results. No guesswork, no gatekeeping—just the honest truth about what it takes to run a successful membership right now.

And I want you to know this event is totally free to attend. Just grab your ticket at whatsworkingnowsummit.com, and you’ll be welcomed into our Facebook group where the fun (and the chance to win prizes!) starts even before the summit kicks off. Once you sign up, you’ll get to meet the speakers, see what goodies they’re sharing, and access even more resources to help you make big moves—without burning out.

If you’re someone who likes to soak up info at your own pace, the All Access Pass is made for you—video replays, transcripts, a private podcast feed for the year, every session’s key takeaways, implementation workbooks, and even a chance for hot seat coaching with me plus a free month or $80 credit in my engagement-focused membership! I’ll be sharing more about this next week, but if you already know you need it, you can secure your spot right now.

Here’s the thing: running a membership shouldn’t feel like you’re guessing blindly or spinning your wheels. This summit is your flashlight. Let’s reset, refocus, and finish this year strong–together.

Ready to reignite your energy and get a peek at what’s actually working? Head over to whatsworkingnowsummit.com to reserve your free ticket, and don’t forget to hit the follow button right here so you don’t miss next week’s episode with even more behind-the-scenes details. I can’t wait to see you inside the summit—and cheer you on as you build the kind of recurring revenue you deserve!

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The online space is changing so fast, and as membership owners and creators, I know we all feel it. People are craving more intention, less overwhelm, and frankly—they’re tired of all the noise and complexity that used to work. In this episode, I wanted to give you a special insider preview of something that’s really close to my heart: our second annual Memberships What’s Working Now Summit! If you joined us last year, you know how much fun we had—the prizes, the actionable tips, and the incredible community wins. And if you missed it… trust me, you’ll want to mark your calendar this time.

What I’ve been seeing over and over from the frontlines is this: Simplicity wins right now. The tendency to go overboard with complex offers, convoluted tech stacks, and exhausting launching is still so strong, but the biggest results come when we just keep it simple. It needs to be easy for you AND your members—otherwise, tech headaches and overwhelm creep in, for everyone.

One of my favorite things to see lately is how high-value, low-ticket offers are bringing new people into memberships. And here’s another: better onboarding is translating directly into stronger retention. When you really welcome your new members and make them feel at home from day one, they stick around and keep engaging with your work.

At this year’s Summit, I’m pulling together almost 30 top membership experts and creators to share exactly what’s working right now—and we aren’t sugarcoating it. We’ll cover smart and ethical ways to use AI (so you can lighten your workload), building fun and ease into your community, and most importantly: keeping things sustainable so you don’t burn out.

And, we’re definitely going to talk about what’s NOT working anymore: endless content production that no one can keep up with, relying on one big “all-or-nothing” yearly launch, ignoring your own energy and capacity, and over-promising in your community with nothing to back it up. We are so done with all that.

If you’re planning on joining us (and I hope you do!), here’s the game plan: The Summit runs October 6-10, with carefully curated, bite-sized talks (so you can jump into only what’s relevant to you, and not drown in overwhelm), speaker panels, and actionable giveaways. If you go for the All-Access Pass, you’ll get even more, including special implementation sessions and a month free inside our membership for deeper support. Even if your next launch isn’t until the new year, you’ll have plenty of ways to get ahead and make real changes now!

So, if you want to see for yourself what’s working right now in the membership world (and what it really takes to grow recurring revenue without burning out), go to whatsworkingnowsummit.com and grab your free ticket, or get on the waitlist so you’re first in line when doors open. Make sure to block out the week on your calendar and give yourself this time to work ON your membership, not just IN it.

Let’s make memberships more magical and manageable this year—with less stress, more clarity, and zero overwhelm. I can’t wait to see you inside the Summit, and stay tuned for next week’s episode—I have something special in store for you!

Ready to ditch the overwhelm and build a sustainable membership? Go to whatsworkingnowsummit.com and save your spot!

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This week, I’m taking you behind the curtain of my own business to give you a real look at the nitty gritty of my latest launch—what worked, what I kept simple, and how you can apply these takeaways to your next launch.

I’ve been running a launch these past couple of weeks that’s not only setting me up for the fall, but is leading straight into our annual Memberships: What’s Working Now Summit. Instead of going all out with a complicated funnel, I challenged myself to simplify. No big webinar series or elaborate challenge launch this time—I stripped it right back and offered a free training called Burnout Free Memberships: How to Build Recurring Revenue Without the Exhaustion. The goal was simple: give as much value as possible for free, and then tie the training directly to my Burnout Free Membership mini course bundle.

Here’s what really moved the needle: I kept the call-to-action at the end super clear. If you wanted the bundle (or individual modules), there was a deadline to act before the price went up. I also stacked in bonuses—like my upcoming Burnout Free Membership Launch Planner—for anyone who purchased before September 9th. I know from experience (and my own buying habits!) that a real, timely reason to act now helps people move, rather than letting the opportunity pass by and collecting digital dust in an open browser tab.

