Paid memberships are designed for communities prioritizing exclusive access, ensuring only paying members can enjoy full benefits. Here’s how to set up a Paid Membership, along with best practices to maximize its value.
1. Select Paid Membership
Navigate to Payments > Offers in your Heartbeat community admin dashboard.
Choose Paid Membership.
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Paid Memberships restrict access entirely to paying members unless a free trial is enabled. There is no automatic Free Tier.
2. Configure Paid Tiers
Add Membership Tiers:
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Click + Add Membership Tier to create multiple levels of paid access if desired (e.g., Basic, Pro, Premium).
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Each tier can be customized with unique access, pricing, and specific perks.
Example: A Basic tier might provide access to general channels, while a Premium tier could unlock exclusive content, courses, and private discussions.
Optional Free Trial:
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You can enable a free trial for any paid tier, allowing potential members to explore the community temporarily before committing.
💡 Tip: Collecting payment information upfront (optional) can increase the likelihood of converting trial members to paid subscribers, as they won’t need to enter details again at the end of the trial.
3. Enable In-Community Upsells
Turn on In-Community Upsells to promote higher membership tiers.
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If you offer multiple paid tiers, upsell prompts will appear, encouraging members to upgrade for additional features or premium access.
Example: Members on the Basic tier might receive prompts to upgrade to Premium to access exclusive courses, events, or private channels.
💡 Tip: Consider highlighting specific features (e.g., access to expert Q&A sessions or specialized courses) that differentiate higher tiers.
4. Access Removal on Payment Lapse
For Paid Memberships, if a member stops paying, they lose all access to the community.
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This approach helps maintain the exclusivity of the community and reinforces the value of paid membership.
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Unlike Freemium, there is no fallback to a Free Tier—access is fully restricted until payment is reinstated.
Best Practices for Managing Paid Memberships
Create Clear Value Distinction:
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Each tier should provide progressively more valuable content or features, making higher tiers attractive.
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For instance, offer unique content, priority support, or member-only events to make the highest tier more desirable.
Encourage Engagement to Reduce Churn:
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Actively engage members at every tier to keep them invested. Send regular updates, host events, and prompt discussions.
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Members who are consistently engaged are less likely to cancel, as they feel a stronger connection to the community.
Offer Occasional Promotions:
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Consider providing limited-time discounts or bonus content for annual subscriptions to incentivize longer-term commitments.
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Periodic promotions can also re-engage former members or encourage lapsed members to return.
Leverage Automation for Retention:
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Use automated workflows to remind members of the value they’re receiving and to address any lapses in payment.
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For example, you could automate a message offering a discount or alternative payment plan if a member cancels.
Monitor and Adjust Pricing Regularly:
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Periodically review membership tiers and adjust pricing as needed based on member feedback, engagement levels, or content offerings.
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Keep your pricing competitive and reflective of the value provided to maintain member satisfaction.