WordPress And PayPal?
I have a challenge, and I wonder if you have the anwswer — or can simply direct me to where I can find it.
As many of you know, I have a membership site at The Copy Doctor, and use another software as a CMS (which is less than desirable).
The folks that support the CMS are great guys and all, but I’ve have so many problems with them — they’re slow, and their empty promises are starting to get the best of me… and my paid members, to say the least.
I love WordPress. Thing is, I need a subscription-based process, where people can subscribe (for example, using PayPal or PayDotCom), and gain access to the site. I’ve looked high and low for a WordPress plugin that would do this. Surely, it must be available or easy to do.
Do you know of someone who can offer this? Or program one for a fee? If not, how or where can I get such a plugin? The important thing is, when someone cancels their subscription, they no longer have access to the site. Also, I’d like to have roles/levels for basic and premium members, if possible.
Thank you so much for your help.
About the Author
Michel Fortin is a direct response copywriter, author, speaker, consultant, and CEO of The Success Doctor, Inc. Visit his blog and signup free to get tested conversion strategies and response-boosting tips by email, along with blog updates, news, and more! Go now to http://www.michelfortin.com.
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Posted by Michel Fortin on February 3rd, 2006. Filed in News, Opinions, Questions. Tagged as amember, cms, membership, password, paydotcom, paypal, subscription, wordpress. Follow responses through the RSS feed.
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From Kishion
Hello Mr. Fortin,
I’m not sure if this would help or not, but I found a link you might want to check out.
http://www.unknowngenius.com/wp-plugins/index.php
Author's Website February 3rd, 2006
From Glenn Coleman
Hi Michel,
Here are two such tools.
I haven’t tested either of them
myself. They came highly recommended
by a hosting company who deals
extensively in scripts.
The appear to do what you are looking for - they include every shopping cart I know of.
I am creating an inner circle for a site,
and was going to do it with one of these
systems.
http://www.amember.com/
and
http://www.membershipclientpro.com/
Cheers,
Glenn Coleman
http://www.soaring-internet-sales.com
Author's Website February 3rd, 2006
From Jason McGarva
Hey Michel, check out this site:
http://www.membergate.com
From what I can tell, it’s the best CMS program out there. It’s quite expensive, but it’s worth the cost, IMO.
Jason
http://www.PersuasiveCopywriting.com
Author's Website February 4th, 2006
From Jeff Hope
I would second what Glenn Coleman suggested -
Get Amember, which will manage subscriptions/members, and put your WP blog into a directory that is protected by Amember.
Another advantage of going that route is that Amember can protect other directories too. If you wanted to start a second paid blog, or offer paid downloads for example.
Jeff Hope
Author's Website February 4th, 2006
From Sherman Hu
Hi Michel,
I’ve tested aMember.com together with Paypal and 2CheckOut.com - both for 1-time lifetime subscriptions, and monthly recurring subscriptions.
The process is:
1. They signup for a subscription, checking the boxes for type of subscription & payment processor.
2. aMember sends them a verification email.
3. They click on the verification email to be directed to an order page - whichever payment processor they chose.
4. They pay for it, and get access details via email. They login and are happy-happy!
5. aMember sends you details of the subscriber and payment details are sent to you via your payment processor, in this case Paypal.
Michel, if you love WordPress, which I do too - I can give you a complimentary pass to check out my WordpressTutorials.com backstage area - as I’m using Wordpress as the platform.
I couldn’t find a Wordpress plugin to do the job effectively, so I chose to piecemeal it to aMember + Wordpress + Paypal + 2CO.
Note: When someone cancels their subscription, aMember halts their access. They still have their subscription details intact, unless you choose to delete them.
They can get access again once they re-subscribe.
RE: roles/levels for basic and premium members - I would setup different “Product Groups” in aMember so one is for Basic and the other is for Premium subscribers.
Cheers!
Sherman Hu
sherman@wordpresstutorials.com
360-635-5578
http://www.wordpresstutorials.com
http://www.wordpresstutorials.com/blog
Author's Website February 5th, 2006
From Michel Fortin
Sherman,
I’ve been talking back and forth with Alex from amember. I think I/we found the solution. WordPress has an “access levels” plugin, which restricts certain posts based on levels given to members. amember is going to customize a plugin for me, where it streamlines the login (one login process), and promotes/demotes levels when users subscribe/cancel/upgrade to higher levels, etc.
But, this is NOT the solution … yet. We’re still analyzing this.
Thanks for all your support folks! Please, keep me posted on anything you come accross.
Author's Website February 5th, 2006
From Sherman Hu
Michel, I wouldn’t recommend that option. Here are my personal reasons.
