Member Categories: Now integrated with Profile Questions and Paid Access

[Eric Suesz]

Read all about how to Integrate Member Categories with Profile Questions in the Help Center.

Two requests we've heard about the new member categories feature are to a) add the ability to tie categories into Profile Questions so members can automatically be placed into categories upon sign-up, and b) tie this into Paid Access. We're happy to report that we've completed the work for both of these. If you've thought member categories might be a nice-to-have feature, these changes may turn it into a must-have feature.

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Automatically add new members to categories

Most Network Creators ask their members a few profile questions when they sign up. Now, you can use a multiple-choice question to automatically slot members into a custom-made member category:

• You'll find the option to assign members to categories only when you use multiple-choice Profile Questions.
• You can assign a member to only one category, so one "single-answer" multiple-choice profile question can be used for this purpose.
• Create a question and match up the answers you've specified with the categories you've created. New members are automatically added to those categories.
• You can easily add or remove answer choices. You can also drag and drop the answer choices into the order you prefer.
• You can assign members to categories using up to 10 multiple-choice answers. The first 10 you've indicated will be used. You can always reorder these by dragging and dropping them.
• Want to use a Profile Question you've been asking for the past two years to put people into new categories? Not a problem. You can retroactively assign members to new categories you've created based on the answers they've given in the past.

A few things to keep in mind

• One person, one category: Members can only be in one category at a time (the most recent category they were assigned to, whether that was manually or automatically).
• More robust messaging: You can use member categories to message your categories directly, so this gives you a more powerful way to filter members for messaging purposes.
• Simpler might be better: You have the flexibility to keep changing these details, but too much revision of category designations might confuse members if they are continually moved to new categories. Of course, it's all up to you, but we recommend picking a few categories and sticking with them.
• New Profile Questions & Old Members: If you want to create a new profile question and tie it into member categories, existing members will need to edit their profile question list. They can do this from their Settings page.
• Adopt this when you're ready: Not sure how you want to use this yet? This is an optional features, so you can always add this later if you're not ready to jump in.

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Member Categories + Paid Access

The other big request we've heard from Network Creators is to tie the new member categories into the Paid Access optional add-on. We knew that would be a big request, and we're happy to report that this second round of improvements now supports Paid Access. We've added two different ways to encourage your members to sign up for special membership designations and badges.

Fixed-price paywall integration

Use Member Categories in conjunction with a fixed-price paywall to assign paying members who pay to a custom-made category. For example: You want members who pay to subscribe for access to a special VIP Group to be identified with a special VIP badge. You can simply assign those paying members to a custom-made category.

Donation paywall integration

Use Member Categories in conjuntion with a donation paywall to encourage members to give more to achieve a higher level of prestige. You do this by setting a threshold for payment that puts one (higher-paying) class of membership on a pedestal. For example: Gold members = $20/year donation; everyone who contributes below that amount = Silver member; all non-paying members = a non-paying category (you can simply use the "default member" designation for non-paying members if you choose).

We hope you will find a lot of new uses for Member Categories using these two new ways to extend the feature. Let us know how you plan to use it!

[Barnmice]

Thanks Eric.

Before I start another thread, I need a bit more clarity on this release.

 I thought this release was about integrating member categories with their level of paid access (as one option). I realize it could be used for other purposes (members from different countries, members with specific interests, etc.), but, I thought it could also be used to categorize members who are paying for a specific exclusive offering. Then I could send those specific members private messages. In addition, they would be recognized on site with a little star in their profile photo. I thought I could also categorize them by different levels of monthly payment as well. Is that not correct?

Soaring Eagle, I would add the paid access to give paying members access to an area of my site with information about discounts (and other offerings) exclusively available to those premium members. Is no one else doing that? If not, what would people be paying for?

[Eric Suesz]

Okay, my apologies, Barbara, if I misunderstood you. I'll try to answer as best as I can. I know that some of these details can be confusing. 

Yes, you can use this to put people into categories based on their donation amount, for example. But, it won't allow you to set up, for example, three levels of payment for site membership and show a badge based on that level of payment. Check out the screen shots in the Help Center article for a few examples of how it works. 

Most Network Creators won't be offering subscriptions like Bronze, Gold, and Silver to indicate how much people paid to enter. That is more like putting a price tag on membership levels, which makes sense with donations but maybe less sense for general membership that doesn't offer separate levels of actions people can take based on how much they pay (e.g., only these people who pay x can chat). Rather, most NCs will be offering subscriptions to areas of the site like special groups or pages. In the broad sense, our Paid Access feature is about providing paywalls for areas of content not actions people can perform. Not sure if that all makes sense, but I'll try to keep explaining how it currently works. 

[soaringeagle]

not automaticly you would have to do it 1 of a few ways

1 when they join check the level they selected send them a message or email with a paypal subscription button configured for that level

or 2 create a custom signup page  with a script  and form incerted into it using jquerry so when  they select that  it  either emails them the subscription button, or opens a new tab with a page where they use the button to xcomplete the transaction

either way you will have to keep track of things..wether they  actualy paid or not wether they let it expire or not etc

do you really need 4 levels? what if any adid\tional priveledges \do they get?

would be simpler to have 2 levels

full anddiscount only full getting the category

[Barnmice]

Mark, that's a great question. I would like to use the paid aspect exactly the same way.

Eric, how can this be done?

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Barbara & Mark,

I should point out that you can do with quite easily with Paid Access. Simply create a network paywall with each payment level as an option, and have members pay when they join. You can still ask them the profile question, and use that to set the category.

Otherwise, you can create a multiple choice profile question that asks new members what member level they would like to choose. Use the new Sign Up Controls redirection facility to send new members to an external server. At the external server, you can grab the value for their screenName and make a Ning API call to retrieve their details. At that point you can parse out the chosen level from their profile details and forward them to Paypal to pay the correct amount. On completion they can be sent back to the network. You will need to be on the Pro plan in order to use the Ning API.

Hope that helps,
Phil 

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Mark,

Yes, I'm very sorry, you're correct. You can create multiple paywalls, but you can only create one network-wide paywall. You'd need to use the second scenario, or else create 4 Page or Group paywalls, one for each offering, and shepherd members to one of them after they joined.

[CBTV]

I set up a paywall on a test page, with paid subscribers to be put into a category.

I tested it and went through to the paypal login page then cancelled it without paying.

When i checked back the test user profile i used had been put in the paid subscriber category without actually finishing the transaction.

Effectively meaning that anyone who changes their mind at the checkout stage still gets placed in the paid category.. they cannot access the page but to other members they have a badge on their profile pic that makes them appear as a premium member.

Has anyone else had similar issues?

[Devan Allen]

I dont know if anything like this has been said, (havnt had time to go through all 15 pages of comments) but I would love to people able to create separate profile questions for different categories or types of members. This would be a great feature to add. 

[HELP SEEKER]

+1, I AM LOOKING FOR THE SAME

[HELP SEEKER]

hello, i can not see, how to categorise the members, as i dont have this view as on the screen -shot posted, here is my view :

also, regarding the question above, THIS Would be Very helpful if we could assign different questions to different member categories, is there a function ?

[HELP SEEKER]

p.s. this link is not working , where i can read about it ?

Read all about how to Integrate Member Categories with Profile Questions in the Help Center.

[Phil McCluskey]

You can read about it here help seeker. I would take a look at your network to see why the option isn't there, but you haven't filled out that part of your member profile.