Non-standard ClickBank setup

[JamesW]

Folks,

I've searched the forums but can't seem to find an answer for these questions. The documentation is inconclusive and the video for s2Member Pro doesn't answer it either. Unfortunately, it appears that 95+% of the posts here are about the free version and PayPal integration, not Pro and ClickBank.

I've just purchased a copy of s2Member Pro to install for a friend on his existing site. He is selling a membership site through ClickBank but the configuration doesn't seem to quite fall into the allowable options on the ClickBank setup. I'll describe what's going on, and hopefully someone will be able to offer a working configuration:

ISSUE #1

There are 2 levels of membership, so I will be configuring buttons and access controls for Level 1 and Level 2.

The Level 2 membership is actually the simpler of the two, because it is a simple $47 monthly recurring membership that provides access to about half a dozen pages on the sites that display recorded webinars and additional coaching/informational videos. I don't think I'll have any issues with it.

The Level 1 membership, on the other hand, I can't figure out how to set up. It is meant to be a *one-time* payment of $97 for lifetime access, but he is billing it by offering a 7 day trial for $7, then billing the additional $90 at the end of the 7 days. The problem is that you can only configure a trial in the ClickBank button configurations if you are doing *recurring* billing! If you set the billing to "Standard", you can configure a "One-Time (for lifetime access)", but you can't configure a trial. If you want to configure a trial, you have to do "Recurring" but then you have to configure a Re-Bill period and there's no option for "Once".

So, what do I do? Has anyone set up something like this for the ClickBank gateway?

ISSUE #2

The second issue I'm dealing with is that the ClickBank options require you to specify a "Thank You" page that the user gets sent to after a successful purchase. The s2Member setup expects this to go to the following URL: http://domainname.com/?s2member_pro_clickbank_return=1, but he needs the user to be redirected to an upsell page for Level 2 membership after they make the purchase for the Level 1 membership.

What happens on the http://domainname.com/?s2member_pro_clickbank_return=1 page? Is it a form for them to set up their account? Is there any way I can simply configure it to redirect immediately to a specified URL?

I can't complete the installation of s2Member Pro until I have answers to these two issues. Hopefully someone can help!

thanks,
Jim

[Jason Caldwell]

Your request for support has been received. I'll respond shortly.

[Jason Caldwell]

Thanks for the excellent questions.

The Level 1 membership, on the other hand, I can't figure out how to set up. It is meant to be a *one-time* payment of $97 for lifetime access, but he is billing it by offering a 7 day trial for $7, then billing the additional $90 at the end of the 7 days. The problem is that you can only configure a trial in the ClickBank button configurations if you are doing *recurring* billing! If you set the billing to "Standard", you can configure a "One-Time (for lifetime access)", but you can't configure a trial. If you want to configure a trial, you have to do "Recurring" but then you have to configure a Re-Bill period and there's no option for "Once".

With ClickBank, if you want to offer an Initial/Trial period, their system will ONLY allow this for Recurring Products, which you will first need to setup before generating a ClickBank® Button Code with s2Member.

In addition, it is NOT possible with ClickBank to create a "Recurring" Product that comes with Lifetime access. They require you to choose from: Bi-Weekly/Monthly/Quarterly/Yearly.

So if you're going to use ClickBank to provide Lifetime access, you will need to create a "Standard" Product in your ClickBank account; and this means you won't be able to offer an Initial/Trial period. You may want to consider PayPal as a solution to this limitation at ClickBank.

Screenshot of these limitations inside a standard ClickBank® account ( click to enlarge ).

The second issue I'm dealing with is that the ClickBank options require you to specify a "Thank You" page that the user gets sent to after a successful purchase. The s2Member setup expects this to go to the following URL: http://domainname.com/?s2member_pro_clickbank_return=1, but he needs the user to be redirected to an upsell page for Level 2 membership after they make the purchase for the Level 1 membership.

What happens on the http://domainname.com/?s2member_pro_clickbank_return=1 page? Is it a form for them to set up their account? Is there any way I can simply configure it to redirect immediately to a specified URL?

Yes, this special page will make the Registration Form available. However, a link is also sent via email, so it's not absolutely necessary for a Customer to reach this page immediately after checkout. If you would rather take them somewhere else, you can certainly do that. Just set your Thank-You page to whatever you prefer. You can do this whenever you create a Product inside your ClickBank® account.

[Cristián Lávaque]

I'd like to add a couple of comments.

Issue 1) Since ClickBank forces you to a 60 day money-back guarantee, you could push that instead of a 7 day trial, it's better by 53 days.

Issue 2) You could still use s2Member's return URL as a normal link at the end of the last page in your funnel to complete registration after the up/downsells.

I hope that helps.

[JamesW]

Many thanks to both of you for your replies. That was the information I needed!

best,
Jim

[Cristián Lávaque]

I'm very glad, Jim! Thanks for letting us know.