3-Part Series: Membership Sites using Password Protected Pages or Blogs

Hi again!  I've been meaning to get this article out to you sooner, but the Google Sites problem had me backed up a few days. Glad that is all resolved! :D Then I had to do my monthly maintenance updates for Stampin' Up! demonstrators and such. Thanks for waiting for me! :D

Anyway, this article is the 3rd article in the 3-Part Series on Membership Sites. Will will be discussing how to use Password Protected blogs and Password Protected pages to setup an online classroom or team area.

Recap

In PART 1 we discussed a full-blown membership site, a big investment of your resources and time, but one that can continue to bring you revenue and build your online community.  The solution discussed was using a WordPress hosted blog and WishList Member plugin (to control members, levels, logins, payment).  

In PART 2 we spoke about mini subscriptions and more short term solutions. This would be for those running a seasonal offering or offering a service for a few weeks, a few months.  In this solution I mentioned using a newsletter service, such as Constant Contact, to deliver content and links to "hidden" pages on your blog containing videos or PDFs you have stored. Whatever it is your are offering, you can have to showcased on a page on your blog and only those subscribers (member subscribers to your special newsletter) will have access of those pages and links.

"Hidden" Pages
A quick note here....a "hidden" page is the same as a regular page you create on your blog, but is NOT made public to your general audience. Only newsletter subscribers (members) have access to such page URLs. So there is not setting to set to "hide" the page. Hope that makes more sense now :D

Password-Protected Blogs and Pages 

Let's get started with talking about password-protected pages vs. password-protected blogs. First, when to use which...

If you want to build a team area or an online club, a private area, but do not need a full blown membership site, then you would create another blog and have it password-protected.

• In TypePad, create a new blog and then go to Settings.
  • Under Basics, click to password protect the blog.
  • You can then enter the username and password info.
• In WordPress.com, go to Settings, Privacy and set to Private. 
  • Then add those people who have access to view your blog.
  • You can also protect pages and posts!
• In Blogger, like you go to Settings, Permissions.
  • Then invite all those who are allowed access to your blog.

In using a protected blog, you can do all you are familiar with in your main blog - post, create pages, insert pictures and video, add photo albums, customize the design, etc.

This again would be preferrable if you are creating an online club or class environment or want to share information and have a blog specifically for a team (or downline for SU Demos).

To Password-Protect a Page

What if you don't need a full-blown blog and just want to hide or protect a page. This page may contain a bunch of videos or be a page you link to from your newsletter (such as if using a mini-subscription setup), that you want to force people to enter a password.

Keep in mind you have to email them the password! LOL.

In any event, it's easiest enough to do.  You can use this method below in Blogger and TypePad.  WordPress.com has it's own built-in method! When you create a page or post, on the right sidebar area you can set the Visibility to Password Protect (and then set the password there).

In Blogger and Typepad:

• Create your page as you normally would.
• Finishing composing the page until the only thing left is to "protect" it.
• Switch to Edit HTML view.
• Copy and paste in the code below to the top of your page.
• Edit the password (in my example it is TypePad) and the site to be directed to if hte password is incorrect (in my example it is my site).
• Then you can Publish the page. 

When you the go to view the page, you will be prompted for the password. If it is CORRECT the page content will be shown. If it is WRONG then they are directed to your main site or another page you may have created for an "oops. try again".

Click here to download the text file so you can copy and paste, edit the code for your page!

 

I hope this helps you in setting up some type of membership site that best suits your needs and business.

Happy blogging!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

Comments

[jill'E'jam]

This was awesome! Thank you for posting!!

[Heather Wright-Porto]

Hi Kivonne!!!

Hidden pages can be different things.
A hidden page can be one that is Published normally on your blog but just not publicized or reference in any way other than maybe a link to it from your newsletter. Meaning it is public and published but everyone is not aware of it. So it is basically "hidden" because it is not publicized.

Then there are password protected pages that are "hidden" because someone cannot "see" it unless they have the password. Many use this type of "hidden" pages for their downline information.

Regarding Pinterest, yes you can pin your won artwork but you are supposed to pin other's as well :D :D :D

[kivonne]

So Heather...what you are saying in these hidden pages are...that worpress has a button you can use as private...this is a post you already have written? In order to get to those hidden pages...you have to have a password? Is that right?

On Pinterest...can we put our own cards on that site???

Hope you got the message about me changing from mailchimp to aweber. Thank you. kt

[Heather Wright-Porto]

Hi Dawn!

NO…blog subscribers are not updated when you create or edit pages. Only when you "post" to your blog. :D

[Dawn]

Thank you Heather. I've enjoyed this series of posts and you have answered a lot of questions that I have.

I have one more question. How do the feeds handle a post like the one described above. Does it show up in google reader? I know you'd have to enter the password to see the whole page, but would the post title or anything show up. (hoping the answer is no.)