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).  My pals Amy Celona (www.WebsByAmy.com) and Michelle Laycock (www.LaycockDesigns.com) can help you get that all setup and have experience doing so!  And their rates are reasonable :D Can you do it yourself...yes...but I would highly recommend paying them to set it up right for you, and then you make it back in your new online community (Membership Site) and bringing your best to your customers. 

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 

3-Part SERIES: Do you need a Membership Site? Mini-Subscription Ideas.

This article is Part 2 of the 3-Part SERIES in discussing Membership Sites.  In the last article we discussed the full-blown Membership Site option using a hosted WordPress blog and the plug-in, WishList Member.

In this article, Part 2, we will discuss mini-subscriptions. In Part 3, the final part of the series we will discuss some other options and alternatives! In the end you should have plenty of ideas on how to build a membership site that best suits your business and business goals, short term and long term. Make sure you read all 3 articles before making any decisions!

Mini-Subscriptions or Short-Term Subscriptions

Before diving into or launching a full-blown Membership Site, you may want to give it a trial run - to see how much time it takes you to provide and keep up with the service and/or how your customers respond to it.  

Or what if you company wants to offer a seasonal package or service of some kind, especially around the holidays or for a specific cause or event, such as Breast Cancer Awareness.

These would be good examples for setting up a Mini-Subscription or Short-term membership, one that runs for a short period of time whether its a week, a month or a few months (for example).

Many of my fellow demonstrators and customers do something called "12 Weeks of Christmas" or "12 Days to Christmas". In either case it is a service they provide for a short, specific set time (12 weeks or 12 days) and only to those who sign up or subscribe.

Solution - Newsletter & PayPal

The best solution for this type of "membership" is to use a newsletter service and PayPal - the newsletter to delivery your content or service to a specific set of customers, and then PayPal to accept payments.

You can use your blog and setup hidden "pages" that have the special content you want to share, such as embedded videos, or upload PDFs to your file manager (or Google Docs for example if using Blogger).

So, after you have all your materials prepared (the services, digital content in this example) prepared, and have your pages setup or uploaded to a file manager, you are ready to get those subscribers!

Setup a List

If you have an existing newsletter service, such as Constant Contact, then create a new list and make sure you set it to appear on your sign up form. If you are using MailChimp (free) or Aweber, then you can create a separate list AND separate "sign up box" for that list.  In any case, once you have setup your list, put the Sign Up Box on your blog's sidebar, you are ready to start promoting!

Ready to Launch

When you are ready to launch (have all your materials and your newsletter list and sign up box ready), the last thing you need to add to your blog is payment buttons.  I would recommend putting the payment button in the sidebar with a promo ad, as well as a post announcing the new service (subscription) and details about what you will be providing, for how long, and what your amazing price will be!

Payment Buttons

You have two options to offer your customers (using PayPal in this example).  You can setup ONE payment button if they choose to pay for the 3 months upfront (for example if you are running a 3 month subscription).  Otherwise you can setup a SUBSCRIBE button in PayPal and allow your customers to pay x-amount over the 3 months (or whatever desired duration). Your customers will love the options. Some like paying it all upfront while others find it more affordable to pay monthly.

Summary

Now you are ready to setup your mini-subscriptions!

• Prepare you service, materials.
• Setup any "hidden" pages that may be necessary in sharing information pertaining to your service.  
• Setup a newsletter, a list and put your Sign Up Box in your blog's sidebar.
• Post about your new subscription and include payment buttons. Also add payment buttons to your sidebar for easy access as well.

Stay tuned for Part 3 where we'll discuss even more alternatives and options in setting up membership subscriptions!

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com 

3-Part SERIES: Do you need a Membership Site? Build your online community and your revenue with a Membership site!

In this 3-part series, we'll be discussing different types of "membership" sites and how you can use each of them to help build your followers, relationships and revenue. This article is Part I - Building a Membership Site.

• This article, Part 1 of a 3-part Series, is designed for those looking for a membership site for the long haul - a permanent monthly or weekly service site that you plan on offering your members for a very, very long time.  
• In Part 2 we'll discuss other types of short-term "membership" options and applications and that may fit your needs better than or compliment Part 1.  
• In Part 3, we'll discuss some alternatives to those features and products mentioned in Part 1 and 2.

What Is a Membership Site?

A great way to continue to build your relationships with customers, friends, and followers is to create a Membership site.  Many of my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators use a Membership site to offer specific online classes to members/customers who have paid to sign up for their exclusive classes. Classes may be in the form of videos, tutorials (PDFs), or both, for example.

I use a Membership site for my blog maintenance program, Blogs By Heather Subscriptions. It's a little different from the traditional use of how other's use a password protected Membership only site, but it works for me. Stampin' Up! demonstrators join my maintenance program (which is a Membership site) for $12.50 a month for me to have their blogs updated every month with new, beautiful graphics of the latest promotions, catalogs, products and more!

The Purpose of Your Membership Site

So there are many uses to a Membership site, but the bottom-line is that it is a way for you to offer a service to customers who pay you for that service or exclusive articles or classes (whatever it may be); maintain your relationships with them; and in return you will see your revenue grow.

