We just released a new feature that allows you to add casual security to "Semi-Private Pages" that can only be access with a direct link or generic password (see full security details below).
This feature is useful in cases where you need to enable quick, one-time access to information that is not technically a security threat, but for business process reasons you don't want accessible by casual website visitors. This is often used by Realtors who want to keep a listing private, by churches that want to protect resources, or small businesses that want to share special offers with clients or restrict information to validated vendors. All of this without requiring the full process of creating a user account (which can be clunky for one time access).
Private Pages Experience
When you make a page private (by adding a password, see below), everyone who visits the website will now be required to enter a password. The page is visually blurred out, so the visitor sees they they are missing something beautiful. Then in the middle of the screen there is a popup that says "Access Restricted" and it asks the user to enter a password. If they don't have the password, there is an option to "request access" where they can send a message. As soon as they enter the password the page fully loads and they can view the full page.
The feature also allows you to share a direct link to this page with the password encoded, so that your clients don't even need to enter a password. As soon as the page is unlocked with the direct link or the password, a cookie is stored on the browser which allows the visitor to return to this page any time.
How to Make a Page Private
- Edit any page
- Go to the "Advanced" tab
- Look under the section for "Page Access"
- Enter a password
- Optional:
- Disable SEO - you can block search engine access if you don't want this indexed.
- Customize Wording - you can customize the title and text of password request popup window.
NOTE: A private page can be made public instantly by simply removing the password.
Secure from "Casual" Access
It's important to recognize that the goal of this feature is to protect the information from "casual" access, while still making it easy for selected visitors to view the page without the onerous requirement of a full user account setup process (which is always an option as well). This option exists as a middle ground that balances marketing and business process requirements. This the page is not considered "strong" security, because anyone with a link can access it (or a password can be shared). And in order to maintain SEO value, by default the page is still indexable by Google, or it could be decoded by a "hacker" who digs into the code of the page. But this feature will effectively prevent casual access by an average visitor.
If full security is required, in this same "advanced tab" you can select a user "role" to restrict access to real user accounts that have that role.
Works on Any Page
This same feature and workflow works on any page, e.g. if you create an article or resources page you can also restrict access by simply adding a password to that page. Every page can have the same or different passwords.
Lead Generation Ideas
This feature can also be used to help with lead capture. If you provide access to special information, resources or features, you can link to any page that you have restricted access and the user will be asked to "request access". They must enter an email or phone number and you can then either automatically send them an email with the password (only valid emails will receive the password) or you can manually reply to them and give them access.
