How to Create a Free Membership Website

Free membership sites can be used for homeowners associations, clubs, private learning communities, training for customers and much more. Here you’ll learn how to create a Free Membership Site in WordPress with special content for your members and teaser content for visitors.

Why Create a Free Membership Site?

• Examples of Uses for a Free Membership Site
  • Provide Training to a Select Group of People, e.g. Employees, Affiliates, Customers
  • Club Members – Information and Forums
  • Hobby or Learning community
  • Leagues, Teams
  • Home Owners Associations
• Common Elements
  • Registration Process
  • Controlled Access to Content
  • Message to the Public About the Site
• Example Free Membership Website

Initial WordPress User Settings

• Use WordPress Functions to Control Access
  • User Settings
  • User Roles
• Uncheck Membership Setting “Anyone Can Register”
  • Spam Users

Install & Configure the Members Plugin

• Benefits of Using the Members Plugin
• Configure the Settings
• Login Form Widget Features

Create a Custom WordPress User Role

• Existing WordPress User Roles
• User Role Capabilities
• Add a New Role

Manually Create a WordPress User

• Good for Small Number of Users
• Add New User

Add Login Form to the Sidebar

• Add Widget to the Sidebar
• Customize the Appearance

Protect Access to a Page or Post

• Add Content Protection to a Public Page
• View the Protected Page
  • Logged In
  • Not Logged In

Customize the Message Displayed to People Without Permission to View the Content

• Change the Automatic Default Message
• Customize the Message on a Page by Page Basis

Show Teaser Content to Visitors

• Members Plugin Shortcodes
• Use Shortcode to Limit Visibility of Content
• Use Shortcodes to Create Messages for Other Roles

Customize Menus for Logged in Users

• Nav Menu Roles Plugin
• Show a Menu Item Only to Logged In Users
• Customize Menus for Logged in Users

How to Show Different Widgets to Logged in Users

Advanced Content Protection Using Thesis 2.1

Question and Answer

Why is automating registration a good thing?

Create a Automated Registration Page

Install the Gravity Forms Plugin

Create a Form in Gravity Forms

Convert the Form to a Registration Form

Customize the Registration Form Submit Button

Automatically Register a New User via Email

Automatic Registration Using an Aweber Opt-in Form

Automatic Registration Using a MailChimp Opt-in Form

Redirect Users on Login and Logout

Session 2 – Question and Answer