If so, then you should consider creating a membership website.

A membership website is a site that offers exclusive content or services to paying members.

In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using a membership website, what to offer inside the membership, and the costs involved with starting one.

We will also provide a step-by-step guide that details how to create a membership website.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s begin by answering commonly asked questions about membership websites.

Getting these questions answered upfront will help lay the groundwork as you learn how to create a membership website.

What You’ll Need To Make a Membership Website

There are four main considerations to think through before getting started with building your membership website.

Vision for the Website

Some questions you can ask yourself to help narrow down the purpose of your site include the following:

• Who is my target audience?
• What problem am I solving for them?
• How often will I release new content?

Strategic Plan To Execute On

Your strategic plan should answer the following questions.

• How will I generate traffic to my site?
• How will I monetize my site?
• Who will create the content for my site?

Research of Your Target Audience

Take time to research and understand your target audience.

The better you understand your target audience, the easier it will be to create a site that appeals to them.

No-code Website Builder Platform/Program

The easiest way to build a membership website is to use a no-code membership platform or program.

The no-code option requires little technical knowledge.

Step by Step Instructions To Create a Membership Website

Let’s review the steps from start to finish when building a membership site.

1. Spec Out Your Goal for Your Membership Website

Before taking action, create a detailed plan that helps you decide on the type of content to provide and how to monetize that information.

What Will the Site Do?

A membership website provides content that sits gated behind a paywall.

Will you create an online course where people sign up to get access to lessons and materials?

Or, will you use a collection of video tutorials, e-books, or audio files?

Think about what you can offer that other websites cannot.

That is your niche.

Your membership website should focus on a specific topic, hobby, or interest.

For example, let’s say you want to create a website about plant-based recipes.

Your niche is that your recipes are gluten-free, vegan, and use only ingredients found at the farmer’s market.

People who pay for your membership site’s content should feel like they’re getting valuable content they can’t find elsewhere for free.

Who Is Your Website’s Audience?

Now that you know what content you’ll provide, it’s time to think about who will want to consume it.

People willing and able to pay for the type of content you offer make up your target market.

Some questions you should ask yourself include the following:

• Who are they?
• What are their interests?  
• What are their pain points?
• What type of content would they find valuable?

How Will the Membership Website Be Monetized?

Your next step is determing how you will make money from your membership.

There are a few ways to monetize a membership website:

• Offer a monthly subscription
• Charge per piece of content
• Sell ads for revenue
• Sell products or services
• Have an annual membership

You can also offer a combination of these options.

Determine the method by the type of content you plan to offer and your target market.

For example, if you’re planning on offering video content, you could use paid memberships as your primary monetization method.

You could also sell products or services related to the videos as an upsell.

Or, if you’re planning on offering an online course, you could use a per-course fee or annual subscription model.

You could also add a private blog to your membership website and include ads as another way to monetize the site.

The monetization method you choose needs to fit with the type of content you offer and your target market.

The important thing is that you decide on a monetization strategy before you start building your website.

That way, you can structure your content and site accordingly.

2. Choose a No-code Membership Website Builder

There are two main types of platforms available: code-based and no-code.

No-code platforms give you the ability to build a membership website without coding knowledge.

They’re also more affordable than code-based solutions and much easier to use.

Some of the best no-code membership platforms include the following:

• MemberStack
• Podia
• Teachable 
• Kartra
• Squarespace
• Kajabi
• Wix 
• Weebly 
• WordPress with a membership plugin

When choosing a platform, ensure it offers the features and functionality you need to build the type of membership website you want.

It should also integrate with any other software or tools you plan to use.

For example, if you want to offer video content, make sure the platform can host videos or at least make it easy to add Vimeo or YouTube scripts to its pages.

Or, if you want to offer an online course, ensure the platform can easily host your course material.

Consider the following factors:

• Ease of use
• Flexibility
• Pricing
• Customer support
• Features
• Integrations

3. Design and Build Your Membership Website

The first design issue to consider is the look and feel of your site.

Your website’s design should match the tone of your brand and the type of content you offer.

For example, if you offer high-quality video content, your website should have a sleek and professional design.

If you offer more lighthearted or casual content, your website can be more playful in its design.

Your website’s design should also be easy to navigate.

Make sure users can find the content they’re looking for without any difficulty.

You don’t want users to get frustrated and leave your site because they can’t find what they need.

Consider the importance of a membership website’s homepage.

