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!

[Eric Suesz]

Sorry about that. I have fixed this link. Thanks for pointing this out for us.

[James Higginson]

Do we have the ability to use a currency other than US dollar yet. The Euro for example?

Thanks

James

[Eric Suesz]

No changes to currency options so far, James. 

[Tony Craig]

This is great!  I do have a question...if we use the member profile to assign categories and have paid access groups for each category, what happens to a member who selects category A during sign-up, then joins the category B group?  If I am reading the info right, the member would move from category A to category B...which is exactly what we want to have happen.  However, I want to be sure.  Thanks!!

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Anthony,

That should work, yes, but we don't recommend combining profile question auto-assignment with paid access auto-assignment because the combination can produce unexpected results.

Thanks,
Phil

[Tony Craig]

I understand the recommendation and actually agree with it.  However, we want to give our members the option of changing categories.  Here's why...

We are preparing to re-launch our network, CLAY Connect (www.clayconnect.com) as a "network of networks".  We renamed "groups" as "networks" and have 49 "networks" already established for our existing partner churches, plus 59 for our parachurch and community partners, plus 17 for our international partners.  Each organization brings its own members (just as a group would), but all "networks" (groups) and the individuals they bring are all tied to CLAY somehow.  

That's where the member categories come in.  When people sign up, we want to know if they are a coach (CLAY is a sports ministry program), official, parent, volunteer, youth, ministry professional or business professional.  We also established "networks" (groups) for those seven categories.  So if I sign up as a parent, I might later want to join the (paid access) "network" (group) for business professionals.  So I could be a member of a church "network" (group) and because I help out with my kids basketball team, I want to be a part of the coaches "network" (group)...but when I signed up, I indicated I was a parent.

Can you clarify "unexpected results"?  They might be OK with our scenario.

[Phil McCluskey]

Hi Anthony,

If you have both profile question and paid access integration running, then you can't be completely sure that a member will end up in the desired category. One scenario is that Member A joins the network, and because of their profile question response is put in Category X, then they join a paid access group and are put into Category Y. At some point they change their profile question. Now they are in Category Z instead of X, and their paid access subscription lapses, so they are moved into a different category automatically based on the rules you created. There's no hierarchy for categories, and members may be moved automatically based on changing a profile question or having their paid access status updated/validated.

Thanks,
Phil

[Teri Sutton]

This really isn't something that works for our association. We already have a dues structure, including billing etc. in place.  I need a way to add a ribbon with text to each members profile photo.

I looked at it when it first came out, hoping it would fit the need.