I have a question about how to set up a members-only online class. I would like to set up a Wordpress blog. Each day, a new lesson is posted on the blog. I want my subscribers to get an email each day letting them know a new lesson is posted. But I want them only to have access to one new lesson per day in sequence. Also, there are new members that will be joining each day. Can I set it up so the new people don't have access to the whole class -- they only get one lesson per day in sequence? How do I set this up? Thank you!
Everything except the reminder email is real easy. Install WordPress and aMember and use the aMember developed plug-in found here to make the integration. I should also state that this plug-in is under development and should be considered in beta testing. The amProtect plug-in is a seasoned plug-in that can also do this. You would set up a new page for each lesson and use the incremental delivery feature, found in both products, to allow access to the pages based on the schedule you set up. Everybody would get the lessons on the schedule you set up. Just of the top of my head I am not sure how would be the easiest way to send out the reminder email. Do they really need a reminder each day of a daily course? I am sure it can be done automatically, but just not sure how the best way to do it. One last thought. Keep in mind that the setup is still not going to be able to deliver all the features of a true learning management system (LMS) You are not going to be able to administer tests and produce a certificate of completion without integrating another program. If this is something you want, I would not use WordPress for the platform. I would use eFront which is a full blown LMS. You can get the open source version at no cost and integrate it with aMember to handle registration and the ecommerce. You will find an integration script for eFront, available at no cost, in the Integration Forum (Kudos to Skippy Bosco for this). Good Luick!
Thanks, Grant, that's very helpful. I don't need to do testing so I don't really need eFront. I saw the Wordpress plugin for aMember. I guess that is different from this amProetct? Do I need both? I saw another plugin on the aMember plugin page called Incremental content plugin ($60.00 for lifetime subscription). Is that the same or different as this Wordpress amProtect plugin you are recommending? Which one do I need and do I also need the Wordpress plugin? If I were to use an email program like say aWeber to send the automatic emails, would that work? I noticed on the Plugins list it says that aWeber is not fully integrated -- what does that mean? Thanks! Ann Marie
OK I got one of those questions answered by searching the forum. You do need BOTH the aMember Wordpress plugin AND the amprotect plug in. http://www.amember.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11666&highlight=amprotect
OK.. I know this is confusing and unfortunately you almost need to be a veteran of the forums to know what is going on. Let me give you the abbreviated history of WordPress (WP) / aMember (AM) integrations as I see it. I am probably leaving out some people and products, but no harm intended, I am just trying to catch the highlights... First Generation aMember The original AM supplied plug-in would simply support a single login for both AM and WP. This meant when you registered with AM you were also added as a user in WP and when you logged into AM you were logged into WP. When you logged in you could stay in WP and use a special AM Login sidebar widget. You would actually disable registrations on WP since registrations was handled with AM. You also had to get rid of the login buttons on the WP site. As far as page/post protection went, you could assign a WP "level" to a subscription product and then use short tags over on WP to protect content. This was kinda clunky since WP "levels" had been replaced by WP roles several WP versions ago. This plug-in costs $40 and for all I know it may still be for sale on the site. amProtect Ken Gary a talented programmer developed a cool WP/AM plugin call amProtect. It did all the things the original AM provided plugin did and much more. It included incremental content and all kinds of cool ways to protect page, post, categories, and actual text on the page. This plug-in did not try to use WP's built in roles to control access. It allowed you to directly associate content in WP straight to a AM subscription product. This plug-in did cost a little more, but IMHO obsoleted the original AM supplied plug-in. 2nd Generation aMember For whatever reason Alex at AM decided to build a new WP plug-in that does everything plus more and to not charge for it. Now this is a good thing for people like you but not such a good thing for Ken Gary. I am not sure going into the future if there will be two "competing" plugins, or what. amProtect is well worth the money and I would like to see it stay and offer two solutions. However, if Alex implements all the features he has added to his ToDo list found on this opening post, this will be a serious plug-in. Summary You can use either amProtect or the 2nd Gen AM plugin (still in beta) to give you single login for AM and WP, flexible protection features, and incremental content. You will not need anything else to set up your site. You have many choices in integrating in a full featured emailing program with AM. Ken Gary also offers aMail in six different flavors. In a recent blog post he seemed to like the flexibility of iContact. I am sure if you contacted him he could advise you if he had an email solution to notifying users about the release of a piece of incremental content.