It’s where you need to make a good first impression.

Your homepage needs to convert visitors into members.

It should have a strong headline, explain the membership’s benefits, and include a clear call-to-action (CTA) that tells visitors what to do next.

4. Build the Back End of the Membership Portal

It’s time to start building the back end.

In this step, you’ll add and organize all your content, set up payment plans and access levels, and manage members.

Most membership platforms have an easy-to-use interface that lets you drag and drop content into place.

When adding content to your membership website, organize it using an easy-to-navigate structure.

You don’t want your members to feel overwhelmed or lost when they’re trying to find something.

A good way to organize your content is by using categories and subcategories.

For instance, if you offer video content, you could have a “Videos” category with subcategories for each type of video content you offer.

You could also use tags to organize your content.

For example, you might tag all the videos that belong to a series or that you created for beginners.

After adding the content, it’s time to set up payment plans and access levels.

When setting up payment plans, consider the value you’re offering.

You should also consider the type of content you’re providing and how often you plan on releasing new content.

If you offer a mix of video and written content, for instance, and you release new content every week, you can charge more than a membership that only offers written content that’s released monthly.

Think about how to give members a reason to upgrade.

If you offer a basic membership, you can create a premium membership that includes exclusive content, early access to new content, or a private forum where members can interact.

5. Publish the Membership Website Live

Most membership platforms will provide you with a couple of ways to go “live” with the site.

You can either use a subdomain provided by the platform or connect your domain name to the membership website.

If you want to use your domain name, you’ll need to change your DNS settings and point them to the membership platform.

After publishing the site, double-check that everything works as it should.

You should ensure all the links work, the content loads properly, and members can sign up and log in without any issues.

6. Promote and Market Your Membership Website

The final step is to start promoting your new membership website.

The best way to do this is by creating content that’s specifically designed to attract your target audience.

If you have an existing blog, you can write blog posts related to the content inside your membership website.

You can also create social media posts and run ads that target people interested in the type of content you offer.

It’s a good idea to reach out to influencers and ask them to promote your membership website.

For example, if you offer a cooking membership, you could reach out to popular food bloggers and ask them to mention your site in their next blog post.

You can also run contests and giveaways where people can win free access to your membership website.

Consider using partnerships as another way to get exposure to your membership website.

Go on podcasts, run webinars to partner email lists, and perform “lives” on your partners’ YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook platforms.

On these partnership opportunities, invite the audiences to opt-in to a relevant lead magnet offer.

On the backend, you can promote your membership website to these new email subscribers on your list.

Wrapping Up

Creating a membership website can be a lucrative way to generate revenue.

It allows you to offer exclusive content and services that your customers will appreciate.

Remember to set goals, choose the right software, and promote the membership.

Did you enjoy our tutorial for getting things set up?

Please leave a comment or ask a question in the comments below.

We’d also appreciate it if you shared this article with others who also want to know how to create a membership website.

The GaaS model encourages player loyalty and engagement through administering micro-transactions.

The GaaS strategy also implements upgrades to its content, features, and functionality via regular updates.

The primary objective of the GaaS business model is to achieve a long-term strategy of regularly delivering value to users.

This article will discuss everything you need about Games as a Service, including its history, a general overview, and some of the industry’s top-rated games.

There are also various marketing lessons to learn from using this business model.

What Is Games as a Service (GaaS)?

Games as a Service is a relatively new profitable business model in the gaming industry which focuses on monetizing game content or video games.

It engages players by undergoing daily, weekly, or monthly updates.

Players need to pay subscription fees or make in-game purchases.

This strategy keeps the players interested to see more upgraded content.

Gaming video content is a fast-growing industry, generating immense revenue and luring players all across the globe.

Upgraded content is changing the land space of gaming by providing usability, accessibility, and an excellent player experience.

GaaS games are available to anyone since it is accessible from the cloud.

History of Games as a Service

The idea of GaaS games was introduced first as multiplayer online games such as World of Warcraft, released in 2004.

The subscription-based service increased revenue and influenced the publisher to create new content.

Later, the GaaS model expanded to mobile gaming, which included social elements to invite friends, and play with them.

Tencent, a Chinese company, was the first to monetize its products as a service to Chinese players.

They played on the phone rather than on consoles or computers.

The company published the service in 2008 and has become the largest video game publisher with the highest revenue stream.

Afterward, there were many other GaaS games released.

Many of these games used subscription fees and season passes or downloadable copies.

