Create a Membership Site with Elementor & WP Astra: A Complete Guide

Preface

Are you ready to create a thriving online community and generate recurring revenue? Building a membership site might be the perfect solution. With the power of WordPress, Elementor, and WP Astra, you can create a professional and engaging membership site without needing to be a coding expert. This comprehensive guide will walk you through step-by-step, covering everything from planning to launch.

Hint: Before you start, make sure you have WordPress installed, along with Elementor and WP Astra. If not, check out our guide on how to make a free website with WordPress.

Why Build a Membership Site?

Membership sites offer numerous benefits, including:

• Recurring Revenue: Generate consistent income through subscription fees.
• Community Building: Foster a loyal community around your brand or niche.
• Content Control: Provide exclusive content only to members.
• Direct Relationship: Build a direct relationship with your audience.
• Scalability: Easily scale your business as your membership grows.

Planning Your Membership Site

Before diving into the technical aspects, let’s plan your membership site.

1. Define Your Niche and Target Audience

Identify your niche and understand your target audience’s needs, interests, and pain points. This will help you create valuable content that resonates with them.

2. Choose Your Membership Model

Consider different membership models, such as:

• Content-Based: Access to exclusive articles, videos, and resources.
• Community-Based: Access to a private forum, group, or community.
• Course-Based: Access to online courses and training materials.
• Hybrid: A combination of content, community, and courses.

3. Determine Membership Levels and Pricing

Create different membership levels with varying access and benefits. Set pricing that reflects the value of each level.

Info: Consider offering a free trial or a lower-priced introductory level to attract new members.

4. Plan Your Content Strategy

Develop a content calendar and create a roadmap for delivering valuable content consistently. Consider a mix of evergreen and timely content.

Setting Up Your WordPress Site

If you haven’t already, set up a WordPress website. You can choose a hosting provider like Bluehost, HostGator, or DreamHost to get started.

Install WordPress, Elementor, and WP Astra

1. Install WordPress: Follow your hosting provider’s instructions to install WordPress.
2. Install Elementor: Navigate to Plugins > Add New, search for “Elementor”, and click Install > Activate. Consider upgrading to Elementor Pro for advanced features.
3. Install WP Astra: Navigate to Appearance > Themes > Add New, search for “Astra”, and click Install > Activate. For even more customization options, consider Astra Pro.

Hint: Check out our guide on how to install WordPress plugins if you need help.

Choosing the Right Membership Plugin

Several WordPress membership plugins can help you manage memberships, subscriptions, and content access. Here are a few popular options:

• Paid Memberships Pro: A free and powerful plugin with a wide range of features and add-ons.
• MemberPress: A premium plugin with advanced features like content dripping and coupon codes.
• Restrict Content Pro: A lightweight and developer-friendly plugin for restricting content access.

For this guide, we’ll use Paid Memberships Pro, as it is free and powerful enough to make a great membership site.

Install and Configure Paid Memberships Pro

1. Install the Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for “Paid Memberships Pro”, and click Install > Activate.
2. Set Up Membership Levels: Navigate to Memberships > Settings > Membership Levels and create your membership levels. Define the name, description, price, and billing cycle for each level.

<table>
  <tr>
    <th>Membership Level</th>
    <th>Price</th>
    <th>Benefits</th>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Basic</td>
    <td>$10/month</td>
    <td>Access to basic articles</td>
  </tr>
  <tr>
    <td>Premium</td>
    <td>$20/month</td>
    <td>Access to all articles and community forum</td>
  </tr>
</table>

3. Configure Payment Gateway: Set up your payment gateway (e.g., PayPal, Stripe) under Memberships > Settings > Payment Gateway.
4. Customize Pages: Paid Memberships Pro automatically creates essential pages like Membership Account, Billing Information, and Cancel. Customize these pages to match your branding.

Designing Your Membership Site with Elementor & WP Astra

Now, let’s design your membership site using Elementor and WP Astra. Astra provides a lightweight and customizable foundation, while Elementor allows you to create visually stunning pages with its drag-and-drop interface.

Customize Your Theme with WP Astra

1. Choose a Starter Template: Go to Appearance > Astra Options > Starter Templates and choose a template that suits your niche.

   If you need help on how to chose: Here is a good tutorial: How to install Astra Starter Templates

2. Customize Header and Footer: Use the WP Astra customizer (Appearance > Customize) to customize your header and footer. Add your logo, navigation menu, and branding elements.

Info: For advanced header customization, consider using Astra’s Header Footer Builder.

Create Membership Pages with Elementor

1. Design Membership Pages: Use Elementor to design your membership pages, such as the homepage, membership levels page, member dashboard, and content pages.

   If you need help on how to make a navigation sticky: Here is a good tutorial: Create a Sticky Navigation

2. Add Content and Resources: Add exclusive content, resources, and downloads to your membership pages. Use Elementor’s widgets to create engaging layouts and interactive elements.
3. Integrate Membership Forms: Use Elementor’s form widget or Paid Memberships Pro’s shortcodes to add membership registration and login forms to your pages.

<!-- Membership Registration Form -->
<?php echo do_shortcode('[pmpro_register]'); ?>

<!-- Membership Login Form -->
<?php echo do_shortcode('[pmpro_login]'); ?>

Restricting Content Access

Paid Memberships Pro allows you to restrict content access based on membership levels.

1. Restrict Pages and Posts: Edit the page or post you want to restrict and scroll down to the “Require Membership” section. Select the membership levels that should have access to the content.
2. Restrict Categories: Restrict entire categories of content by navigating to Memberships > Settings > Pages and setting the “Category Memberships” option.

Info: Ensure that your restricted content is valuable and exclusive to your members.

Creating a Member Dashboard

A member dashboard provides a central hub for members to manage their account, access exclusive content, and interact with the community.

1. Create a Dashboard Page: Create a new page in WordPress and name it “Member Dashboard.”
2. Add Content to the Dashboard: Use Elementor to design the dashboard and add content like:
   • Membership details
   • Subscription status
   • Access to exclusive content
   • Links to resources
   • Community forum
3. Use Paid Memberships Pro Shortcodes: Use Paid Memberships Pro’s shortcodes to display membership information and links in the dashboard.

<!-- Display Member's Membership Level -->
<p>Your Membership Level: <?php echo pmpro_getMembershipLevelForUser( get_current_user_id() )->name; ?></p>

<!-- Link to Update Billing Information -->
<a href=''>Update Billing Information</a>

Promoting Your Membership Site

Once your membership site is set up, it’s time to promote it and attract new members.

1. Content Marketing: Create valuable content related to your niche and share it on your blog, social media, and other platforms. Here is more about SEO on your website: SEO quickstart guide for WordPress
2. Email Marketing: Build an email list and send regular newsletters, updates, and promotions to your subscribers. Services like Mailchimp or ConvertKit can help you manage your email campaigns.
3. Social Media Marketing: Engage with your audience on social media and share valuable content, promotions, and updates about your membership site.
4. Paid Advertising: Use paid advertising platforms like Google Ads and Facebook Ads to target potential members and drive traffic to your site.

Conclusion

Creating a membership site with Elementor and WP Astra is a powerful way to build a community, share exclusive content, and generate recurring revenue. By following this comprehensive guide, you can create a professional and engaging membership site that meets the needs of your audience and helps you achieve your business goals. Remember to focus on providing valuable content, building a strong community, and continuously improving your site based on member feedback. Good luck, and happy building!