If this post should be on another board, I am sorry, please move it to wherever is most appropriate.
I would like to get ready to implement the paid subscription feature on my forum, but have no idea how or even where to start.
My forum is a support (counseling-like) site where I offer coaching through posts. The Coaching board is separate from the main community board and will be accessible only to subscribers. I am also considering a private community board which will be the same as the main board other than the privacy--only available to level II subscribers. My users are concerned that their spouses will search them out and find them and they thus want a layer of privacy—though anyone can access it if they pay.
I have several questions.
I want 4 groups of subscribers
Level I: Access to the Coaching Board Only- New registered users for a 1 week trial.
- 1 month subscription for users who requested coaching.
Level II: Access to all subscription features—the private community board, coaching board and additional services as I implement them in the future—discounts for coaching, open chat room, scheduled and structured chats.- 6 month subscription.
- 12 month
It seems reasonable that I will simply create these user groups...but I don't know how to even start implementing the subscription feature itself. It seems like there is an on/off button [?] in the features list. But what does that do or mean? What about setting up the paypal? What is encrypted payments—I saw a thread about that when I searched for "subscription feature."
I don't even know many of the questions I should ask. Basically, is there a tutorial or manual specifically for this feature? I haven't found one and am starting somewhere before square 1.
Also, this may be completely separate, but I also need to start charging for my coaching—it's been free while I build credibility. Can I set up a payment through the forum that is not part of the subscription feature—or would that simply be a group that had no subscription time if they were already 6 or 12 months subscribers—non-subscribers get a month's subscription with coaching because they need access to the board to view the coaching. Or would a payment that offered a single month's access run concurrent with a 6 or 12 month subscription—that would probably be best?
Even more separate...
People presently request coaching through private message. But ideally I would like a cue system where they request coaching and input their payment. Then I would select which requests to answer—since I am only one person and cannot answer all—and at that time the payment would process. If I have not selected a request in two weeks (or some set time) the request would drop out of the cue. Does that make sense?
I discussed all of this—subscription questions and the request cue—with a vendor at a writer's conference and he said what I wanted was 10-15K. A speaker at the conference—a writer—said the same thing. ARGH, I don't have that kind of $.
Any advice or assistance is appreciated.
Thank You,
Penelope
No ideas?
I really just want a beginner's tutorial to get me started.
I looked in the manual but only found a brief parpagraph about the feature, but no instructions for its use.
Well paid subscriptions is still a new feature and we are currently working on documentation.
For your board you would want to setup a couple different usergroups and give them permissions to only the boards that they should have access to.
Paid subscriptions
You will need a paypal business account to use paid subscriptions. Inside SMF under paid subscriptions you want to grab the subscriptions.php url that it gives and enter that into PayPal under IPN url there is a link you can click inside SMF that should take you there.
Next just select your currency and enter your paypal email address and save.
Then you need to create your subscription packages.
Under Paid Subscriptions -> View Subscriptions -> Click on Add Subscription button
After that enter your subscription details and you can choose what member group they are moved and how long the subscription lasts.
Thank you!
I know I will have more questions, but this will help me get started.
PenelopeQ, let us know if you need any further assistance with this. If not, feel free to mark this as solved.
I have upgraded to a Paypal business account and put the url into the IPN area.
I have created a few subscription categories.
First, how do I now make this information and buttons or something available?
Second, how do I set it so that the trial membership is automatic with user activation?
I am trying not to be a bother, but since it has been a week I guess I should bump.
Maybe I was unclear, so I'll try to rephrase my first question.
- How do I activate or turn-on the subscription feature to make it live for my users?
What will they see...is there an example of a screen shot from another forum I can view?
I'd actually prefer to test it first and see what it will look like to a user with my testing account, but if the only option is to make it appear available to all of my users, I will go with that. I can then turn it off while I create informational pages to feature the new service.
I think my second question was clear--though if it was not, please let me know. I've repasted it below. - How do I set it so that the trial membership is automatic with user activation?
1: Go to Profile>Actions>Paid Subscriptions
Thats what they will see. you can create a test website of SMF and play around with it there if you like.
Wonderful! I can see it!
Thanks.
But what about my second question...
How do I set it so that the trial membership is automatic with user activation?
Will I need to change my registration process so that I activate each new person and at that time manually assign them? I can do that...but it would be a lot nicer if it could be automatic.
There is this mod:
http://custom.simplemachines.org/mods/index.php?mod=1804
However, I don't think it will follow the subscription time frame. You might want to ask the mod author about that.
Thanks, I'll check it out though.
not to flame or invade here but can someone please help me with my issue on paid subs ive been waiting a week for help and searched the manual and used the search bar to within an inch of its life.
http://www.simplemachines.org/community/index.php?topic=402151.msg2802283#msg2802283
thankyou in advance and i hope PenelopeQ solved her issue :) will give a little confidence.