Today’s games that use the GaaS model are Apex Legends, Battle Pass, Rocket League, Destiny 2, World of Warcraft, and Fortnite, among others.

What Makes Games as a Service Unique?

The Games as a Service is unique since it is an innovative idea in the games industry.

Many industries use different GaaS models to monetize their products.

The free-to-play games use the GaaS model to monetize their product, maintain zero entry costs, and make it accessible.

This model is more extensive, customizable, and engaging.

The buy-to-play games use the GaaS model to make more money by using subscription fees and downloadable content.

What Is the Main Difference Between Traditional Video Games and Games as a Service?

Traditional games were single-sale products that you bought and played on consoles or computers at home.

The previous business model considered the video games as single ship releases.

So you paid only one fee and owned it forever.

After digital distribution began, video games were initially single-sale products.

Once the multiplayer online games era commenced, GaaS developed and almost instantly grew in popularity.

GaaS is published once and updated regularly.

Typically, updates occur weekly and are based on subscription fees or in-game purchases.

The updates include elements such as new levels, missions, and events that keep the player engaged.

What Games Are Games as a Service?

You will find some of the most successful games listed below:

1. Fortnite

Fortnite is one of the most popular and successful Games as a Service, released by Epic Games in 2017.

In 2020, this game reached 350 million players that played over 3 billion hours in-game.

In 2020, Fornite had revenue of $1.2 billion.

Epic Games released new seasons of Fortnite every three months.

2. Candy Crush Saga

This game is the most popular freemium model, released in 2012 as a browser game and on mobile.

In 2014, the platform accounted for approximately 93 million players and about 2.7 billion downloads on mobile devices, and Candy Crush remains one of the most played mobile games.

You can play this game for free.

However, making purchases can make completing complex boards more manageable.

3. World Of Warcraft

Blizzard Entertainment company released World of Warcraft in 2004.

This game is the first GaaS to introduce the monthly subscription model.

It has the most active online community and, in 2020, has brought its creators $8 billion.

4. League of Legends

In 2019, Riot Games released League of Legends for the Windows and macOS platforms.

League of Legends is a free game to play.

In 2022, the monthly audience will reach 115 million players worldwide.

Later on, the riot games announced that the game would distribute free of charge over the Internet.

Seven years after its release, the League of legends became the most profitable PC game.

5. Dota 2

Valve released Dota 2, a multiplayer online battle game, in 2010.

It is free to play, and the players don’t have to buy any elements.

Valve has included a monthly subscription called Dota plus.

The service helps beginners progress fast and well in the game with the primary skills.

6. Pokemon Go

Pokemon Go is a free-to-play game where players can buy different items which help them progress better in the game.

You use Pokecoins (an in-game currency) to purchase any items in the store.

Also, you can use Pokecoins to get extra space in the Pokemon storage or bag.

The more you play, the more space you get.

In 2021, the game reached 70,000 average monthly players.

7. Dragon Eternity

This is a browser and mobile game based on a free-to-play model.

It was developed by Q1 and released by Game Insight in 2011.

It is available on Facebook, a web version of ”Dragon of Eternity” for iOS and Android.

8. Destiny 2

Bungie, an American company, developed the Destiny 2 in 2017.

This is a first-person shooter game.

You can play it with a PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows.

In 2019, the game became available on Steam, stadia cloud service, PlayStation 5, and Xbox series x/s.

Bungie added new content and missions to the game, making it a popular game with around 31 million players in 2021.

10. Is Steam GaaS?

Yes, it is a cloud-gaming service that operates on a subscription basis, and you can pay monthly or annually.

It offers unlimited access to numerous games.

11. Is Marvel Avengers GaaS?

Yes, the Avengers is a single-player Game as a Service, and the user can pay for the upgraded characters.

However, rumors claim that the GaaS scheme turned the Marvel Avengers game into a flop.

How Does Games as a Service Work?

The GaaS model consists of various critical points which explain how it works.

Microtransactions

Microtransactions are transactions of extra content in the game, such as items, maps, rewards, etc.

The primary focus of this business model is to help the players to improve their progress.

Updates Regularly

Depending on the type of game, the GaaS should update regularly and come with a new exciting mission or features.

Community

Building a community of socially active players is a valuable asset of any game.

Support

An integral part of GaaS is developers’ continuous support of players.

Automated responses are an excellent way to speed up the answering time.

If the number of players grows, you can try user segmentation.