I also made a point to share the journey as it unfolded, bringing my audience along for the ride. Whether it was talking about why I created these mini-courses (to help stop the burnout I see everywhere) or showing the behind-the-scenes of recording and launching, I made it less about the hard sell and more about the process and purpose. People love a story, not just a sales page.

What really felt different about this launch was how I tied it into the bigger picture. I didn’t just say “Hey, buy my course!” Instead, I laid out a clear path: Start with the Burnout Free foundations, get your systems in place, and then get ready for the next phase with our Summit coming up. Plus, I even teased a new coaching program that’s almost ready behind the scenes—I already have everything mapped out and I can’t wait to open a few limited spaces soon.

Here are my biggest lessons from this behind-the-scenes launch:

Simplify your funnel. The simpler the better, especially if you want to repeat the process again in the future.
Use real urgency. Don’t create fake deadlines. If your prices are truly going up or bonuses are truly disappearing, tell your audience and let that motivate them to act.
Share the journey. Bring people along for the behind-the-scenes—not just what’s launching, but why you’re launching it and what’s happening in real time.
Tie everything to the big picture. Let your audience see how what you’re offering fits into their journey and yours.

And if you’ve been eyeing the Burnout Free Membership Mini Course series, this is your last chance to get the full bundle at the current price, with all the bonuses including exclusive GPTs and my upcoming launch planner (if you act before September 9th at 9pm Eastern). After that, the price goes up and I can’t make exceptions.

You can grab it all at sandradefreitas.com/burnoutfreebundle.

I hope this peek inside gave you useful, practical strategies for your next launch—and maybe a little inspiration to keep things simple, real, and connected. Next week we’re kicking off a whole new series on the podcast diving into the Memberships: What’s Working Now Summit, so be sure to subscribe if you haven’t yet.

Keep building, keep engaging, and most importantly—keep it burnout free. See you next week!

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Sandra shares five burnout-free strategies to boost your recurring revenue this fall, from simplifying offers to automating onboarding. Packed with practical tips, this episode helps you grow your membership or program sustainably, just in time for the busy season ahead.

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Sandra wraps up the Burnout Free Membership Method series by tackling a key factor in membership success—retention. She shares actionable tips to boost member engagement, connection, and clarity, showing how small, thoughtful changes can make members want to stay for the long run.

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Sandra tackles the burnout of traditional membership launches, sharing sustainable alternatives like evergreen funnels and seasonal promos. She guides listeners to align launch strategies with their energy and lifestyle for long-term success without the overwhelm.

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Sandra tackles the tech headaches of running memberships, revealing that misaligned, complicated systems—not tech itself—cause overwhelm. She shares simple strategies for streamlining tools so your tech supports your flow, making running your membership easier and more enjoyable.

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Sandra tackles the content creation overwhelm faced by membership owners, busting the myth that more content equals more value. She shares a simple, burnout-free framework for delivering engaging, purposeful membership content that supports both you and your members.

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Sandra tackles the issue of offer overload in memberships, urging creators to focus on clarity over complexity. She shares why simplifying your offer builds trust, boosts renewals, and prevents burnout—for both you and your members.

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This episode in Sandra's Burnout Free Memberships series focuses on the crucial first step: your vision and role. She explains why building your membership around your life and strengths (before content or pricing) prevents burnout and sets you up for lasting success.

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Sandra kicks off a seven-part series introducing the Burnout Free Membership Method. She reframes burnout as a sign of a broken model, not personal failure, and shares five foundations for building a sustainable, energizing membership, setting the stage for deeper dives in coming episodes.

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Sandra kicks off a special series with the Burnout Free Membership Blueprint, sharing eight key shifts to help membership owners simplify, stabilize, and enjoy their business, without burnout. She previews practical strategies to design smarter, more sustainable memberships.

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Sandra is joined by Jessica Smith and Michelle Lee to explore how micro tools, AI, and WordPress are transforming memberships. They share latest tech trends, creative automation strategies, and offer practical tips for making your community and content more actionable and engaging.

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Sandra shakes up the business mindset by highlighting rest as a crucial strategy for membership owners. She shares practical ways to schedule downtime, batch content, and set member expectations so you can avoid burnout and build a thriving, sustainable business.

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Sandra shines a light on the hidden burden of invisible labor in running memberships. She shares strategies to simplify backend tasks, set boundaries, and use tech and SOPs to prevent burnout, helping you reclaim your time and run a thriving, sustainable community.

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Sandra shares her essential anti-burnout toolkit for membership owners, highlighting automation, boundaries, team support, and the importance of intentional rest to create a sustainable, scalable, and burnout-free membership business.

