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Most creators build an audience on platforms they don't own, for example, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, etc. 

These platforms control your reach, can restrict your account overnight, and give you no real way to have structured, lasting conversations with your audience. Creating a Tribe on Mainstack changes that. They give you a private, owned space where the best conversations about your niche are happening, and you're at the centre of all of it.

Tribe is Mainstack's dedicated membership product that lets you create a private, branded space where your audience can connect, learn, and grow together, while you earn.

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Whether you're a coach, educator, content creator, podcaster, or entrepreneur, Tribe gives you the infrastructure to turn your audience into a paying membership.

With Tribe on Mainstack, you can:

• Create a paid or free membership space for your audience

• Organise discussions using dedicated Spaces

• Bundle your existing Mainstack products, courses, downloads, audio files, etc, as member benefits

• Add and manage members manually or in bulk, and do so much more.

Note:  Tribe is a product you sell, just like a digital download or a course.  You decide the price, access rules, and what's included, and interested Members pay for access through a checkout page.

Pro Tip:  Creators who bundle a course or resource pack inside their Tribe tend to see higher conversion rates, and members feel they're getting more value from day one.

How to Create Your Tribe

Setting up your Tribe takes less than 10 minutes, and here's the process:

Step 1: Go to Your Dashboard and Click Tribe

From your Mainstack dashboard, Select Tribe and click Set up Tribe.

Give your Tribe a clear, compelling name that communicates the value and benefits. 

Pro Tip:  Spend time on your Tribe name, cover image, and description. These are what potential members see first, so treat them like a sales page, not a form.

Spaces are discussion spaces where your members will connect.

Step 4: Set Your Membership Fee

One of Mainstack's biggest advantages is its payment infrastructure. You can accept Tribe membership payments in over 135 currencies across more than 150 countries, meaning your membership fee can be paid by someone in Mexico, London, or Los Angeles without any friction. 

Once created, your Tribe, like any other product, has its own dedicated page and link you can share directly to your audience. When your audience visits your page, they will see the value, pay for membership, and receive access to everything inside.

Step 6: List on the Affiliate Marketplace (Optional)

The Mainstack Affiliate Marketplace lets other creators and entrepreneurs promote your Tribe in exchange for a commission on each new member they refer. It's one of the fastest ways to grow your membership without spending money on ads.

Once listed, affiliates across the Mainstack network can discover your Tribe and start promoting it to their own audiences, instantly expanding your reach.

To List Your Tribe in the Affiliate Marketplace, follow the simple steps here.

Managing Spaces

Spaces are the heart of your Tribe. They are themed discussion channels where members can post, ask questions, and engage with each other and with you. You can create as many Spaces as you need, and organise them around topics that matter to your audience.

Note:  You can create multiple Spaces and organise your Tribe experience just the way you like. Think of each forum as a channel with a specific purpose.

You learn more about creating and managing Spaces here. 

Adding Products to Your Tribe

One of the most powerful features of Tribe is the ability to bundle your other Mainstack products inside it, so members unlock more than just a forum when they join.

For example, if you run a Tribe for aspiring freelancers, you could include access to your freelance contract template, a masterclass recording, and a booking slot with you — all as part of the membership.

You learn more about how to sell products and services to your Tribe here.

Note:  Only products you've already created on your Mainstack account will appear here. Create those first, then come back to add them to your Tribe.

Great places to share your Tribe link:

• Your Mainstack link-in-bio page

• Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and TikTok bio

• Email newsletter — pin it above the fold

• YouTube video descriptions and end screens

• A pinned post or announcement on your social channels

• Inside your existing digital products as an upsell

Pro Tip:  Set a commission rate that's attractive enough to motivate affiliates. Many successful creators offer 20–30% commission on their Tribe subscriptions.

Creator Tips for a Thriving Tribe

The technical setup is the easy part. What makes a Tribe genuinely valuable and retains paying members month after month is the experience inside it. Here are proven practices from successful Tribe builders:

1. Launch Strong

• Start with founding member pricing; offer a lower rate to your first 50–100 members to reward early adopters and build momentum.

• Don't wait for everything to be perfect. Launch with 2–3 active Spaces and build from there based on what your members actually want.

2.  Keep Engagement High

• Post consistently. Even a short weekly update from you signals that the Tribe is active and worth the membership fee.

• Welcome every new member personally, either in a welcome post or via DM. Early engagement dramatically improves retention.

3. Maximise the Value You Offer

• Bundle your best existing Mainstack products inside the Tribe, and it immediately raises the perceived value of membership.

• Host live events or Q&As exclusively for members. Live access to you is one of the most valued membership perks.

• Share exclusive content such as templates, behind-the-scenes, and early access that members can't get anywhere else.

4. Grow Your Membership

• Ask happy members to refer others. Word-of-mouth from existing members is the highest-converting growth channel.

• Feature member wins and testimonials publicly; social proof drives sign-ups more than almost anything else.

Note:  Tribes tend to snowball once they reach a critical mass of active members. Focus your energy in the first 90 days on engagement and quick wins for members; the rest will follow.