Using PHP to create a membership Web site?

I would like your recommendation on integrating php scripts on the website to create free membership or paid membership access only web pages. Are there any books that teach you how to do that in the most simplest way? I'm quite new to website building and still in the process of learning html. I would appreciate your advice. Thank you.

Dave's Answer:

Alas, PHP is still on my ever-growing action list (I do occassionaly lop something off the top of the list, to be fair, but there's so much to learn! And so much new technology coming out every week! But, hey, that's my problem, right? ;-) so to get a good answer I asked my friend and colleague Derek Scruggs, head of Escalan Integrated Direct Marketing and a darn good PHP programmer. Here's his answer:

Ugh. If you're not even conversant in HTML, I recommend you get a grip on that first (insert promo for Dave's Creating Cool Web Sites with HTML, XHTML and CSS book here) because PHP's roots are in web page templating.

If you're looking to get something up quickly, you're better off getting one of the jillions of PHP/MySQL CMS systems out there. You can compare and contrast some of them at CMS Matrix.org.

If/when you decide to roll your own solution, I recommend the book PHP and MySQL Web Development from SAMS and, once you're comfortable with PHP, PHP Developer's Cookbook also from Sams.

It's relatively easy to build a pw-protected site. The hard part is tying userIDs to subscriptions and processing credit card (and especially) PayPal transactions. You can do some of this manually, but it becomes a big PITA once you hit a certain number of users.

I hope that helps you out!

Categorized: CGI Scripts and Web Site Programming (Article 3938, Written by Dave Taylor)
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Comments

Yes, if there are not HTML roots, there won't be much PHP. I'm still a bit new to PHP myself, but the stuff is fun as all. So I've been looking for a good book, and I think that PHP Developer's Cookbook sounds good with my birthday coming up.
That said, I'm working on a blogging website with a similar problem. I cheated a bit, I think. I took the log-in off of the main page and put it on each individual user's 'new-entry' and 'edit' pages. It just asks for the password, and the username is drawn from the URL (site/username). It's certainly not the best, but it works. I do hope to fix this in the future.

Posted by: matthew at March 27, 2005 3:56 AM

Hi,

I have tried a few CMS but because I don't know PHP I have never been able to change any of them to work for me as I want it, layout mainly. Any advice?

Also do you have paid links (free would be great, but alas not these days it seems), I am buildinga new web site here in Ireland for the Irish market on web hosting, broadband, blogging etc, and need to get seen.

Thanks

Posted by: Leslie Gilmour at October 20, 2006 9:25 AM

I want to build a simple membership website, with free members and paid members. Where can I find the script and installation manual.

Thanks for the help
Regards,
Saifuddin.

Posted by: Saifuddin Indorewala at December 25, 2006 12:38 AM

I recomend using phpdirect
it sure has helped me out when im in a pickle

Posted by: stedo at January 11, 2007 10:53 PM

hi, i downloaded a php script of a ptc site.
do u guyz know how to make it work and publish it.
i am in puzzle over here.i am trying to follow some tutorial book over the iternet. still confused.
recommend any software or usefull blof of anyone.

Posted by: safayet at July 27, 2008 12:03 AM

Hi,am from a remote country but I've always wondered how stuff is done-I have met most of the sites in my country that allow people to send sms messages directly from the computer and it's delivered to the respective mobile phone numbers,I e-mailed one of the web developers and he said there are two options,
1. you either subscribe with a phone company so the messages from the internet are delivered to their sms centre which they forward to the mobile numbers. OR
2. You must be knowing alot of scripts (I wonder whether PHP or Javascripts) that can help route the messages directly-I've checked the action part of most of these sms forms be it local or internations and almost all is in the form

and some are please anybody who can help me with the second option b'se the 1st is so expensive.Thanks Andrew

Posted by: andrew at August 23, 2008 2:48 AM

Easiest route to follow would probably be starting with self hosted wordpress (wordpress.org).
Once you set it up - get membership site plugin - memberwing (memberwing.com). Its free and gives you source code and fully functioning seo optimized membership site with 4 levels of membership.
If you need automated payment processing - then it's "for fee" territory - but again - you'll get source code and see everything under the hood.

Gleb

Posted by: Gleb Esman at December 25, 2008 6:17 PM

Well, I heard a lot about aMember.com. You can use it to integrate with a number of CMSes like WordPress, Drupal, etc. And I also found wp-member.com -- another plugin you can check out.

Posted by: Kidino at January 5, 2009 7:57 AM

Send me any information that you think would help me get started. Thanx!

Posted by: Jennifer Trautt at March 4, 2009 7:54 AM

hi
I'm working on a blogging website with a similar problem. I cheated a bit, I think. I took the log-in off of the main page and put it on each individual user's 'new-entry' and 'edit' pages. It just asks for the password
thanxs

Posted by: awais at March 12, 2009 1:34 PM

Hmm.. good start for a newbie.

Posted by: Rajeev at April 20, 2009 1:52 AM

I'm not sure if it helps, but there is a pretty good step-by-step tutorial on how to create a user membership system at:

http://edrackham.com/php/user-membership-with-php-and-mysql-tutorial/

It might help!

Posted by: John at October 7, 2010 2:25 AM

Hello Dave,

We met at Stompernet Live in Atlanta about a year ago.

Just wanted to add to this discussion here, and say that for those looking to create membership web sites, no need to re-invent the wheel. You can create a basic, "walled garden" type site using just WordPress, or if you want a more complete and automated solution for processing payments, automatic account access, content dripping, affiliate program, etc, then there are several good membership site plugins for WordPress, like one that I have co-developed myself, called DigitalAccessPass.com (DAP).

There are many solutions ranging all the way from "free" to a few hundred bucks to even a couple that are a few thousand bucks.

Posted by: Ravi Jayagopal at January 9, 2011 10:52 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...

I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!

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