WordPress Content Control (Ultimate Guide for Beginners)

Are you looking for ways to control WordPress content or want to learn how to Restrict Content Access in WordPress? You often want to restrict some people from your website. WordPress is a broad and dynamic CMS, so you must manage your website content regularly.

This article will discover different tools and techniques to control your site’s content. We will explore what to do, how, and the outcomes of doing those restrictions. Keeping your site’s content under users’ control is necessary.

Be ready to make your content at your fingertips, restrict it as required, and make it completely secure.

Whether you have a website, online store, or any website, it is essential to keep your data safe if it contains sensitive information.

Introduction to WordPress Content Control

WordPress is the dominant platform that gives you access to the creation and management of a website. It is a tricky procedure to make your data controlled or making it restricted from bad guys. Restriction is in terms of who can access and view your content.

Content control refers to creating, organizing, and managing certain types of content on a WordPress website. Implementing restrictions is to control users’ unethical use of your content, plagiarism, and other online threats.

Various built-in tools in WordPress help you control your content privacy. Tools have editors That allow you to simplify the creation and editing of various content, as well as categories, tags, media library, page templates, and custom fields to control the content.

The importance of content control in WordPress has essential elements. In this case, maintaining relevance helps you to update your content with time. Search engine optimization, branding, and messaging are also necessary to enhance the user experience.

How to Restrict Content Access in WordPress?

In this section, we will cover the limitations of content accessibility using four types of WordPress plugins, password-protected categories that restrict access to any WordPress content, and how to determine WordPress pages based on user roles – helping you perform the process of WordPress content control with no prior experience.

There are many ways to restrict content on WordPress and will be discussed in detail. You can limit your scope through four WordPress plugins that extend its functionality. We will discuss the content restriction through user roles, its benefits, and password-protect categories.

Four WordPress Plugins

Plugins are code packages that extend WordPress’ functionality. You can call them extensions, too. Four plugins help you create restrictions on users, their use, and what they can see and access.

There are bundles of excellent options in WordPress. Each of these facilitates falls under the functionality of your website, its management of content, content visibility, and many other functions, including restrictions upon the respondents or the users.

Plugin 1: Restrict User Access

The first Plugin in WordPress for your website’s content management is Restrict User Access. It carries a lot of features for content control in WordPress. The tool helps you limit your users’ access to what they can access or cannot. You can create as many user accesses as you need without any limitations.

This plugin has excellent documentation. You can restrict user access and even control the duration of users’ memberships. For example, if you want unauthorized users to stay away from your website, you can set a restriction for it.

Plugin 2: Restrict Content

Restrict Content is the second plugin in WordPress for your website’s content management. Everyone wants to be the guardian of their content. Restrict content facilitates you in becoming the guardian of your WordPress content.

This plugin allows users to view content only while logged into their accounts. You can control the website’s restrictions, whether partially or entirely. It includes forms for user registrations, logins, and password resets.

The Restrict Content Pro version is also available. It is not the free version, but it will benefit you with features like data reports, the ability to email users and payment integration. Both the pro and free versions help you control access to the content.

Plugin 3: Restrict user access with User Access Manager

The third WordPress plugin for your website’s content management is Restrict User Access with User Access Manager. It does a lot with a simple interface and functionality. With a user access manager, you can separate your website for the editors and the readers. It also limits access to uploaded files.

This plugin helps control user-generated content via its filters and allows you to set up contests and fundraisers through limited-time access.

Plugin 4: Member Press

Member Press is the fourth WordPress plugin for content management. It is a bundled package that includes content access, straightforward installation, coupons for purchases, data reporting, subscription management, and the ability to build your forum.

Member Press may have more features, but it is a good option for helping you with coupon creation for purchases and sales.

Restrict WordPress Pages by User Role

You can restrict your website’s pages by user role. In the coming lines, we will discuss three user role restrictions.

Step 1: Limit Page Access by User Role

Restrict Content Pro is the plugin That helps you control the access to your website content. It benefits you with subscriptions paid by those memberships. Here is a list of steps to follow:

• You must visit Restricted Content Pro’s official website and click the “Get started.”
• You must now sign up for an account. Once you have an account, you can proceed to the next step.
• To set up the restrictions of the free plan, you will need to click the “Get started” button to get started with the free plan.
• A window will open, and you will receive an email with the download link for a free plugin.
• You need to install a plugin on your WordPress site.
• Now, you should download the plugin to your computer and enter your email address.
• You need to activate the free plugin you installed in your system.
• Once you have activated the plugin, you can access the Restrict » Settings page from your WordPress dashboard. Once there, go to the ‘General’ tab.
• To proceed with payment, navigate to the payment tab and select your preferred payment method. You can choose from PayPal, Stripe, Braintree, or Authorize.net. Make sure to select the payment method that is most suitable for you.
• Now, you can add credentials for each payment method.
• You need to click the ‘Members with a certain role’ option.
• Next, you can choose the user role or access you want to allow to view the page.

