The Ultimate Guide to Setting Up a Members-Only WooCommerce Store (2023)

Are you looking to create an exclusive online shopping experience for your customers? A members-only WooCommerce store is a powerful way to sell premium products, offer wholesale pricing, or grant VIP perks to your most loyal audience.

By restricting access to your WooCommerce products to registered members only, you can:

• Create exclusivity: Offer a private, VIP experience to select customers
• Drive loyalty: Incentivize customers to create an account to access exclusive deals and products
• Sell wholesale: Restrict wholesale pricing and bulk ordering to approved members
• Increase revenue: Charge members a recurring fee for access to your exclusive products or perks

According to WooCommerce, over 3.3 million websites use the platform to run their online stores. And as of 2023, membership plugins like MemberPress and Restrict Content Pro make it easier than ever to integrate members-only functionality into your WooCommerce store.

In this guide, we‘ll walk you through the exact steps to get your members-only WooCommerce store up and running. We‘ll cover:

1. Choosing your web hosting and domain name
2. Installing WooCommerce and configuring settings
3. Deciding on a membership plugin
4. Setting up your membership levels and access rules
5. Customizing the members-only experience
6. Promoting and optimizing your membership program

Plus, I‘ll share my top tips for making your members-only store a success. Let‘s dive in!

Step 1: Choose Web Hosting and Domain Name

Every website needs two key things to exist online:

1. A domain name – This is your site‘s address on the web (e.g. mystore.com)
2. Web hosting – This is where your site‘s files are stored and served to visitors

When choosing a domain name for your online store, aim for something memorable and brandable. Ideally, your domain will be:

• Short – Aim for under 15 characters
• Easy to spell – Avoid numbers, hyphens, and words with multiple spellings
• Descriptive – Use keywords related to your products or niche
• .com extension – The most common and trusted domain extension

You can purchase a domain through most web hosting providers or a dedicated registrar like Namecheap or Google Domains.

For web hosting, choose a reputable provider that offers:

• One-click WordPress installation
• Ecommerce-optimized servers and resources
• SSL certificate for secure payments
• Regular backups
• 24/7 support

Providers like Bluehost, Hostinger, SiteGround, and WP Engine are all popular choices that meet these criteria.

Pricing as of June 2023

Once you‘ve purchased your domain and hosting, most providers offer 1-click WordPress installation or have detailed setup guides to help you get started.

Step 2: Install WooCommerce and Configure Settings

With WordPress installed, the next step is to install the WooCommerce plugin.

WooCommerce is a free, open-source plugin that adds comprehensive eCommerce functionality to any WordPress site. It provides everything you need to manage products, process payments, calculate taxes, and handle shipping.

To install WooCommerce:

1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard
2. Go to Plugins → Add New
3. Search for "WooCommerce"
4. Click Install Now and then Activate
5. Follow the setup wizard to configure key WooCommerce settings:
   • Store location and basic information
   • Payment methods and currency
   • Shipping zones and options
   • Recommended plugins

Be sure to choose a payment gateway that supports automatic recurring payments, as you‘ll need this to charge membership fees. WooCommerce has dozens of payment gateway extensions to choose from.

Some of the most popular options for membership sites include:

• Stripe
• PayPal Payments Pro
• Authorize.net
• Braintree

Step 3: Decide on a Membership Plugin

With WooCommerce installed, you now need a membership plugin that integrates with WooCommerce to restrict product access to members only.

There are several WordPress membership plugins that support WooCommerce integration. Here‘s a comparison of a few of the top options:

Pricing as of June 2023

For most WooCommerce membership sites, MemberPress or Restrict Content Pro will be the most feature-rich and user-friendly options.

MemberPress is an especially powerful choice if you also want to offer online courses as part of your membership program, as it has a built-in course builder as an add-on.

Ultimately, the right membership plugin for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. Most options let you restrict access to products, create unlimited membership levels, and process recurring payments.

Step 4: Set Up Membership Levels and Access Rules

Once your membership plugin is installed, you can start configuring your membership levels.

How you structure your levels will depend on your business model and goals. A few common approaches are:

1. Single level – One membership level that grants access to all restricted content
2. Tiered levels – Multiple levels with increasing benefits, perks, or content access at each tier
3. Product-specific levels – Membership levels tied to specific products or product categories
4. Time-based levels – Charge different prices for membership lengths (e.g. monthly vs. annual)

Consider what types of content and perks you want to provide to each level.

