How To Create A Membership Site (6 Steps)

When you have a desirable skill, or you’re an expert in a particular field, you might consider monetizing this knowledge. For example, you can create an online course, produce informative videos, or publish guides. A membership site can help you earn passive income from this content.

If you have a WordPress website, you can install a membership plugin to paywall your content. Even if you don’t have a website, it’s easy to set one up with a user-friendly hosting provider like NameHero. Then, you can offer exclusive content to subscribers and create a sustainable revenue model. 

In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the benefits of membership sites. Then, we’ll show you how to create your own membership site. Let’s dive in!

Why Creating a Membership Site Is a Good Idea

There are various ways to make money online. You might have already considered options like affiliate marketing or Google ads.

However, it can be more profitable to create a membership site. This is because you’re in control of your earnings and you’re not relying on commissions from third parties.

A membership site describes any website that provides content, products, or services in exchange for a recurring fee. For instance, if you’re a chef, you might create a membership site that offers exclusive recipes and cooking classes. 

Membership websites allow you to stabilize your earnings since you’ll generate a predictable revenue through recurring payments. Unlike one-time purchases, subscription models help ensure a steady cash flow.  

Of course, you’ll need to give members a good reason to renew their subscriptions. For instance, you might focus on continuously publishing valuable members only content. This brings us to the next point: community.

By offering helpful and exclusive content, you can foster a sense of belonging. You’ll be able to create a space for like-minded individuals to learn a new skill, or share their passion and interests with others. Some WordPress membership plugins will even let you add a forum for this purpose. 

Additionally, a membership site offers opportunities for upselling, which can help boost your revenue. For instance, you might promote add-ons like monthly coaching calls or digital workbooks.

How to Create a Membership Site (6 Steps)

Now that you have a better understanding of membership sites and their benefits, here’s how to create your own membership site and start making money. 

Step 1: Set Up WordPress with a Quality Web Host

We recommend WordPress for your membership site. This powerful Content Management System (CMS) gives you full control over your content – and it’s completely free.

However, you will need to purchase web hosting and a domain name. Ideally, you’ll opt for a secure web host like NameHero:

Our WordPress hosting plans are designed specifically for this platform. In fact, we install WordPress for you. This way, you can start working on your website immediately.

You can also register your domain with us, using our free domain name search tool:

If you already have an existing website, we can help you migrate it to our servers.

Our plans include free daily backups, auto WordPress updates, and a free Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate. The latter is just one of many security features that help keep your site safe. We also have an AI-powered web application firewall to block suspicious activity on your site.

Your membership site will contain sensitive user details, like login credentials and payment information. Therefore, it’s essential that you select a hosting provider that offers protection against cyberattacks and data theft. 

Step 2: Install a Membership Plugin

Once you have WordPress set up, you can install a membership plugin and start creating your plans. There are several WordPress membership plugins to choose from, but you might prefer to start with a free tool like Simple Membership:

To install the plugin, go to Plugins > Add new and use the search bar to find the tool. Then, click on Install Now > Activate:

At this point, you should see a new item in the dashboard menu: WP Membership. You’ll need to navigate to this page to start creating your memberships.

Step 3: Build Your Membership Plans

You might decide to create multiple membership levels, starting with a basic plan and moving on to more comprehensive ones.

So, let’s look at how to create a paid membership level with the Simple Membership plugin. You can then recreate the process to create other membership tiers.

Navigate to WP Membership > Membership Levels and click on Add New:

Start by giving the membership a name. Then, select a user role for members that sign up for this membership (typically Subscriber):

You’ll also need to set the access period. For example, the membership might expire after 12 months. When you’re ready, click on Add New Membership Level.

Step 4: Create Your Paywalled Content

Next, you’ll need to create members only content. You can do this by creating a new post or page in WordPress.

For example, you might write a tutorial that will be accessible to anyone who signs up for your Basic membership:

In your post or page, look for the Simple WP Membership Protection section. Here, you can choose to protect the content on this page, and select the membership level that will grant access to it:

When you’re done, publish your premium content. This will now only be accessible to paying members that have a particular membership plan or subscription.

Now, let’s say you already have lots of posts on your site. Applying protection for each one can be tedious. 

Fortunately, the plugin lets you restrict access to them in bulk. To do this, return to the Membership Levels page and click on the Post and Page Protection tab:

Here, you’ll see a list of all your posts and another list of pages. Simply select the items you want to protect. Then, choose the membership level and click on Update. 

You can also restrict access by category. Just navigate to the Category Protection tab and follow the same steps.

Step 5: Set Up Payment Processing

The next step is to set up your payment methods. This will enable new members to purchase your membership subscriptions.

Go to WP Membership > Payments and click on the Payment Settings tab. Here, you can connect your site to your PayPal and Stripe accounts.

You’ll need your secret keys for these accounts to establish a connection:

Then, move to the Create New Button tab. Select an option and click on Next:

Here, you’ll need to configure some settings for that button. For instance, it should be assigned to a membership level. You can also enter the payment amount and currency:

When you’re done, click on Save Payment Data.

Step 6: Configure Your Login and Registration Pages

Finally, you’ll want site visitors to be able to register and log into their accounts from dedicated pages. When you installed Simple Membership, the plugin automatically created essential pages for your membership site. These include Registration, Member Login, Profile, Join Us, and Password Reset.

You can customize these pages with the WordPress Site Editor or the Block Editor:

For example, you might change the URL and provide more information about your memberships. 

Note that Simple Membership gives you lots of membership options. You can access these by navigating to the Advanced Settings tab:

Here, you can allow users to still log into their accounts even if their subscription has expired (though they won’t have access to the content). You can also redirect new members to a certain page after they register.

It’s worth mentioning that Simple Membership lets you create a free membership tier. You can enable this from the General Settings tab:

And, if you navigate to the Email Settings section, you can customize the email templates for registered users, password resets, and more:

We recommend that you take some time to explore all the available settings and options for your memberships and content. That’s it – you now have a fully functioning membership site platform!

Conclusion

Membership websites enable you to earn a stable income and build an online community. For example, you may sell exclusive content like tutorials and how-to videos. Or, you might create online courses and educational resources. 

To recap, here’s how to create a membership website:

1. Set up a WordPress site with a secure web host like NameHero.
2. Install a membership plugin like Simple Membership.
3. Build your membership plans.
4. Create your paywalled content.
5. Set up payment processing.
6. Configure your login and registration pages.

Do you have any questions about creating a successful membership site? Let us know in the comments below!