Introduction

Over the past eight weeks, I participated in an exciting project to develop a WordPress membership site for the France Alumni. This project involved intensive research, client collaboration, and hands-on technical work to deliver a functional and user-friendly membership platform. This blog summarizes my experiences, the goals achieved, challenges faced, key takeaways, and the significance of the project.

Experience

The project began with a kickoff meeting, setting the stage for our objectives and tasks. My initial focus was on researching payment integration options, where I encountered several cost-related challenges. As the weeks progressed, I delved into the design and technical implementation using tools like Figma and Elementor. Client meetings provided valuable feedback that shaped our work plan and design direction. I selected and tested membership plugins, integrated PayPal, and eventually switched to WooCommerce for better compatibility. The latter weeks involved rigorous testing, refining the payment integration, and finalizing the website’s design and functionality.

Goals Achieved

Throughout the eight weeks, we achieved several key goals. We successfully researched and implemented payment integration solutions, designed and developed various membership levels, and created a functional login system. The hosting platform was finalized, and we conducted multiple rounds of user testing to ensure a seamless user experience. Additionally, we integrated Mpesa through the Intasend plugin, linked subscription plans to WooCommerce products, and completed the design and implementation of all necessary pages.

Challenges

The journey was not without its challenges. Early on, I faced hurdles with the cost and compatibility of payment integration solutions. Transitioning from Paid Memberships Pro to Paid Member Subscriptions was necessary due to content restriction issues. Integrating Mpesa presented its own set of difficulties, especially with limited support and documentation. Furthermore, ensuring all plugins and systems worked harmoniously required significant troubleshooting and adjustments, particularly when switching to WooCommerce.

Key Takeaways

This project provided valuable lessons in project management, client collaboration, and technical problem-solving. I learned the importance of flexibility and adaptability when initial plans do not work out as expected. The experience highlighted the necessity of thorough research and testing in selecting the right tools and plugins. Additionally, working with APIs and handling real-world payment integration broadened my technical skills and understanding of web development.

Significance

The significance of this project extends beyond technical skills. It underscored the importance of user experience and the need for continuous feedback and iteration. Developing a membership site that meets client expectations and provides a seamless experience for users is crucial. This project also demonstrated the impact of effective team collaboration and communication in successfully delivering a complex web development project.

Conclusion

Overall, this eight-week journey was a rich learning experience that combined research, design, and technical implementation. Despite the challenges faced, the project resulted in a functional and user-friendly WordPress membership site. The skills and lessons learned will undoubtedly be valuable in future web development projects, and the successful completion of this project stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, collaboration, and innovation.