Set Up Page Paywalls to Monetize Your Athlete Portal

Learn how to restrict athlete access to Programs, Scheduling, and Products pages until payment. Complete paywall setup guide with troubleshooting.

Quick Answer: Page paywalls restrict athlete access to specific pages (Programs, Scheduling, or Products) in your athlete portal until they purchase a required product. Configure paywalls at App Builder → Settings → Pages Paywall.

What is a page paywall in CoachIQ?

A page paywall is a monetization feature that restricts athlete access to entire sections of your athlete portal until they purchase a qualifying product. When athletes attempt to access a paywalled page without the required product, they see a purchase prompt instead of the content.

Key capabilities:

• Paywall three core pages: Programs, Scheduling, and Products
• Multiple products can unlock the same page
• Works with subscriptions, one-time purchases, and access codes
• Automatically relocks pages if subscriptions expire or payments fail

Prerequisites for setting up paywalls

Required before starting:

• At least one product created in Payments → Products
• Admin or owner permissions in CoachIQ
• Active athlete portal (configured in App Builder)
• Pages activated in Menu & Links settings

Setting up your first page paywall

1. Navigate to paywall settings

   From your App Builder, click Settings in the left sidebar, then select Pages Paywall.

   You can also access this by going to App Builder → Settings → Menu & Links, then selecting Pages Paywall from the sidebar.

2. Select pages to paywall

   Choose which pages you want to restrict access to. You can paywall:

   • Programs - Training content, certifications, and courses

   • Products - Your product catalog and purchase options

   • Schedulers - Session booking and calendar access

     
3. Add qualifying products

   Click + Add Product under the page section you want to paywall. This opens a product selection modal.

   Select one or more products that will grant access to this page. Athletes must purchase at least one of these products to unlock the page.

   
4. Configure product grouping

   You can create multiple product groups (sections) for different membership tiers:

   For example:

   • Memberships section: Monthly subscriptions
   • Virtual Training section: One-time course purchases

   Products in the same section represent alternatives (athlete needs ANY one). Products in different sections can represent bundles or tiers.

5. Update and activate

   Once configured, ensure:

   1. The page is set to Active in Menu & Links settings
   2. Click Update Paywall to save your changes
   3. The paywall takes effect immediately for all athletes

What athletes see when accessing paywalled pages

When an athlete without the required product tries to access a paywalled page, they see:

The paywall experience includes:

• Clear indication the page is restricted
• Product name and price display
• Description of what’s included
• “Purchase Now” or “Learn More” buttons
• Professional branded appearance matching your portal

Managing multiple products on paywalls

Adding products to existing paywalls

You can add multiple products that grant access to the same page:

1. Navigate to Pages Paywall settings
2. Find your paywalled page section
3. Click + Add Product
4. Select additional products from your product list
5. Click Add Selected

How multiple products work:

• ANY product in the list grants full access
• Athletes only need to purchase ONE qualifying product
• Great for offering different price points or payment options
• Perfect for seasonal promotions or grandfathered pricing

Creating membership tiers

Structure your paywalls for different access levels: Basic Membership ($50/month) → Unlocks: Programs only Pro Membership ($100/month) → Unlocks: Programs + Scheduling Elite Membership ($250/month) → Unlocks: Programs + Scheduling + Products

Using sections for organization

Create logical groupings of products:

• Add Section to create categories like “Memberships” or “Virtual Training”
• Helps athletes understand their options
• Makes managing multiple products easier
• Each section can have its own description

Customizing paywall pages

SEO and URL settings

Configure how your paywalled pages appear in search results and browsers:

• Page Title: Optimize for search engines (e.g., “Premium Basketball Training Programs”)
• Meta Description: Describe the value behind the paywall
• URL Slug: Customize the page URL (e.g., /paywall or /premium-access)

Use compelling descriptions that highlight the value athletes get after purchasing, not just that the content is locked.

