How to Create a Paid Group for Communities

How to Create a Paid Group for Communities

Creating paid groups within your community is a powerful way to monetize exclusive content and manage member access through your CRM platform. Follow this step-by-step guide to set up both private and public paid groups effectively.

Private and Public Groups

How-To Steps

Step 1: Set Up the Group

1. Navigate to Group Settings:

   • Go to Memberships > Communities > Groups.

2. Choose Your Group Type:

   • Decide whether your group will be public or private. This decision affects how users can join and interact within the group.

   • In the settings, select the appropriate option for your group's visibility.

Step 2: Configure Subscription Options

One-Time Payment

For groups that require a single payment for unlimited access:

1. Go to your group settings and select Subscriptions.

2. Click on Add New Price, enter the desired amount, and select One-Time as the payment type.

3. Click Add, then Save to apply the one-time payment for the group.

4. Optionally, enable Test Mode to trial the payment process.

   • For payments in Euro currency, Stripe integration includes additional methods such as SEPA Debit, iDEAL, and Bancontact.

Recurring Subscription

For groups with ongoing subscription fees:

1. In your group settings, go to Subscriptions.

2. Click on Add New Price. Specify the amount, set the type to Recurring, choose the billing period (Weekly/Monthly/Annually), and add trial days if applicable.

3. Click Add, then Save to create the group with a recurring subscription.

4. Activate Test Mode for testing the payment process.

Step 3: Save and Implement

1. Save Your Settings:

   • Click Add and then Save to finalize the group setup. Your group is now created and ready for use.

Group Access

Admin-Granted Access:

1. Payment Confirmation:

   • After payment is received, access is granted similarly to private groups. Navigate to the People tab, filter for 'Requested', and either accept or deny membership.

2. Public Group Sign-Up:

   • For public groups, users gain membership immediately after payment.

Notifications:

1. Admin Alerts:

   • Admins receive email notifications detailing user payments.

2. User Confirmation:

   • Users receive a confirmation email regarding their payment and membership approval.

Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellation Process:

• Via CRM Payments: Users receive a confirmation email, and admins are notified. The user is then removed from the group.

• Via Stripe: The process mirrors that of CRM Payments, with users being removed from the group upon cancellation.

Refunds:

1. CRM Refunds: Refunds can be initiated from the Payments > Transaction screen.

2. Stripe Refunds: Managed directly through Stripe.

Restoring Deleted Contacts:

• If a user’s contact card is deleted and later restored, they should regain group access without requiring additional payment.

Charge Limits:

• Refer to Stripe’s documentation for minimum and maximum charge amounts in various currencies.

Additional Tips:

Update Group Status:

• Select the group you wish to update and change its status to active or inactive as needed.

  • Benefit: This allows admins to manage group accessibility efficiently, ensuring only relevant groups are active.

Ensure Visibility:

• Verify that new groups are visible on the builder side and that the list refreshes correctly in invite email flows.

  • Benefit: Ensures that new groups are immediately available to users for smooth onboarding and reduces admin workload by automatically resolving visibility issues.

Check Aspect Ratio:

• Ensure the aspect ratio of uploaded GIFs is accurate for correct display.

  • Benefit: Properly displayed GIFs enhance the visual appeal and professionalism of your community platform.