Is Membership.io (Formerly Searchie) the Right Platform for You? A Full Review
Membership has become popular in the world of digital content management.
If you’re looking for a tool to help with videos, files, and other media? Membership might be your right choice.
I’ve spent time exploring what it offers and how it works, so here’s my review.
What is Membership?
Membership is designed primarily for content-heavy businesses, offering a powerful search engine for video and audio libraries. Membership is a versatile content management and delivery platform that focuses on providing a user-friendly experience. It offers a powerful video content search engine. It enables users to search easily in video or audio libraries.
Features
After using Membership, I noticed several features that make it stand out. Here are the main ones include:
Search Inside Videos
One feature is the ability to search for words inside your video. If you have long videos or podcasts, users can type a word or phrase, and Membership will take them straight to that part. This can save a lot of time for viewers, especially when they need specific information.
Hubs for Content
You can create hubs in Membership, which act like small websites where you can store and display all your content. It’s a nice way to keep your videos organized and accessible to your audience. You can design the hub to fit your brand, which gives it a professional look.
Automatic Transcription
Transcribing videos manually is time-consuming. Membership does this for you by generating transcripts automatically. You can then edit the text if needed. This helps users who prefer reading or need captions for accessibility.
Integrations
Membership works well with other platforms, such as Zoom, YouTube, and Vimeo. You can connect your existing video sources to Membership without needing to start from scratch. It also integrates with email marketing tools, which can be useful for those running courses or digital memberships.
Customizable Widgets
You can add search widgets to your website. These widgets let visitors search for specific topics or keywords from your videos directly from your website. It helps make your content more user-friendly and easier to navigate.
Pros
There are several reasons why I liked Membership. Some positives are:
Easy Search Functionality: Membership makes it easy to find the exact moment someone says something in a video. This feature stands out when compared to other platforms.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform is simple to use. Even if you’re not tech-savvy, the setup process is smooth, and most of the features are easy to manage.
Content Hubs: If you have a lot of videos or courses, hubs allow you to keep them organized. They offer a clean way to present your media to your audience.
Good for Video-Based Businesses: Membership is perfect for people or businesses that rely heavily on video content. If you’re a coach, teacher, or content creator, it can help manage your media.
Saves Time with Transcriptions: Automatically generated transcripts save a lot of time. If you have many videos, this feature reduces the need for manual transcription.
Cons
Price: Membership is on the expensive side. For small businesses or individuals, the cost might feel high, especially if you don’t use all the features.
Limited Customization: While the platform allows some customization, it could feel limited compared to building your own site. If you want a highly personalized design, Membership may not meet all your needs.
Not Ideal for Non-Video Content: Membership is great for video content, but if your business focuses more on text or images, it may not be the best fit.
Pricing
Membership has different pricing plans based on the features you need.
The basic plan starts at around $29 per month, which includes basic features like video upload, transcription, and a few integrations.
The higher plans go up to $199 per month, offering more advanced features such as unlimited hubs and larger file storage.
While the platform does offer useful features, the cost might be too high for small content creators or businesses that are just starting.
Who Is It For?
Membership is designed for content creators who use a lot of video or audio. It’s good for coaches, online educators, or businesses that have large libraries of media content.
If you run courses, webinars, or digital memberships, this platform could save you time in organizing and managing your files.
Membership is also great for businesses that need searchable videos. For example, if you have long educational videos and want to make it easier for your audience to find information, Membership search feature makes that possible. It saves your audience time and keeps them engaged with your content.
My Thoughts
I would say Membership is a solid platform for anyone who works with video and audio. Its features, like searchable videos and automatic transcriptions, make it easy to organize and share content with your audience.
Though it has a high price tag, the features it offers could be worth the investment for businesses that rely heavily on media content.
If you’re looking for a tool that can help you manage video content while offering easy ways for your audience to search and access information, Membership might be what you need.
Before committing, you should consider how often you’ll use the platform and if it aligns with your business needs.