Marketing Efforts

To ensure the high performance of the game, you should know well how to optimize the game.

Keep it SEO friendly, buy traffic every year, reach out to influencers, etc.

Pros and Cons of GaaS Platform

Developing, Maintaining, and supporting Games-as-a-service has many advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Steady revenue: These models are not dependent on a one-time purchase. The GaaS depends on continually earning money by developing a long-term monetization strategy.
• Earlier Release: A game developer doesn’t need to develop the game for years and launch it. They can launch it earlier, get feedback, and according to the audience, update it.
• Long-term relationship: GaaS build long-term relationships with the audience and extend the game’s life span. A player gets bored quickly and tends to drop the games faster and download something new. With regular updates, the player is always engaged and looking forward to trying new things.

Cons

• Regular updates needed: It is essential to keep the players engaged by updating the content, sometimes every week.
• Complex multilingual content management: Marketing, QA, development, and localization require a lot of work on the in-game and out-game content. The localization process and procedures are essential.
• QA cycle and shorter production: Keeping the data in one place as the only source of truth is essential.
• User Engagement: The games-as-a-service depends on their users. It is essential to communicate with players, collect their feedback, and achieve a high level of engagement.

Games as a Service Business Models (and How To Monetize)

Various GaaS business models use methods to monetize the gaming experience.

Selling In-Game Content to Players

Selling in-game content is a business model where the players pay a low fee for a quick transaction.

You can purchase items or unlock new levels.

You might have to pay a small price to access a new feature; this transition is ”in-game purchases”.

Pay-to-Play

In pay-to-play games, the customers pay to access it, own a physical copy of the game, and play it.

It is ideal to use pay-to-play for certain games, such as WoW (World of Warcraft) until you reach a fixed level.

In this situation, it is best to identify if the game interests you.

If it does, you can subscribe monthly by paying a fee.

Ad Placements

Since many players are part of GaaS, its market is enormous, and the potential to place your ad is expansive.

Many developers show their ads as videos on loading screens to increase brand awareness and revenue.

Paying for New Content

Adding new content is a way to increase the in-game revenue.

For instance, Fortnite regularly comes out with new content to keep players active and maintain its monetization.

Game Bundles

Game bundles are a collection of high-value titles in one package.

The users can purchase them at a discount price.

They are a great way to engage new users and generate new leads on an existing, less popular products.

Cloud Gaming Services

Cloud gaming services operate on a subscription basis which is either monthly or annually.

The included games are hosted in the cloud, and the users don’t have to pay individually for each game.

Some cloud gaming services include Sony PlayStation Now, Steam, Amazon Luna, etc.

What Can Marketers Learn With the Games as a Service Model?

Continued research is helping marketers develop new strategies to optimize the GaaS industry.

Microtransactions

Marketers try to find ways to convert the new clients into loyal ones.

Microtransactions help the customer pay a low fee in a quick transaction to buy the preferred equipment, feature, or level.

This strategy keeps them engaged and interested in playing.

Advertising

Advertising is a perfect way to present your game in an engaging, appealing, and catchy way.

Marketers can better understand how to analyze the strategic points for a successful ad by optimizing ad placement, formatting, and timing.

Personalizing Subscription and Payment Options

The GaaS model offers gamers a recurring subscription service, which is free (free-to-play).

The premium content is accessible to players.

GaaS has many billing options such as based, flat, and tiered billing.

Targeting the right buyer personas and providing customized payment strategies is essential.

Content Creation

The GaaS model requires consistent new content to educate, inform, and engage the users.

Content creation is essential to increase revenue by adding new content, so the players pay to access it.

Wrapping Up

GaaS games have several short and long-term benefits.

They allow game designers to iterate on their product and create a more targeted experience when they need it.

The main focus is providing quality content without compromising quality or time management.

These games have the potential to be profitable in the long term due to their sustainable nature.

They offer new opportunities for game developers of all sizes and skill levels.

A happy new era of gaming!

Even More: If you’re looking to monetize a gaming blog, check out the top gaming affiliate programs and get started earning today.

By providing exclusive access to members-only content, you can create a community of engaged customers.

These customers are more likely to return to your site and buy additional product offers.

In this article, we will discuss what membership portals are, how to create one, and the 12 best platforms to build it on.

What Is a Membership Portal?

A membership portal is a niche website that provides exclusive access to members-only content.

This type of content can include anything from articles and videos to courses and downloads.

