WordPress Member Directory Plugin (CMED) + Community + Payments - Use Case - Charging Users For Suggesting Experts in Directory

Use Case - Charging Users For Suggesting Experts in Directory

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The WordPress Member Directory plugin allows you to create a listing of experts, or members. 

By combining the Payments add-on and Community add-on, you can charge users for creating and managing said profiles.

Use Case Front-End

Use Case Assumptions

In this example use case guide, we'll cover how to charge users for suggesting and claiming experts in your Expert Directory.

We consider that you have already bought the addon, but not installed it. 

This documentation follows:

• Preparation
  • Installing the plugin
  • Installing the payment plugin (EDD or WooCommerce)
  • Setting up a directory
  • Letting users suggest experts
• Setting up payments
  1. Selecting Payment Plugin (WooCommerce / EDD)
  2. Requiring users to pay for adding experts
  3. Requiring users to pay for claim listings
  4. Requiring users to pay for renewing listings
  5. Notifying users
• User View - Suggesting and Paying
• Admin View - Tracking payments
• Extra
  • Pay Per View - Charging users to see profiles

Installing the Addon

The process is the same for all CM plugins and addons.

• Download the plugin from your customer dashboard.
• Log in to WordPress and navigate to the WordPress Admin  → Plugins settings.
• Click on Add New.
• Activate it and add the license.

Installing Payment Plugin (EDD or WooCommerce)

You must choose between either Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce.

Head to  Admin Dashboard → Plugins → Installed Plugins and click Add New. 

Search for either Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce and install it.

Configure Payment Plugins

Don't forget to configure the payment plugin! This way you can connect it to payment providers such as PayPal or credit card companies.

Important

Be sure that your payment plugin has the correct Checkout and Cart pages set up. They are used by the plugin.

External Resources

• Introduction to EDD - Easy Digital Downloads
• Configuring WooCommerce Settings - WooCommerce Docs

Setting up a Directory

First, set up the directory if you haven't done so. Since this article focuses on the payment use case, it mostly list the relevant documentation for this first step.

Checking Settings

Navigate to Admin Dashboard → CM Expert Directory → Settings. Then click on the General tab.

Read more: WordPress Member Directory Plugin (CMED) - General Settings (Permalink, Default Image, Admin Edit Link)

Adding First Expert

Head to CM Expert Directory Pro → Add Expert.

Learn more: WordPress Member Directory Plugin (CMED) - Getting Started - Add Expert

Letting Users Suggest Experts

Now, allow users to suggest experts. We'll also skim through this part to focus on payments.

Navigate to the Admin Dashboard → CM Expert Directory → Settings.

Under moderation settings, choose the roles who can add experts.

Setting Up Payments

Now that the directory is set up and users can suggest experts, it's time to configure payments.

1) Selecting Payment Plugin (WooCommerce / EDD)

Let's start by telling the plugin which payment platform we are using (EDD or WooCommerce). Navigate to CM Expert Directory Pro → Settings → Payments tab → Payment System Selection section. 

Only one system can be enabled at a time. In the example below, it's WooCommerce.

TIP: Section is Empty?

Note that in the same screen we can choose the Payment provider: EDD or WooCommerce. If only "disabled" is shown, it means these payment plugins are not activated.

2) Requiring Users to Pay for Adding Experts

Now onto the most important settings of the use case.

Head to the Add New Expert Payments section and check "Require payments for adding new experts". We'll talk about the two other options in a moment.

Then, create a new WooCommerce/EDD product or assign the purchase with an existing product.

3) Requiring Users to Pay for Claiming Experts

You can also charge users for claiming experts. Turn on the option in the Claim Expert Payments section.

And then set the product, like in the other payment settings.

User Perspective

Users can claim existing expert listings by going to the listing page and clicking show by Claim this Expert.

They only need to add their name and valid email address to receive an email notification with instructions on how to pay for the listing.

Example

The rest of the process is the same as Suggesting an Expert:

• User gets an e-mail.
• Pays.
• Gets another e-mail with an activation link.

