Comments on: Why WordPress Is The Absolute Best Platform For Your Membership Site http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/ Rndaom, Yet Fri, 30 Sep 2011 05:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ravi Jayagopal http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116346 Ravi Jayagopal Mon, 20 Sep 2010 07:02:01 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116346 Chris, Appreciate your comment. It all depends on how you define "bias". If you have been using something for a long time, and you've found all other solutions to be lacking in one way or the other, then you're going to promote or evangelize it as best as you can. The same is the case with me and WordPress. Even though it looks like I'm promoting my membership plugin for WordPress (DigitalAccessPass.com - aka "DAP"), you have to take a step back and realize... <strong>I'm not promoting WordPress because I co-developed DAP.</strong> Instead, it's the other way around. <strong>I co-developed DAP for WordPress, because WordPress is simply the best available solution for 99% of people wanting to start a web site - and monetize it by converting it into a "membership site". </strong> And I picked WordPress, because I have tried TypePad, Mambo (now Joomla), then Joomla, then Blogger, then Drupal, and twenty other CMS's that I can't even remember the names of. No other content management system out there, has.... a) The ease of use - of WordPress b) The number of available free and commercial themes - like WordPress c) The number of available free and commercial plugins to extend your web site's functionality in every imaginable way - like WordPress d) The huge and helpful community and people-power behind it - like WordPress e) Enables just about anyone - however "non-technical" you may be - to get started with a web site in 10 minutes - like WordPress f) Allows you to download it for free, and use it on your own web host, on your own web site, and customize it and play with it, and tweak it and turn it, and get it to work exactly the way you want it to - without needing a Ph.D in web programming - like WordPress. Hope this helps. If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask, and I will certainly answer it in the most non-biased way that I can (given my passion and preference for WordPress - which did not happen overnight, and is not prejudiced in any way whatsoever). - Ravi Jayagopal Chris,

Appreciate your comment.

It all depends on how you define “bias”. If you have been using something for a long time, and you’ve found all other solutions to be lacking in one way or the other, then you’re going to promote or evangelize it as best as you can.

The same is the case with me and WordPress. Even though it looks like I’m promoting my membership plugin for WordPress (DigitalAccessPass.com – aka “DAP”), you have to take a step back and realize…

I’m not promoting WordPress because I co-developed DAP.

Instead, it’s the other way around.

I co-developed DAP for WordPress, because WordPress is simply the best available solution for 99% of people wanting to start a web site – and monetize it by converting it into a “membership site”.

And I picked WordPress, because I have tried TypePad, Mambo (now Joomla), then Joomla, then Blogger, then Drupal, and twenty other CMS’s that I can’t even remember the names of.

No other content management system out there, has….

a) The ease of use – of WordPress
b) The number of available free and commercial themes – like WordPress
c) The number of available free and commercial plugins to extend your web site’s functionality in every imaginable way – like WordPress
d) The huge and helpful community and people-power behind it – like WordPress
e) Enables just about anyone – however “non-technical” you may be – to get started with a web site in 10 minutes – like WordPress
f) Allows you to download it for free, and use it on your own web host, on your own web site, and customize it and play with it, and tweak it and turn it, and get it to work exactly the way you want it to – without needing a Ph.D in web programming – like WordPress.
Hope this helps.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask, and I will certainly answer it in the most non-biased way that I can (given my passion and preference for WordPress – which did not happen overnight, and is not prejudiced in any way whatsoever).

- Ravi Jayagopal

]]> By: Chris http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116345 Chris Mon, 20 Sep 2010 06:48:05 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116345 Forgive my skeptism, but i thought - when i started to read this article - that Ravi would come up with a non-biased and convincing argument. Contrary he seems to be self-promoting himself/business - which im sure he has all the right to do so - but left me disappointed with a lot of questions still unanswered. Forgive my skeptism, but i thought – when i started to read this article – that Ravi would come up with a non-biased and convincing argument. Contrary he seems to be self-promoting himself/business – which im sure he has all the right to do so – but left me disappointed with a lot of questions still unanswered.