Membership portals usually require a membership fee to access the content.

However, some membership portals offer free membership in exchange for an email address.

There are many benefits of creating a member portal.

For example, membership portals can help you accomplish the following.

• Create a recurring revenue stream
• Increase customer loyalty
• Provide valuable content to members
• Offer exclusive access to products and services

What Should a Membership Site Include?

When you’re planning your membership site, there are a few key features to consider.

Here are some essential membership site features to look for.

A way to accept payments:

You’ll need a way to collect membership fees from your members.

Most membership portal platforms will offer a payment gateway integration.

Exclusive content:

The main reason people will join your membership site is to access the content they can’t find on your blog.

Plan out what membership content you’ll offer and how often you’ll update it.

A forum or community:

Using a community element of a membership website works to build relationships with your members and keep them engaged.

An email list:

You can use this to send out updates about new content, membership specials, and more.

A way to track members:

You’ll want to track members and non-members.

Most membership portal platforms will offer this feature.

How To Create a Membership Website

Creating a membership portal is relatively easy.

All you need is a website and some content to put behind a paywall.

There are two basic ways to create a membership website.

How Do I Create a Membership Website for Free?

The easiest way to create a free membership website is to create a blog.

Then, offer exclusive content to members who sign up for your email list.

To do this, you’ll need to set up an opt-in form on your website.

When someone submits their email address, add them to your membership list.

You can then send them updates about new membership content as well as other exclusive offers.

How Do I Create a Paid Membership Site?

If you want to create a paid membership site, you’ll need to choose a membership portal platform.

The portal will allow you to collect payments and offer exclusive content to members.

When choosing a membership portal platform, there are a few things to consider.

The first is whether you want a self-hosted or cloud-based platform.

A self-hosted platform will require you to set up a server.

The membership portal company will host a cloud-based platform.

The second thing to consider is what features you need.

As we mentioned earlier, some essential features to look for are a payment gateway, exclusive content, a way to track members, and an email list.

Once you’ve chosen a membership portal platform, setting up your membership website is easy.

Most membership portal companies will offer detailed instructions on how to set up your site.

What Are the Best Membership Sites?

Now that we’ve gone over how to create a membership website, let’s take a look at the 12 best membership portal platforms.

WPQuickStart

WPQuickStart, by Nexcess, bundles various WordPress themes and plugins with premium hosting.

Our Pick

WPQuickStart is a membership portal platform that helps you create and manage your membership website.

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What is WPQuickStart?

WPQuickStart is a membership portal platform that helps you create and manage your membership website.

What Are the Key Features of WPQuickStart?

The key features of WPQuickStart include a payment gateway, exclusive content, a way to track members, and an email list.

It also provides the following features.

Optimization:

The platform includes features that convince your visitors to return and stay longer.

Security:

WPQuickStart is a secure platform.

It offers features like two-factor authentication to show your members that you keep their information safe.

Email communication:

Get an email list feature.

It allows you to send out updates about new membership content as well as other exclusive offers.

Automatic scaling:

The company will automatically scale your WordPress site to meet the demands of rising membership website traffic.

CDN:

The Nexcess CDN plans help deliver content to members quickly, no matter where they are in the world.

What Are the Pricing Plans for WPQuickStart?

WPQuickStart offers three membership plans.

• $49/month – Membership Essential
• $99/month – Membership Pro
• $149/month – Membership Premium

Thinkific

Through its online course platform, Thinkific offers a way to create and sell both memberships and course products.

Runner Up

Through its online course platform, Thinkific offers a way to create and sell both memberships and course products.

It’s a good option if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution.

Visit ThinkificRead Thinkific reviews

It’s a good option if you’re looking for an all-in-one solution.

What Is Thinkific?

With Thinkific, you can easily create memberships, add content to your membership site, and track member activity.

What Are the Key Features of Thinkific?

Create and manage membership plans: You can create different membership plans and manage them from a single dashboard.

Add content to your membership site:

It’s simple to add text, audio, video, and other types of content to your membership site.

Track member activity:

The platform makes it easy to track the activity of members on your membership site.

Integrate with third-party tools and services:

You can integrate Thinkific with a range of third-party tools and services.

Examples include payment processors, email marketing platforms, and webinar platforms.

Provide customer support to members:

The platform includes features that make it easy to provide customer support to members.

For example, you can create a knowledge base and use the live chat feature to communicate with members in real-time.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Thinkific?

