WordPress makes it easy to build different types of websites for your business. I myself have multiple types of websites for different purposes. (Do you want to learn more about different website types? Get my “The 7 Most Effective Website Types For Your Business” here.)
One of those website types I’ve been using heavily is “membership site.”
What is a Membership Site?
Is there anything you can teach online (and make money)? Do you want to share some content on your site only with your customers? Or create a special community that is accessible only to certain people? You can do all that with a membership site!
I’m running multiple membership sites for my online programs, such as Website Creation Workshop, Website Marketing Workshop, Graphics Creation Workshop, and more.
Most Important Function of a Membership Site
When you create a membership site, the most important thing you need to keep mind is to protect the content of the site from everybody except for those who you give access to. Your membership should not be accessed by search engines and robots, either. Even if you try to simply “hide” a website from search engines, it’s not good enough. You really need to take an extra step to protect the content you worked hard to create!
WordPress, of Course, has Membership Site Plugins!
There are various membership site plugins available for WordPress. They work as a “lock” for your membership site, preventing people and bots from accessing it without valid username and password.
Among all the membership plugins out there, it’s WishListMember plugin that I’m using on all of my membership sites. I’ve been using it for years… I think it’s still the most feature-rich, reliable membership plugin available.
Some of its features I love include:
- multiple membership levels with detailed settings
- content protection with various conditions
- integration with major shopping cart/payment systems
- sequential upgrade
- reporting
- great customer support
Here is their cool video that gives you an overview of what WishListMember plugin does:
Christina,
This blog post was a blessing to me today! Thanks for sharing. After watching the video I have now discovered an inexpensive way to have a membership site, using a tool I know and love. Onward and upward to the next phase in my business. I am absolutely juiced!! Thanks a million.
Yes, this video is excellent at explaining WordPress and the WishList Plugin. You can also find it at http://www.wishlistqueen.com
😉
What a great way to get an affordable membership site. Thanks so much for sharing with us all.
Wow, this is awesome!
I plan to start setting up a micro continuity website in about 90 days and I am definetely going to use this plug in for it.
I’m so glad I found this product. Great Talking with you.
To Your Success!
Karl
I can totally understand the level of work that went into developing this plugin and the price tag that’s on there… it’s just a pity there isn’t a stripped down version for free..
Marty,
I don’t know of a stripped down version of WishList Member. But the price is really low $97, so for what you get, it’s a bargain.
After reading this post about Using WordPress as a Membership Site :: Website Creation Workshop, I am not sure I understand what you are trying to relate. Please expand on your thoughts a little more. Thanks
Instead of using wordpress as a blog, you can use it as a private membership site platiform
I was searching for Blogs about Using WordPress as a Membership Site | WebsiteCreationWorkshop.com and found this site. I am interested in your content and I appreciate sites like this.
Christina, Awesome video! It looks really easy to use. In the first part of the video he said “now you’ve completed your micro continuity training and you’re ready to move on.” What was he referring to? Also, what’s the difference between a micro continuity site and a continuity site? Thanks (BTW I think it’s a bargain at that price, too)
Hi Christina,
I’ve been trying to buy the wishlist plug in today through your affiliate link, but i keep getting an error message when I try to seal the deal. It goes to an upsell but when I click buy it goes to an error message. There’s no way to contact them from the salesletter, so I thought I should let you know about it.
Judith,
thanks for letting me know.
1ShoppingCart is down right now, and that’s why my affiliate link does not work.
If you can wait till tomorrow or later tonight, it should work.
Here is the link:
http://member.wishlistproducts.com/wlp.php?af=897477
thanks for asking
thanks Christina. Everything went through slick as butter! Thanks
Judith,
glad you were able to get Wishlist. And thank you for taking the time to find my affiliate link (http://member.wishlistproducts.com/wlp.php?af=897477) for that!
I do appreciate it
🙂
Hi Christina,
I’m having trouble installing Wishlist but the support is unacceptably unhelpful. This is what I sent to support:
“I’ve been following the installation video and all is well until I try to connect with my website http://tap4healing.com . I read the note that says use “binery” and I found that and did it. here’s the error message I receive:
220 You will be disconnected after 3 minutes of inactivity.
Command: USER judithfrost
Response: 331 User judithfrost OK. Password required
Command: PASS ********
Response: 530 Login authentication failed
Error: Critical error
Error: Could not connect to server
I have verified my password. Can’t think of what else to do.”
And here is what they sent back:
Hi Judith,
Thank you for writing.
“We encountered that issue sometimes when using Filezilla. We didn’t know yet what causing that issue. That’s because sometimes it will not work sometime it will work. We tried it several time but it seems that that issue is hard to determined what causing it.
Thanks Judith,
Raffy ”
Any thoughts?
Judith,
I would try another FTP program. Do you use http://www.BlueHostNow.com for your hosting? if so their support is great! call them and ask them to help you FTP a file to your server.
Great post Christina, You are doing some great work.A suggestion, as like many these days I use my Ipad to watch videos etc,love the portability. Unfortunately flash videos do not work on iPad. Camtasia now has an option to render for Ipad. In this mobile world I suggest all your videos should be iPad ,mobile friendly.Mike Stewart recently featured a multiple video plugin that would play videos on any mobile device,you may already be aware of it,if not I will check what it is and let you know.
Grahame
Grahame,
I agree with you! I use an iPhone and an iPad all the time. This video didn’t come from me, it came from the folks at WishList, so I cannot change it. But I’ll suggest it to them.
In fact, I’m starting to make all my new videos in the .mp4 version so that they can be played on mobile (non flash) devices
🙂
Hi Christina.
Your timing with this couldn’t be more perfect. I was researching simple ways to start a membership section on my website. I didn’t find anything impressive until now. This is terrific.
Thank You Very Much.
Brendan.