Nowadays, many individuals are developing websites where membership is required to view or participate in such websites. It could be that members want to sell certain items, give online lessons, or simply have a forum for people with similar interests. For that, a special tool called the membership plugin basic WordPress is required. However, that said, there are too many different options. Take it easy! In this post, I will help you choose the most suitable tool win your needs.
WordPress membership sites have become a lot easier to set up due to the different plugins available today. For instance, there is a free version of Paid Membership Pro and there is the Ultimate Membership Pro which comes at a cost. These plugins allow you to restrict certain sections of your website, allow for the gradual release of content over the period, and integrate payment systems for charging memberships on a regular basis.
Whether you are creating a forum, teaching a class, or selling things online these plugins will ease the work. Numerous ones also provide email and web store management features thus allowing you to monetize your site.
Content
Understanding Membership Plugins
Let us simplify. The membership plugin is like a guard at the door of your website. It enables you to restrict access to certain sections of your site to only registered users thus protecting the sections you deem as special to you. In other words, it is just like a bouncer waiting to let in people who belong to the club.
In case you are looking for a WordPress membership plugin that integrates easily well with the Elementor page builder and Stripe payment system then you are at the right place. With this plugin, you can set up multiple membership levels, control user profiles, and restrict access to any content depending on the user’s membership. Plus it makes payment very smooth with Stripe. You can even apply discount coupons. Find out the best free and paid WordPress membership plugins for your website.
5 Best WordPress Membership Plugins
So how do you plan to maximize the opportunities outlined above, let’s review some of these top options that are available.
Best Membership Plugins for WordPress
So now that you know which features are essential when choosing a plugin, let us look at some of the best WordPress membership plugins out there. These tools allow users to build membership websites with ease and come with features that cater to different forms of membership management strategies:
1. MemberPress
MemberPress is so simple, and so strong that so many people love it. It allows you to restrict access to specific content on your site and you can also integrate it with payment processors to monetize your site.
2. WooCommerce Memberships
For people using WooCommerce to run their stores, WooCommerce Memberships can be an ideal application. It integrates seamlessly with your WooCommerce store allowing you to add membership sales to your products. This tool provides a comprehensive membership system with the ability to set multiple membership plans and the ease of managing them.
3. Restrict Content Pro
Restrict Content Pro is launched and applied in just a few minutes. It is designed in a way that works but does not complicate the tasks at hand. You can add different features such as sending members emails or drip content. If you are a beginner or have already worked with tools like this one, there is no limit that Restrict Pro cannot be tailored to.
4. Paid Memberships Pro
This plugin is fantastic because so many components can be altered to meet your requirements. You can establish several membership tiers, distribute coupons, and integrate them with other applications for the effective running of your website. Memberships Paid Pro also provides you with analytics and statistics so that you can monitor the performance of your membership site.
5. Ultimate Member
Ultimate Member assists you in booming as a web-based community manager. It has multiple engagement strategies for your members. Their website supports the private posting of user-centric profiles, enabling social login and site seamlessly. The plugin also enables you to create customized registration forms and your own member lists.
Choosing the Right Plugin for You
When selecting a plugin, the important factors to consider include your needs, your budget, and the ease of use of the product you are planning to purchase. Here are some factors to consider:
Features
Consider writing down the features that are most necessary for your website, such as restricting access, enabling payments, and administering members.
Budget
Estimate the amount of money you are willing to devote. Some plugins may be free but limited in scope, while some will charge you either a one-off purchase fee or a monthly subscription.
Ease of Use
Select a plugin that suits the primary users, especially if it is a membership site for novice users of WordPress.
Integration
Check for the compatibility of the chosen plugins with other programs that you have installed on your computer, for instance, email or customer management applications.
Support
Pick plugins that have good assistance, for instance, active forums, manuals, etc., and a customer service that responds quickly to inquiries.
Gearing Up for Success: Setting Up Your Membership Site
There is always that moment when a choice has been made and now it is time to act. The following are steps aimed at helping you start and build your membership site:
- Install the Plugin: Once the plugin has been installed, add other appropriate plugins while being attentive to instructions.
- Make Membership Levels: Add various models of membership to the account and redefine them as necessary depending on your interests.
- Set Content Rules: Make a set of guidelines for a set of information that is available only to the members and set restrictions regarding sharing it with outsiders.
- Set Up Payment: Integrate a billing and payment procedure so that members can pay their subscription fees effortlessly.
- Design Membership Pages: Create membership, login, and account management and ensure that the style is maintained across the pages.
- Create Great Content: Generate useful information in the form of content which are of interest to members seeking to join.
- Write Welcome Emails: Automate mass emails in order to send greetings to new members, guide them on how to navigate through the site, and inform them of the advantages of being a member of the site.
- Promote Your Site: Advertise your site on social networks, via emails, and others in order to attract your audience and expand your membership base.
Membership Mastery: Advanced Techniques to Boost Engagement
Now that your site is live there are a few activities that will require your attention to retain your audience’s interest in the site:
- Drip Content: If you change the content progressively over time, people will be more excited to see new changes made to it.
- Exclusive Webinars or Events: Organise events that members can attend and learn something new or ask questions.
- Member Discounts: Provide discounts on some of the goods or services to the dedicated members of the site who have actively supported the membership.
- Community Building: Establish platforms such as forums or social networks where members are able to communicate with each other.
- Regular Updates: You can post new content from time to time to ensure the members feel valued and engaged.
- Member Recognition: Encourage and appreciate active members because everybody wants to feel important.
- Surveys and Feedback: Why not ask your members what they think so that you know what they want and you can make changes.
By adopting these suggestions, it may be possible to foster a reasonable community in which case members feel appreciated and thus are contented and willing to make the most of their membership.
FAQs
Is it hard to work with WordPress Membership Plugins?
No, not really! From the WordPress marketplace of plugins, many membership plugins seem to be user-friendly, having straightforward menus and steps in setting things up. If it’s your first time doing this, it is advisable to choose a plugin that has good documentation for example Paid Memberships Pro which is generally easy to figure out.
How Much Should I Spend on WordPress Membership Plugins?
Membership plugins can range in price formats, there are some such as for example Simple Membership that require a bare minimum paying essentially nothing, however, their basing features could be greater. But more advanced features depending on the features sorta come at a cost, typically seen at the premium plugins, which have a price range of roughly 50 to 200 dollars per year.
Can I Make Online Courses With a Membership Plugin?
There are a few membership plugins that can help you create online courses, while others do not. For instance, MemberPress enables you to create and manage courses alongside memberships. If you are considering incorporating online courses on your website, secure plugins like MemberPress that offer this feature.
In Conclusion
So simply put, WordPress membership plugins enable everyone to be able to make money on their sites. This means by choosing adequate plugins, organizing your site well, and finding out what keeps your target audience glued, you can establish and grow a passionate community online.
Building a successful membership site takes time. Provide value, incentivize collaboration, workflow, and what is it that your members desire most, and don’t lose hope, you will be fine running your membership site.
