Membership sites are a powerful way to build a loyal community and generate recurring revenue. However, managing membership expiration and renewal can be challenging. Without a proper system in place, you risk losing members, missing out on revenue, and damaging your brand’s reputation.
So, it's crucial to have an efficient membership and subscription management system at your disposal. And only having the system in place won't do the trick for you. You need to know how to use the tool to its fullest potential. This guide will help you in this regard.
Here we’ll walk you through the steps to effectively manage membership expiration and renewal. We’ll also show you how WP User Frontend (WPUF) and its Subscriptions feature can simplify the process, making it easier to retain members and grow your community.
Understanding Membership Expiration and Renewal
Membership expiration and renewal are critical components of running a successful membership site. Expiration occurs when a member’s subscription period ends, while renewal is the process of extending their access by paying for a new subscription period.
Why is this important?
- Retention: A smooth renewal process keeps members engaged and reduces churn.
- Revenue: Timely renewals ensure a steady stream of income.
- User Experience: Clear communication about expiration and renewal builds trust with your members.
How to Manage Membership Expiration and Renewal
Managing membership expiration and renewal doesn’t have to be a daunting task. With WP User Frontend Pro (WPUF), you can automate processes, improve member retention, and focus on growing your community. Let's learn how to manage membership expiration and renewal with WP User Frontend Pro.
Step 1: Choose a Membership Management System
To manage membership expiration and renewal effectively, you need a reliable system. This is where the WP User Frontend Pro comes in. WPUF is a powerful WordPress plugin that allows you to create membership sites with ease. Its Subscriptions feature is specifically designed to handle membership plans, expiration, and renewal.
Why Choose WP User Frontend Subscriptions?
- Available for Free: The subscription feature is free and has limited functionalities.
- Easy Membership Creation: Create and manage multiple membership plans effortlessly.
- Flexible Payment Options: Integrate with PayPal, Stripe, and other payment gateways.
- Automated Renewals: Set up automatic renewal reminders and payments.
- User-Friendly Interface: Members can manage their subscriptions from the front end.
By using WPUF, you can streamline the entire membership management process, saving time and reducing errors.
Step 2: Set Up the Membership Management System
First, Log in to your WordPress Dashboard. Go to Plugins > Add New. In the search bar, type “WP User Frontend.” Locate the plugin in the search results (developed by weDevs). Click Install Now. Once installed, click Activate. If you need further assistance, refer to this doc on How to Install WP User Frontend.
After activation, you’ll see a User Frontend menu in your WordPress dashboard. Follow the setup wizard to configure the basic settings, or go to User Frontend > Settings to manually adjust options like post submissions, user registration, and more.
Step 3: Use the Plugin to Create Subscription Plans
As we're going to manage membership expiration and renewal with this plugin, this tutorial will focus on covering the Subscription feature.
You can create a new Subscription plan via User Frontend > Subscriptions and customize it. Click on the Add Subscription button to expand the required fields.
You'll also get all available subscriptions, including published, drafts, and trashed subscription plans on the left side of this page. Now, please fill out the subscription details as you need them.
- Enter details such as subscription name, summary, visibility, etc.
- Enable expiration, set time, status, and user notification.
- Publish the subscription pack.
- Use the shortcode
[wpuf_sub_pack]on the Subscription page.
Post Expiration
The post-expiration section deserves extra attention. Let's see how you can configure these settings. Follow these steps to set up post-expiration in the WP User Frontend Pro plugin:
- Toggle Enable Post Expiration to ON to activate the feature.
- Select what happens to the post after expiration (e.g., Publish, Draft, Pending, or Delete).
- Enter the expiration period (e.g., 30) and select the unit (Days, Weeks, Months, or Years).
- Toggle Send Expiration Mail to ON to notify the post author.
- Customize the Expiration Message with placeholders like
{post_author},{post_title},{post_url}, and{blogname}.
Now, posts will expire automatically based on the configured time, and authors will receive a notification if enabled.
You can easily navigate to different tabs that let you configure payment-related things and other advanced configurations from the settings page.
Payment Settings
This is the most important part of the subscription module. You need to buy the Pro version to enable recurring payments and automatic renewals.
Enable this option to access additional settings. Specify the payment cycle and billing cycle periods to automatically handle subscription expirations and renewals. You can disable the Stop Billing Cycle toggle button to keep the billing cycle ongoing.
