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4d (edited) • Tips
Skool News: Member Risk Score, Discovery Updates + Glenn's 70-Person Community Making $3K/Month
Skool just shipped some game-changing features—and one community owner is proving you don't need 1,000 members to build something real.
You can watch the video here - https://youtu.be/vI6dwkjHFwM?si=6fVlAlnHNmnQvoE_
Here's what matters for monetization-focused community owners:
New Feature: Member Risk Score (Already Live)
What it does: When you review membership requests, Skool now shows a "spam risk score" to flag potential bad actors before they join.
Why this matters for monetization: Paid communities can't afford spammers tanking engagement or credibility. This auto-filter protects your member experience without requiring manual detective work on every signup.
Coming soon: Auto-approve low-risk members, auto-decline high-risk ones, hold medium-risk for manual review. This solves the painful choice between time-consuming manual approvals or letting in occasional spammers.
Roadmap Highlights (What's Coming)
Traffic Sources Dashboard (Est. February Launch)
This is massive for understanding what actually drives revenue.
You'll see:
- Where your about page visitors come from (Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Skool network, etc.)
- Conversion rates by traffic source (which platforms turn visitors into members)
- Member-by-member tracking (see exactly how each person found you)
- New MRR attribution (know which traffic source generated paying members)
Why this is a big deal:Right now, you're guessing which promotional efforts work. Soon, you'll have data proving whether your YouTube videos, Instagram posts, or affiliate referrals actually convert. Optimize what works, cut what doesn't.
Example from the video: Underwater Squad (breath-holding community, $3K/month, 70 members) gets 30% traffic from Instagram, 20% Facebook, 19% YouTube, 9% Skool network. That's actionable data you can double down on.
Moderation Tools (In Progress)
- SMS verification requirement: Force members to verify phone numbers before posting/commenting (limits multi-account spam)
- Smart auto-approve: Auto-accept low-risk, auto-decline high-risk, manual review mid-tier
- Better spam controls: Protect engagement quality in large communities
Monetization angle: Paid communities demand higher trust. These tools let you scale without sacrificing member experience.
Case Study: Glenn's Photography Community ($3K/Month with 70 Members)
The setup:
- Community: Photography Creative Circle
- Members: 72 paying members @ ~$40/month
- MRR: ~$3,000
- Model: Also runs a free photography community as funnel
What makes this work:
- Weekly coffee hour calls (no agenda, just hanging out)
- Members made a tribute video/song for Glenn
- Traffic sources: Instagram (primary), Facebook, YouTube—all linking to Skool in bio + posts
Key quote from Glenn:"Treat members as people, not as income."
Lesson for monetization: You don't need 1,000 members. 70 engaged people paying $40/month beats 500 lurkers paying $10/month. Quality > vanity metrics.
The "10 True Regulars" Concept (Most Important Takeaway)
Sam's thesis:You don't need thousands of members to have a thriving community. You need 10 true regulars—people who show up consistently.
Why 10 regulars matter:
- Creates enough activity that lurkers (90% of any community) feel engaged
- Drives organic word-of-mouth (regulars recruit their friends)
- Makes moderation easier (you know your core members)
- Easier to monetize: 10 engaged people convert to paid tiers faster than 100 disengaged ones
How to get 10 true regulars:
- Common goal or passion (photography, Skool monetization, breath-holding—doesn't matter what, just needs to be shared)
- Leader who shows up daily (check community, reply to posts, solve problems)
- Weekly calls (even coffee hours with no agenda—just put faces to names)
- Build relationships (comments → DMs → 1-on-1 calls → meetups)
Example progression: Kirby started as a Skoolers member → posted helpful stuff → Sam noticed → DMs → Zoom calls → met in person → became first investor → now works at Skool HQ.
Your action: Identify your 10 most active members. DM them. Thank them. Offer a 1-on-1 call. Build the relationship. These are your future Premium/VIP tier conversions.
Takeaways for Skool Monetization Lab Members
✅ Use the risk score feature when reviewing membership requests—protect your paid community quality
✅ Prepare for traffic sources dashboard (Feb 2026)—start tracking where you promote now so you can compare data later
✅ Focus on 10 true regulars, not 100 lurkers—quality engagement beats vanity metrics every time
✅ Weekly calls are non-negotiable—even zero-prep coffee hours drive retention and conversions
✅ Glenn's 70-person $3K/month community proves the model—monetization works at small scale if engagement is real
Want more monetization strategies like this?
Join Skool Monetization Lab for templates, weekly calls, and a community that treats revenue as the goal—not member count.
Question for you: How many "true regulars" do you have in your community right now?
(Comment below - I'll respond with specific next steps based on your answer.) 👇
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Want more monetization strategies?
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💰 Paid Community: Turn 25-50 members into $1K-$5K/month → Skool Monetization Lab
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Skool News: Member Risk Score, Discovery Updates + Glenn's 70-Person Community Making $3K/Month
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