]]> By: Stephanie http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116300 Stephanie Tue, 15 Jun 2010 16:43:08 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116300 I agree!! Not only is it the best for blogging, you can create any kind of website using it. There is just no reason to go spend loads of money for custom everything when you can access so many plugins on wordpress. To prove this concept, I took a concept to completion in 60 days using wordpress. Check out www.groubal.com. It is a consumer advocacy site. I agree!! Not only is it the best for blogging, you can create any kind of website using it. There is just no reason to go spend loads of money for custom everything when you can access so many plugins on wordpress. To prove this concept, I took a concept to completion in 60 days using wordpress. Check out http://www.groubal.com. It is a consumer advocacy site.

]]> By: Wayne Cochrane http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116265 Wayne Cochrane Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:51:53 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116265 Ravi, Thankyou for this great explanation! I read Alex's post after I had already bougfht DAP. Alex's argument made sense to me and I knew he was a fan of Wordpress so I was worried. But your answer Ravi also makes good sense and has restored my confidence in DAP. Thankyou! And thankyou to you also Alex for being open and fair enough to contribute here the way you have! (I am a subscriber to both Alex's and Ravi's email lists.) Wayne. Ravi,

Thankyou for this great explanation! I read Alex’s post after I had already bougfht DAP.
Alex’s argument made sense to me and I knew he was a fan of WordPress so I was worried.
But your answer Ravi also makes good sense and has restored my confidence in DAP. Thankyou!

And thankyou to you also Alex for being open and fair enough to contribute here the way you have!

(I am a subscriber to both Alex’s and Ravi’s email lists.)

Wayne.

]]> By: uberVU - social comments http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116261 uberVU - social comments Sun, 31 Jan 2010 20:53:38 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116261 <strong>Social comments and analytics for this post...</strong> This post was mentioned on Twitter by RaviJayagopal: Why WordPress Is The Absolute Best Platform For Your Membership Site . http://bit.ly/atDCDg #in... Social comments and analytics for this post…

This post was mentioned on Twitter by RaviJayagopal: Why WordPress Is The Absolute Best Platform For Your Membership Site . http://bit.ly/atDCDg #in…

]]> By: Why You Shouldn’t Use Wordpress for Your Membership Sites? | WebBriefcase http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116260 Why You Shouldn’t Use Wordpress for Your Membership Sites? | WebBriefcase Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:03:23 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116260 [...] I’m no programmer, so I don’t know to what extent this proves to be a problem. But Ravi has another very interesting counter argument on why WordPress is the absolute best platform for your membership site. [...] [...] I’m no programmer, so I don’t know to what extent this proves to be a problem. But Ravi has another very interesting counter argument on why WordPress is the absolute best platform for your membership site. [...]

]]> By: Alex Sysoef http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116259 Alex Sysoef Fri, 29 Jan 2010 10:50:11 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116259 Thanks Ravi, Email me separately and we can discuss promotion or perhaps cross promotion of the products :-) I'm always open to other people's opinion and once again I apologize if my spam filters prevented your comment on my blog. I do get a lot of crap comments and sometimes overdo on protection. :-) Alex Thanks Ravi,

Email me separately and we can discuss promotion or perhaps cross promotion of the products :-)

I’m always open to other people’s opinion and once again I apologize if my spam filters prevented your comment on my blog. I do get a lot of crap comments and sometimes overdo on protection. :-)

Alex

]]> By: Ravi Jayagopal http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116258 Ravi Jayagopal Fri, 29 Jan 2010 05:01:26 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116258 Alex, Very sportive of you to come over here and respond :-). I'm glad you took it the right way. If you ever wish to promote DAP, do let me know and I will gladly make you an affiliate :-) - Ravi Jayagopal Alex,

Very sportive of you to come over here and respond :-) .