Now, you can update or publish your content.

Step 2: Restrict Pages by Membership using MemberPress

You can restrict pages via Membership using MemberPress. MemberPress of WordPress membership is one of the plugins in the market. Creating membership websites with paid subscriptions is easy using MemberPress. With MemberPress, you can set content restrictions and control which user roles can access it.

• To get started, you must sign up and visit the official website. Click the ‘Get MemberPress for WordPress’ button to get started.
• Now, you need to activate the membership plugin to access it.
• After the activation, move to the MemberPress » Settings page. Access to your account is available in the MemberPress website’s account area.
• Click “Payment” and select “Add Payment Method” to start.
• Different payment methods exist, such as PayPal and Stripe. It would be best to choose the way that suits you.
• To create a membership plan, click ‘Add New’ on the MemberPress » Memberships page in the WordPress dashboard.
• You can start the billing plan, title for your Membership, and other requirements.
• You must click the “Advanced” Tab and select “User Role of This Membership.”
• Now, you can choose the user role from the given list.
• You can now finalize your plan.
• You can edit your membership plan if you think of any upgrades to your plan.
• It is the time to set the rules for access to content on your website.
• Move to the MemberPress » Rules page from the dashboard of WordPress and click on the ‘Add New’ button given.
• It will give you options for which page to restrict.
• To choose the rule, click the menu under ‘Protect Content’ and choose a rule.
• You need to add tags to tag your content to a particular category.

Step 3: Block Access to Course Pages using LearnDash

Learn Dash is a popular LMS plugin for WordPress users. It helps you create and sell online courses with ease. You can create lessons, quizzes, and more by facilitating its drag-and-drop feature. It allows you to restrict your course pages and helps you monetize your website.

• First, you must sign up for a LearnDash account for further access.
• Now, you should install the LearnDash plugin.
• You need to activate the plugin in the WordPress dashboard.
• After starting the plugin, you must visit the LearnDash LMS Settings page from the WordPress dashboard.
• Now, you need to set up the payment settings and their method.
• Now move towards the LearnDash LMS » Courses page from your WordPress admin panel.
• To add your first course, click the ‘Add New’ button.
• Now, you need to add a suitable title and description for your course.
• The description part of your course will be shown to all users.
• You must select the ‘Settings ‘tab in the course builder.
• From settings, the plugin enables you to create various course types, such as open (public), free, buy now, recurring, and closed.
• You must enter the course price by selecting “Buy Now.” Only subscribers can access your course pages.
• Users need to enroll in the course by creating an account for a free course.
• You can now publish or save your course, which is visible on your website.
• Your course is currently empty. Add lessons, assignments, and quizzes.

Why Restrict WordPress Pages by User Role?

There must be a reason to restrict a website by User role; it offers a bundle of benefits, advantages, and causes. That’s why people limit their website content by using the User role. The advantages of restricting a website’s content via User roles are described below,

• Once you’ve started a WordPress website, you often want to restrict sections of your site according to user roles. For example, if your website has multiple authors, you can separate access to specific sections for the writers and editors.
• Through the user role, you can limit the number of pages on your website based on the user’s membership level. For instance, only subscribers can access the online store.
• Through the user role, you can create password-protected content.
• Use plugins to restrict page access based on user roles, groups, or individual users.

Password Protected Categories

You can restrict your content on WordPress through password-protected categories. The best part of WordPress is the password-protected categories; they differentiate your content plugin from the rest of the market. With them, there is no limit to the WordPress content you can determine users can access.

At once, when you restrict a particular category, Password-protect will lock access to all of its categories and even subcategories. You can set password-protect to specific pieces of your content, even in portfolios, products, and other custom posts.

Step 1: Install and activate Password Protected Categories

Installing the plugin is the first step in the Password-Protect categories. You must follow the steps to install and activate the password-protected infrastructure.

