Creating your own membership site is now easier with the help of membership plugins. That said, some membership plugins don’t seem to make things all that simple and easy on you, with steep learning curves and involved setup processes. We’re here to change that as we share some tips to find how you can find the best WordPress membership plugin.
Below are some of the things we’ll cover in today’s article:
- Best WordPress Membership Plugin Tips
- How Do I Set up a Membership Site on WordPress?
- Can You Create A Membership Site on Wix?
- Which Membership Plugin is the Best?
Best WordPress Membership Plugins: Find The Right Fit For You
Find the Best WordPress Membership Plugin for Your Needs
Not every WordPress membership plugin is the same. In fact, each one is designed uniquely to cater to its specific market.
With that in mind, it’s important to find the best plugin that provides solutions for your needs (and the needs of your members).
An important question to ask yourself is, what will you use the plugin for?
Do you need a plugin that comes with a built-in LMS? Are you building an online course? Do you plan to use it for training your employees? Maybe create a community for your audience?
With the right plugin, you can get all the functionality you need to help build your ideal WordPress membership site. It’s a good start to decide what you need from your membership plugin.
Shop Around and Compare Plugins
Choosing the best WordPress membership plugin for your site might seem difficult. After all, your chosen plugin will power your membership site for years to come.
Not to mention that switching from one plugin to another can lead to a bigger headache and can consume a lot of resources. So making the right choice when starting out can save you both time and effort.
In our recent interview with Shelly Agam from RevitPros, she explained how difficult it was for her to switch from a different WordPress plugin to another. She ultimately decided to use WishList Member for its robust functionality and easy customizability.
So, before you make a decision, be sure to shop around and compare available membership plugins. You can make a list of the pros and cons of each.
Many options offer a free trial or a money-back guarantee, and it is highly recommended to try the plugin first to see if you like the experience.
That will give you a general overview of what the plugin looks like from the backend and if it’s easy enough to use. You will also find out pretty quickly if it provides all the features you need.
Here are a selection of things you can keep in mind when browsing around for a WordPress membership plugin:
- Functionality – Does it do what you need it to do?
- Ease of use – Can you easily get done what you need to do?
- Integrations with your other tools and software – Does it offer integration with other systems you use?
- Pricing that fits your budget – Do you get value for the price you are paying?
- Great user experience on the back-end and front-end – Is it a positive experience for you and your members?
- Customizability – Are you able to make changes and tailor it to fit your needs?
- Content protection capabilities – Does it allow you to protect content the way you want?
- Security features for you and your members – Is your information and your member information safe and secure?
Naturally, the exact features will differ based on what you need for your membership site. But it’s important to have a general idea of what you should look for before making a purchase.
Make Sure the Support Team Has Your Back
No matter how great a membership plugin is, a time will likely come when you need help. That is why checking into the available support options when shopping around for your WordPress membership plugin is just as important as features and functionality.
Some plugins offer email support, chat support, and phone support options. Others even go that extra mile to provide additional support through online Q and A sessions. An online knowledge base is also a popular method to provide support.
Try contacting the support team and asking some questions. This allows you to get more information about the plugin and also experience how their support team provides assistance.
Ideally, you will want to choose a membership plugin with a great customer support team that truly cares for you and your site. The key is having a team that shows they are willing to assist you and support you.
Take a Look at the Integrations
A membership plugin isn’t always the only thing you’ll need to create a successful membership site when using WordPress. Different tools, apps, plugins, and software can help you too. This is part of what makes WordPress such an effective starting point when building a membership site. It has been developed to work with a wide variety of other systems.
These include email providers, payment providers, CRMs, and more. So you will want a membership plugin that seamlessly and almost effortlessly connects to whatever other tools you’re using. Quick and easy integrations save you so much time and effort when setting everything up.
When shopping around for the best WordPress membership plugin, make sure to look at all the integrations they offer. Make a list of the tools you need and check if your chosen membership plugin can integrate with them.
Make Sure Your Chosen Plugin Works Best for Your Skills
Every membership plugin advertises itself as the “best,” the “easiest,” and the “most powerful” solution. But the reality is that no matter what they’re advertising, if it’s not the right fit for your skills, it’s not a good match.
That is another reason why trial and refund periods are important, as they allow you to use the plugin firsthand. If the membership plugin you’re interested in doesn’t offer a trial period, you can look at their tutorial videos and their knowledge base articles to get a feel for how it works.
Sure, there are plugins out there made for beginners, but do they provide all the advanced features and functionality you need? Or you may find one that seems like the best plugin for you with all the options you’re looking for, but is cumbersome and difficult to set up and manage.
It’s all about finding the right fit for you. Or, if you’re hiring a web developer to help manage or run your site, make sure the plugin you choose lines up with their skill set.
Find the Right Plugin with the Best User Experience
Your needs aside for a moment, you also want to consider which membership plugin will provide your members with the best experience.
Granted, part of their user experience and how your website will look on the front end will depend on your WordPress theme and how you design the site. But your chosen plugin should still make it easy for you to handle the membership aspects of your site. This includes how simple it should be for members to log in and access protected content. You want a membership site that provides a smooth experience for members at all times. This includes a quick registration process and a well laid-out members area. Members want to feel comfortable when they visit your site. That feeling can also contribute to encouraging members to return. Comfortable members tend to come back.
How Do I Set up a Membership Site on WordPress?
Once you have chosen the ideal plugin, it is time to begin configuring your WordPress site and putting the appropriate content in place.
You can define which portions of the site and content should be protected using your membership plugin while using WordPress to generate the content that you need.
Invest some time and effort in the creation of the initial content on your site and make sure it is accurate and informative. The main area of your website and the member section will each play an important part in your overall success.
The area that is visible to the public must be intriguing and interesting enough to pique people’s curiosity and encourage them to sign up. The area of the site that is restricted to members only must provide enough value to warrant the membership fee if it’s a paid membership. These two areas work hand in hand to both generate interest in what you’re offering and then deliver on that offer once members decide to join.
The WordPress theme you choose is also an important decision. There are plenty of choices out there, so you’ll have your pick from the wide selection available. Choosing a design that is clean and clear can be beneficial, especially on a sales page. A simple theme can also be helpful for members, as they can easily navigate the site if everything can be seen and understood at a glance. You might want to consider a WordPress theme that is tailored specifically for membership sites.
If you use a theme that offers different templates or designs, it can be useful to use different templates that complement one another. You can use one template for your public content, and another template for members-only content. This helps create a visual separation between protected and public content.
Learn how you can make a WordPress page visible only to paying users here.
Can You Create a Membership Site on Wix?
The short answer is yes, you can create a membership site on Wix.
This is one of the most-asked and searched questions online these days, and understandably so, as not everyone uses WordPress and some might actually prefer Wix.
However, this is not always an ideal solution because Wix does not provide all the same functionality, flexibility, and accessibility that comes with WordPress.
We go more in-depth through the pros and cons of using Wix compared to using WordPress in this post.
Which Membership Plugin is the Best for You?
There are plenty of different options to choose from when it comes to finding the best WordPress membership plugins. So, which one is right for you? The answer will ultimately come down to what you need, what your budget is, and what you want to achieve. Your membership plugin is out there and ready for you.
Consider the tips we mentioned above to make an informed buying decision and you will find your ideal membership plugin. One that fits your needs and provides the best user experience for your members. We hope this helps!
If you have questions, reach out to our support team here.
