Stop Losing Members at the Gate: How to Redirect Unauthorized Access (JetEngine + Memberium Hack)

If you’re using Memberium to manage a membership site, especially one with dynamic content like daily challenges or drip-fed programs, content protection is critical—especially from tech-savvy users who might try to bypass your restrictions by manipulating URLs.

In this post, I’ll walk you through a custom content protection setup I implemented on a Memberium-powered website. The goal was to allow users to see locked content titles (to build anticipation) but prevent them from accessing it until the right time or permission level—using Memberium shortcodes and redirect functionality.

The Challenge: Preventing URL Manipulation

Here’s the scenario:

Imagine a 14-day fitness challenge where each day unlocks new content. Users start at Day 1 and get access to Day 2 only after 24 hours. The problem? A tech-savvy user might guess the Day 2 URL and try to access it early.

While the page isn’t hidden, it’s critical that users can’t view protected content before it’s unlocked—even if they manually enter the URL.

Solution: Smart Use of Memberium’s Redirect and Hide Shortcodes

To solve this, I used a combination of Memberium’s tag-based protection, redirect shortcodes, and dynamic fields.

Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Tag-Based Access Control

Each day’s content is protected by a specific tag ID, which is automatically assigned through automation in Keap (formerly Infusionsoft). For example, Day 2 content requires a “Day 2 Access” tag.

In Memberium settings on the page, I set:

• Required Tag ID: Users must have the tag to access the page.
• Prohibited Action: Set to “Excerpt”—so content is visible in previews but full access is restricted.

Pro Tip: Showing excerpts for locked content keeps members engaged—they can see upcoming days are available soon, but can’t access them prematurely.

2. Redirecting Unauthorized Users

Here’s where things get interesting.

Even if someone manually enters a URL for Day 2 without the proper tag, I set up a redirect to a “No Access” page using Memberium shortcodes.

In the single post template, I added this conditional shortcode:

[memberium_hide tag_id="1234"]
   [memberium_redirect url="/no-access/"]
[/memberium_hide]

What this does:

• If the user does not have the required tag (e.g., Day 2 Access), the redirect triggers and sends them to the “No Access” page.
• If they do have the tag, the redirect is hidden and they can access the content normally.

This ensures even direct URL access attempts are blocked.

Why Memberium? Flexibility with Shortcodes

While there are many membership plugins available (like LearnDash or others), Memberium offers unmatched flexibility through its shortcode system. You’re not boxed into a rigid structure—you can customize protections to fit unique workflows or user journeys.

For custom setups where content needs to drip out over time or access depends on detailed tag logic, Memberium’s shortcodes (like [memberium_hide], [memberium_show], and [memberium_redirect]) allow you to create bespoke user experiences.

Final Thoughts

Protecting your content isn’t just about locking it down—it’s about guiding your users through a structured journey, ensuring they follow it in the intended order.

By combining dynamic content, tag-based access, and smart redirect shortcodes, you can build an experience that keeps members engaged while protecting your valuable content—even from tech-savvy users who might try to skip ahead.

If you have any questions about Memberium or custom content protection setups, drop a comment below—I’d be happy to help!

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you in the next post!

Tools & Plugins that used

• Crocoblock JetEngine
• Memberium