Overview
When purchasing digital content such as on-demand videos, courses, resources, webinars, or live stream recordings, users are required to create or log in to a profile before completing their purchase.
This differs from a traditional eCommerce transaction where a physical product is purchased, shipped, and the transaction is complete.
Why Is a Profile Required?
Digital content is not a one-time transaction. Instead, the content needs to remain available to the purchaser after payment and be accessible whenever they return to the platform.
A user profile allows the platform to:
- Securely link purchased content to the correct individual.
- Provide ongoing access to purchased videos, courses, and resources.
- Allow users to access content from multiple devices and locations.
- Prevent unauthorized sharing of purchased content.
- Store purchase history and order records.
- Restore access if a user changes devices or forgets their previous purchase details.
- Track course progress, certificates, continuing education (CE/CPD/CLE) credits, and completion status where applicable.
- Apply member pricing, discounts, or entitlements linked to an organization's membership system.
What Happens After Purchase?
Once a purchase is completed, the content is assigned to the user's profile. The user can then log in at any time to access their purchased content without needing to repurchase it.
If a user only watches part of a video, webinar, or course, they can simply return later, log in to their profile, and continue where they left off. This ensures they can access their content across multiple sessions and devices without losing access to their purchase.
Think of a user profile as a personal digital library that stores all purchased content, viewing history, course progress, certificates, and learning records in one convenient location.
Can Users Purchase Content Without Creating a Profile?
No. Because digital content access must be securely assigned and managed after purchase, a user profile is required before a purchase can be completed.
Without a profile, there would be no way to:
- Determine who owns the content.
- Provide future access to purchased items.
- Track learning progress or credits.
- Recover access if the user returns at a later date.
For these reasons, all digital content purchases must be associated with a user profile.
Does a User Need to Be a Member to Purchase Content?
No. A user profile and a membership are not the same thing.
Many organizations offer content to both members and non-members. While member benefits such as discounted pricing or included access may be available, a user profile is still required for all purchasers so that access to digital content can be securely managed.
Depending on how the platform is configured, users may:
- Sign in using an existing member account.
- Create a non-member account/profile.
- Register as a general user before making a purchase.
The specific registration and sign-in options available will vary by organization and platform configuration.
Regardless of membership status, a user profile is typically required so that purchased content, viewing history, course progress, certificates, and learning records can be linked to the correct individual.