Buy a membership or Buy a product – What's the most suitable approach

[morsagmon]

I’d appreciate your advise on the most suitable approach for me.

I’m selling a software product (using also License Manager). There’s a Trial version (free) to be downloaded (using a squeeze email+name form) and two commercial versions: basic and full.

I maintain these eMember levels:

1. Guest (anyone on the site – no login required, may be used in the future)

2. Interested – Trial version downloaded

3. Customer – Commercial software (basic/full) purchased.

Every download of software, either trial or commercial, always goes hand-in-hand with the corresponding Membership level!

I have no Checkout and no Cart pages. Each purchase+registration is triggered by “Buy Now” buttons with links behind them.

Now, from what I understand going through the documentation, I have two possible approaches:

1. I sell PRODUCTS (and force membership registration in the process)

2. I sell MEMBERSHIP LEVELS (and flag a zero-cost product was purchased in the process to trigger customer emails, license keys and download links).

Considering the architecture of the whole eStore suite, what would you say the most recommended approach for me to go by?

[admin]

Both are fine. Your 1 Product can be hooked to BOTH a membership level and a license. If I had to pick one option then I would probably pick #1.

[morsagmon]

Thanks! I’ll go with your advise, then.

[Author]

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