You need to give them
something of great value
at a price they can afford!

For me, it's offering Stampin' Up! demonstrators their time back! For $12.50 a month they can have their blog always updated, showing the best and most current promotions with beautiful graphics on their blog...and they do NOT have to fuss with all the HTML each month in swapping at all the old promos.  It saves them time and frustration.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This type of Membership "Site" we're discussing in Part 1 is a long term investment on YOUR part as well as your customer's.

How to Get Started

What you need is a site to maintain your members and with a login === password protected Membership site. 

Since we are all Bloggers (regardless of what platform you are using), I will discuss with you the most popular option for Bloggers. Use a blog (technology and functionality you are already very familiar with) and transform it into a Membership site!

What You Need

WordPress Blog/Hosting

First, you need a WordPress blog. No, you do NOT have to move you existing blog to WordPress.  I have a TypePad blog, www.BlogsByHeather.com.  But your Membership site is a separate blog and a WordPress blog! Mine is www.BlogsByHeatherSubscriptions.com (for my blog maintenance program for Stampin' Up! Demonstrators).

So again, do not have a panic attack! (LOL). You do NOT have to move your existing blog. You will simply create a new one, a separate WordPress blog to create your membership site!  

My partners, Michelle Laycock, Laycock Designs, can setup your WordPress blog, or our other partner in crime (LOL), Amy Celona, www.WebsByAmy.com, offers private WordPress hosting packages! We all work together and will work together to get your new Membership site up and running!

WishList Member Plug-in

Next, you need Wishlist Member which is a WordPress plugin. It can turn any WordPress blog into a Membership site! 

Although there are many tutorials on how to set this up yourself, I would highly recommend my partner, Michelle Laycock. She offers a "WordPress Subscription  Site Install" package.  I used her to setup my own! Or contact Amy Celona as she owns and operates domains and private WordPress hosting, www.WebsByAmy.com.

• So, first be sure to contact Michelle and get on her WordPress Subscription Site Install list, or Amy Celona (Webs By Amy)!. Yes, there will be a waiting list...but then again it is going to take you time to put together all your materials (videos, PDFs, posts, articles) that need to prepare before you launch! 
• Next, you'll need a WordPress blog. You can have one with your domain name purchase (adding WordPress hosting to your cart) or use www.WebsByAmy.com for private WordPress hosting. 
• Next, you need to purchase the Wishlist Member add-on here. Click the Get Started Today and you only need the Single License! That is unless you plan on running multiple membership sites - then you need the more expense Multi-License option.

 

Domain Name

Last, but not least, you need to purchase and map a domain name to your Membership site. For example, mine is www.BlogsByHeatherSubscriptions.com.  My main, TypePad blog is www.BlogsByHeather.com. So again, I purchased a separate domain for my WordPress/WishtList Membership Site!

• Purchase your domain thru me - www.BlogsByHeatherDomains.com if you are having Michelle Laycock setup your Membership Site; or www.WebsByAmy.com if you are using Amy Celona to do it.  Both are highly recommended and again, we are all partners and work together!

 

Bottom-line - What's the Cost?

These quotes of course do not include the time it will take you to get your materials together for you new membership site launch (time is money)...but here is the estimated cost to get the products and services you need:

• Professional Setup - Setup WishList Member on a WordPress blog. Again, I would highly recommend you have someone do this for you, someone with experience and has done so for many of our customers - Michelle Laycock, WordPress Subscription Site License = $200 (one-time fee) or Amy Celona, www.WebsByAmy.com!.
• WishList Member Single License = $97 (one-time fee).
• WordPress blog and Domain Name. Contact www.WebsByAmy.com for private WordPress hosting packages and domain name; or you may have a WordPress blog available when purchasing your domain thru me, Blogs By Heather Domains, Go Daddy, or other hosting company. Domains thru me are less than $10 a year; WordPress hosting as low as $3.99/month. 
• If you want training on how to use all of WishList Member features, additiona fees may apply.

So, out of all this...the $97 WishList Memer Single License and the WordPress blog/hosting is an absolute, necessary purchase.  All other options are optional, although recommended.

Estimates do not include any "design" work you may need - such as new banner, landing page, custom buttons, etc.
 

What Do I Get?

When purchasing and using WishList Member, you get ALL of these GREAT features for your Membership site!  For example, you can hide certain content from certain groups, and easily upgrade members to a new level. Best of all, WishList integrates with PAYPAL so you do not have to purchase a new credit card processor! Amy uses and recommends 1ShoppingCart.com but can use PayPal as well.

 

Summary

That's the end of this Part 1 of my 3-Part Series on Membership Sites.  I hope I provided you enough information to get your started.  You can also click here to learn more about Wishlist Member!  

Remember, this is the biggie, a big investment and commitment, hence the word "Site" in Membership Site.  This venture is not to be taken likely or is not a temporary solution. It is another "job" for you to do, a site (blog) for you to maintain.

If you are looking for something a little different, maybe a trial type of membership or something to offer seasonally, Part 2 may be a better solution for you!

Until next time...Part 2 to be published in the next 2-3 days! Again it is on mini-membership subscriptions.

Heather :D

Heather Wright-Porto
www.BlogsByHeather.com