Thinkific offers four pricing plans: Free, Basic, Pro, and Premier.

The Free plan only includes basic membership features.

• $39/month – Basic
• $79/month – Pro
• $399/month – Premier

Wild Apricot

Wild Apricot makes it easy to add members and content, accept online payments, and manage members.

Also Great

Wild Apricot makes it easy to add members and content, accept online payments, and manage members.

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What Is a Wild Apricot?

Wild Apricot is a membership management platform.

What Are the Key Features of Wild Apricot?

Add members and content:

You shouldn’t run into any tech challenges when adding members and content to your membership site with Wild Apricot.

Member management:

The platform includes features that make it easy to manage and keep track of members.

Online payments:

Wild Apricot offers various ways to accept payments.

Options include credit cards, PayPal, and Stripe.

Customer support:

You can reach out to customer support 24/ hours a day, seven days a week.

Mobile app:

There’s a Wild Apricot mobile app that makes it easy to manage your membership site on the go.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Wild Apricot?

• Free
• $48/month – Personal
• $60/month – Group
• $110/month – Community
• $190/month – Professional
• $350/month – Network
• $420/month – Enterprise
• $720/month – Global

Kajabi

With Kajabi, you can start free and then scale up your plan as you go.

Kajabi is an all-in-one membership portal solution that allows you to create membership websites, courses, and content all from one central platform.

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What Is Kajabi?

Kajabi is an all-in-one membership portal solution that allows you to create membership websites, courses, and content all from one central platform.

What Are the Key Features of Kajabi?

Site Builder:

Use a drag-and-drop membership site builder that makes it easy to create and customize your membership portal.

Toolkit:

You get a course creator toolkit that lets you easily create and deliver online courses.

Email:  

Kajabi includes a powerful email marketing system.

Use it to engage and retain your members.

For example, you can send automated welcome emails and weekly newsletters.

Payment portal:

A robust payment processing system allows you to accept payments and manage subscriptions.

Reporting:

Use the comprehensive analytics platform to look at insights about your membership site’s performance.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Kajabi?

Select one of Kajabi’s three pricing plans.

• $149/month – Basic
• $199/month – Growth
• $399/month – Pro

Teachable

Over 100,000 use teachable to create courses and memberships to power their online business efforts.

Teachable is an online portal that enables you to sell courses within a membership format.

It is one of the best membership portals as it offers a wide range of features, has flexible pricing plans, and provides excellent customer support.

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What Is Teachable?

Teachable is an online portal that enables you to sell courses within a membership format.

It is one of the best membership portals as it offers a wide range of features, has flexible pricing plans, and provides excellent customer support.

What Are the Key Features of Teachable?

Templates:

Teachable offers customizable membership site templates so you can quickly get started with creating your membership portal.

Courses:

You can add video, audio, PDFs, and text to your courses, as well as create drip content schedules.

Payments:

Teachable integrates with Stripe and PayPal so you can easily accept payments for your courses.

Multiple languages:

Teachable makes it possible to create membership sites in multiple languages, making them accessible to a wider audience.

Membership management system:

When you use Teachable, you get a membership management system that keeps track of your members, their progress, and their payments.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Teachable?

You can choose from the four Teachable pricing plans.

• Free
• $29/month – Basic
• $99/month – Pro
• $249/month – Business

MemberPress

With MemberPress, you can choose from a range of membership options, including free and paid memberships.

MemberPress is one of the membership portal plugins for WordPress.

It allows you to create and manage membership sites, using a variety of features.

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What Is MemberPress?

MemberPress is one of the membership portal plugins for WordPress.

It allows you to create and manage membership sites, using a variety of features.

What Are the Key Features of MemberPress?

Due to its varied features, MemberPress offers a flexible membership solution that you can adapt to most membership site requirements.

The key features of MemberPress include the following.

Trial periods:

You can offer trial periods for your membership site.

The feature allows potential members to explore the content and features before committing to a paid membership.

Content dripping:

With content dripping, you can release membership content gradually, over time.

It’s a way to keep members engaged, and ensure that they have access to new content regularly.

Subscription management:

MemberPress makes it easy to manage membership subscriptions.

You can track payments, manage member accounts, and offer a variety of membership options.

Discount codes:

Discount codes help to encourage sign-ups.

MemberPress makes it easy to create and manage them.

Member management:

The member management features of MemberPress allow you to keep track of your members, and offer them a variety of membership options.

