V4.1.x Membership module V2

[Lhotch +]

After working on a membership module for some time I realized my last iteration was lacking in many areas. Ive decided to take it a step farther and make significant changes to how it worked as well as its functionality. It should be a much more powerful module now and meet the needs of almost all 68C site owners

The module is undergoing some testing but in the mean time I wanted to release the initial document for it to get some feedback or suggestions.

Membership Module V2 Documentation

[shanedawg +]

Larry,

This sounds great! When do you think it will be released?

Shane

[Lhotch +]

Ive got a couple people testing it now and just added some more features so I am awaiting some additional feedback. In the mean time I need to update/refine the documentation but I am hoping in the next couple weeks I will take it live.

[Lhotch +]

On an aside, if anyone has questions about how the module works or if it will work for them, please post here on how you would like to utilize memberships on your site and I will try and elaborate on how it will function to meet your needs.

[oteenc +]

This module is long needed for users of 68c, which will greatly enhance everyone's ability to construct a revenue building site. Thanks for the good work and can't wait until it's release. Please let us know when the release is completed.

[Lhotch +]

The module is currently undergoing someheavy testing and I am working on updating the documentation to reflect the latest changes I ahve made to the module.

In an effort to try and convey just what the module is capable of I have created half a dozen scenario flow charts to kind of highlight what can be done with the module.

You can see the various charts at techconnx.net - Membership Module

[paul32309 +]

Larry :

I am in desperate need of this mod. All I want to do is this:

2 Membership settings

1. Free
2. Premium - (Paid)

I want the free members to be able to post but not view listings
I want the paid members billed monthly and be able to post/view listings

I can pay you what ever you need but I need this ASAP.

[Lhotch +]

Originally Posted by paul32309

Larry :

I am in desperate need of this mod. All I want to do is this:

2 Membership settings

1. Free
2. Premium - (Paid)

I want the free members to be able to post but not view listings
I want the paid members billed monthly and be able to post/view listings

I can pay you what ever you need but I need this ASAP.

Paul, the membership module does 2 basic yet powerful things. It automatically changes the user group a user belongs to AND it dynamically creates discounts that apply to a specific user.

Beyond that the power and flexibitly is largely already provided by the 68C system. Within 68C you can create user groups. These user groups can have certain privileges (ie see certain fields, use certain ad package when placing ads etc).

By creating additional user groups and additional ad packages you have a great deal of control over what a user can access. The membership module since it automatically changes the user group (if you want, it doesnt have to) upon purchase of a membership it automates this task and controls the users experience.

Additionally a discount is created for the specific user. This discount is assigned a percentage discount specified by you and given a number of uses as well as an expiration period. This is all used to determine the membership status. When the discount expires due to a number of uses being met or a time period expiring, their user group is reverted back to a normal registered user.

Membership are purchased via their own checkout procedure but recurring billing is not an option. You could however create multiple membership packages covering different time frames and charge accordingly.

For free members to be able to post ads and not view them, this would be handled outside of the membership system. By default a registered user can see ads and they need to be registered to place ads. You could use smarty logic to check their group and hide ads from them. Crate a new user group for paid members that allows them to see the site.

[Lhotch +]

Based on some initial feedback I have made an additional enhancement to this module. When creating a membership package you can specify ONE (and only one) of your memberships to be a default membership. What this does is trigger the module to assign anyone logging in for the first time to be assigned this membership.

This is of particular interest to those sites that would like to offer a free trial membership for new users to their site. The membership package designated as default will not be purchaseable and will not display in the membership purchase process. Because there is no purchase of this membership and its automatically assigned to people at their first login there is also no ordr generated for the membership.

The current drawback to this feature is that there is no hook in 68C for the first time user check. This will be added to 68C in future versions. If you have 4.1.3 or older a hook will need to be manually added to your site which will require the developer edition of 68C.

If you do not have the developer edition you can still use the membership module, you just wont have access to the default membership functionality.

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

Just a note regarding this module.

I have been one of the beta testers for this module. As I have also been using 68 Classifieds since v3.1.x when there used to be a membership feature, this module of Larry's creation is just plain AWESOME!!!

Not only does this new module bring back the membership feature of days past, it simply blows it away.

In my opinion, this is a must have module for anyone that is serious about having a successful classifieds site for markets that cater to businesses as sellers (eg. cars/vehicles, real estate, hobbies, horse breeders, boats, etc., etc., etc....). In addition, the coupon auto generation that is a built in feature opens all sorts of possibilities in marketing and promotion of a site (eg. Grand opening promotions, BOGO's, Fund raisers). There are also other possibilities since the module bases itself on User Groups with automated adding to the user group and deletion from the user group by duration of the membership such as exclusive site content only available to a particular user group.

Quite honestly, I haven't been as excited about any software as I am about the release of this module since finding and purchasing 68 Classifieds itself! I'm thinking, there's most likely going to be a series of articles on my blog surrounding different uses of this module with your 68 Classifieds site.

I'm also thinking that it may finally be time to upgrade my community site from v3.1.10 to v4.1.x with this module.