Do you want to restrict some of your WordPress content to registered or paid users? Often, bloggers use subscriptions or one-time payment models to monetize content on their websites. This is easy to set up if you have the right WordPress plugin.
In this article, I‘ll show you how to easily restrict content to registered users in WordPress. After 15+ years of working with WordPress, I‘ve learned the ins and outs of setting up member access and want to share my knowledge with you.
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Why Restrict Content to Registered Users?
Here are some of the top reasons you may want to restrict content:
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Monetize your content – According to HubSpot, gated content can generate up to 60% more leads than ungated content. Locking premium content behind a paywall or registration wall is a proven way to earn money from your site.
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Build a community – Having exclusive content and discussion forums for paid members helps strengthen engagement. Over 50% of members want access to an exclusive community.
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Capture leads – Lead capture increases by up to 30% when you gate content. This allows you to grow your email list faster.
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Get higher conversions – Putting some content behind a paywall or registration wall makes "free" content seem more valuable. This can increase conversions by up to 15%.
As you can see, there are plenty of benefits to restricting access to certain pages and posts on your WordPress site. Now let‘s look at how to set it up.
Method 1: Restrict Content with MemberPress (Recommended)
MemberPress is my favorite membership plugin for WordPress. I‘ve used it for several client sites to create paid membership areas and it works great.
Here‘s an overview of how to use MemberPress to restrict content:
Step 1: Set Up MemberPress
First, install and activate the MemberPress plugin. Then, enter your license key under Settings > License.
You‘ll also need to configure a payment gateway like Stripe under Settings > Payments. This allows you to collect membership fees.
Step 2: Create Membership Plans
Next, create different membership levels under Memberships. Set up plans like "Free Member", "Premium Access", etc.
For paid plans, configure the pricing, billing cycle, and any other details. You can create multiple tiers like monthly, yearly, etc.
Step 3: Restrict Access to Content
Under Rules, select the content you want to restrict (page, post, category).
Then set the access condition to "Membership" and choose which membership levels can view the content.
That‘s the basics of restricting content with MemberPress. Here are some pro tips:
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Create a dedicated pricing and sales page for your membership plans. This hugely improves conversions.
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Use MemberPress redirection rules to redirect unauthorized users to the pricing page.
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Set up automatic emails when members sign up or cancel to stay engaged.
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Integrate MemberPress with email marketing tools like Mailchimp to grow your list.
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Take advantage of MemberPress add-ons like digital downloads and drip content for more monetization.
Method 2: Restrict Content with Restrict Content Pro (Free)
If you don‘t want to pay for MemberPress, Restrict Content Pro is a decent free alternative.
Here‘s how to use it to restrict content to registered users:
Step 1: Configure the Plugin
Under Settings, set up your membership pages, payment gateway, etc. You can integrate Stripe, PayPal, and more.
Step 2: Add Membership Plans
Go to Membership Levels to create free and paid member plans. Configure the title, pricing, duration, etc.
Step 3: Restrict Access to Content
When editing a post or page, go to the "Restrict this content" box. Choose membership level(s) that can view the content.
The main downsides of the free Restrict Content Pro are lack of email features, drip content, and some other advanced tools. But it works well for basic access restriction.
Wrapping Up
Restricting content is a great way to monetize your WordPress site and build a community. I hope this guide gave you a good overview of how to easily set up member access using MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro.
Here are a few final tips:
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Clearly communicate your membership tiers and benefits on a dedicated pricing page.
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Regularly add new gated content to encourage renewals.
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Send special offers and perks to members to increase retention.
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Make the sign-up process as simple as possible.
Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m always happy to help fellow WordPress users. Just leave a comment below.
