Membership website design and development
When standard membership software starts getting in the way, we help you build a membership website that works for your members and your team.
We design, develop and support membership websites for associations, professional bodies, charities and member organisations with more complex requirements.
That might mean connecting your website to your CRM, handling several membership types and prices, giving members a proper portal of their own, moving away from a system you have outgrown, or automating renewals that your team currently chase by hand.
We work with clients of every size, from a first members area on an existing website to bespoke membership platforms built for your specific needs.
Which approach is right for your membership website?
There is no single best membership platform. The right choice depends on your members, how your membership works, the systems you already use and how you want to grow.
We do not push every project towards a custom solution. If an existing product will do the job properly, we will tell you.
Bespoke membership platforms
If standard membership software does not fit the way your organisation works, we can build a system around you.
We typically use Laravel, which gives us the freedom to build the features you need and connect your website with your other systems.
WordPress membership websites
A properly built WordPress website can be a good option for private member content, online joining and renewals without the cost of a completely custom system.
We choose and configure the membership tools for you, rather than leaving you to piece together a collection of plugins.
Membership management software
Standard membership software can handle things such as joining, renewals and payments without having to build them from scratch.
It can be quick to get started with, but you are limited by what the software allows you to do.
Is standard membership software enough?
Sometimes. If you have one or two membership types, straightforward pricing and no other systems to connect, standard membership software or a WordPress plugin may be all you need.
But as membership organisations grow, they often need things to work differently. That is when standard software can start getting in the way.
You may need a bespoke membership website if:
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You have several membership types, tiers or prices
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You have corporate or concessionary members with their own pricing
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Members need different access depending on their grade, region or status
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Your website needs to work with a CRM, finance system or membership database
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Your team has to enter joining, renewal or payment information into more than one system
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Your team manually chases renewals, reminders and expired memberships
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Members need to track CPD, book events or download resources in one place
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You rely on too many plugins, spreadsheets or workarounds
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Your current system is difficult for members or staff to use
The more complex your membership becomes, the more important it is that your website is built around the way you actually work.
A membership portal your members will actually use
The member experience is what keeps people renewing. A well designed membership portal lets members help themselves, any time, without contacting your team.
We design members areas around the things people actually need to do:
Join, renew and update payment details online
Manage their profile, contact preferences and company details
Track CPD, qualifications and certificates
Book events, courses and webinars at member prices
Access members only content, guidance and document libraries
Find and connect with other members through a searchable directory
Use one login for your website and other services
We start with user research and UX design to understand what your members need to do and make those tasks as straightforward as possible.
We also build joining and renewals around the way your membership works. That could include individual, corporate or group membership, different membership levels, applications that need approval, monthly or annual renewals, or free and trial memberships. If you sell products or courses, we can bring those into the same system.
Connect your membership website with the rest of your organisation
For most membership organisations, the website is only one part of the picture. Member records, payments and communications may be held in several different systems. We can connect them so information moves between them automatically.
We build integrations between membership websites and systems such as:
Payment providers include recurring card payments and Direct Debit.
The goal is simple: a member joins or renews once, and every system that needs to know is updated automatically. Your team does not have to enter the same information twice or keep checking spreadsheets, and you have one accurate record for each member.
See our CRM integrations page for more on how we approach this.
Have you outgrown your current membership system?
You may not need a completely new website. We can review your existing membership website and tell you whether the better solution is to improve it, integrate it properly, migrate it or rebuild specific parts.
Typical problems include:
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Members struggling to log in, join or renew
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Renewal rates dropping with no clear reason
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Staff time lost to manual admin and data entry
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A CRM and website that do not talk to each other
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Slow, outdated or hard to manage software that your supplier no longer supports
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Security or data protection concerns about member data
Sometimes fixing the underlying problem makes more sense than replacing everything. If your current member website was built by another agency, we regularly take over existing websites and legacy systems.
How we build a membership website
We learn how your membership works, what your members need to do, where your data is held and which other systems the website needs to work with. We then recommend an approach and give you a realistic cost.
We design the public website and members area around the people who will use them, with accessibility considered from the start.
We build the website and connect it to your CRM, payment provider and other systems. We test each part as we go.
We move your existing members across safely, including renewal dates and payment details, so nobody has to join again.
We host, support and develop the platform as your membership changes.
If you want to test a new membership idea before committing to a full build, we can start with a simpler first version.
Why Webbed Feet?
- We are not tied to one system - We recommend technology around your requirements rather than putting every project onto the same platform.
- We connect websites with other systems - We can connect your website to CRMs, payment providers and other services, as well as designing and building the website itself.
- Plain English advice - We explain what we recommend, why we recommend it and the pros and cons of each option.
- We take member data seriously - Member data is personal data. We build with security and data protection in mind, and we are Cyber Essentials certified.
- We are here for the future - Our UK team has been building websites since 2001, and we continue to support and develop them after launch.
Frequently asked questions
It depends mainly on how your membership works, what members need to be able to do online and which other systems the website needs to connect to.
A WordPress membership website will usually cost considerably less than a completely custom system connected to a CRM. We start by understanding what you actually need so our estimate is based on your requirements rather than guesswork.
A membership portal is the secure, logged in area of your website where members manage their membership and their data.
It typically covers renewals, profile details, CPD records, event bookings and members only resources, and works best when it is connected to your CRM so every change is recorded automatically.
Yes. We regularly connect membership websites to Salesforce, Microsoft Dynamics and dedicated membership CRMs. We review your current setup first and recommend the most reliable way to connect it.
Yes. We plan the move carefully, including member records, renewal dates and payment history, so members experience no disruption.
A WordPress membership website can take a matter of weeks. A larger complex platform with integrations typically takes a few months. We agree a timeline during discovery.
Talk to us when membership gets complicated
If membership software, disconnected systems or manual processes are making things harder than they need to be, we can help.
Tell us how your membership works, what is causing problems and what you would like to improve. We will talk you through the options.
01722 346400