I’m glad you took it the right way.

If you ever wish to promote DAP, do let me know and I will gladly make you an affiliate :-)

- Ravi Jayagopal

]]> By: Mtn Jim Fisher http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116256 Mtn Jim Fisher Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:14:47 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116256 Wow Ravi! Nice thoughtful response. I really appreciate your effort in keeping issues "out in the open". Sometimes it's hard to figure out if the "expert" opinions are there to help, or just to drive people in the direction of their affilliate links...;-) I used Alex's Expert Wordpress membership for my blog, and it's been very helpful. But I'll be using your DAP program for my membership site as soon as I decide what it's going to be! Mtn Jim Wow Ravi! Nice thoughtful response. I really appreciate your effort in keeping issues “out in the open”.
Sometimes it’s hard to figure out if the “expert” opinions are there to help, or just to drive people in the direction of their affilliate links…;-) I used Alex’s Expert WordPress membership for my blog, and it’s been very helpful. But I’ll be using your DAP program for my membership site as soon as I decide what it’s going to be!
Mtn Jim

]]> By: Alex Sysoef http://ravisrants.com/2010/01/28/wordpress-absolute-best-for-membership-site/comment-page-1/#comment-116255 Alex Sysoef Thu, 28 Jan 2010 21:55:30 +0000 http://ravisrants.com/?p=376#comment-116255 Ravi, I apologize for blocking your comment. It must have triggered one of the triggers, seen a few lately and will need to check my filters. 1. I think you answered main argument very well right here: <blockquote> I am the developer of a plugin called DigitalAccessPass (DAP), which does *not* have a dependency on the core of WordPress. DAP is a separate piece of software, that can be plugged on TOP of wordpress, and only needs a simple, light-weight “Plugin” that acts as a “bridge” between WP and DAP. </blockquote> As you have rightfully pointed out from my post- that is the main issue I have with approach of WP and membership management. 2. Absolutely, any script can be exploited and I didn't pick on WordPress specifically. I love WordPress and make my living by teaching people how to use it. I could have easily stated Jumla or whatever. I simply talked about WP and as such I pointed out that it does happen as we all know. 3. Yes, it was an extreme point but I had to make it to point a "possible" extreme scenario. As I also stated - one can outsource to overcome the problem :-) ... or get script that is well supported. I have nothing against your script and I never actually used it although I heard about it :-) . In fact what you describe fits nearly exactly into model I advised to use - separate script that resides alone with WordPress, looks like you simply provide additional integration :-) Thanks for taking the time to respond to my blog post and your comment. While I don't enforce your script since I never used it - I do have to say that based on your description it fits my own preference and recommendation. Cheers Ravi! Ravi,

I apologize for blocking your comment. It must have triggered one of the triggers, seen a few lately and will need to check my filters.

1. I think you answered main argument very well right here:

I am the developer of a plugin called DigitalAccessPass (DAP), which does *not* have a dependency on the core of WordPress. DAP is a separate piece of software, that can be plugged on TOP of wordpress, and only needs a simple, light-weight “Plugin” that acts as a “bridge” between WP and DAP.

As you have rightfully pointed out from my post- that is the main issue I have with approach of WP and membership management.

2. Absolutely, any script can be exploited and I didn’t pick on WordPress specifically. I love WordPress and make my living by teaching people how to use it. I could have easily stated Jumla or whatever. I simply talked about WP and as such I pointed out that it does happen as we all know.

3. Yes, it was an extreme point but I had to make it to point a “possible” extreme scenario. As I also stated – one can outsource to overcome the problem :-) … or get script that is well supported.

I have nothing against your script and I never actually used it although I heard about it :-) . In fact what you describe fits nearly exactly into model I advised to use – separate script that resides alone with WordPress, looks like you simply provide additional integration :-)

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my blog post and your comment. While I don’t enforce your script since I never used it – I do have to say that based on your description it fits my own preference and recommendation.

Cheers Ravi!

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