Paywall messaging

The paywall automatically displays:

• Subscription description from your product settings
• Price and billing frequency
• Clear call-to-action buttons

Ensure your product descriptions clearly communicate:

• What’s included with purchase
• Billing terms (monthly, one-time, etc.)
• Value proposition for athletes

Troubleshooting paywall access issues

Why athletes can’t access paywalled pages

Diagnosis checklist:

1. No qualifying product purchased
   • Check: People → [Athlete Name] → Products tab
   • Solution: Direct athlete to purchase page on web portal
2. Subscription expired
   • Check: Payments → Subscriptions → Filter by athlete
   • Solution: Update payment method or reactivate subscription
3. Payment failed
   • Check: Payments → Transactions → Failed payments
   • Solution: Have athlete update billing information
4. Product removed from paywall
   • Check: Pages Paywall settings for product list
   • Solution: Re-add product or communicate changes to athletes
5. Page not active
   • Check: Menu & Links settings for page toggle
   • Solution: Activate the page in settings

iOS App Limitation: Due to Apple’s Reader App policy, athletes cannot purchase products directly through the iOS app. They must use the web portal to purchase access to paywalled content.

Quick fixes for common issues

Athlete purchased but still can't access

1. Verify purchase in People → [Athlete] → Transactions
2. Check if subscription is active (not past due)
3. Have athlete log out and back in
4. Ensure the correct product is linked to the paywall

Subscription renewed but page still locked

Failed payments can cause temporary locks. Check:

• Payment status in Stripe
• Transaction status in CoachIQ
• May take up to 5 minutes to sync after successful payment

Access code not working

Ensure the access code product is:

• Added to the paywall product list
• Not expired or at usage limit
• Properly redeemed by the athlete

Want to temporarily remove paywall

To temporarily grant free access:

1. Remove all products from the paywall section
2. Save changes
3. Page becomes accessible to all athletes
4. Re-add products when ready to restore paywall

Best practices for page paywalls

Maximize conversion with these strategies:

1. Clear value proposition - Make it obvious what athletes get behind the paywall
2. Multiple price points - Offer various products to match different budgets
3. Trial periods - Use trial subscriptions to let athletes experience value first
4. Bundle strategically - Create product combinations that make sense for athlete goals
5. Communicate changes - Always notify athletes before adding new paywalls

Common questions about paywalls

Can I paywall individual programs instead of the whole Programs page?

No, paywalls work at the page level only. To restrict individual programs, use the program sharing settings in Content → Programs → [Program] → Share Settings instead.

What happens when a subscription payment fails?

The page automatically relocks when a subscription payment fails. Athletes see the purchase prompt again until payment is successful. There’s typically a grace period of 3-7 days for payment retry.

Can athletes preview paywalled content?

No, paywalled pages are completely restricted. Consider creating a separate “preview” or “demo” section outside the paywall to showcase value.

How do I offer a free trial before the paywall?

Create a subscription product with a trial period in Payments → Products. Set the trial length (e.g., 7 days free), then add this product to your paywall.

Do paywalls work on both mobile app and web?

Yes, paywalls function on both platforms. However, purchases can only be made through the web portal due to iOS restrictions.

Can I have different paywalls for different user groups?

Currently, paywalls apply to all athletes universally. For group-specific access, consider using private program assignments or access codes.

What if I want to grant manual access without payment?

You can:

1. Create a $0 access code product
2. Add it to the paywall
3. Manually provide the code to specific athletes

How do refunds affect paywall access?

Refunding a product purchase immediately removes paywall access. The athlete will need to repurchase to regain access.

Monitoring paywall performance

Track your paywall effectiveness:

Key metrics to monitor:

• Conversion rate: People viewing vs purchasing
• Revenue per page: Which paywalled pages generate most revenue
• Churn indicators: Subscription cancellations after paywall access
• Support tickets: Common access issues to address

Where to find data:

• Payments → Transactions (purchase tracking)
• Payments → Subscriptions (active membership monitoring)
• People → Activity logs (access patterns)