How to Create A WooCommerce Member Only Store: Full Instructions

Debating creating a WooCommerce members-only store?

The idea of giving members exclusive privileges is a growing trend to sell online, and there are some famous examples, including Amazon Prime ( shipping benefits) as well as Costco ( restricted purchasing club).

If you are considering a Members-Only Store

A member-only WooCommerce store is an excellent alternative in many scenarios.

Before you begin setting up your store for retail It is crucial to decide what strategy you're planning to use since these choices will dictate the best approach for your store.

There are two buckets of member-only functions:

1. Content restriction
2. Special deals

Only Members can access Content

With the restriction of content it's possible to restrict who are able to view or buy a portion or all of your merchandise.

Below are a few examples of circumstances where you may make use of this kind of function for members only:

• Wholesale shops where only qualified customers are able to access products that are wholesale.
• Purchasing clubs where only members are able to shop (e.g. Costco).

Exclusive Offers for Members Only

Another type of member-only feature is the capability to offer discount coupons for members.

Here are some typical examples:

• Offering members discounts for all or some of your items. It is possible to, for instance offering them a discounts of 10. This is similar to rewards programs which reward customers.
• Discounted fixed price for customers who are members. This is also useful for wholesale shops.

It is possible to blend and mix the two options - some members-only WooCommerce stores block access to specific areas, and offer discounts or delivery options.

Three Strategies to Design a WooCommerce Members-Only Store

If you are looking to create an WooCommerce members-only store, here are a number of ways to go about it:

• WordPress/WooCommerce membership plugin
• WooCommerce's plugin for pricing based on role
• The built-in WordPress password function is built-in to WordPress.

The best method for you to manage your shop depends on the type of shop that is a membership-only one you're hoping to set up.

Consider, for instance, whether you want to restrict access to your merchandise or give your customers special advantages, for example, discounts on your products.

1. WooCommerce Membership plugin

The plugins handle everything related to membership functions. This includes creating paid and free level of membership, adding members to these levels, and using those levels to block access to your shop and/or give members only perks.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits of using the WooCommerce Membership plugin

• Flexible content limitations - you can easily limit your products or services in accordance with a subscriber's amount.
• Discounts and shipping options - beyond restriction, you are also able to give members only discounts or shipping options.
• Member managementYou'll be able to manage each of your members, which extend beyond the WordPress built-in functions.

There are some drawbacks with the WooCommerce membership plugin

• The complexity of  For simple usage cases, a full membership plugin can provide more functions than you'll need.

Four Top WooCommerce Membership plugins

If you are looking to utilize a membership plugin for creating an exclusive online store only that is only accessible to members here are couple of possibilities:

1. Memberships with WooCommerce

WooCommerce Memberships is a membership plugin designed specifically for WooCommerce that helps give the best flexibility in setting up a members-only store ( though it works on non-WooCommerce-related content too).

You can create unlimited pay-per-use or free membership levels, and use the members' levels in a variety of ways:

• Limit access to view or buying products.
• Members are entitled to discounted offers.
• Give members free shipping or shipping discounts.

2. Paying Member Subscriptions

Paid Membership Subscriptions are a fantastic alternative for creating a membership-only store.

It allows you to set up unlimited paid or free membership levels , and restrict the access to view or purchase products.

In addition, you could create rules for discounting products to give your clients discounts on a variety of products.

There's also no way to give shipping discounts for participants.

If you're okay with this limitation, then this is the least expensive option that we have on the list. the price is EUR69. You can also get a version for free but it's not able to offer members-only discounts.

3. Restrict Content Pro

Restrict Content Pro is a full-featured membership plugin that allows you to simply restrict access to certain or all your content with unlimited paid or free membership levels.

Additionally, there are restrictions on products. In addition, you can design perks for members only by linking a WooCommerce coupon to a membership level.

It gives you plenty of choice as you take advantage of all the coupon options, including product discounts and shipping discount.

The WooCommerce feature Restrict Content Pro costs $99 to use for a single site. You can also download an upgrade for free.

4. Paid Memberships Pro

Paid Memberships Pro is another plugin for full-service memberships that comes with powerful WooCommerce functions.

You can also make unlimited paid or free membership levels that you can make use of for...

• Restrict access to watching or buying products.
• Offer special discounts.
• Offer free shipping.

The plugin is offered in the form of a free version. The plugin offers core features, and a no-cost WooCommerce integration that offers discount for members only.

In order to offer complimentary shipping, and to gain access premium membership options, Premium memberships start at $247.

This is the WooCommerce Members Plugin Comparison

Here is a brief description of the major WooCommerce members-only options in each plugin.

2. WooCommerce Role Based Pricing Plugin

If you'd like to create the members-only portion of your online store, offering pricing for members based on their membership status, you can make use of a price plugin.

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For some members-only stores that offer membership only, it's feasible to make use of only the price plugin. In other situations there is a possibility to integrate an price plugin as well as an membership plugin for greater liberty.

Benefits and drawbacks

The benefits of a pricing plugin

• more flexible pricing policies as well as pricing changes based on the nature of the customer, you may also add additional conditions, for instance giving bulk discounts based on role. This could make this strategy the ideal option for wholesale stores and other setups with members-only customers that need the flexibility of pricing.
• Make use of existing user role functionality- if you've already assigned members a particular WordPress user role, these plugins let you easily make it easy to target the user role. This means that you don't need to develop additional membership levels like the membership plugin.