1. In this situation, you’re offering subscribers an immediate addition as a ‘User’ in Wordpress. So depending on which level they are, they can write posts and pages. If you’re only giving them level 0 or 1, I guess its ok. Unless you’re wanting subscribers creating and writing posts/pages, like a group blog, then I wouldn’t go this route - giving away alot of control.
2. I prefer to have my subscribers creating topics in a forum platform, ie. PHPBB or SMF. A lot of subscribers are used to that platform for back and forth dialogue.
3. My WP blog is dedicated to only my post/page writing, and my subscribers can comment if they want, or a simple dialogue can take place too - but not a thread like a forum.
Just my thoughts on how I would structure it
Author's Website February 5th, 2006
From Michel Fortin
The reason I want WP is because I visited Armand Morin last weekend (with Sylvie), and he said a lot of things that made sense to me — especially with regards to WP.
I don’t want forums. I don’t want people to create posts — just comment. WP is used as a CMS. A content delivery system for my critique videos at http://TheCopyDoctor.com/ … that’s all.
But I have Deluxe members, who get additional content and one-on-one coaching in addition to content.
The WP plugin that I’m referrnig to is a post-level pluging which works independantly from the user level within WP. It’s separate.
Here it is:
http://fortes.com/2005/01/22/introducingpostlevels
Thanks for the call. We can talk later, if you wish
(And Sylvie says “Hi!”)
Author's Website February 5th, 2006
From Justin Hitt
I’m using http://amember.com/ on two membership sites … it works great, easy to manage and allows membership levels.
To require a password for members-only content in Wordpress, just protect the /archives/ director. And, you can still use .htaccess to allow the index page so show.
For example, at my site /columns/ is protected, but /columns/index.shtml is viewable as a tease. Write me by e-mail for details.
Sincerely,
Justin Hitt
+1 (757) 282-7779
Author's Website February 5th, 2006
From Kristie Tamsevicius
Michael,
I did a lot of research into CMS. After trying Amember, we were very dissatisfied. We use VisionGatePortal.com for our membership site. Love it. Private loggins. You set access to either user or member of various pages. It has a Wysiwig editing system that is easy for anyone to use.
And the support there is phenominal.
Most importantly, we use PayPal as our payment acceptance system with it and it works great.
Here’s the link
http://www.visiongateportal.com/
I know that Laurie Morgan Ferrero uses this too for her membership site.
By the way, I loved your interview with Alice Seba for MM. Very insightful!
Author's Website February 6th, 2006
From Rose DesRochers
I’m not sure but have you tried http://drupal.org/.
Author's Website February 24th, 2006
From Francisco Moriones
Hi Michael.
Greeting from Spain. I have just found this wordpress plugin I think it can be useful for your purposes.
“This WordPress plugin (tested on 1.5.x & 2.0) will make your blog accessible only to logged in users.
A must-have for paid-content publishers and privacy concerned bloggers.
This is a simple zero configuration plugin. It allows you to view any content, if and only if you are logged in.”
blog.taragana.com/index.php/archive/angsumans-authenticated-…
Author's Website March 8th, 2006
From Lisa Preston
Hello, Mr. Fortin -
I’m a big fan of the XOOPS CMS, which has a seamless integration of WordPress along with a PayPal subscription module… better still, it’s Open Source. You can find the information you require at http://www.xoops.org and if you require any further information on this product I’d be happy to provide it.
Warmest regards,
Lisa Preston
Author's Website March 10th, 2006
From Lynette
A little late to the party Michel but I just wanted to say I am creating a plugin like that for WordPress
Author's Website March 17th, 2006
From Jason Cain
Aloha Michel,
Why didn’t you send me an email with this question?
Here is your answer…
http://www.yaga.com/solutions/
It works with BitPass the micropayment processor. No messy WP plug-in is required.
I use BitPass to secure all my premium content and it has been VERY luctrative and easy to use.
If you have any more questions, email me.
Aloha,
Jason Cain
Author's Website March 28th, 2006
From Jannette Murray
Hi, Mike!
Not sure if this will be helpful, as I have yet to buy it, but it was recommended recently, by one of your fellow marketers, and we are considering it:
http://www.Post-Master.com has something that looks very interesting. Includes autoresponders in series, an electronic secretary which answers your mail, etc. It’s $397. with a six-month payment plan if needed.
We are having a disappointing lack of response from them, however, in wanting to ask some questions about how it works with regard to such as SPAM, with PayPal, etc. If I can’t get that resolved, will be looking for an alternative.
