Channels which have been configured to be Protected or Private require the setting up of an Access Control List for allowing access to the channel.
The Access Control List (ACL) controls which specific members are given access to the channel content. This is maintained by the Network Heroes on a per-channel basis. The ACL can be different for each Channel allowing a fine-grained level of control.
Three access control mechanisms are available:
- Paywall - Network heroes can setup a paywall to control access to the channel. Access is granted automatically to the member for the configured duration, upon payment.
- Magic Link - Network heroes can generate Magic Links to automatically grant access to Protected Channels. Magic Links are a frictionless, permissionless method and allows direct access to the channel bypassing the paywall.
- Manual approval - When encountering a resource from a Protected Channel, one can request for access with a personalized note. Network Heroes can choose to accept or reject the request.
The Access control dashboard has 4 tabs:
- Overview
- Paywall
- Magic Link
- Manual
Overview tab#
The 1st tab on the Access control dashboard shows all members with their access status and other details.
New request
- A new request can be approved or rejected and follows the same flow as under the Manual tab.
Existing request
- A previously auto or manually approved access can be revoked. Revoking access is meant to be permanent, in the nature of a ban from the channel. Once revoked, no further requests will be delivered to the Network Owner to prevent spamming.
- A previously revoked access can be re-approved.
Paywall tab#
The Paywall Builder allows two different pricing mechanisms:
- Charging a fixed price
- Pay-as-you-like
This mechanism is in Beta at the moment.
Charging a fixed price
This mechanism allows for a single subscription plan to be defined with multiple subscription durations (variants), each offered at a pre-determined price. Thus, the prices are fixed and the user can select between the duration variants. The plan benefits last for the duration selected and paid for. This is the traditional plan.
Examples:
- A plan offered in 3 variants of 3 month, 6 months and 12 months, with increasing prices
- A plan offered in 2 variants of 1 year, 2 years, with increasing price
Each variant can have it own discount.
For best results, it is highly recommended to create 3 variants, with increasing discount for longer durations.
Setting up the paywall
Plan benefits
A brief summary of what are the benefits being offered in the plan. It is recommended to write no more than 120 characters for efficient display on small screens. A maximum of 200 characters is allowed.
Base unit
The base unit setting define whether your subscription is monthly or yearly and controls the rest of the subscription options.
Currency
Select the desired currency
Price
Set the price for the base unit, ie 1 month or 1 year.
Tax
Set the tax percentage if tax is required to be charged.
Subscription duration
This is the most important step where 1 or more duration variants are created for the plan. The subscription price for each variant will be automatically calculated as duration x price.
Each variant can have a discount being offered.
It is highly recommended to select 3 variants, with increasing discount with longer durations.
All payment gateways have a minimum supported charge amount. Currency, the MainCross system enforces at least 1 USD or 1 INR. Please ensure that minimum charge is > 1 for all variants.
Per variant discount percentage
An optional discount percentage for each variant can be set.
Optional discount code
An optional discount coupon code can be created that will apply over and above the price
Note that payment button on the paywall will be disabled if the Total amount goes below 1 for a combination of price x discounts x tax. The user will not be able to proceed with that variant.
How it looks
In the example below, the base price of the subscription is $99.78/month. It is being offered in 3 variants: 1 month, 3 months and 12 months. The 1 month subscription is discounted by 5%, the 3 months by 10% and the 12 months by 30%.
A further discount coupon code can be applied at the last step.
Pay-as-you-like
This mechanism allows for a single subscription plan to be defined with a variable price for a pre-determined duration. Thus, the duration is fixed and the user can select between multiple prices. The plan benefits are the same irrespective of the price paid.
We are pioneering this bold mechanism as a way for users to self select how much they want to pay for access to resources.
Examples:
- A plan allowing access for 6 months, with prices of $0, $10, $100
- A plan allowing access for 1 year, with prices of $9.99, $39.99, $99.99
In the example below, the plan is being offered for 2 years, and the user can opt to pay any amount from the suggested values of ₹999, ₹1999, ₹2999, ₹3999.
Magic Link tab#
A special invite link (aka Magic Link) can be created which can be used by any member to directly access the channel.
Rules of operation
- A Magic Link (ML) is a frictionless, permissionless method and allows direct access to the channel.
- One need to be signed-in in order to use a ML.
- It bypasses the Paywall (if any) set for the channel. Payment options are not event shown.
- The magic link can be replaced anytime with a new one, and the previous one will immediately stop working.
- Any previous access already granted is not revoked even if the Magic Link is regenerated.
As a security measure, a notification is generated for the Network Owner when anyone uses a Magic Link for the first time.
Manual tab#
A request is sent as a notification to the Network Owner when a Member requests for access to a Protected or Private channel.
The Network Owner may choose to accept or reject the Member's request for access. Or keep it pending.
The table shows new requests for access to this channel (if any are pending).
New request
- A new request can be approved or rejected. The request note field may help you decide whether to approve or reject. The request note is optional and may not have been filled out by the requester.
- Once rejected, no further requests will be delivered to the Network Owner to prevent spamming.
- A previously rejected access can be re-approved.