The drawbacks of the WooCommerce pricing plugin

• only works with free membershipsand the pricing plugin by itself wouldn't allow you to charge an annual or one-time fee for access to members-only, similar to a membership plugin.
• Content is not restricted.It is not a common practice to be able to restrict access to products or content on your website using this technique.
• The absence of a separate manager for membersThere isn't an individual area to manage the users of your business and managing membership levels. Instead, you must use the built-in WordPress user roles, which can be a hassle if you have a lot of members.

3 Top WooCommerce Pricing Plugins

If you are interested in using the pricing plugin for your members-only store Here are a few of the best choices:

1. Coupons, Fees, and WooCommerce

WooCommerce Fees and Discounts is a premium plugin that lets you set up any kind of role-based pricing adjustments. This includes the ones listed below:

• Set prices either up or down to some or all the products you offer. E.g. 10% discount.
• Set fixed product prices.
• Discounts on bulk purchases.
• Tax exclusion.

The price is $59.

2. Discount rules are applicable to WooCommerce

Discount guidelines for WooCommerce is available for download in a free version and a premium version. You have to purchase the paid version to access the user role-based pricing adjustments.

The program can be very adaptable and allows you to design any discount rule that you wish to give the role of the user as a right to discount.

If you're looking for the greatest flexibility when it comes to establishing special members-only deals it's one of the most effective options.

Pro version costs $59. The Pro version is available for $59.

3. Role-Based Pricing is a feature of WooCommerce

Role Based Pricing available in WooCommerce is another choice that is of excellent quality. There are a range of ways to alter the price:

• Fixed cost based on the user's jobs
• Percentage increases or decreases
• Increase or decrease by the same amount

If you'd like only users to be able to purchase items, you could conceal costs and add it to the cart until users log into the site. This will also add fundamental content restrictions.

WooCommerce's Role Based Pricing is $79.

3. Password Protection with no plugin

The third method to create the WooCommerce stores to members is the easiest approach, however it's also the least versatile.

This feature lets you restrict access to specific products in your website by means of some or all of the passwords. It is then possible to share these passwords with members that you would like be able to access that limited product(s).

Advantages and drawbacks

Advantages of password security:

• A vital attribute It's not necessary to install plugins.
• It's very simple All you have to do is create the password, and then distribute it to members.

There are disadvantages to protecting passwords:

• Very limited features You can restrict access to products - there is no additional benefit you can give.
• Unsatisfactory user experienceand having users enter a password is an awkward thing to do in terms of user experience.
• There are no restrictions on usersAnybody who has a password is able to access the products and this can be a challenge when someone shares passwords with unauthorized buyer.

How do I Add WooCommerce Password Security

For password protection to protect your password, access the editor in the application you want to restrict access to.

After that, you can click the Edit button below"Visibility. "Visibility. ".

These should give you some new possibilities:

1. Pick a the password that is secured.
2. The password must be entered you would like to use for that particular product.
3. Click "OK.".
4. Upgrade or publish the item in order to store your modifications.

If anyone attempts to log into this service it will prompt them to input their password.

A great benefit of this method is that you are able to utilize the same password across various products. When you do this shoppers need to enter the password once for each item using the same password.

However, if you use various passwords for every item, the purchaser is required to enter the individual password to each item.

Which is the most appropriate Approach for Your Members-Only Store

Choosing the optimal approach to your WooCommerce store which is members-only will depend on your specific situation.

There are five things you should consider when deciding on the retail strategy of your business...

1. What kind of benefits are provided by members

Are you looking to allow members access to certain products ( content restriction) or are you trying to provide exclusive perks like discounted prices on your products or free shipping?

If you're trying to limit the access of products, then it is usually necessary to use the WooCommerce member plugin. In the case of very simple use one could take advantage of the built-in password security option.

If you wish to provide incentives for shipping or discounts It is possible to use a Membership plugin or pricing plugin.

The pricing plugin will give the users greater flexibility when they wish to use non-membership pricing rules, while the membership plugin provides you with the ability to manage your membership more effectively as well as content restrictions as well as the option to bill for membership.

2. The members' number

A different factor is the number of clients your store has.

Let's take an example. you wish to restrict access to one or all of your possessions.

If you're planning to add five members it's possible to make use of the built-in password security option. You can then make it a day.

But if you're hoping to include 500 members, it's a good idea to use the stronger member management tools provided by a member plugin.

3. The membership level of each

Beyond the membership level there are levels of membership. The amount of levels could affect your choice.

If you are only able to have just one or two levels of membership you can work with the present WordPress user role system might be ideal.

If you're hoping to have three or more levels of membership, which could be overlapping the rules of restrictions or other benefits, you'll probably be happier with the less complex level of administration of a membership plugin.

4. Free vs Paid Memberships

If you are planning to charge users for access to your memberships (e.g. Amazon Prime), then it is usually necessary to install the plugin for your membership.

It won't be able to be the case for memberships that are paid, since the role system is all by itself and doesn't have the ability to differentiate between free and paying members.

5. Public Content vs Private Content

If you're trying to restrict access to certain products or web-based content it is likely that you'll need to use a membership plugin.

A possible exception would be if the requirements of your store are basic or not that important In that scenario, the password protection in your store may function.

Summary

If you're looking to create a WooCommerce stores that are members-only there are three main alternatives:

• Membership plugin
• Pricing plugin
• Built-in WordPress password feature

If you have a lot of shops, the membership plug-in is the best choice for all stores. Other approaches may perform better for your store under certain circumstances.

Also, you should note that, in certain situations, it may be beneficial to utilize both an membership plugin and a price plugin. It is possible to use the Membership plugin to manage the membership level, member, as well as content restrictions, but you'll still need the price plugin for more control over your own exclusive prices for members.

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