What Are the Pricing Plans for MemberPress?

MemberPress offers three main pricing plans.

• $179 per year – Basic
• $299 per year – Plus
• $399 per year – Pro

Podia

The Podia platform gives you an all-in-one digital storefront to house memberships in.

Podia is a membership portal builder that allows you to create and sell online courses, membership sites, and digital products.

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What Is Podia?

Podia is a membership portal builder that allows you to create and sell online courses, membership sites, and digital products.

What Are the Key Features of Podia?

Course creator:

Easily create and sell online courses.

Membership sites:

With Podia, you can turn your course content into membership portals for recurring monthly revenue.

Digital products:

Sell digital products such as ebooks, PDFs, and more.

Marketing tools:

Promote your courses and membership sites with Podia’s marketing tools.

For example, you can use email marketing, social media integration, and affiliate marketing tools.

Analytics:

Track your sales and student engagement with Podia’s analytics tools.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Podia?

Podia lets you start any plan without a credit card on its 14-day trial option.

• $33/month – Mover
• $75/month – Shaker
• $166/month – Earthquaker

Ning

Using Ning, you create a social network and membership area.

Ning is a membership portal provider that enables you to create a membership website.

With Ning, you can choose from a variety of membership site templates and designs, or you can create a custom membership site.

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What Is Ning?

Ning is a membership portal provider that enables you to create a membership website.

With Ning, you can choose from a variety of membership site templates and designs, or you can create a custom membership site.

What Are the Key Features of Ning?

Templates and designs:

Ning offers a variety of membership site templates and designs that you can choose from.

You can also create a custom membership site.

Customizations:

Ning is highly customizable, so you can tailor your membership site to suit your needs.

Forums:

Ning membership sites come with forums, so you can connect with other members and discuss topics of interest.

Blogs:

You can create blogs to share your thoughts and ideas with other members.

Events and polls:

With Ning, you gain the ability to create and promote events and polls.

Polls work well to get feedback from members.

The events feature lets you keep members up-to-date on what’s happening with your membership site.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Ning?

All Ning plans start with a 14-day free trial period.

• $25/month – Basic
• $49/month – Performance
• $99/month – Ultimate

MemberSpace

You can connect MemberSpace to your website, keeping all members on one domain.

MemberSpace is a membership management software.

It provides all the tools necessary to create and manage membership sites.

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What Is MemberSpace?

MemberSpace is a membership management software.

It provides all the tools necessary to create and manage membership sites.

What Are the Key Features of MemberSpace?

Membership registration and signup:

MemberSpace allows you to create membership registration forms and signup pages.

You can also add custom fields to collect additional information from members.

Membership management:

The portal provides tools to manage members, membership levels, and payments.

You can also send automated emails to members and track member activity.

Membership directory:

The member directory allows you to search for members and view their contact information.

Membership payment processing:

MemberSpace handles membership payments through Stripe.

You can set up recurring payments and offer discounts.

Membership communication tools:

The platform provides several communication tools, including email, forums, and chat.

Membership levels:

MemberSpace allows you to create different levels and offer different membership benefits to each level.

Content management:

The content area provides tools to manage your membership content, including pages, posts, files, and images.

What Are the Pricing Plans for MemberSpace?

You can start with a 14-day free trial before upgrading to MemberSpace’s one $29/month pricing plan.

YourMembership

Many member-based organizations, associations, and nonprofits use YourMembership to keep track of members and increase retention.

YourMembership is membership management software that enables you to start and grow your membership site.

With YourMembership, you can create a membership portal to provide access to exclusive content, courses, or products.

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What is YourMembership?

YourMembership is membership management software that enables you to start and grow your membership site.

With YourMembership, you can create a membership portal to provide access to exclusive content, courses, or products.

You can also use YourMembership to manage events and track member engagement.

What Are the Key Features of YourMembership?

Member profiles:

YourMembership enables you to create member profiles.

Members can include a profile photo, contact information, and a biography.

Membership directories:

The YourMembership directories allow members to search for other members by location, name, or interest.

Group management:

With YourMembership, you can create groups.

Use the feature to organize members and manage membership privileges.

Payment processing options:

YourMembership offers a variety of payment processing options, including PayPal, Stripe, and Authorize.net.

Integrations:

YourMembership integrates with several third-party applications, including Salesforce, Google Analytics, and MailChimp.

What Are the Pricing Plans for YourMembership?

