Getting Started

Welcome to TribeCrafter

Status: Available An introduction to TribeCrafter and what you can do with your community platform. Overview TribeCrafter is a modern community platform that gives you everything you need to build, grow, and monetize an online community. Whether you are running a membership site, an online course business, or a professional network, TribeCrafter provides the tools to bring your community to life. Each community you create is fully isolated -- your data, your members, and your content are entirely separate from any other community on the platform. What You Can Do with TribeCrafter Build Your Community - Members and Social Graph -- Your members can connect with each other, follow one another, and build meaningful relationships within your community. - Groups -- Create public or private groups to organize discussions and content around specific topics or access tiers. - Newsfeed -- A central social hub where members share posts, images, videos, polls, GIFs, and links. Deliver Content - Courses -- Build structured learning experiences with video lessons, text content, file downloads, and progress tracking. - Blog -- Publish articles for SEO-driven traffic, thought leadership, and content marketing. Control access with public, members-only, or premium tiers. - Events -- Host online or in-person events with RSVP tracking, calendar integration, and ticket downloads. Monetize - Products -- Sell one-time digital products that grant access to specific courses, groups, or blog content. - Subscription Plans -- Offer recurring monthly or yearly plans with tiered access to your community content. - Flexible Revenue Models -- Choose between products-only, subscription-only, or a combined model based on your business needs. Engage and Retain - Notifications -- Keep members informed with real-time in-app notifications and optional email alerts. - Announcements -- Broadcast important messages to your entire community. - Landing Page -- A public-facing homepage that showcases your community offerings and drives conversions. Navigating the Admin Panel As a community admin, you manage your community through the admin panel. Here is where you will find the key areas: - Site Settings -- Configure your community name, logo, branding, currency, and revenue model. - Content Management -- Create and manage courses, blog posts, groups, and events. - Products and Plans -- Set up your monetization with products and subscription plans. - Members -- View and manage your community members, their roles, and access. - Notifications and Announcements -- Manage notification settings and create announcements. Key Concepts - Revenue Model -- Determines how your community monetizes: through one-time products, recurring subscriptions, or both. This affects the signup flow, landing page, and checkout experience. - Access Control -- Members gain access to paid content (courses, groups, blogs) by purchasing products or subscribing to plans. You control what each product or plan unlocks. - User Permissions -- When a member purchases a product or subscribes to a plan, they receive a permission that grants access to the included content. Tips - Start by configuring your Site Settings -- your community name, logo, and revenue model are the foundation of your community identity. - Create at least one product or plan before inviting members, so they have something to purchase or subscribe to during signup. - Use the landing page hero section to clearly communicate your community's value proposition. - Mark your best content as "featured" to highlight it on the landing page and in listings. Related - Setting Up Your Community - Understanding Revenue Models - Site Settings - Landing Page Setup

Setting Up Your Community

Status: Available A first-time setup checklist to get your community up and running. Overview When you first set up your TribeCrafter community, there are several foundational settings you need to configure before inviting members. This guide walks you through the essential steps to launch your community. Setup Checklist 1. Configure Basic Site Settings Start with the essentials that define your community's identity: - Site Title -- The name of your community, displayed across the platform and in browser tabs. - Site Logo -- Your community's logo, used in the header, authentication pages, and emails. - Site Icon (Favicon) -- A small icon displayed in browser tabs. - Branding Colors -- Your primary brand color, used for buttons, links, and accents throughout the platform. 2. Choose Your Revenue Model Your revenue model determines how members access paid content and how the signup flow works. Choose one of three options: - Products Only -- Members purchase individual products to unlock specific content. - Subscription Only -- Members subscribe to recurring plans for ongoing access. - Combined -- Members can purchase individual products or subscribe to plans. This setting affects the authentication flow, landing page layout, and checkout experience. You can change it later, but it is best to decide early. 3. Set Your Currency Choose the default currency for all pricing across your community. This applies to products, subscription plans, and checkout. Supported currencies include USD, EUR, GBP, INR, AUD, CAD, and many more. 4. Configure Your Landing Page Your landing page is the first thing visitors see. Set up: - Hero Section -- An eye-catching headline, benefit list, and promotional content. - Featured Content -- Mark courses, groups, events, and blog posts as "featured" so they appear on the landing page. - Product and Plan Sections -- These appear automatically based on your revenue model. 5. Create Your Content Before inviting members, create the content they will access: - Groups -- Set up at least one group (public or private) for community discussions. - Courses -- If you are offering courses, create at least one with sections and lessons. - Blog Posts -- Write some initial blog content for SEO and to demonstrate value. - Events -- Schedule upcoming events if applicable. 6. Set Up Products or Plans Create the products or subscription plans that members will purchase: - Products -- Define pricing, sale prices, access duration, and which content is included. - Plans -- Define monthly and yearly pricing, tier levels, and included content. - Stripe Integration -- Connect your Stripe account to process payments. 7. Configure Support Settings - Support Email -- Set the email address where member support messages will be sent. - CC TribeCrafter Support -- Optionally enable this to have TribeCrafter support copied on support emails for early issue detection. 8. Set Up Authentication Options - Google OAuth -- Enable or disable Google sign-in for your community. - Email Verification -- Email verification is handled automatically for new signups. After Setup Once your community is configured: 1. Test the signup flow yourself to ensure it works as expected. 2. Verify that your landing page displays correctly with featured content. 3. Confirm that products or plans are visible and purchasable. 4. Invite your first members. Tips - Keep your hero section concise -- highlight 3 to 5 key benefits of joining your community. - Use high-quality images for your logo, hero section, and featured content thumbnails. - Test the purchase flow end-to-end with a test Stripe account before going live. - Set up your support email early so member inquiries have a clear destination. - Your revenue model auto-updates based on whether you have active products, plans, or both -- but it is best to set it intentionally. Related - Welcome to TribeCrafter - Understanding Revenue Models - Site Settings - Landing Page Setup - Setting Up Products - Setting Up Plans - Connecting Stripe

