CM Answers + Payments Add-on (CMAP) - Use Case - Creating Forum That Charges For Posting Questions and Answers


Use Case - Creating Forum That Charges For Posting Questions and Answers

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Note: This use case requires these to be installed and activated:
  • Pro version of Answers - This document uses version 4.4.0
  • Answers Payments add-on to charge users
  • Either EDD or WooCommerce

Video Use-Case


Introduction

The CM Answers Payments add-on gives the ability to charge for posting a question or an answer or both. 

Front-End Example

How It Works

To allow payments, the add-on uses either EDD (Easy Digital Downloads) or WooCommerce. Both plugins are free and grant access to payment gateways such as PayPal and Stripe (note that some gateways might be paid)

EDD and WooCommerce Support

On WordPress, the add-on is named "EDD Payments Addon". It has WooCommerce support - it was simply added later.

Use Case Assumptions

In this example use case guide, we'll cover how to charge users $2 so they can post questions and $1 to post an answer on a tourism forum.  Learn how to create the tourism forum with CM Answers.

You can apply the same idea to charge different prices.

We consider that you have already bought the add-on, but not installed it, and that you have not installed either EDD or WooCommerce. 

It follows:


Installing The Add-on

The process is the same for all CM plugins and add-ons.

  • Download the add-on 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

Learn more: Getting Started - Installation And First Steps


Installing Payment Plugin (EDD or WooCommerce)

You must choose between either Easy Digital Downloads or WooCommerce.

EDD or WooCommerce? No Difference For The Plugin

As far as Answers Payment is concerned, there is no difference between using either EDD or WooCommerce. 

Both are free and provide free and paid add-ons.

We recommend researching about each to find out what's better for your use case. If you already use one of them, it's better to keep using it.

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.

External Resources

Choose Price For Question and Answer (EDD/WooCommerce Product)

Let's charge users $1 for adding questions and also $1 for answering threads in the forum!

To do so, we must create two products inside our payment plugin ( either EDD or WooCommerce).

Creating a $2 Question Product

The process is similar for both payment plugins. Let's create the $2 question:

EDD

 Admin Dashboard (1) → Downloads (2) → Add New → Add name (3) → Choose Price (4). The only important field is Price.

EDD - Creating/editing a Payment Product (Advanced Method) - CreativeMinds Products Documentation

WooCommerce

Head to Admin Dashboard → Products (1) → All Products (2) → Add New (3). Or simply   Admin Dashboard → Products (1) → Add New (4). 

Then, set the Regular Price to $2.

WooCommerce - Creating/editing a Payment Product (Advanced Method) - CreativeMinds Products Documentation

Answer Product

Now, do the same to create a $1 Answer. In this example, we'll call this product "Answers - User Answers Question"


Turning On Payments for Questions and Answers

Now that we have the product prices, we will "tell" the plugin to turn on payments. We will also "tell" it which product is meant for each: answers and questions

Head to Admin Dashboard → Answers Pro → Settings → Payments.

Make sure your payment provider is selected.

Turning On Questions Payments

Then, toggle Posting questions, mark "Yes" and choose the relevant product. In this case, it's "Answers - User Asks Questions", which costs $2.

Turning On Answers Payment

Toggle "Posting answers" and repeat the process.

Extra: Integration With Ask The Expert Add-on

If you are using both Ask the Expert add-on and Payment add-on, you can assign a price for the Expert in this area.



Translating Interface

The Payments add-on includes some specific labels. This way, you can adapt all messages related to payments.

Head to Settings → Labels and edit all relevant text. 

TIP: Price Placeholder

The payment labels may, naturally, include the price of the questions or answers. These price depend on your settings.

To solve this, we use the placeholders %s%s for prices. 

Example: if you charge $2 for asking questions, the following label

Pay %s%s to post questions. 

Will appear on your site as:

Pay $2 to post questions.

Learn more: Settings - Labels


Result

Below we show a user being redirected to cart when posting a question.

Example


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