Do You Have Your Forums Open To All Guests?
 

I have most of my forums locked unless you register on my site. I have some folks I just don't care to have viewing my forums. I know they can create duplicate accounts as I have a lot of them doing so.

But, I have heard that if you open your forums up for everyone to view, you could increase your membership.

Thoughts?

If people can read your content before they register they tend to stay around and read a bit. If they like it they'll register.

If they arrive at your site and have to go through the process of registration before they can even see what's on the page...we'll, the chance that they'll actually register is much lower.

Try Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register - give potential new users a chance to see what it's all about.

Personally, I don't register at any site where I have to register to just be able to see anything at all. So, if everything is locked, I go somewhere else. The same goes for sites where the only unlocked stuff is the off topic areas. I have memberships to enough forums that if I want an off topic area to talk and read, I'll go there. It's not a "selling point" for me. So in the mind of an admin, they may be thinking, "Hey look at this great off topic area we have. And if you sign up, you'll get into the tech (or whatever) section too." That just doesn't fly for me. The "selling point" is those other areas. The real content. So if I don't know or can't see what I'm getting, I don't sign up.

You shouldn't lock down the entire site - that just drives guests away. You need to give guests a "taste" of what's inside (more than a little taste), to give them an incentive to join.

To plug my own modification: Guests First Post Only. :D

thanks for the info people! site is open to all to view.