199: How to Build a Thriving Membership Site featuring Stu McLaren
Release Date: 05/08/2025
203: Prepping the Portfolio: Back to Our Roots
The Professional Creative
Before I ever signed a licensing deal or showed my work at a trade show, I had one thing—a portfolio. In this episode, I take you back to the roots of my very first handmade portfolio and walk you through how I’ve translated that same heartfelt essence into a new, fully digital version for today. This journey has come full circle, and I want to share not only the story behind my original bound book but also how you can create a meaningful online portfolio that feels like an experience. I open up about the emotional connection behind that first portfolio—how I bound it by hand, infused it...
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202: How We Celebrate Workiversaries: Moments Not to be Missed
The Professional Creative
Celebrating milestones might seem small, but the impact is anything but. In this episode, I’m sharing a peek behind the scenes at how we intentionally honor and uplift our team through something we call “workiversaries”—the anniversaries of when each person joined Team Bonnie Christine. These moments of recognition go far beyond just marking a date. They are powerful opportunities to pause, reflect, and celebrate the people who help bring our work to life. Even if you don’t have a team, I encourage you to celebrate the people who support you. Whether it’s a contractor, a friend, or...
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201: How To Organize A Weekly Newsletter: The Purpose Behind Our Template
The Professional Creative
Today, I’m sharing how I went from struggling to write regular emails to building a system that helps us send two value-packed newsletters with ease and joy. You’ll learn the purpose behind our two biweekly newsletters—“Secrets of the Studio” for surface pattern designers and “Beneath the Surface” for creative entrepreneurs—and how having a clear structure and cadence changed everything. I walk through the importance of defining your audience, creating intentional sections, and using a repeatable template to take the guesswork out of writing. With tools like Kit and thoughtful...
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200: The Role of Surveys: Shaping Our Business Strategies
The Professional Creative
As creative entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves wondering what our audience wants—what they’re thinking, needing, or hoping we’ll create next. In this episode, I share one of the most powerful tools we use to stop guessing and start knowing: surveys. You'll hear exactly how we ask meaningful questions, the specific ones we rely on, and how we design surveys that lead to clear and confident decision-making. The episode begins with a funny (and humbling) story about a yacht surprise gone sideways. It’s a lighthearted reminder of how important it is to ask the right questions before...
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199: How to Build a Thriving Membership Site featuring Stu McLaren
The Professional Creative
Stu McLaren is one of the most impactful mentors I’ve ever had, and I’m thrilled to bring him back to the podcast to talk about a topic that can completely transform your creative business: recurring revenue through membership sites. Stu’s course, The Membership Experience, was a game changer for me. It’s the only course I’ve ever completed on time, and it’s one I return to year after year. After taking it, my membership revenue shifted from unpredictable spikes to a steady, staircase-like pattern of growth. In this episode, we explore why recurring revenue is so...
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198: Inside Our Creative Spring: From Magazines to Memberships
The Professional Creative
After a little spring break, I’m back with a behind-the-scenes update on what’s been unfolding in our business and creative world. This season has been one of the most energizing yet, full of new ideas, bold moves, and heart-filled work. In this episode, I’m sharing what we’ve been working on, what’s coming next, and what you can look forward to on the podcast. It all started with a leadership retreat in January that sparked a fresh season of building, creating, and expanding. Since then, we’ve been deep in development mode, launching several projects that have been on my heart for...
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197: From Overlap to Ownership: Aligning Your Team for Success
The Professional Creative
In this episode, we’re diving into one of the biggest challenges that growing teams face: role clarity and alignment. When businesses start out, it’s natural for everyone to pitch in and wear multiple hats. But as the business grows, this all-hands-on-deck approach can lead to confusion, inefficiencies, and even burnout. That’s why today’s conversation is all about how to ensure that your team is working together with clarity, confidence, and a shared sense of ownership. I share a personal story that sparked my realization about the importance of communication; let’s just say it...
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196: The Structure That Supports Freedom: Why Your Business Needs an Operating System
The Professional Creative
Does running your creative business sometimes feel like a circus? You're juggling tasks, managing projects, and trying to keep everything in motion, while secretly wondering if there's a better way. In this episode, I’m sharing one of the most transformative shifts I’ve made in my business: implementing an operating system. An operating system isn’t just for big corporations. No matter the size of your business, having a structured framework helps bring clarity, alignment, and efficiency to your workflow. It can transform how you work, how your team communicates, and how your business...
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195: Building Trust: How to Empower Your Team to Take the Lead
The Professional Creative
Do you ever feel like your business is entirely on your shoulders, like every decision, deadline, and detail depends on you alone? I see you. I’ve been there too. But what if you could empower your team to not only take on tasks but truly own them—sometimes even doing them better than you? In this episode, we’re diving into the power of delegation and trust. I know firsthand how difficult it is to let go, especially when your work is deeply personal. But the reality is that refusing to delegate is the riskiest move of all. It keeps you stuck in a cycle of overwork and burnout, limiting...
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194: How to Get the Most from an Online Course: 8 Steps to Crossing the Finish Line
The Professional Creative
Have you ever started an online course with the best intentions: excited, motivated, and ready to learn, only to lose momentum along the way? You’re not alone! In today’s episode, we’re talking about how to not only start an online course but actually finish it strong. Whether it’s a creative workshop, a business training, or a deep-dive into a new skill, the key to success is in how you approach the journey. Online education has played a massive role in my personal and professional growth, and I know firsthand that focus is the hardest part. That’s why I’m sharing the exact 8...
info_outlineStu McLaren is one of the most impactful mentors I’ve ever had, and I’m thrilled to bring him back to the podcast to talk about a topic that can completely transform your creative business: recurring revenue through membership sites. Stu’s course, The Membership Experience, was a game changer for me. It’s the only course I’ve ever completed on time, and it’s one I return to year after year. After taking it, my membership revenue shifted from unpredictable spikes to a steady, staircase-like pattern of growth.
In this episode, we explore why recurring revenue is so powerful—especially for creatives who often juggle inconsistent income streams and the demands of hands-on work. Stu shares his journey of moving from burnout and one-on-one service work to launching Wishlist Member, the world’s number one WordPress membership plugin. That experience gave him unique insight into what makes a membership site succeed over time.
We discuss why creatives are uniquely suited to this model, with stories of artists, painters, sticker designers, and teachers who now run thriving memberships. Stu and I also tackle common concerns like the fear of content burnout and the myth of "subscription fatigue." He offers practical, encouraging advice on how to create a membership that delivers real results and keeps your members engaged.
Whether you already run a membership, are thinking about launching one, or are simply curious, this conversation is full of wisdom and actionable ideas. Stu’s upcoming free live workshop is also something I recommend wholeheartedly—it’s one of the most energizing events I attend every year.
📒 Episode Notes, Links, & Resources 📒
https://www.professionalcreative.com/blog/199
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