• The first step in installing and activating the “password categories” is downloading and installing the package from its official website.
• After having the plugin, an email is sent by Password Protected Categories with your license key.
• Now, download the plugin as a ZIP file and put it in your local storage.
• Now you have the plugin file and your license key. You need to upload the plugin to your WordPress website. Follow the following steps to complete the action:
• Now, you need to be logged into your WordPress admin area.
• After logging in, go to Plugins → Add New → Upload plugin.
• You must choose the Plugin’s ZIP file you’ve downloaded and click Install Now.
• After installing the plugin, you can activate it.
• Now, you should activate the plugin; you reach the page where you can enter the plugin’s license key.
• After downloading the plugin, type in the license key you received via email and click Activate.

Next, it’s time to password-protect your WordPress categories.

Step 2: Create password-protected categories

It is the second step in the Password-Protect categories. Steps for the creation of a password-protected category are given below:

• It will help if you’ve navigated to the categories tab of the relevant WordPress post type to create your first password-protected category.
• To password-protect a post category, go to Posts → Categories. Here, you can create a new category of password protection and edit the visibility options to fit your needs.
• You can also edit a category that already exists by clicking Edit.
• In the visibility settings section, check the Password-protected option to reveal the features of Password-Protected Categories.
• You can now restrict access to that WordPress category using any given category.
• So, you can give access to specific user roles and individual users or password-protect the category.
• If you check all three options, registered users with access will see the content without entering a password. However, users without access will be required to enter a password.
• A category can be protected with multiple passwords.
• Now, website visitors can enter any password to access the restricted content.
• If you are done, click Update to save all your changes.

Step 3: Edit other Password Protected Categories settings

To edit different password-protected settings, you need to follow the following steps:

• To complete the settings of your password categories, go to Settings → Protected Categories.
• The first option is to enter a license key to activate the plugin.
• Then, you can set the password’s expiration timeframe, choose private protected categories, or decide what to show to logged-out users.
• You can also edit the login page content. WordPress will show relevant messages to users who are not authorized to access content.
• You must click Save Changes when you’ve made the necessary changes.

What can you do with Password password-protected categories?

• You can decide the audience you want to grant access to; they may be individuals, specific users, or by requesting the password. This helps you efficiently perform the process of WordPress Content Control as a beginner.
• You can restrict where to show and hide protected content to the public or specific users.
• It helps to design a logical form for custom purposes. Edit the elements like title, login, and password label.
• It helps you grant time-based content restrictions; users must enter a password(s) once the timeframe has ended.
• It helps you choose the page you want to show users without access.

Unrestricted user access with User Management

User Management add-on has three ready-to-use WordPress user-registration template forms; you can register User, Login Form, and Update your Profile, with registration features included. User management gives editing permissions, too. It allows users to edit their forms.

User management allows users to submit content straight from the Dashboards of Ninja Forms. You need to enable publically viewable user-created content with their Front-End Posting add-on. It offers zero risk for your users with its WordPress post editor experience.

Features

User management offers many features to manage and control WordPress content. User management has unrestricted user access for specific roles, giving some users complete access. Those are described below:

• User management helps create posts, pages, or custom post types from your WordPress forms.
• User management lets you set up post status defaults such as draft, pending, or published.
• The user management enables you to set customized tags and taxonomies that are related to you.
• Allows users to select related tags and categories.
• It helps you to attribute posts to the currently logged-in user or any other registered user.
• It will enable even non-registered or non-logged-in users to create posts.

Conclusion

So, what about WordPress Content Control as a Beginner?

The article explores how the restriction of content access in WordPress plays a vital role in the management of the website. The introduction of content control and what content control is has been discussed. The article gives information about all the four restriction plugins that WordPress offers. We have addressed the restriction of WordPress through the user role and how it benefits; last, we have discussed password-protected categories.

After reading the whole article, can you manage and restrict your content in WordPress? The entire piece was for your guidance in controlling your content in WordPress, adding restrictions to your content, who can see it, who can react to it, and who cannot see your content. Restrictions include only subscribers viewing particular content on a WordPress website.

You can understand the inputs and outputs of implementing content restrictions in the discussion. This is an easy way to implement and is helpful in content access management, protecting sensitive information, setting up standards for your content, achieving website goals, and enhancing user engagement on your website. You can technically restrict the perfect balance between security and accessibility.

It is time to implement content restrictions on your WordPress site. You can implement all the above steps to enhance user engagement with your content. You need to safeguard your valuable content from misuse. It would help if you restricted your content visibility to random or unauthorized users. By being the guardian of your content, you can lead more to success.