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