Membership sites are a common
type of WordPress websites getting developed. There are a number of types of
Membership sites. However, not all the WordPress sites with the option of
creating a user profile can be considered a membership site.
In WordPress Membership sites,
the users usually have to incur a cost or a responsibility to be able to access
certain benefits provided by the website. Depending on the type of setup of
your website, the interaction methods have to be defined so that the user will
benefit from your website, by purchasing a membership. However, the type of
membership site will only function if you are able to attract users who are
willing to register into your site. Therefore, your product/ content offering
has to be appealing for these users so that they are willing to register
themselves in the site.
WordPress do not have
restrictions to the type of membership site you will develop as long as you
have the correct setup plan and the tools to create the membership site. The
first step of developing the membership plan is to create a solid plan for the
site. When creating a plan, you have to figure out what type of a membership
site you will develop. Below we have discussed the main types of membership
sites that are currently been used widely.
Product Access
The membership sites which
enable product access as a result of the membership are mostly in the eCommerce
area. An example for a setup of a membership site with product access can be
when an eCommerce site, which sells products of a certain category, prompts its
users to create membership in their site for a fee or to get their newsletter
with latest products and news. As a result of the membership, the users will
have access to products which cannot be accessed by other normal users or they
may receive discounts for their purchases. These benefits are only exclusive
for the users who are enrolled as registered users in the membership site. This
is one of the most popular types of membership sites available for eCommerce
sites.
Content Access and Subscription
These types of membership
sites are mostly common with online news providers. The users have to in most
cases, purchase membership as a subscription to be paid in monthly, quarterly
or yearly subscriptions and in return they are able to access exclusive news
articles only the members are able to access.
Most of the traditional
newspaper agencies around the world are now focusing most of their energy on
providing access to news online as paper news are now getting outdated slowly.
The reasons are the advent and the increasing use of online mediums and also
the depreciating greenery as trees are cut in millions every year to create
paper for newspaper. With global warming and environmentalists raising their
voice, most traditional news agencies are cutting back on “news on paper”.
As a result, the news are now
mostly online. However, the revenue model of these online news agencies is
selling subscription to their content. As a result, the users now have the
access to online news sites and their exclusive content by paying a
subscription fee.
Community or Social Sites
Community or Social membership sites are aiding users connect with one another probably with the same interests. These sites usually help in developing the user’s network and connections and will help them in their professions or business operations. To be able to access these networks, the users have to most likely purchase the membership up to a certain period, probably yearly or quarterly.
These membership sites manage
forums which can only be accessed if you are registered member of the website.
Using these forums, the users are able to gain valuable insight in developing
their careers or business activities. For example, in a forum dedicated to
software developers of a certain area, the members can post looking for a
solution for a certain issue or they can post looking for opportunities in that
area or post looking for roommates who too are software engineers, etc.
Educational Sites
Educational sites are one of
the most popular WordPress website types. In these types of membership sites,
the users are able to access courses provided by these websites, by enrolling
as a member for a payment. Depending on the type of membership purchased, the
users are able to access certain programs offered.
Above discussed are some of most prominent types of membership sites available. However, the website developers are very creative that they come up with different membership models every day. It is important that you get a clear idea of the type of membership, the benefits and the billing aspects when developing the website.
Learn more about it: how to build a WordPress membership site.