Understanding Revenue Models

Status: Available How to choose the right revenue model for your community. Overview TribeCrafter supports three revenue models that determine how your members purchase access to paid content. Your revenue model affects the signup flow, landing page layout, and overall checkout experience. Choosing the right one depends on your business goals and how you want to package your offerings. The Three Revenue Models Products Only Members purchase individual products as one-time payments to unlock specific content. Best for: - Communities selling standalone courses or content bundles - One-time access passes with no recurring billing - Businesses that prefer simple, transactional sales How it works: - The signup flow guides new users to browse and add products to their cart before checkout. - The landing page prominently displays available products. - Members can purchase multiple products over time. Example: A photography community selling individual course bundles -- "Portrait Photography Pack" for $49, "Landscape Mastery" for $79. Subscription Only Members subscribe to recurring plans (monthly or yearly) for ongoing access to community content. Best for: - Membership communities with ongoing content delivery - Communities that want predictable recurring revenue - Tiered access models (Basic, Pro, Premium) How it works: - The signup flow starts with plan selection before account creation. - The landing page features a pricing comparison section for your plans. - Members can have only one active subscription at a time. - Up to 4 published plans can be active simultaneously. Example: A fitness community with Bronze ($9/mo), Silver ($19/mo), and Gold ($39/mo) tiers offering increasingly comprehensive access to workout programs and groups. Combined Members can purchase individual products or subscribe to plans -- or both. Best for: - Communities that want maximum flexibility - Businesses offering both a la carte content and membership tiers - Communities transitioning from one model to another How it works: - The signup flow presents both products and plans as options. - The landing page shows both products and subscription sections. - Members can hold one active subscription and multiple products simultaneously. - A tooltip explains the difference: "Plans offer full access. Products unlock specific packs." Example: A business coaching community offering a monthly membership plan for group coaching access, plus standalone workshop bundles available for individual purchase. How Revenue Models Affect Your Community | Aspect | Products Only | Subscription Only | Combined | |--------|---------------|-------------------|----------| | Signup flow | Register, browse products, checkout | Select plan, register, checkout | Choose plan or product, register, checkout | | Landing page | Products section visible | Plans section visible | Both sections visible | | Member access | Per-product permissions | Plan-wide permissions | Both apply | | Recurring revenue | No | Yes | Optional | What Products and Plans Unlock Products and plans are the only way members access paid content. You configure each product or plan with: - Specific content -- Select individual courses, groups, or blog access groups to include. - Wildcard access -- Grant access to all courses, all groups, or all blog content (including future content you add later). When a member purchases a product or subscribes to a plan, they receive a permission that unlocks the configured content. Courses, groups, and blog posts are never purchased directly -- they are always accessed through products or plans. Changing Your Revenue Model Your revenue model automatically updates based on what you have published: - Only products published and no plans? It becomes "products only." - Only plans published and no products? It becomes "subscription only." - Both published? It becomes "combined." You can influence the model by publishing or unpublishing products and plans as needed. Tips - Start with the simplest model that fits your business -- you can always expand later. - If you are unsure, "Products Only" is the easiest to start with and test. - For subscription-only communities, create plans with clear tier differentiation so members understand the value of upgrading. - In combined mode, make sure your products and plans offer distinct value so members are not confused about what to purchase. - Use wildcard access ("All Courses," "All Groups") on your premium plans to automatically include future content without updating each plan. Related - Setting Up Your Community - Setting Up Products - Setting Up Plans - Landing Page Setup