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Sandra gets personal and shares what she wishes she knew before launching her first memberships - like not overbuilding, setting boundaries, and the power of pivoting. Her candid advice highlights lessons learned and how to avoid burnout while building sustainable memberships.

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Sandra shatters the myth that more content equals more value in your membership. Instead, she shares burnout-free strategies to simplify, streamline, and focus on transformation - empowering members with clarity and real results rather than overwhelm or endless content.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Sandra pulls back the curtain on the messy realities of membership launches. She shares a personal story of launching woes, emphasizing the importance of planning and the often-unseen challenges. For a deeper dive into these candid insights, Sandra invites listeners to join the community and engage in real talk.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Would you like to deliver your own private podcast feed to your audience? Sign up for a free trial today at Hello Audio.

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Sandra talks about the importance of expanding your audience, continuing to launch in your membership, and membership retention.

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Sandra shares how being clear about how your membership can help people save time, money or energy can promote the value of your membership.

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Sandra talks about how having a Fill Your Funnel Membership can free up your calendar while still earning you recurring revenue.

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Sandra discusses the importance of getting to know your community members.

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Sandra announces Engaged and Profitable Memberships, a new membership that saves membership owners time, money, and energy.

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Sandra talks to Mimi Klosarin about the impacts of the 50 Day Membership Experiment.

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Sandra interviews Carol LeBaron and Tazeem Jamal about their biggest takeaways from the 50 Day Membership Experiment.

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Sandra discusses how to prepare memberships for today’s questionable economy.

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Fun events in your membership can bring your community closer together and increase membership retention. In this episode, Sandra shares ideas for putting together your own fun event.

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Sandra shares insights on how to create a sustainable membership for the long haul.

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Sandra shares different ways to protect your digital membership content from individuals who join your membership for a short period, download everything, and leave.

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Sandra shares the responses of her 50 Day Membership Experiment Community on why they love memberships.

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Sandra shares how she conducts market research in her groups and memberships.

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Sandra shares her 50 Day Membership Experiment, which gives participants 50 days of behind-the-scenes insights on building a membership, growing and engaging a community, and launching. Learn more at: engagedgroups.com/50days.

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Sandra talks about starting to plan for your business in the new year to set yourself up for success.

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Sandra shares her predictions for business trends in 2024.

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Sandra reviews the top 10 podcast episodes on community from 2023.

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Sandra reviews the 10 most popular podcast episodes on memberships from 2023.

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Sandra talks with friend and fellow entrepreneur Lissa Boles and discusses how her calling transformed into a business that pairs astrology with purposeful work.

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Sandra talks with Jessica Ays about she went from a free community to a community driven business that creates recurring revenue.

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Sandra brings on special guest Alicia Lozano to discuss the 4 core systems that every business needs, and how to start creating those systems.

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Sandra discusses why you want a lower level or 'fill your funnel' membership in your suite of offers.

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Learn how you can increase the profitability of your launch by planning to launch on the right date.

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Sandra talks with life coach Anjannette Bess about stepping out of your comfort zone, working through your excuses, prioritizing your work, and more!

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Picking the right time to launch can be essential to your visibility and profits. Sandra shares a year-long calendar she created to help you avoid launching on important holidays and other important worldwide dates so you don’t ever have to launch against the odds!

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For those worried about starting a membership because of constraints on time, money, or consistency, Sandra outlines why having a membership isn’t as difficult as you think, and shares some of the key benefits of starting a membership.

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Celebrate the anniversary of your business and membership with these fun ideas!

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What do you do when you’re stuck in a creative rut when making content for your membership? Learn how to revitalize old or pre existing content to generate new ideas and products.

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Sandra shares how a group mini habit challenge has strengthened her community, and got her members closer to their goals.

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Learn the steps Sandra would take to create and launch a membership from scratch.

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What if you lost all of the content in your membership? Sandra shares how you can avoid the unthinkable with the right prevention steps.

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Learn how to plan out your quarter so you find time to build your audience, hold launches, and take a much-needed break.

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Get five tips for having a really good launch!

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Sandra shares four different ways that you can monetize your group by using Facebook Live.

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Learn how to use a live launch to warm up your audience to buy your offer!

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Challenge launches are a great way to grow and engage your group and generate excitement about your offer. In this episode, Sandra shares how you can run your own challenge launch.

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Sandra shares 8 different types of launches that you can use in your group to monetize.

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Sandra shares three different ways you can monetize your challenges without having a launch at the end.

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How can you spread the word about your awesome community when you’re not allowed to post links or send DMs in someone else’s group? Sandra covers ways to respectfully engage in other people’s groups.

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Learn how to engage your paid group members by acknowledging them, rewarding them, holding group sessions, and communicating what your upcoming events will be.

