Launching something new, especially a membership, comes with all kinds of questions. Where do you find the people? How do you talk about it without sounding salesy? What if no one signs up?

For many would-be founders, the biggest challenge isn’t building the offer. It’s believing they’re allowed to start. Especially when they don’t have a big audience, fancy tools, or thousands of pounds to throw at ads and branding.

But here’s the good news: you don’t need any of that to grow a waitlist. What you do need is a thoughtful plan, a clear message, and a few brave steps forward'even if it still feels messy.

This guide is for the early stage. The wobbly-but-determined stage.

Whether you're starting with ten followers or none at all, you’ll walk away with practical ways to begin building interest and trust, so that when your membership is ready, you’ve already got people waiting for it.

Let’s break it down.

🎯 Want to turn your free group into paying members without overgiving?
Check out my Facebook Group Conversion Kit—a step-by-step guide for moving from free to paid with less stress.
👉 [Grab your copy here]

1. Begin with one, confident sentence

Before building funnels, designing freebies or fussing with sign-up buttons, pause and ask: Can I explain my idea in a single, clear sentence?

This becomes your foundation. The line you’ll return to in emails, bios, conversations and captions, anywhere someone asks what you’re working on.

Use this simple framework to get started:

I help [who] with [what], so they can [achieve what].

For example:

“I help creative women finally launch the membership they’ve been thinking about for years—without a tech team or a five-figure budget.”

Clarity earns attention. And when self-doubt creeps in, it also helps you stay grounded.

2. Give people a reason to join now—not later

A waitlist that simply says “Be the first to know” rarely cuts through. People are busy. They forget.

Instead, offer them something they can use right away, a lead magnet that delivers a quick, specific win. It doesn’t need to be elaborate. It does need to be helpful.

Consider offering:

• A one-page checklist
  
  

• A short video or voice note
  
  

• A starter guide
  
  

• A swipe file or template
  
  

Keep it relevant to the membership you’re building. Show them the kind of support they can expect from you without overwhelming them.

3. You do have an audience (even if it doesn’t feel like it)

It’s easy to believe you’re starting from zero, but most people aren’t. If you’ve shared content, helped anyone, or had conversations in the DMs then you already have early supporters.

Think:

• Past clients
  
  

• People in your inbox
  
  

• Instagram followers who never comment
  
  

• Friends-of-friends who’ve asked for advice
  
  

Start with a simple message:

“Hey! I’m working on a new idea to help [type of person] with [problem]. I’m building a waitlist and offering a free resource to test it with the right people. Want the link?”

No pressure. No drama. Just a quiet invitation.

4. Make your landing page clear, not clever

Forget bells and whistles. What your landing page needs is simplicity and warmth.

At a glance, someone should be able to understand:

• What the offer is
  
  

• Who it’s designed for
  
  

• What they’ll receive
  
  

• How it will help them
  
  

Pair this with a friendly, human button, something like “Yes, I’m in” or “Add me to the list”, rather than generic phrases like “Submit” or “Register here.”

The best pages feel like an open conversation, not a marketing funnel.

5. If you have a Facebook group, make it work harder for you

Already running a free community? Excellent. But tread carefully.

Facebook groups can be wonderful for building trust, but they can also become a place where you give away too much, too soon.

Instead, use your group to:

• Share small mindset shifts or weekly prompts
  
  

• Offer sneak peeks into what you’re creating
  
  

• Run short live videos with light calls-to-action
  
  

• Collect emails by offering your freebie exclusively to group members
  
  

The group should support your waitlist, not replace it.

If you’re unsure how to balance free support with paid offers, I’ve created a resource to help:

👉 From Free to Paid: The Facebook Group Conversion Kit
A step-by-step guide to stop overgiving and start converting—without losing your voice or your values.

6. Keep showing up, even when no one’s responding

It will feel quiet at first. That’s normal.

Many people will watch silently. They’ll click but won’t comment. They’ll consider joining, but won’t raise their hand…yet.

Keep sharing. Keep inviting. Keep speaking to the problems you help solve.

Because trust builds quietly. And waitlists grow steadily when you stay visible, consistent, and clear about what you offer.

One Last Thing Before You Start

You don’t need a big list to make a big impact.
You don’t need to wait until you’ve built the “perfect” offer.
You just need to start—before you're ready—and trust that clarity comes through action.

The right people will hear your voice.
And once a few of them say “I’m in”, everything else gets easier.

Resources I Know You’ll Love

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