Learn more: CM Expert Directory Community (CMEDC) - How To - Let Users/Visitors Claim Experts

4) Requiring Users to Pay for Renewing Experts

If this feature is enabled, users must pay in order for their listing to remain visible to the public in the directory. This is also controlled by a (separate) product in  EDD / WooCommerce to allow the payment. 

One huge difference are the time renewal and notification settings.

You can choose after how many days the listing will expire, requiring the user to make a new payment. Also, you can enable a notification to remind the user about the upcoming expiration.

Automatic Renewals With WooCommerce Subscription

If you have WooCommerce Subscription set up, you can enable automatic renewals. To do so, edit the WooCommerce product attached to the expert submission payment.

In the settings, change Product Type from "Simple product" to "Simple subscription". Then choose the price and period of expiration.

Frontend

After making the payment, the user receives a link to re-activate the listing or a unique activation code to paste on the expert activation page. 

• Learn more:
  • CM Expert Directory Payments (CMED Add-On) - How To - Renew an Expert Listing

5) Notifying Users

In each of the options above (payment for adding, renewing and claiming), there are also options to customize the email sent to experts. They follow the same pattern, with some changes:

• "Payment required" e-mail - Check the box to enable the notification.
• "Payment required" e-mail subject - Topic of the e-mail being sent after the user adds the expert and it passes the moderation.
• "Payment required" e-mail content - Content of the e-mail being sent after the user adds the expert and it passes the moderation. You can use the following placeholders: {expert_name} {purchase_link} {activation_page}
• "Payment confirmation" e-mail subject - Topic of the e-mail being sent after the user purchases the product required to add a new expert.
• "Payment confirmation" e-mail content - Content of the e-mail being sent after the user purchases the product required to add a new expert. You can use the following placeholders: {expert_name} {code} {activation_link}

TIP 1: Limited Free Listings

In the Limited Free Listing section, you can enable exactly that - and then choose which fields will be available in these limited profiles.

User View - Suggesting and Paying

With Payments, the user submission process is the same as in Community.

But now, when users complete the expert submission form, they will see a different message than usual. The message will mention payment.

Example

What Happens On Submission?

You can control what will happen from the settings, section Add New Expert Payments.

• Payment before moderation - If enabled, users will be able to pay even before the admin moderates the submission.
• Instant payment - If enabled, the user will be redirected to checkout immediately after filling the form. Requires Payment before moderation to be enabled.

Checkout Page Example

Admin View - Tracking Payments

The add-on offers a simple way to track every payment made.

Accessing Token Dashboard

Navigate to the Admin Dashboard → CM Expert Directory →  Expert Tokens.

This screen will show a table with all recorded payments, along with their attached information. 

Example

1. Token before clicking on activation link from e-mail.
2. Token after clicking on activation link from e-mail.

Editing a Token

Clicking on the code directs you to the token edit page, where you can change its status manually. Also here values like Purchase ID, email and types can be changed.

Extra - Pay-Per-View: Charging Users For Accessing Profile

When Pay-per-view is enabled, users will be asked to buy a plan when trying to access an expert profile. Select the plan and click Buy Selected Plan.

Example

Settings

To enable this feature, head to the Payments tab → Pay-per-view section.

First, click on "Turn on the Pay-per-view". 

Then configure:

• Easy Digital Downloads / WooCommerce Product Association - Select an existing EDD / WooCommerce Product which will be required to use the "Pay-per-view" functionality. Or choose the name and price and click "Create New EDD / WooCommerce Product" to automatically create and assign a new Product.
• Pass items - Number of possible items to be displayed after purchasing a single "pass".
• Pass days - Number of days the purchased "pass" is valid after it's activated.

Learn more: CM Expert Directory Payments (CMED Add-On) - How To - Charge Users To See Experts (Pay Per View)

Recap

With all steps completed, your directory will require payments before user submissions are online.

Use Case Front-End

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