The members-only content feature on eDirectory allows site managers to control the visibility of specific content, making it accessible only to registered members. This feature is ideal for offering exclusive content and provides an opportunity to monetize your site by charging users for access to premium content. In this article, we will guide you through configuring the members-only content feature on your eDirectory website to manage restricted content effectively.


What is Members-Only Content?


Members-only content refers to content that is restricted and only available to registered users or paying members. This allows site owners to offer valuable or exclusive content, which can help generate revenue by encouraging users to subscribe for access. 


For more information on what Members-only content and how it can benefit your business, please refer to this article: Understanding the Members-only Content: Definition of Members-only Content


Let’s walk through the steps to set up members-only access and manage this restricted content on eDirectory.


1. Enabling the Members-Only Content Feature


To begin, you’ll need to enable the members-only content feature on your website.


  1. Navigate to: Settings > Products & Plans > Additional Settings & Payment Gateways
  2. Enable the "Members-only content" feature.



By enabling this feature, certain content on your site can be restricted, so only users who have registered or subscribed will be able to view it.


2. Enabling Subscription-Based Products

Once the members-only content feature is active, you need to ensure that products or services requiring a subscription are enabled.


  1. Go to: Settings > Products & Plans > Mange Products
  2. Enable the subscription-based products that you wish to charge users for in order to access members-only content.
If you're not familiar with how to create subscription products or plans, refer to this article:  Products and Plans for New Clients for detailed guidance.



3. Configuring Plans for Members-Only Content


After enabling subscription-based products, the next step is to configure these products to grant access to members-only content.


  1. In the Plans section, where products are added, locate the specific plan you want to include members-only content in.
  2. Choose an existing plan to edit, or click to create a new plan. 
  3. Enable the option "Access to members-only content." This will ensure that users who subscribe to this plan will gain access to the premium restricted content.

4. Viewing Members-Only Modules


Once the members-only content feature is enabled and configured, restricted modules will appear differently on the site. For example:


  • Important details like Phone Numbers and Locations will be locked.
  • A label reading "Members only" will be displayed to indicate that the content is restricted.

When users try to access the module’s details page, they will be redirected or prompted to sign up or log in if they are not a member.





5. Setting Members-Only Content for Blog Posts


For greater flexibility, you can set members-only access on a per-post basis for blog content. If you have some blog posts that you’d like to keep open to the public and others for members only, this feature allows you to control that easily.


Simply go to the individual blog post settings, and choose whether or not to restrict access to that specific post.





Important Notes

  • Editing Locked Page Text: You can customize the text on locked pages through the Page Editor > Listing detail and click to edit the listing detail widget to communicate the value of your content to visitors and encourage them to sign up.


  • SEO Impact: Members-only content will still be indexed by search engines, meaning that even though certain content is locked, it won't negatively affect your site's SEO ranking.


By following these steps, you can successfully configure the members-only content feature on your eDirectory site, providing an excellent opportunity to monetize your content while offering exclusive value to your subscribers.