Anyone else have experience with this? Please write to jrmurray@icehouse.net.
Thank you.
Hope this is helpful.
Jannette
Author's Website March 31st, 2006
From Michel Fortin
Just so you know, I’m now using amember, who has customized a plugin to work directly with WordPress. It works like a charm! When people subscribe with amember, they are automatically added (and logged in!) into WordPress. (And when they cancel, their WordPress profile is deactivated.
Woohoo! Thanks, amember.com.
Author's Website April 16th, 2006
From Lynette
I noticed that Michel
aMember is one of the best software for this job.
Author's Website April 16th, 2006
From Dmitri
Hi Michael,
In case I also decide to go the same route, how much was it for amember to customize the WP plugin?
Thanks.
Author's Website May 1st, 2006
From Griff
It’s $40 for the wordpress plugin. Thanks for the article as I think I’ll be utilizing aMember’s services.
Author's Website May 6th, 2006
From Sergios Singkeridis
Soon our team will release wordpress membership plugin with payment options “PayPal” check it here wpboard.com/blog/index.php/2006/05/16/themes-zone-launched/
You don’t need to pay anymore 180$ to get the amember script and wordpress plugin for it !
Stay tuned guys for mroe updates
Author's Website May 16th, 2006
From kaitlyn
Problem with aMember - its a single domain license “thingy” (hate those, especially if you have several sites like most of us). So, I will await the wpboard.com $30-$40 plugin. HOPE its’ not a single domain license crap!
Author's Website May 16th, 2006
From bonappetite55
Michel…
The fact is, there are some really good password protection and user-management softwares out there but as you’ve noted only too well, finding a conscience to go with them is practically impossible. I’ll just tell you that if you can find a better software or more responsive support group than Omni (www.omni-secure.com), buy it. These guys are sensational and no, I don’t get a kickback.
Author's Website June 5th, 2006
From Sahar
Hey Michel,
Do you think it’s possible to buy the customized amember software/plugin from amember ? (the one they made for you)
Author's Website September 15th, 2006
From Michel Fortin
Yup:
http://www.linkora.com/semiologic
Author's Website September 15th, 2006
From Michel Fortin
Here’s a new one…
http://wp-plugins.net/plugin/WPB-PAYPAL
Author's Website December 5th, 2006
From opioq
great links.
Author's Website January 19th, 2007
From Mary Green
Hi, I just wanted to say I used the wordpress paybox and although it did work alright after installing, I had a problem with the domain, after requesting support several times I finally requested a refund, which only took them a week to get to me. All in all I would say great plugin, horrible support, and I need something a lot more reliable.
Author's Website December 15th, 2007
From Lewis Poteet
I’m using PayBox on my site at http://www.BlogProfitMachine.com/blog/ and it works fine for me.
I also use Joomla and AEC to handle payments from all kinds of payment providers, and it’s all free to use. I really like Joomla.
Lewis Poteet
http://www.CheapMembershipSite.com/Mall
Author's Website December 15th, 2007
From Angela
Hi, Lewis, I’d just like to ask…I’m using this PayBox plugin, but no-one can access any post or page when not logged in, even though I’ve opted for public access to most of the content. I’ve been trying to access their support but their site is offline (again) and I’d just like to know how you got this to work?
Angela
Author's Website December 20th, 2007
From Lewis Poteet
Hello Angela,
Right now I just don’t know what to tell you about the PayBox plugin.
I have had it for about a year now, and it works fine, but ever since the guy upgraded it, it seems that he can’t keep his sales site online.
I sent him an email yesterday and requested that he let me know when he was going to get his act together and get the site online and working.
My video series on building wordpress membership sites recommends his plugin, but I am not going to continue to do so until he gets everything in working order.
I have their support URL, so if you own the product and need to contact support, go to my web site and send me an email through the “Contact Us” link and I’ll send you the URL. So far, he has always given me good support on the product even when the sales site is down.
Lewis Poteet
Author's Website December 20th, 2007
From Herrin
hello there Michael. Hey cool marketing blog.
Came across this WP developer that has made a PayPal subscription plugin. Pretty simple setup. Haven’t tested this latest one just yet but the earlier one worked fine. Worth a look. Heres the link. http://www.voiceoftech.com/swhitley/?p=244 - ok then, take care and keep a rockin’
Herrin
Author's Website January 17th, 2008
From Chris Koehl
Hi Michel -
We are in the process of building a membership site plugin for Word Press that will setup subscriber accounts on the back end. There entire membership will be controled by their transaction stats.
So if they cancel, refund or do a chargeback their account will automatiaclly get suspened. We are building it for Click Bank first and then will add other merchants to it.