YourMembership asks its prospects to contact them for personalized pricing quotes.  

Webstarts

You can obtain custom domains and host your membership websites in the cloud with Webstarts.

You can obtain custom domains and host your membership websites in the cloud with Webstarts.

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What Is Webstarts?

Webstarts offers several effective tools to help you create membership sites.

What Are the Key Features of Webstarts?

Membership management:

Webstarts offers membership management tools to help you keep track of your members and their payments.

Payment processing:

You can take payments through PayPal and Stripe.

Content management:

Webstarts offers content management tools to help you manage your membership site’s content.

Social media integration:

Webstarts provides social media integration to help you promote your membership site on social media.

Unlimited sites:

With Webstarts, you can create an unlimited number of membership sites.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Webstarts?

Start a Webstarts membership site on the free plan.

It’s a limited plan but allows you to understand the platform before paying for it.

• $14/month – Pro Plus
• $23/month – Business

Blackbaud

With Blackbaud, organizations can easily manage their membership website’s content, design, and functionality.

Blackbaud is a membership portal that enables organizations to run membership-based websites.

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What Is Blackbaud?

Blackbaud is a membership portal that enables organizations to run membership-based websites.

What Are the Key Features of Blackbaud?

Membership management system:

Use it to track membership dues, manage member profiles, and send out automated membership renewal reminders.

Payment processing:

Process membership dues and other payments using Blackbaud’s secure payment gateway.

Website builder:

Create a professional-looking membership website with Blackbaud’s easy-to-use website builder.

Engagement tools:

Use Blackbaud’s engagement tools to send out mass emails, and custom membership renewal campaigns.

These tools also show you analytics about member engagement.

Templates.

The templates come with everything you need to create a membership website.

You can build a custom home page, membership sign-up forms, and member profile pages.

What Are the Pricing Plans for Blackbaud?

You’ll need to request a customized demo for pricing information.

Other Types of Membership Portals

If you don’t find your best solution from the 12 membership portals reviewed above, know that other possibilities exist.

You can build membership websites with other vendors such as Wix, Weebly, and Squarespace.

WordPress Membership Site

You can also use WordPress to build a membership website.

Ultimate Guide To Creating a WordPress Membership Site

Let’s review how the WordPress CRM system can help you build a membership website on your current domain.

What Do You Need To Start a WordPress Membership Website?

URL and web hosting: You’ll use this as the home for your membership website.

WordPress membership plugin: Use a membership plugin to turn your WordPress site into a membership site.

A payment gateway: You’ll need a payment gateway to accept membership dues and other payments.

Membership website theme: You can find WordPress themes that help turn your domain into a membership website.

The first step is to choose your domain name and web hosting.

Your domain name is the address of your website on the Internet.

It’s what people will type into their browser to visit your site.

Web hosting is where your membership website lives on the Internet.

It’s like renting space on a server for your membership site.

When starting, we recommend using Bluehost for your web hosting.

It’s one of the largest and most popular web hosting providers in the world.

The company is also an official WordPress.org partner.

It offers a free domain name and one-click WordPress installation.

Once you have your domain name and web hosting, you’re ready to install WordPress.

If you choose a provider other than Bluehost that doesn’t offer a one-click install, don’t worry.

It’s still easy to install WordPress.

Follow the instructions from your selected web host.

It’s now time to choose a membership plugin.

A membership plugin is a piece of software that turns your WordPress site into a membership site.

It includes features like member profiles, membership directories, and payment integration.

We recommend using MemberPress because it’s one of the most popular WP membership plugins.

It’s also easy to use and offers excellent support.

The next step is to choose a payment gateway.

A payment gateway allows you to accept membership payments from customers.

Try Stripe.

It is simple to set up.

The final step is to choose a membership theme.

A membership theme is a WordPress theme designed specifically for membership sites.

If you choose MemberPress as your plugin, you can choose one of its many themes.

What To Look For in the Best Membership Website Builder

When you’re looking for the best membership portal, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• First, make sure the platform offers all the features you need to build your membership site.
• Second, look for a builder that’s easy to use. You want to focus on building your business, not learning a new platform.
• Third, select a membership portal that fits your needs from an affordability standpoint.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s review seven of the most commonly asked questions about membership portals.

Wrapping Up

Now that you know everything there is to know about membership portals, it’s time to take action.

If you’re ready to create your membership site, choose one of the platforms above and follow its instructional guidelines.