Creating and managing memberships in MediaOS gives you flexibility in offering subscription-based access to your content. MediaOS uses a system of membership types and tier types to help you build dynamic membership structures that can accommodate various pricing models, access levels, and special offers. It's important to understand Memberships fully to make the most out of the software.
Tip: To view out in-depth Memberships Setup Guide, click here.
Understanding Membership Types vs. Tier Types #
> Membership Types:
- Membership Types are the core structure—think of them as the equivalent of subscribing to a service like Netflix. Each membership type is linked to a product and defines how access is granted (time-based or issue-based).
> Tier Types:
- Tier Types define levels within a membership—like Silver, Gold, or Platinum. These allow you to avoid creating separate membership types for each level and instead use a single membership type with multiple tiers.
Tip: Each unique combination of a membership type and a tier type defines a specific membership plan.
Creating Membership Tiers #
To create membership tiers, navigate to System Settings > Membership Tier Types and click + Create Tier Group. Give the tier group a name and begin creating your tiers—for example, a subscription tier group might include Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels. Once your tiers are set, click Save to finalize the group. You can use different tier types to distinguish between versions of a subscription, such as with or without ads, or basic vs. premium content.
Note: Tier types are not for tracking complimentary subscriptions.
Creating Membership Types #
To create a membership type, go to System Settings > Membership Types and click + Create Type. Enter a name for your membership type and choose the type method—either Time-Based for subscriptions that last a set period (like monthly or yearly), or Issue-Based for memberships that grant access to a specific number of issues. Select the corresponding publication, assign a tier group, and choose a primary website, which will be used for renewal links. Once all fields are complete, click Save to finalize the membership type.
Note: A membership type must be tied to a product to use MediaOS’s issue tracking.
Setting Up Products #
Products represent the actual items that customers will purchase. To create one, navigate to Members > Sales > Products and click + Add Product. Fill in the Name and Description, and choose a Product Type—such as Digital, Physical, Ticket, or Membership. If you’re creating a Membership product, make sure to assign the correct Membership Type, select the appropriate Tier, set Inventory Limits if needed, and assign the relevant Invoice Item Type. Finally, ensure the product is marked as Active before saving.
Tip: Use the same product across regions or editions (e.g., US/Canada) by adjusting tiers or offers.
Creating Offers #
Offers define the pricing, auto-renewal options, and custom purchase logic for your products. To create an offer, go to Members > Sales > Offers and click + Add Offer to begin setting it up.
Information you Need to Provide: #
When creating an offer, you’ll need to provide key details, including the Name and Description, the linked product, and the quantity (number of product units included). Set your Auto-Renew Settings and select a Target Renewal Offer, which determines how the membership will renew. You’ll also define a Revenue Allocation Percentage and set up pricing rules, which can include default pricing, member-specific pricing, location-based pricing (e.g., U.S. vs. Canada), promo codes, and custom pricing for donations.
Offer Status #
Offer Status settings control how and to whom an offer is available. Marking an offer as Active enables it for use, while setting it to Hidden keeps it out of store listings. If Account Required is selected, the offer can only be purchased by members tied to a CRM business account—anyone not linked to an account in MediaOS won’t be able to access it. You can also set a Max Purchases limit to restrict how many times a member can buy the offer.
Tip: Always provide Default Pricing.
Importing Your Subscribers #
Once your membership types, tiers, products, and offers are in place, you're ready to import your existing subscribers into MediaOS. This ensures your current audience has uninterrupted access and is properly assigned to your new membership structure.
Follow these steps to get started:
1. Navigate to the Import Tool #
To access the Import Tool, click the profile icon in the bottom-left corner of your MediaOS dashboard and select Import from the menu.
2. Select the Membership Import Type #
Scroll down and click on Memberships (noting that in MediaOS, Memberships = Subscriptions). Then, choose the type of import you want to perform—for example, a Monthly Magazine Subscriber list. MediaOS recognizes standard header formats for issue-based imports, which helps save time and reduce the chance of errors.
3. Download Import Definitions #
To download the import definitions, use the two gray buttons to export the field requirements as either a CSV or PDF. These documents outline the correct column headers your import file should include. If you already have a properly formatted file, simply click the orange Upload CSV File button and select your document to begin the import process.
4. Map Your Columns #
Next, you’ll be prompted to map your columns, matching the headers in your CSV file with the required fields in MediaOS. Fields marked as “Can Be Empty” are optional and don’t need to be filled in, while “Optional” fields provide additional flexibility depending on your data needs. Be sure to accurately map all core fields, including names, mailing addresses, email, and billing details, to ensure a successful import.
5. Define Membership Tier Level #
Now, select the Membership Tier that matches the plan your subscribers should be assigned to. This tier should align with the ones you previously set up during the configuration process to ensure accurate tracking and access.
Note: MediaOS also makes it easy to set up Donor Supported Tiers. Click here for an in-depth look at how to do it.
6. Choose Duplicate Handling Strategy #
Next, choose your Duplicate Handling Strategy, which tells MediaOS how to manage existing members found in your system. Selecting Add as New will create a second membership entry for the same user, while Skip will ignore duplicates and leave them out of the import. If you choose Replace Existing, the current membership will be overwritten with the new data from your import file.
Tip: If you're starting fresh and importing for the first time, choose Add as New.
7. Set Renewal Options #
If you're importing subscriptions that include credit card information, use the Renew with Offer setting to specify which offer the subscription should automatically renew under. Make sure the appropriate offers are already set up in your system before proceeding with the import.
8. Set Import Price #
If your CSV file includes pricing details, MediaOS will use the imported price and override the default price from the selected offer during the import process.
9. Final Mapping and Tips #
To complete your import, finish mapping all relevant fields such as names, contact information, and billing details. If your previous subscription system was date-based, consider switching to time-based products for consistency in MediaOS. If you tracked subscriptions by issue count, opt for issue-based memberships and convert expiration dates into remaining issues. Once all fields are mapped and reviewed, proceed with the import to bring your subscribers into MediaOS.
Embedding and Selling Memberships #
You can use the MediaOS embed code to display your product and storefront directly on your website. To access the code, navigate to Members > Sales > Offers and click the Store Embed button. From there, choose which offers and products you want to include—such as memberships only—and then paste the embed code onto your webpage. Once the embed is live, all purchases and renewals will be automatically tracked through the Sales section in MediaOS.
Final Notes #
By following this guide, you’ll be able to build flexible and scalable memberships in MediaOS that align with your content and audience needs. Keep in mind that members must have payment details on file for auto-renewals to work correctly. While hidden offers won’t appear in public listings, they can still be sold by admins or through direct links. Lastly, always test your offers and pricing combinations to ensure a smooth and accurate checkout experience.
