Show Thread Enhancements - Limited Guest Viewing -- Motivate Guests to Register

With vBulletin, forum guests are able to view endless amounts of content without being directly asked or forced to register no matter how many times they come back. The purpose of the Limited Guest Viewing System is to drive in registrations [or membership upgrades] by limiting the number of threads guests [or certain membergroups] are able to view without interruption.

This plugin offers two options which can be used to drive in more registrations. The first option allows you to show a reminder message or advertisement after a guest has viewed a certain number of threads. The second option puts up a roadblock stopping guests from viewing threads altogether after reaching a certain number of views. Both options work together to encourage and ultimately force anonymous visitors to either register or login but can also be used separately based on your individual needs.

Install Instructions: Read the install file. Customize via admin settings & templates.

Customizing the content / messages: To customize which messages appear or what they say, go to vBulletin options, select the ?Limited Guest Viewing System? group and configure the options as desired. Each phase can be modified by adding translation text. Through the ACP you can enable or disable each option, specify the number of threads that can be viewed before the option is enabled and input any forums you wish to exclude from being blocked.

Search Engine Bots (Spiders): Anything that changes your forum viewing can impact how search engines treat it. The cookie approach used by this modification is bypassed by many bots and, since people can still view posts, cloaking should not apply. Users with IP logging may face more restrictions although a filtering system lets defined spiders pass. This plugin is intended to limit repetitive viewing and not restrict people from single views.

For a full explanation of the impact on bots read the install file before asking questions.

Usergroup Limitations:
Version 2.1 introduces basic usergroup limiting with the same rules & messages guests get. Based on demand this may be extended to a per-usergroup level restriction and messaging in the future.

Change Log:
- 7.21.2012 - Update to 2.1.0 which adds usergroup limiting, fixes mySQL 5.5 support, removes the need for template editing, cleans up install guide. Upgrading is optional.

Mod Philosophy -- Drive Your Own Success:
All of my mods are inspired by my work in the digital industry and are designed to drive registrations, interaction or other engagement activities the core platform does not address. Each is designed to fit a general need by providing a starting point but it's on you to decide how to make things work to their best possible outcome. Don't stay in the box.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by coloradomoms

is it possible to use this as a registered user, anti-lurking tool? As in, if they are logged in, but have zero posts, they can only view x amount of threads before posting an intro?

I dunno. Forced posting? Why should they register if you're going to force them to un-lurk whether they do or not? If you're taking a vote, I vote no.

Instead, you may want to consider one of the add-ons that force them to read a thread. Not the same thing, I know.

[TF4U]

Thanks TED!! Your MOD is working fine in Vbulletin 4.0.6. But the problem is it is working only for forum threads. I have done some tweak (here) to make it work for blog section. But still struggling to enable it for CMS section. Please help!!

[BadgerDog]

Originally Posted by TF4U

But still struggling to enable it for CMS section. Please help!!

Love to see this working with vBulletin CMS articles as well ...

Would be willing to share in any cost to bring that functionality to this excellent mod...

Regards,
Badger

[3sh8roo7y]

Thanks! Installed!

[Mopar1973Man]

Spiders and Bots is a serious worry for me and I'm sitting on the fence about this mod... I really would like to install this but I get alot of my traffic from search engines like Google.

So what can anyone tell me about this mod is it safe? or am I just worrying too much?

----- Update

I desided to give it a try and see if the mod works... Well I viewed over 10 post with second computer run IE8, FF, and Opera and still no message...

[8thos]

This mod doesn't work for guests viewing your archives.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by Octavius.

This mod doesn't work for guests viewing your archives.

Correct. But then, if a lurker is really determined to view your forum, they can just delete their cookie. This isn't a security mod, it's just meant to encourage people to register for free.

[8thos]

Originally Posted by Videx

Correct. But then, if a lurker is really determined to view your forum, they can just delete their cookie. This isn't a security mod, it's just meant to encourage people to register for free.

K kool.

[Tony_FPM]

Is this working on 4.07? It seems not but maybe i make a mistake somewhere.

[gurler]

This is very important modification.
i installed this modification for about 6 months before. It increases the registration but i think the alert page must have the registration form like the attachment which is on facebook homepage. it forces the registration.