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QuoteHey John
Further on to our discussion from April 2017 coaching session, I am inclined to host my membership site on my squeeze page as that's the only website that I have up and running at the moment. What do you think?
Segs
2:06 pm
January 31, 2012
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Hi Segs,
Steve here. If you mean that you're only hosting one site and you're using the MMM theme template there, yes, you can do all of this from that one site.
What you would want to do is set up a subdirectory, something like yoursite.com/members and host the member site there.
Let us know if we can ever help with anything else.
This is a signature file. You can edit your own by clicking "profile" and selecting "Edit Signature". You can make it an image, or just plain text. You can also link it to wherever you like. Perhaps your Squeeze Page?
8:35 pm
June 7, 2011
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Hi Segs,
As Steve mentioned, setting up a subdirectory is a good way of doing it. You can also just create a single, or several, password protected pages on the main url and use any of a number of membership plugins. I typically use the subdirectory approach so that I can structure the members area differently than the main site. But either approach will work.
If the tech side of things is at all stressful, you might also look into something like Patreon. That won't give you a membership site but it will allow you to distribute protected content.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
Thanks John and Steve
I've set up the membership site as a sub-directory of my squeeze page site.
Now I just have to look at themes.
Have you got any tips on picking a theme (I did like the Greyzed theme that you used in the membership video John although that was 2011 and I've since learnt that they have retired that theme!)
Should I used paid ones on theme shops like WooThemes or could I get away using a template on WordPress
Cheers
Segs
1:36 am
June 9, 2011
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Hi Segs,
John has set up many membership sites, so I'm sure he's got some good input for you as far as themes.
I'll make sure he gets a chance to weigh in on this after the weekend.
9:07 pm
June 7, 2011
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Hey Segs,
You could definitely get away with any theme. But I personally like paid themes. The extra support and documentation you get is well worth the money in most cases. But I don't really have one particular theme that I recommend. Any theme that is clean, and that you like the look of will work. I just tend to use whatever theme I am using for my main site.
I have used the MMM theme and I have also used a theme called Presso. You can see that theme installed in the Music Ads Workshop members area as well as Record Release Formula if you have either of those. But really any theme you like, and that is clean, and easy to navigate will work.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
Okay
So I could perhaps use the MMM theme then as I'm using that for my main site.
Another question is that I'm giving people access to all my music past and present. Now I can put all the music on the site for them to listen and download or I could send them the albums via email when they sign up.
What do you think is the best option?
Cheers
Segs
12:06 am
June 7, 2011
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Hey Segs,
You could certainly use the MMM theme. You might consider customizing it a bit just to compliment your brand. The simple theme works really well as a squeeze page, but if it's something fans and customers are engaging with you might spruce it up a bit to look a tad more slick. Customizing it is quite easy.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
Ahh ok
Cheers John
How would you go about customising the MMM - is that like adding images, logo or changing colours?
Also, I’m giving people access to all my music past and present. Now I can put all the music on the site for them to listen and download or I could send them the albums via email when they sign up.
What do you think is the best option?
Cheers
Segs
12:21 am
June 7, 2011
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He Segs,
Typically by just changing the background color and possibly the fonts you can create dramatic changes to the look of your theme. You can also add a header to your blog home page if you want.
For example. I am using a new version of the MMM theme on my site: http://www.johnoszajca.com/ - and here is the squeeze page: http://www.johnoszajca.com/free-track/
This exact version of the theme is not available yet but it's very similar to the one you have. You would be able to make all the same changes with your theme, they will just take a little more manual effort.
All of that said, none of these changes are necessary. I just think they help for the kind of situation you are describing where you are charging money for the members area. I am using the same theme with different configurations here in the IC (I just installed it yesterday).
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
Since I'm using the cheap route of a membership site where you said everyone will have the same password but a question springs to mind
1. Do members create log-in names?
And if so
2. How do I set that up?
Cheers
Segs
8:17 pm
June 7, 2011
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If you are going to go the cheap route then all you would be doing is creating a password protected page and sending people the password when they sign up. To do this you just go to the wordpress page in question, and over on the right hand side where the publishing options are you would select the option to password protect. By default it will be set to public.
There is no username. You can see how this is done in the IC lesson on creating a membership site. You can find that in the right side bar of the main members area.
The issue with this approach is that when someone stops paying there is no way of locking them out. All you could do is change everyone's password once a year or so. This will not likely effect your bottom line, as very few people will cancel and then sign back up again within a year, if ever. But it's hardly an elegant solution.
It might be worth spending some time looking for a free membership plugin in the plugin directory. I'm sure there are many. Using one will give you more control. I personally use "wishlist member". But it costs about $100 (last I looked).
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
Hey John
Yeah for now I am going to use a free plugin called Simple Members, I'll let you know how I get on.
Wishlist is $197 now
Sounds good. For a simple membership site I think a free plugin will likely do the job. Keep us posted.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
1:11 pm
August 27, 2011
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John Oszajca said
Sounds good. For a simple membership site I think a free plugin will likely do the job. Keep us posted.
The biggest problem I've found with free/cheap membership plugins is allowing "free" members to join - which seems funny in a way. I The ones I played with seemed to have a paid option that worked well out of the box, and the free option was either entirely manual or cumbersome (i.e. a long and ugly form that the member would have to fill out themselves).
It actually prompted me to pay for a membership plugin instead of using the free ones.
But if you're mainly dealing with paid memberships, you likely won't run into too many issues to start and should be able to migrate to a more robust system down the road when you've validated your offer.
Just my two cents.
11:55 pm
June 7, 2011
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Thanks Mike.
Segs, let us know what plugin you end up going with and how it works for you.
Having trouble with your marketing? Wish you could have an experienced direct-to-fan marketing expert look over your actual campaigns, music, or content and offer feedback? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a little one-on-one assistance so you can ask questions that pertain to your specific goals and get a second, more experienced, perspective? Click here to book a session with me now.
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