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!

[soaringeagle]

yup  the paid access  you can use it as straight subscription or donation based

i use donation

[Ilisapeci Yoshina]

Either way, I have to pay $19.95 right or wrong?

[soaringeagle]

right

its worth it i set mine to a 2.95 suggested donation

some pay 1 some 2.95 some 4.95 etc..one even donated 50

if you think youer networks worth the effort they will think its worth donating to

[Ilisapeci Yoshina]

So its a paid Donation to get Donation. Its worth it if you're not paying as much as I am. Can I have a look at your site? Thanks a lot for attending to my queries.

[soaringeagle]

www.dreadlockssite.com

advice

if your just starting out dont bother with the donation just yet (u can add a paypal donation button  instead) wait till tyour sites active and popular then  set up the paywall

[Ilisapeci Yoshina]

Thank you for that piece of advice. I very much agree. I just begin to have the time to try to make my site active and popular and I want to concentrate on that right now. I just been to your site, it's cool. 

[Gary Lefko]

So I created new profile question for:

Birder Level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

I assume to get at this data I would export the member data?  Or is there a method to view my 3 categories online?  # of Advanced Birders, etc

[soaringeagle]

addd tabs for them and at the top of members page theres links to each category with the numbers in each

[Eric Suesz]

You can view your three categories directly from the Member Management area. You may want to read the Help Center article about member categories. 

[Barnmice]

I have lots of questions:

1. I assume that I can't see the paywalls because I do not have paid access at this time, so can someone please tell me:

a) If people pay via paypal or another way

b) Are you charging people a monthly auto-renewable fee, an annual auto-renewable fee, or something else? How does it seem to work best?

c) This is my biggest challenge: Let's say you can offer your premium members a discount from various suppliers, how do you do that? Through their own code to be used at check-out on participating sites, and that is valid as long as they remain signed up?through a list of different codes, all individual for each of the suppliers' sites?

d) What a about a digital membership card? Has anyone tried that?

Also, if you use a code, can't they just share their code with friends?

Thanks in advance for your insights.

[soaringeagle]

i dont think anyone uses it like that at all so dont think anyone would be much help

what your talking about is highly specialized and not the purpose of thepaywall feature

are you already offering discounrs on other sites how are u doing that now?

if not why would you if you add the paid acces

[Eric Suesz]

Hey, Barbara. People can pay via PayPal or other ways. Actually, this particular release we're discussing here is about member categories, which is a little different. You might want to check out our Help Center for info about Paid Access in general. I would also encourage you to open a new discussion if you want and maybe we can get some folks to join in with some advice.