Amazing WordPress Forum Plug-In
Every once in a while I come across something that totally blows me away. That happened tonight.
I’ve been looking at forum solutions for my membership site forum. There’s a few solid options out there and they all seem like they’d do a decent job. phpBB, vBulletin, punBB are a few of the one’s I’ve checked out and considered.
But here’s the catch: my membership site is using WordPress as a CMS and my membership software is designed to control access to Wordpress – not other software. What to do…
Controlling Access to a Forum
If you’re running a membership site, you know that you should have a forum of some sort. Perhaps you also know that you should be controlling access to your forums, too.
Why? Because if anyone can come and log-in, post comments, or simply read content that your paying members are contributing it devalues the site.
One solution is to buy aMember and protect both WordPress and your forum software using that software. But, what if you (like me) you’re already happy with your Wordpress Member Management software?
Spending $189.00 on aMember. Plus the time it takes to integrate aMember into your site. Well – there has to be a better way.
Simple Press Forum
Tonight I found a forum plug-in here http://simplepressforum.com/ and I have to tell you – it’s better than any other forum software I’ve used and it works in WordPress as a plug-in on a page.
The fact that it runs on a page is what is brilliant. Why?
Because my Wordpress Member Management software allows me to control access to pages. As a result, I am easily able to control access to the forum.
As Easy as Installing a WP Plug-In
Getting setuo with Simple Press was a breeze. All you have to do is upload the plug-in to your WP plug-ins folder and activate it.
Of course, being that it is a forum, it’s a little more work to tweak and use. But that’s only because it’s ridiculously powerful and awesome.
One excellent benefit of the fact that Simple Press is a WP plug-in is the fact that it shares your WP database. No need to backup and maintain multiple databases.
Go Check It Out
If you need a forum and you run WordPress – go and get it http://simplepressforum.com/.
Did I mention it’s free/donation? Believe me – products like this fill you with so much joy that you’ll not only be willing to pay for it (although you do not have to, it’s really free)….but you’ll want to tip as well!
Enjoy!
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