Some ideas include:

• Early access to sales or product launches
• Exclusive products not available to non-members
• Discounts on products and/or shipping
• Complimentary gifts or samples
• Access to member-only events or communities

Using your membership plugin settings, you can create your levels and set access rules.

For example, in MemberPress you would:

1. Go to MemberPress > Memberships
2. Click Add New
3. Enter the level‘s name, description, pricing terms, and any custom welcome email
4. Configure level settings, including what content this level can access
5. Set up a price and recurring subscription settings
6. Publish the level

Repeat this process for each level you want to create. Then, use MemberPress‘ Rules section to restrict your desired WooCommerce products to the appropriate membership level(s).

Step 5: Customize the Members-Only Experience

With your levels and access rules in place, your store is now ready to accept member registrations and restrict access to your products.

However, there are a few key areas you‘ll want to customize to create a user-friendly member experience:

Registration Form

Customize the member registration form to collect the information you need and match your branding. Add your logo, colors, and any custom fields.

Login Page

Make sure your login page is prominently linked in your navigation menu and includes clear instructions for members. Customize the page title and text to fit your brand voice.

Member Dashboard

Create a custom page that serves as a member dashboard, where users can view and edit their account details, membership plan, billing information, and purchase history.

Restricted Product Visibility

By default, WooCommerce will hide restricted products from non-members. However, you may want to tease certain members-only products to encourage signups.

Use your membership plugin settings to control the visibility of restricted products. For example, you could show excerpts or thumbnails to non-members, with a CTA to sign up for full access.

Email Notifications

Customize the automated emails sent to members, including welcome messages, account updates, renewal reminders, and purchase receipts.

Use merge tags to personalize each email with the member‘s name and specific membership details. Ensure the email templates match your overall site branding.

By customizing these key touchpoints, you can deliver a professional and user-friendly experience to your members.

Step 6: Promote and Optimize Your Membership Program

Creating the technical foundation of your membership site is only half the battle. To attract and retain paying members, you need a plan to market your offering and continually provide value.

Some effective strategies to promote your WooCommerce membership program include:

• Prominently mention membership benefits across your marketing channels
• Create a detailed sales page that clearly outlines what‘s included in each membership level
• Offer a free trial or low-cost introductory rate to let prospects experience the value firsthand
• Promote limited-time bonuses or discounts to incentivize signups
• Leverage FOMO and exclusivity in your marketing copy (e.g. "Access available to members only")
• Partner with affiliates or influencers to tap into new audiences
• Run targeted PPC ads to lookalike audiences similar to your best customers

Beyond promotion, you also need a plan to onboard, engage, and retain your members for the long run. This is key for reducing churn and increasing customer lifetime value.

A few best practices:

• Send a welcome email series introducing key membership benefits and encouraging product browsing
• Regularly publish members-only blog content, tutorials, or resources
• Host live Q&As, webinars, or events exclusively for members
• Gather member feedback via surveys to identify ways to improve the program
• Grant points or rewards for member loyalty over time (e.g. anniversaries, total spend)

By prioritizing your members‘ success and engagement, you can create a membership program that not only drives recurring revenue but genuine customer loyalty.

Conclusion

Creating a members-only WooCommerce store is a smart way to sell exclusive products, provide VIP perks to your best customers, and generate recurring revenue. With WordPress and the right membership plugin, you can set up a professional private shop in no time.

The key is to create membership levels that provide real value and a user-friendly member experience. From your registration form to your restricted products, every touch point is a chance to reinforce your brand and keep members engaged.

By combining a strong marketing strategy with great retention tactics, your members-only WooCommerce store can become the backbone of a thriving, profitable business.

Key Takeaways

• Choose a web hosting plan and membership plugin that support your members-only WooCommerce store needs
• Create membership levels with clear benefits and pricing, using your plugin‘s settings
• Customize key pages like registration forms and login screens to provide a cohesive brand experience
• Promote your membership program through content, email, ads, and partnerships
• Focus on continually providing value to members to reduce churn and drive long-term loyalty

For more information on WordPress and WooCommerce, check out the official WooCommerce docs and review these 18 essential tips for running a successful online store.