Consumers join clubs and organizations for the express purpose of getting something in exchange for a fee and/or some basic information such as name, address, phone number and email. In some cases these rewards are discounts or limited promotions. But it can be exclusive deals, passes or engagements that only the members are privy to and can take advantage.
It’s why discount super box retailers like Costco and Sam’s Club have hundreds or thousands of repeat customers. It’s also why clubs and organizations like AAA and AARP have such large, sustained memberships.
Marketing Online
The strategy of marketing is to get as many consumers aware of your products and/or services. If you’re a retailer, you want to get the word out not only to people in the local community but to those outside the locality. If you’re a plumbing service, you want to separate yourself from the competition. Of course, this is the entire purpose of a website/blog.
Retailers use their website to give consumers the world over access to their goods–simply click, purchase and ship. While geographic businesses like landscapers use their website to inform the public of tips, tricks and mistakes to avoid. When it comes time to hire a professional, visitors will go to the provider which has already given them free advice.
Exclusivity of Membership
Membership has certain privileges for consumers. But it also has benefits for the provider. With membership comes the ability to grow a loyal audience. And readers become customers. It also gives providers a bit more insight on trends. With exclusive content, access count by members which rises demonstrates popularity while little traffic means subscribers are less interested. The result is being able to give the members what they want by measuring their actions.
Inherent in membership or subscribership is trust. The reason people join is some level of trust already exists. That trust only grows after becoming a subscriber or member–unless the provider does not deliver.
Adding Subscriber/Member Content
In order to make your WordPress site “act” as a partial-member’s only site, special code will need to be inserted. This is done by logging onto your WordPress dashboard with your username and password.
- Type yoursitedomainname.com/wp-admin into your browsers’s address bar.
- Enter your username and password on the log-in screen
- Allow the dashboard to populate
- Go to “Appearance” on the left vertical navigation menu
- Hover over it with your mouse and select “Editor” or “Theme editor”
[php]
add_shortcode( ‘member’, ‘member_check_shortcode’ );
function member_check_shortcode( $atts, $content = null ) {
if ( is_user_logged_in() && !is_null( $content ) && !is_feed() )
return $content;
return ”;
}
[/php]
Once the “add_shortcode” is inserted into the functions.php file through the dashboard editor, a link can be placed on one or more select pages or in specific posts which will only grant access to the proprietary information to registered subscribers/members:
[html]
[member]
Insert text here which will be only be displayed to registered users of your WordPress powered site.
[/member]
[/html]
That’s it, you’re done!
This creates a great way to relay certain product specials or service specials only to members/subscribers. It likewise encourages new and repeat visitors to register in order to get in on these exclusive deals. It also makes your WordPress site appear more professional because it has exclusive content only available to registered users.
If you have trouble inserting the code, cannot make it work properly or want to expand its use, contact XTELWEB. We’ll design code based on your specifications that will both impress your readers and help to grow your business.
