Membership Site...

Swayze · Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 3

Im sure someone else has already asked questions reguarding how to make a membership site. I am looking to build one in which you can browse freely but to make a profile you have to pay, also members can get different rate packages for length of time they sign up for, free trials, affiliate programs etc....

In short im hoping to maybe find a software program that will help me along the way step by step so to speak. Maybe even something with simple front page type of tools. Cuz i think with me being NEW NEW to HTML and other scripts it might take me a long time to get what i want together...

Any suggestions, comments or anything you have please feel free...

Many props to all of you that can write html like its nothing.. lol

Corey Bryant · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:24 am

Membership login might help. There are a few hundred scripts already created that should help you. Keep in mind that it will require a server side language (ASP, .NET, PHP) and a database, a bit more extensive than just HTML.

Amember is one that some people use and I beleive it has a few options.

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Swayze · Joined: 17 Nov 2008 Posts: 3

Thanks, I checked out AMember and it looks like it has pretty much everything i want membership wise..

My next stupid question, Im guessing i have to build my web-site then add the Amember software into it to get the membership configuration so to speak (says on the site just to put the Amember software in a seperate folder)

Where can i go to find hosting for a site like this?
What kinda program do i need to build this that would be compatable with the Amember software?
Can I design it in photoshop or some other program?

I mean im pretty good with graphic design so the look wouldnt be a problem, i just dont know how i would change something like a photoshop layout into html or other coding.. or if there is another route that i should take etc....

Corey Bryant · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:26 pm

Well amember is PHP and probably uses a mysql database. This is usually ran on a *NIX server, while Windows can run it, it is usually better on a *NIX server.

Usually, there is a piece of code that is placed in the page that you want to protect and the page would be named with an extension of php, phtml, or phtm (by default) so the server will parse the page before it is rendered on the browser. Then if the user is not signed in, he is directed over to the login page.

Design is different from developing and I consider a web page developed since you use text to help render it in a browser. You should have at least basic HTML knowledge before attempting to using PHP / ASP.

For hosting, I recommend TechEvolution. They have both UNIX and Windows hosting. If you are going to choose ASP, Windows hosting would be better than *NIX. It is important to figure out which platform / server side language you are wanting to use before starting something like this because changing to another language is pretty difficult.

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