What You Need to Build a Membership Based Website
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This document discusses the different options for building a membership-based website, including using a comprehensive all-in-one service like Subhub or Infusionsoft, downloading standalone software like Membergate, or using a WordPress site with a membership plugin. It recommends finding a solution that provides the necessary functionality while balancing costs and level of customization needed.
What You Need to Build a Membership Based Website
- 1. What You Need To Build a Membership-Based Website www.techdivamedia.com
- 2. Membership websites come in all shapes and sizes, and include everything from simple blogs that require a login to rich content sites with privileged access to premium content available to different levels of memberships (I.e. “gold”, “silver”, and “platinum” membership levels).
- 3. Building and managing a membership website with different levels of membership is a fairly sophisticated undertaking, so I recommend finding and using software that’s already built for this sort of functionality.
- 4. Creating something from scratch can be costly and time-consuming…and when you need to update it due to keeping up with frequent website browser updates, it can be a pain in the neck.
- 5. Membership software would include an e- commerce platform (so people can purchase and make a payment to you for access) combined with a content management system (so you can easily post new content and archive existing content) that allows you to charge your members for physical products, downloadable products, streaming content and page views.
- 6. The best membership sites also allow you to create custom pages and different levels of membership. They allow you to manage member discounts or free access to products and content based on the status of membership.
- 7. You also want to be sure you’re using software that has great support and regular updates so you can ensure that your website will stay up-to-date with the latest web browsing technologies.
- 8. Here’s an overview of several popular options for building a membership website or adding premium membership features to your existing site
- 9. For a web-based, all-in-one solution that supports any combination of free and paid membership levels plus has ecommerce functionality, email marketing and everything you need in one place, you can check out services like Subhub, Infusionsoft or Ontraport.
- 10. These can be pricier and more comprehensive than you might need at first, but offer everything in one package. They are priced as a monthly fee.
- 11. If you would rather download and install software, Membergate is another all-in- one solution with a well-established base of customers. The software can be purchased outright so you’ll only pay a monthly hosting fee, or you can pay monthly with a higher flat-fee that includes hosting.
- 12. For another cost-effective solution that’s flexible and popular, you can use a WordPress site and a membership plugin. This is the solution I use most often for my clients and myself.
- 13. The advantage here is that your costs are low (hosting fee, a flat-fee purchase for a membership plugin and varied costs for ecommerce functionality like Paypal or 1ShoppingCart) and you’re working on a platform that’s well- known, so finding support can be easy.
- 14. There’s a few plugins I like and use for this: OptimizePress, Digital Access Pass and Wishlist Member. These plugins add membership features to a standard WordPress blog. WordPress is an open-source blog platform, so it’s possible to create your own highly-customized solution by plugging in only the components you need.
- 15. I also like having the independence of hosting and creating my own solution rather than being dependent on one service that runs everything.
- 16. There’s a variety of options available to accommodate simple to complex ideas as well as your budget. If you’re not sure what would work for you, consider your budget and what functionality you really want.
- 17. If you want something basic and low- cost (i.e. for a solopreneur), I’d suggest going with WordPress and a plugin. If you want something for a larger job (I.e. for multiple sites and programs or for a company with thousands of users), I’d lean towards a comprehensive service like Infusionsoft or Ontraport.
- 18. Check out the blog on TechDivaMedia.com for more insights on online marketing, or see our YouTube channel for tutorials and demos of WordPress membership plugins like OptimizePress and Digital Access Pass: YouTube.com/techdivamedia - See more at: http://www.techdivamedia.com/need-build-membership-based- website/#sthash.mcveJr8C.dpuf