WPUF also lets you offer a trial period, check the trial toggle, and set the trial amount.
Advanced Configuration
Once you're done with the payment things, configure the additional settings that define the scope of the subscription plan. You can choose the maximum number of posts a subscriber can list from here. Choose (-1) value to keep it unlimited.
WPUF also lets you restrict access to specific taxonomies, allowing you to limit which categories subscribers can post in. Now hit the Update drop-down button and Publish or Save the plan as a draft.
Here's an example of the subscription page created using the shortcode: [wpuf_sub_pack]
Step 4: Automate Post Expiration and Renewal
WPUF handles expiration and renewal for frontend posting as well. Suppose a user has not subscribed to any plan but he's willing to post on your website. You can charge him for posting and control payment and subscription expiration with WPUF.
Go to User Frontend > Post Forms and navigate to the Settings tab of a post. Enable payments to activate subscriptions. You can also force users to subscribe to a plan by using this section.
Now, configure the expiration settings: enable expiration, set the time, and define the post status after expiration. You can also automate an email notification to the author upon expiration.
Thus, you can easily automate and manage membership expiration and renewal with WP User Frontend Pro.
10 Best Practices for Membership Retention and Renewal
Retaining members is crucial for the long-term success of any membership-based organization. Here are some best practices to help improve membership retention:
1. Deliver Consistent Value
To retain members, it’s essential to ensure they consistently derive value from their membership. This can include access to exclusive resources, educational content, networking opportunities, or discounts on services. By providing tangible benefits that members can’t easily find elsewhere, you reinforce the importance of their continued membership.
2. Engage Members Regularly
Regular engagement is key to keeping members connected and invested in your organization. Use a mix of communication channels such as newsletters, emails, social media, and events to stay in touch. Personalize your messages to make members feel valued and recognized.
Read more: How to Run an Effective Email Marketing Campaign for Membership Websites
3. Create a Sense of Community
Creating a sense of belonging can significantly enhance member retention. Facilitate opportunities for members to connect with each other through online forums, social media groups, or in-person events. Encourage collaboration and participation in discussions or projects.
4. Provide Excellent Customer Service
Ensure that members receive prompt and helpful support whenever they have questions or concerns. Train your staff to be knowledgeable, empathetic, and responsive. Positive interactions with your organization can leave a lasting impression and encourage members to stay.
Read more: 15+ Powerful Membership Retention Strategies
5. Simplify the Renewal Process
A complicated renewal process can deter members from staying. Ensure the process is straightforward and user-friendly. Send timely reminders and provide multiple payment options to make it as convenient as possible. WP User Frontend Pro can help you in this aspect.
5. Offer Professional Development Opportunities
Members often join organizations to grow professionally. Provide opportunities for skill development through webinars, workshops, courses, or certifications. Recognize and celebrate member achievements to show that you value their growth. By supporting their professional goals, you demonstrate your commitment to their success.
7. Solicit and Act on Feedback
Regularly seeking feedback shows members that their opinions matter. Use surveys, focus groups, or one-on-one conversations to gather insights into their experiences. Act on the feedback to make meaningful improvements to your offerings and services.
8. Recognize and Reward Loyalty
Acknowledging long-term members can strengthen their connection to your organization. Implement a rewards program that offers special perks, discounts, or exclusive benefits for renewing members. Celebrating loyalty makes members feel appreciated and encourages them to continue their membership.
9. Offer Flexible Membership Options
Different members have different needs and budgets. Offer a variety of membership tiers or packages to cater to these diverse requirements. Allow members to upgrade or downgrade their membership as their circumstances change. Flexibility ensures that members can find a plan that works best for them.
10. Monitor and Analyze Retention Metrics
Tracking key metrics such as renewal rates, churn rates, and engagement levels provides valuable insights into member behavior. Use data analytics to identify trends and areas for improvement. By understanding what drives retention, you can make informed decisions to enhance the member experience and reduce attrition.
Read more: 7 Reasons You Should Start a Membership Business and How Do They Work
Final Takeaways
Managing membership expiration and renewal doesn’t have to be complicated. With the right tools and strategies, you can create a seamless experience for your members while maximizing revenue and retention.
WP User Frontend (WPUF) and its Subscriptions feature make it easy to automate and streamline the entire process. Ready to take your membership site to the next level? Try WP User Frontend Subscriptions today and see the difference it can make!