What visitors see on a members-only page
This page explains what someone sees when they open a page or section you’ve restricted to members, and why MapleGather treats it as a friendly invitation rather than a locked door.
The short version
Section titled “The short version”When someone opens members-only content they can’t see yet, MapleGather shows a “Join to access” prompt — the message and button you set — in place of the content. It’s never a “page not found” error, and the restricted content itself is never sent to them. A member who qualifies sees the full page as normal.
How it works
Section titled “How it works”There are three things a visitor might see:
- An eligible member sees the full page. MapleGather checks who they are the moment they open the page — their current membership level, group, and tags. If they match the page’s rule, they see everything.
- Everyone else sees the “Join to access” prompt. A prospect, or a member who lacks the required level or tag, gets your prompt — headline, message, and button — in place of the content. If you turned on a teaser, they see a short excerpt (or a blurred preview) first, as a taste of what joining unlocks.
- A restricted section on an otherwise-public page shows a small card. The public parts of the page render normally, and each restricted section shows a “Members only — Join to access” card in its place. The rest of the page is unaffected.
Two things are always true when a page is members-only:
- The page still loads normally, with your site’s usual header and footer. The page’s title still shows, but the restricted body, its description, and its social-share preview are held back — they’re never sent to a visitor who can’t see the content.
- It’s never a “page not found” error. A “page not found” (404) error would itself hint at whether hidden content exists. Instead, the visitor gets a clear, welcoming next step.
The button goes wherever you set it — your membership application, sign-in, a specific level’s application, or a web address. A visitor who already has an account but isn’t signed in on this device also sees a “Sign in” link, so they can come straight back to the page after signing in.
Why it works this way
Section titled “Why it works this way”Gating in MapleGather is about audience, not price. You’re deciding who a page is for — members, a certain level, a certain group — not selling a costlier plan. That’s why the prompt is a warm invitation to join and never says “Upgrade.” A members-only page is a preview of what membership offers, not a wall.
Holding the content back — not just hiding it on screen — matters too. It means restricted text, images, and search or social previews can’t leak to someone who isn’t allowed to see them, even through a search engine or a shared link.
Edge cases & boundaries
Section titled “Edge cases & boundaries”- Genuinely missing pages still show a 404. A draft, archived, or unknown web address returns a real “Page not found.” That’s different from a members-only page, which loads with the prompt.
- A member whose sign-in has expired sees the page the way an anonymous visitor would — the public content, or the prompt if the page is members-only — rather than an error. Signing in again restores their full view.
- Search engines only ever see the public version. Restricted content never appears in search results or social-share previews.
- The teaser length is set for you. When you turn on an excerpt or blurred preview, MapleGather shows about a paragraph or two — enough to interest a visitor without giving the content away.
- Future levels are handled automatically. If you opted a page into new levels as you add them, a visitor sees no difference between a level named directly and one included that way.