-Chris Koehl
Author's Website May 10th, 2008
From Bradley Charbonneau
I come back to this topic every few months as I get a new client who wants a (paid) membership site. I search, I research, I test, I get frustrated and often give up and sometimes even give the client to another web developer or service (last one I sent over to memberclicks.com). It’s working OK for them, although I find it not as easy to manage content as WordPress. I’m also rather biased.
So I’m at it again and I hope that this will eventually work with a WordPress plugin, but I just haven’t found it yet. Here are some notes, partly for myself, partly for this thread and hopefully there are more comments with more ideas and solutions.
— gootix.com seems to be off and on for months.
— amember.com seems like a viable option but it sounds like I’m embedding WP into aMember when I’d rather have it the other way around. But at least from the comments above, it sounds like it works.
— WP Members has always been intriguing, but the integrated payment system is still under development.
— EasyPayPal seemed to work OK, but it was buttons per post and I’m looking for a bit more automation (ideally per category).
That’s all for today.
Author's Website May 12th, 2008
From Soulhuntre
I just came across Paybox ( http://www.getpaybox.com/ ) and it looks very interesting for this.
Author's Website May 20th, 2008
From Jon
Thanks for a very interesting discussion. I’ve been Googling for a couple of days trying to find solutions! (I’m also looking at Drupal CMS, but again there doesn’t seem to be a definitive solution for paid membership)
Just a note for the people who mentioned EasyPayPal. It now has a new site, and a recent release (22nd May 08) that may address some of the earlier problems - http://www.codeplex.com/easypaypal
Cheers, Jon
Author's Website May 31st, 2008
From Carl Ringwall
Hello all - I’ve been using a nice script called iSubscribe - I’ve created a method to integrate into WordPress. It has page security, ipn, etc., but what I really like about this method is that I can seamlessly put my ‘premium’ posts on my main blog - I don’t have to send my readers to a ‘membership’ site. Visit my blog for details.
Author's Website June 16th, 2008
From Tim Nash
Blatent plug, but with Paybox being bug ridden to the point of non usable I had to resort to getting the team to develop our own Membership Plugin, Your Members the Wordpress Membership Plugin was the result
Note to Michael your welcome to grab one of the review copies just drop me a line and I will hook you up a copy.
Author's Website July 7th, 2008
From David
If you want to see a demonstration of a multi-level wordpress membership site (using amember) check out http://www.wordpressamember.com
You can do it either as a “magazine model” with teaser text, or placing the blog in a “walled garden” depending on your design preferences.
David
http://www.MembershipAcademy.com
Author's Website July 10th, 2008
From Ravi Jayagopal
Michel,
I’m almost ready to launch a very powerful “access control” software that quietly sits in one corner of any site (including a WordPress blog) and provides varying levels of access to different members (”free”, “admin added”, “paid”).
It is tightly integrated with WordPress, a breeze to install and use, and uses some groundbreaking (at least for our industry) new concepts in access management.
I’ve created a short humorous video that gives you more details.
I’ve been following you for a long time now, and have read your ebooks. If this is something you may be interested in helping me promote as an affiliate, please do let me know, and I will gladly provide you with a free copy of the software when it launches shortly.
Here’s the intro video (first draft - not ready for prime time yet):
-> http://ScrewYourCustomers.com
- Ravi
Author's Website August 6th, 2008
From Ravi Jayagopal
@Bradley Charbonneau -
Bradley,
The software I am launching shortly (DAP), will do exactly what you want: Embed DAP into WordPress (or just about any existing site).
It will site in a sub-folder of your root folder (public_html/dap) so you will basically be accessing dap as:
http://YourSite.com/dap/
So basically, it doesn’t touch anything on your site. Sits quietly in one folder, and manages access to your entire web site or WordPress blog).
And if you want to get rid of all protection, just delete the “dap” folder from your root folder - that’s it!
Let me know if you’re interested in getting on the notification list.
Ravi Jayagopal
RavisRants.com
Author's Website August 7th, 2008
From anon
Hey TIM NASH. What do you mean paybox was bug ridden? I used it and saw your coding. Its identical.
You are paybox aren’t you? You use the same code. You have either stolen the code or you are paybox.
Author's Website September 14th, 2008
From Ravi Jayagopal
@Michel Fortin - Pls see http://www.DigitalAccessPass.com . Please let me know if you would be interested in a free copy.
- Ravi
Author's Website September 14th, 2008
From Ravi Jayagopal
@Bradley Charbonneau - Check out http://www.DigitalAccessPass.com (DAP).