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Get different strategies on how to engage your free group, and learn the importance of engaging posts!

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Sandra discusses ways to reward your members to encourage engagement and to inspire your other group members to contribute to the conversation!

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Learn three different ways to incorporate games into your group to add fun, excitement, and engagement!

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Sandra talks about how a quick AMA (ask me anything) post can create engagement and value in your group, and shares how this strategy has even helped her to make sales.

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In this special episode, Sandra outlines the benefits of having a community-driven business and shares three key tips for maintaining an engaged and profitable group.

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Did you know that you can actually over-engage in your group? In this episode, Sandra discusses the fine balance of engaging in your group so you can grow your community and monetize.

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When your group members feel seen, your engagement flourishes and people don’t want to leave your community! Sandra discusses multiple easy ways to acknowledge your group members, support them, and even get them engaged in a friendly competition.

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Sandra discusses the importance of engagement in free and paid groups, dives into how engagement works, and shares how engaging posts can grow your group and help you monetize.

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Sandra shares how she plans the tasks and trainings for each day of her challenges, discusses how you can include upsell opportunities in your challenges, and explains how beneficial it is to have a launch at the end of your challenge.

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Sandra talks about her past challenges, and what worked and what didn’t work for her. Learn more about having two aspects to your challenge, creating goals for yourself, making an offer at the end of the week, and knowing what to promise your challenge participants.

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Suzi Dafnis, CEO of HerBusiness, talks to Sandra about her past challenge successes, how well her challenges converted into sales, how you can do a challenge in your group even if you’re introverted, and more!

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This week, Sandra discusses how to use a challenge to grow your group! Hear recommendations from someone who’s been there, done that, and learn how you can get awesome results for yourself and your challenge members.

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Learn how to use your email list to grow your group! Sandra discusses three different strategies for getting members on your email list to join your group.

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Sandra sits down with Facebook Ad expert Sheena Murphy to discuss how to use paid Facebook ads to grow your group.

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Membership drives are an effective—and fun!—way to grow your group, and to bring your community together for a common goal. In this episode, Sandra dives into the ins and outs of creating a successful member drive.

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Learn how to bring an expert from your network into your group to engage your audience and grow your community…all without having to create your own content! Sandra explains how to find the perfect guest speaker, and why this sort of collaboration is so simple and effective!

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Here are 5 painless ways to help grow your group and get the results you want to see quickly!

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Small changes can lead to big results! Sandra shares tweaks you can make on social media to guide new members to your group.

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It’s Season 2, and it’s all about growth! Learn why growing your group is so important, and how it can actually work to increase engagement and sales.

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Sandra gives a breakdown of four productive and effective strategies to launch an offer to your group.

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The best way to create an offer that your audience will love is easier than you think…just ask! In this episode, Sandra shows you how to leverage your group when creating your offers so you can give the people what they want!

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Sandra’s diving into the Facebook algorithm, and explaining how you can get it to work for you! Learn why engagement is key to get more of your posts noticed, what new members will see from your group, and how to stay consistent with posting.

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Sandra talks about the number one thing you should be doing to increase sales in your group…engaging! Learn why marketing attempts tend to fall flat in sleepy groups, how to get conversations going, and how to get your audience to know, like, and trust you!

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Sandra is joined in the studio by Dr. Dre Cleveland, a life coach and creator of Girl, Get Your Life Together, a platform for Black women to work on healing, self-love, and manifesting their desires. Dr. Cleveland shares her experience using a member drive to triple the size of her group, explains how she created a “FOMO Machine,” and shares lessons she’s learned along the way!

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Sandra discusses the benefits of having a warmed-up group that’s ready to buy, the best way to approach affiliate promotions, and how an engaged, monetized group can help you with all kinds of goals in your life!

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Inviting friends and relatives to your group to increase your numbers can sound tempting, but it hurts your engagement in the long run! In this episode, Sandra dives into what happens on the other side when you click the “invite to group” button, and gives methods for seriously boosting your group membership that have worked for her clients! So listen in, and maybe hold off on inviting Aunt Martha for now.

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Sandra discusses how to grow your group by getting noticed on social media. New group members can wake up a sleepy community, but to get people to join your group, you have to stand out from the hundreds (or maybe thousands!) that cover your topic. Learn how to become the go-to group with these tried and true tips, and see why you should be thinking of your community as a dinner party.

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In this first episode of the Engaged Groups Podcast, Sandra De Freitas talks about her background, and why she loves community-driven businesses! Learn how Sandra went from working jobs she found uninspiring to creating a community where she could use her computer science and marketing skills to help fellow entrepreneurs. And, see how community driven businesses can increase sales leads, lower your marketing costs, gather fans who will cheer you on, and make your competitors squirm with envy!

Engaged Groups Podcast with Sandra De Freitas: Recent Episodes

Sandra De Freitas