The Tribe Membership Show

Episode 17 – Lurkers into Lifetime Members with Mike Tielemans


Listen Later

We’ve all got lurkers in our memberships—the ones who pay but stay silent, never post, never engage, and eventually cancel. 
In this episode, I sat down with one of the most brilliant minds in membership retention, Mike Tielemans, co-creator of the Tribe Method and co-author of 27 Tribe Secrets. He helped me build the Over 40 Alpha Brotherhood into a retention machine—and today, we’re sharing how YOU can do the same. 
From crafting emotional onramps to designing rituals that turn customers into tribe members for life, this one’s a masterclass.
 
 
Inside this episode, we dive into:
  • How to convert silent lurkers into loyal, engaged tribe members
  • Why most memberships fail at onboarding—and how to fix it with MRR
  • The psychological triggers that drive retention and long-term engagement
  • How to use rituals, rewards, and messaging to build a thriving community

  •  
    Listen to This Episode on Your Favourite Podcast Channel:
    https://tribemembershippodcast.com/captivate-podcast/episode-17-lurkers-into-lifetime-members-with-mike-tielemans/
    Subscribe and Listen on iTunes: 
    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-tribe-membership-show/id1789584393
     Subscribe and Listen on Spotify: 
    https://open.spotify.com/show/1BQ6TZeRRT3hIoIxsa9jsj
     
    Timestamps:
    • 00:00 Introduction to The Tribe Membership Show
    • 00:55 Meet Mike Tielemans: Co-Creator of the Tribe Method
    • 01:58 Mike's Origin Story: From High School to Digital Marketing
    • 03:46 The Journey to Building Successful Memberships
    • 07:07 The Importance of Indoctrination in Building a Tribe
    • 10:23 Creating a Strong Community Identity
    • 14:16 The Power of Rewards and Milestones
    • 28:47 The Role of Gamification in Member Engagement
    • 32:16 Exclusive Rewards and Status
    • 33:01 The Power of Gamification
    • 34:02 Launching a Sleep Challenge
    • 35:22 The Importance of Rituals
    • 38:19 Creating Community Engagement
    • 48:47 Reigniting Lurkers with Challenges
    • 53:59 The Role of AI in Fitness Communities
    • 01:00:38 Building a Lasting Tribe

    •  
      Resources & Links:
      • Want help implementing milestones in your membership? Apply for Tribe Membership Coaching - https://course.tribemethod.com/book-call
      • 🧠 Grab the Tribe Secrets Book – Your guide to building lifelong members - http://www.tribesecretsbook.com/book
      • 🎥 Watch this episode on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TribeMembershipShow

      •  
         
        Connect with Mike Tielemans
        • YouTube: @thecultcreators
        • Instagram: @thecultcreators
        • Website: www.tribemethod.com

        •  
           
          Connect with Funk Roberts
          • Website: https://www.funkrobertsfitness.com
          •  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/funkrobertsfitness

          •  
             
             
            This episode wasn’t just about strategies—it was about mindset. If you want retention, you need belonging. If you want engagement, you need identity. Now go implement the MRR method and stop leaving your tribe’s potential on the table.
            ...more
            View all episodesView all episodes
            Download on the App Store

            The Tribe Membership ShowBy Funk Roberts