Must Know Customer Retention Strategies from Funk Roberts

Feb 6, 2025

4 insane strategies Funk Roberts Use to Boost Retention, Engagement and Revenue (PROOF IN INSIDE!) Reader Disclosure Reader Disclosure

Anyone who runs an online site for membership maintaining existing members has always been more challenging than acquiring new ones. While getting new members on board is crucial however, ensuring they are engaged and committed is the real game-changer.

Contents Toggle

1. The ‘Shared Rituals' Strategy
2. The ‘Identity Crafting' Technique
The ‘Insider Language' Method
4. The ‘Transformation Journey' Framework
In Summary

Higher retention means more predictable income, more relationships with the community, as well as a more vibrant and loyal membership base. There are a myriad of ways to engage members online and you'll be unable to determine the effectiveness of these strategies until you've tried them yourself.

That's why we sought out Funk Roberts, a well-known online fitness coach and a long-time member advocate, to talk about the techniques that have allowed him to boost retention, engagement, and even revenue.

Here are the strategies Funk Robert shared with us.

1. The 'Shared Rituals' Strategy

Shared rituals are consistent and repeatable events that your participants take part in frequently and create a sense of community and belonging. These rituals are like glue--they help keep members returning and help them feel more connected to your membership.

One of the main advantages of this strategy include:

Creates a strong community culture
Encourages regular engagement and participation
Retention and loyalty of members is increased.

What do you think this will look like in practice?

I am the director of a membership program known as " Over 40 Alpha." It is fitness and health-related membership program for males over the age of 40 to 50, 60 and above. I run several shared rituals for this membership program, which ensure that the participants are committed to the goal and to the members of the community.

sweaty selfies The members post photos following every workout, sharing their commitment and encouraging others to join in.
Alpha Meal Posts Photos posted by members of their meals and break them into macro elements for accountability, and to educate the community.
Birthday Burpees For birthdays, members film themselves doing burpees corresponding to their age. This is fun and challenging and can be a source of celebration across the group.

How can you implement such routines that are shared by your team participants?

Find the key behaviors or activities that align with your Tribe's members' objectives.
Make easy-to-follow instructions or hashtags to promote participants.
Include these practices in your onboarding materials to set expectations starting from the very beginning.

Incorporating these rituals into your shared space to create a lively and engaging atmosphere that your participants won't be able to go to.

2. "Identity Crafting" Technique

Knowing your audience's needs is more than just being aware of their demographics. It's about truly grasping their desires goals, challenges, and hopes. The majority of people don't desire to purchase a particular product or service; they desire to be part of an organization that is bigger than them.

If you can create a distinct and distinct identity for your community, it will give your members the sense of belonging and satisfaction in the person they're becoming through your programs.

People want to join a community, they wanna be understood and felt valued. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves.

Some of the Benefits from this method are:

Creates a strong sense belonging
It differentiates your membership from other members
Promotes deeper engagement and loyalty

With the Over 40 Alpha program it isn't about enrolling in a fitness class, but being transformed into over 40 Alphas. The Over 40 Alpha identity symbolizes determination, strength as well as transformation. Every aspect, from the ceremonies to the language, reinforces this identity, which makes it a badge of honour.

What can you do to ensure that an identical feeling among your staff members?

Develop a distinct brand identity that is in tune with your audience's aspirations.
Integrate this brand's identity in your rituals, content, and communications.
Continuously reinforce this identity through tales, stories, testimonials and interactions with the community.

When members take on an identity and brand new look that is in line with their values, they become more invested within the community, which increases the likelihood of them staying.

The 'Insider Language' Method

Each successful tribe is a unique tribe with its own dialect - a secret handshake that separates people who are inside from outside. Making unique slogans, phrases or hand signals exclusive to your tribe could create a strong sentiment of belonging and exclusiveness. This insider language helps build a unique and hard-to-replicate culture.

The main benefits from this technique are:

It gives a feeling of exclusivity and status.
Community bonds are strengthened.
Helps to encourage long-term loyalty by making members feel part of something special.

In Over 40 Alpha the members have phrases like:

GID (Get It Done! ) GID (Get It Done!) is our rallying call that reaffirms our dedication to action and perseverance.
"Smell The Rose": A call to pause, breathe, and take in the experience.

They're not just catchy words They are part of the tribe's DNA. They build a sense of community in which members feel like they are an integral part of something unique and distinct, something they'd like to remain in.

What can you do to get this to happen for your group members?

Develop unique phrases or terms which reflect the values of your community and objectives.
Apply these words consistently across your platform, emails as well as your events.
Encourage members to take these ideas and apply them on their postings and in their interactions.

A shared language can create a sense of community that members are proud to be a part of. This directly affects retention.

4. The Transformation Journey Framework

One of the most effective ways to boost retention is by guiding members through the process of transformation with clear milestones, incentives as well as community support. It gives them an incentive to remain and keep progressing within your membership.

A few of the main advantages of this framework include:

Helps keep members engaged and motivated.
Provides a clear path that can be followed, which reduces overwhelm and confusion.
Encourages continuous membership renewal.

What is the best way to use this: Craft a path that leads to transformation, with each participant starting from a predetermined point and is guided towards the goals they set, and by your assistance each step.

This is what I'm doing for my program:

Milestones Set up signs on the route to commemorate progress (for example, the Milestone T-shirts that members from the Over 40 Alpha program earn at the end of each phase of the "One Year To Alpha" journey).
Incentives Rewards for achievements motivate the next steps.
Community Assistance Make sure that everyone walks along this road alone by fostering a culture of encouragement and support.

How can you implement this structure for your employees:

Map out a clear and step-by-step plan for a member's change.
Set up meaningful milestones that are celebrated with rewards.
Make sure that the community is supported throughout the year through group challenges, check-ins, and encouragement.

Implementing a framework for transformation gives a compelling reason for the members to stick around. They are always moving toward the goal they have set and receive tangible benefits.

In summary

It is the core of every successful business that relies on membership. This blog should have provided you with a better understanding of Fun Roberts' most effective strategies for increasing member retention and engagement. Through implementing these four tactics--shared Rituals, Identity Crafting, Insider Language, and a Transformation Journey--you can build a strong community that increases retention and, in turn, increases the revenue.

Are you prepared to move your participation to the next level?

Learn more about the strategies listed above and many more using Our Tribe Secrets The Tribe SecretsThe 27 Psychological Strategies You Need to transform your business into a Family of Loyal Customers . Uncover All 27 Strategies and Start Building Your Legacy Today!

Here's to creating a community where every member considers themselves a key element of the puzzle making a difference to both your success and theirs.

Get It Done!

Your Coach and Friend,

Funk Roberts

the Tribe's Membership Coach

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