What are the pros and cons about letting non reg memb view the content in the forums?

[mmurtha]

I am trying to get some ides from other forum owners on the pros and cons of allowing non registered members to view the actual thread content of my forums, as apposed to letting everyone view everything.

My thoughts are, if I allow everyone to view the forum's content, they will find no need to register. BUT on the flipside, if I deny non registered members access to thread content, they may leave quicker because they feel they are being forced into registering.

Can some of you guys tell me what you've done on your forum, and how it's been working out for you?

Thanks ...

Mary

[Allnick]

My thoughts are, if I allow everyone to view the forum's content, they will find no need to register.
If it's interesting enough they will register.

Denying access to visitors is a definate NO. If they can't see the forum , how can you expect them to be interested enough to join?

My forum is viewable by anyone...and has 2000 plus members.

Also, if you restrict it to members only, you also deny the search engines access to trawl and index your site.

[mmurtha]

Hey Allnick,

I have mine set right now to where everyone can view pretty much everything but the private forums. But I see a ton of forum owners who don't, and am also wondering why.

Btw, I didn't realize the SEs couldn't view and index when I deny access to non registered members. I thought the setting for the SEs were different. Thanks for that tidbit.

Mary

[vbplusme]

Simply put, they NEVER register! I ran several months with NO registrations, NONE. As soon as I blocked content to Guests, I started getting real registrations pretty regularly. If the content they can see is interesting and you block, say code for instance, it does seem to motivate them to register, not that it does anything about participation but at least I know that someone is interested is something I have to offer on my site by the fact that they registered to see it. By the way, I use the MOD that blocks links and code, I don't restrict the forums specifically from guests.

[mmurtha]

Hey vbplusme,

By the way, I use the MOD that blocks links and code, I don't restrict the forums specifically from guests.

Thanks for that recommendation!

I like that much better than blocking the threads and content. You would by chance remember the name of that mod would you? A link would even be better.

Edited:

Is this the Mod you were refering to?

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=178176

Thanks ...

[vbplusme]

No, that ones in the graveyard for some reason and it using javascript I think.

Here is the one that works:

https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...=105160&page=7

You have to modify the hack with a simple change before you install. Its well documented near the bottom of the thread but it works really, really well.

[mmurtha]

Fabulous, and thanks!

I'll be sure to check the documentation out very carefully.