You’ve poured your heart and soul into creating an online course. The content is top-notch, the videos are engaging, and you’re ready to share your knowledge.
But there’s a problem.
Most Learning Management Systems (LMS) feel a bit… bland.
They can lack the excitement and community vibe that keep learners returning for more.
Sound familiar? Here’s the good news:
Membership plugins can transform your LMS from a simple online course platform into a thriving hub of learning and engagement.
Think of your learners, eagerly logging into lessons, connecting with like-minded peers, and accessing exclusive content they can’t find anywhere else.
That’s what membership plugins help you achieve.
In this guide, we’ll explore 5 remarkable benefits of integrating a membership plugin with your LMS.
Popular LMS for WordPress
Before we dive into the details, let’s take a quick look at the 4 best LMS for WordPress:
- LearnDash
- LifterLMS
- Sensei
- Tutor LMS
They are best for creating, managing, and selling online courses using WordPress. They offer robust features like course builders, quizzes, and student progress tracking.
But as great as these LMSs are, they can be even better with the help of a membership plugin.
How Can Membership Plugins Enhance Earning Potential?
As an online course creator, you want to find ways to increase revenue and create a sustainable business.
Membership plugins can help you do that.
For instance, instead of letting students make one-time purchases, you could easily turn them into subscribers. They pay a recurring subscription fee, which gives you a steady revenue stream.
You provide them with high-quality content and a strong community in return.
And as of 2022, over 52% of ecommerce businesses use flat rate pricing as their subscription pricing models.
But there’s more.
Membership plugins also allow you to:
- Create multiple membership tiers with different pricing and perks
- Drip content over time to keep members engaged and coming back for more
- Offer exclusive forums, live events, and downloadable resources that add value to the membership experience
- Integrate with payment gateways for seamless recurring billing and subscription management
The result?
A loyal tribe of learners who are invested in your brand and excited to continue learning from you.
And more money in your pocket!
5 Benefits of Membership Plugins for Online Learning
Now, let’s dive deeper into how membership plugins can enhance the existing benefits of an LMS. These benefits will take your online courses from good to great.
1. Content Access Control
For memberships to work, you need to control exactly who sees what parts of your course.
Membership plugins allow you to:
- Limit specific courses, lessons, or categories to different membership levels
- Offer a free tier to attract potential students, then provide premium content only for paid members
- Give time-limited access to certain resources, such as a trial period or a preview of upcoming material
This level of control helps create a sense of exclusivity and value for paid memberships. Learners will feel like they’re part of a special community, with access to content they can’t find elsewhere.
It’s an effective way to encourage upgrades and motivate learners to invest in a higher-tier membership.
2. Content Dripping
Releasing course content gradually is a smart strategy to maintain learner engagement.
With membership plugins, you can:
- Plan the release of specific lessons or modules at set intervals
- Keep learners excited and motivated to progress through the course
- Avoid overwhelming students by delivering content in manageable chunks
- Send email notifications about new content updates as 99% of people check their inbox every single day.
Content dripping builds anticipation and encourages learners to return to your platform regularly. It maintains momentum and ensures students stay on track with their learning.
Providing a steady stream of new material keeps your course fresh and engaging.
3. Seamless Payment Integration
A smooth, secure payment process is important for the success of an online course business.
Membership plugins integrate effortlessly with popular payment gateways, allowing you to:
- Charge for memberships and manage subscription payments with ease
- Create different pricing tiers, offer discounts or free trials, and automate recurring billing
- Ensure a frictionless payment experience, reducing cart abandonment and increasing conversions
Seamless integration removes the hassle of payment management so you can focus on delivering high-quality content.
Integrating secure payment gateways that students already trust also overcomes objections people may have when paying for courses.
4. Centralized Member Dashboards
Giving students a centralized hub to access course materials, track progress, and manage accounts is crucial for a positive learning experience.
While LMS offer dashboards for students, they are often limited to course access and progress tracking. Membership plugins add a more comprehensive and user-friendly dashboard experience.
Membership plugins help students:
- Access all their courses and learning materials in one place
- View progress and completion status for each course
- Manage account details and subscription preferences
- Receive personalized recommendations for new courses or resources based on their interests
This centralized dashboard helps students stay organized, motivated, and engaged throughout their learning journey.
They can easily find the necessary information, connect with fellow learners, and get support when required.
Membership plugins also give course creators more control over the dashboard experience. You can customize the layout, branding, and features to match your site’s look and feel.
It’s a win-win for both course creators and learners!
5. Community Engagement Features
Learning is more effective and more enjoyable when you’re part of a community of like-minded individuals.
While social media platforms are extremely effective for community engagement, you still give up your control to a third-party.
Membership plugins recognize the importance of social interaction and offer:
- Complete control over your community features and benefits
- Interaction with other members through private messaging
- Forums for students to ask questions, share insights, and collaborate with peers
- Social networking features that allow learners to connect and support each other
- Member directories to help students find others with similar interests or locations
Encouraging a sense of community within courses encourages active participation and peer-to-peer learning.
Learners feel a sense of belonging, which enhances their overall experience and increases course completion rates.
Community features create a supportive learning environment beyond the course material.
The combination of access control, content dripping, payment integration, member dashboards, and community features creates a comprehensive and engaging learning ecosystem.
Top Membership Plugins
Alright, we’ve covered the benefits. Now, it’s time to talk specifics. What are the top membership plugins, and how do they stack up?
Here are a few of our favorites:
- SureMembers: This all-in-one membership plugin offers a drag-and-drop course builder, advanced access control, and built-in marketing features. It’s like having a Swiss Army knife for your membership site. And because SureMembers also integrates with SureTriggers, you’re not limited to the built-in integrations of your existing plugins—SureTriggers can help you connect between tools easily. Additionally, you can integrate the video player plugin, Presto Player, to completely control your player.
- BuddyPress: If community is your priority, BuddyPress is your plugin. It adds social networking features to your WordPress site, allowing members to create profiles, join groups, and interact with each other.
- Paid Memberships Pro: This plugin is all about flexibility. It offers unlimited membership levels, content dripping, and integration with popular payment gateways. Plus, it’s free to get started.
- MemberPress: With MemberPress, you can create a fully-featured membership site in minutes. It offers a user-friendly interface, built-in payment processing, and integration with popular email marketing tools.
Of course, these are just a few options out there.
Look for a membership plugin that integrates with your existing tools while being budget-friendly. Take some time to research and compare features, pricing, and user reviews.
Explore the Full Potential of Your LMS
We’ve covered a lot of ground in this guide. From the benefits of membership plugins to the top options on the market, you now have a solid foundation to build a thriving membership site.
But knowing is only half the battle. The real magic happens when you take action.
So choose a membership plugin that resonates with you and integrate it with your LMS. Start experimenting with content access control, dripping, and customization.
Engage with your learners and create a community around your courses.
The possibilities are endless. And who knows? You may create the next big thing in online education with the right membership plugin and creativity!
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