With DAP, you won’t be embedding WP into anything. DAP sits in a folder quietly, and monitors and restricts and protects access to your web site.
So, DAP is pretty much a “plugin” for WordPress (and your regular web site).
If you want a f`ree copy, let me know.
- Ravi Jayagopal
Author's Website September 14th, 2008
From Tim Nash
@anonymous. Sigh. Really now that is pathetic
but go on I will play along as the injured party, but given that the developers were Greek and reasonably well known it’s unlikely I was the original developer of the code.
Nor is Your Members the same code a cursory look at the source code would reveal that they are not the same
Now if your looking for an identical copy to Paybox might I suggest wp-members as a possible alternative. The main developer is a nice greek chap and it looks identical to paybox hopefully minus the bugs but I suspect you already knew that.
Author's Website September 14th, 2008
From Lewis Poteet
I side with Tim here.
I used Paybox for a long time until the site and support disappeared.
I now use YourMember, it works great, and it is nothing like Paybox, in the way it works or the way it is configured.
Lewis Poteet
Author's Website September 14th, 2008
From Carl Ringwall
I have modified iSubscribe’s IPN script to accept payments for PayDotCom - now I have affiliates promoting my WordPress based E-Courses. I like this solution, because it does not depend on WordPress’ security and can be used with any php-based site.
Author's Website September 14th, 2008
From Dave
@Tim Nash
Why do you feel the need to keep attacking my plugin?
I am the main developer and I am british.
You actually told me that you were using pieces from paybox as you had stripped it.
Plus, you are Cambridge New Medias, but Cambridge New Medias Ltd has no idea of you.
Please, stop attacking my project to better yourself.
Author's Website September 15th, 2008
From Tim Nash
@Dave Attacking? If your Dave Watkins then I’m really sorry and I will go on record as saying a huge apology my understanding was wp-members lead developer was one of the paybox developers calling himself Hitec and he is clearly from Greece
If you hook up with me via gtalk, I will send you some snags you may still have we certainly spent a lot of time with the original code so if your plugin is based on it then might be worth comparing notes.
As for the CNMs vs CNMS ltd we quite clearly state we are not Cambridge New Media Limited there are 4 companies trading on that name or similar I would say we been trading under that name for nearly 9 years though we only recently acquired our shiny domain. But it’s interesting to note a similar comment was left on Wordpress.org after I pointed out that someone was promoting your product by pretending to be a customer which of course would breach the unfair trading practices laws if the company was British not Greek
but it was meant to be a friendly jab at what was a bit to obvious sales tactic which seems to have esculated.
But anyway if the owner of wp-members is Dave Watkins I apologise I made an unfair remark to insinuate that Paybox and wp-member were the same people. I also have not bought wp-member so made the assumption it was the same product based on the excellent demo (you put my screencast to shame) they have and on the error message produced when looking at one of their testimonials (So no one misunderstands the error was not serious and only happened because I knew where to look and would not effect most membership sites). It was wrong of me to jump to conclusions but given the recent spats on wordpress.org it’s easier to see where I might have misunderstood there is certainly room for multiple membership management software in Wordpress and the two plugins and certainly no need for either plugin to interfere with the other. So as I say happy to offer our notes regarding paybox problems.
Author's Website September 15th, 2008
From GE
I just finished developemnt of free wordpress membership plugin for one of the volunteer projects. It supports 4 levels of membership (bronze, silver, gold and platinum), works with wordpress 2.5, 2.6 and higher and works for new sites as well as already existing blogs/portals.
I built it specifically for SEO-concerned webmasters, letting each “protected” article ability to expose free teasers (to get them indexed and ranked by search engines + to have potential members get excited to join to read more).
Here’s download place:
http://www.memberwing.com
GE
Author's Website September 17th, 2008
From Brenton Camac
I looked high and low for a Wordpress plugin that would do what you described. I evaluated most of the ones mentioned above and couldn’t find one which really integrated well with Wordpress. Hence I developed one from the ground up specifically for Wordpress and specifically for PayPal. Its called Suma and it lives at http://www.camacit.com/suma.
I’ve just finished beta-testing it and am now making it available for others to use. (Hence some of the documentation is still being written for it). However I think you’ll find it fairly simple to use.
A free evaluation (demonstration) version is available and can be downloaded from my site: http://www.camacit.com/orders.
I welcome other’s feedback and suggestions for improvements.
rgds,
Brenton
Author's Website September 30th, 2008
From Brenton Camac
The Suma plugin now has its own website - http://www.sumaplugin.com.
- Brenton
Author's Website October 4th, 2008