Create Subscriber Only Content with Password Protected Posts
Having content that only a select or paying member can view is a brilliant way to monetize your crochet blog.
WordPress How To:
An easy way to offer premium content to your subscribers is through WordPress. You can write a post or page like you normally would but instead of publishing it, set it up as a password protected post.
Now the only people who can view it are your subscribers.
Here’s a quick tutorial on how to password protect your posts in WordPress:
Where to Host a Membership Site?
Have you heard of Ning? It’s a paid membership site where you can set up a social group or private membership site.
Image the possibilities with a resource like this. Here are just a few sites that use a membership site to bring in residual aka recurring income monthly or annually.
4 Examples of Membership Sites
1. Handmadeology
A membership site created by metal artist Timothy Adam back in 2009. There is a lot of great information available for free but to get access to the juicy stuff you have to pay a fee. ($10/month)
2. Crochet Spot
This is a pattern subscription site where she charges a set monthly fee for access to all of her patterns as opposed to buying them individually. If you buy lots of patterns this is a great deal.
3. Crochet Liberation Front
Yesterday, Laurie Wheeler was my guest and she introduced you to her site. She is still very new to this and is tweaking it all the time to make membership a high value. You receive coaching calls, member exclusive content, webinars, and more. One feature I especially like is Laurie’s generosity. She makes it a point to promote her paying members via social media and product reviews.
4. Blogelina
Tanya is a great resource for bloggers. Newbies will love her. She offers her 4-week course for $25 and often times will host a free session. (July Session is free) In her membership site she has video tutorials for learning all aspects of blogging and WordPress.
I like to learn something new every day and I had never password protected a wordpress blog – and didn’t realise that it as possible – thank you for the information and you have also got me thinking about the possibilities for using membership groups for specific blogs – lots to think about
Thanks for the great post Sara. I was familiar with password protecting a page but had not realized I could do the same with posts.
Kat, glad I could share. I actually came about that accidentally.
Mary, membership sites can be used for a number of things. I think it is a great way to keep money coming in on a monthly basis.
Just this past weekend I was talking with a team member and we decided we needed to set up a membership site. I was put in charge of that so this information couldn’t have come at a better time.
Thanks
Erica from http://startingafter50.com
I never knew you could password protect your blog posts –
Good knowledge to have.
Thank you Sara.
Rhondda Mol recently wrote…My Crochet “Bucket List” – Colorful Yarn Flower
Thanks Rhondda, I’m glad you found it helpful.
Erica, fate works doesn’t it?
Another reason why I love wordpress. There are so many features you can incorporate. Thanks for the post!
Toni Nelson recently wrote…What does homework have to do with your business?
Toni, I know, I’m loving WordPress (self-hosted) because of all the wonderful plugins available that make it simple for a tech challenge blogger like me.