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.

[merk_aus]

Thanks for this mod exactly what I was looking for my site last night had like 20 members online and 80 guests watching all the guests they were just reading all of the threads and leaving and so this is perfect.

[AzzidReign]

Originally Posted by merk_aus

Thanks for this mod exactly what I was looking for my site last night had like 20 members online and 80 guests watching all the guests they were just reading all of the threads and leaving and so this is perfect.

But then why make people register if they are just going to be an empty account?

I have over 1000 guests on and 200 members on at almost all points during the day. If I come to a site that makes me register...I click the back button and find another site with the same information. I guess some of you guys don't realize, but the internet is full of free information...and most of the time they can find that same info elsewhere.

I would rather have people register because they want to, not because they are forced to. That creates a more quality based forum, rather than quantity with a bunch of empty accounts filling up the database.

But hey, what do I know...alexa rank: 15k, ~90k members, 40k uniques daily...

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by AzzidReign

But then why make people register if they are just going to be an empty account?

I have over 1000 guests on and 200 members on at almost all points during the day. If I come to a site that makes me register...I click the back button and find another site with the same information. I guess some of you guys don't realize, but the internet is full of free information...and most of the time they can find that same info elsewhere.

I would rather have people register because they want to, not because they are forced to. That creates a more quality based forum, rather than quantity with a bunch of empty accounts filling up the database.

But hey, what do I know...alexa rank: 15k, ~90k members, 40k uniques daily...

Please don't use your statistics to get into whether or not this mod is good, everything is dependant on what works best for the individual site/ community and one can find sites far bigger using this mod, or non-forums using the same type of approach but that's meaningless if it's not right for your site.

In any event, this mod exists because people requested it, use it and keep using it. Why?

Because while you're correct that it may get empty users, many sites, including the largest communities on the web, have found that when you get someone to sign up you can get them active much more easily than if they simply visit and disappear. Whether it's through email or simply not having a barrier for the user down the road, a member is able to participate and many do. In the few a/b test I've run on this that's been supported -- not in ratios that change the world but enough to be statistically valid and prove that there's a conversion benefit to registration and overall growth.

Initially this mod didn't allow people to block threads from being viewed entirely but that was requested, and added for those that want it. I've never recommended blocking threads at 0 views as I agree, few people will register without seeing any content. Instead I suggest that people allow guests to view many threads targeting just the most active guests who have a much better reason to join. Similarly the register bug message which was the original point of this mod does nothing to stop viewing of content but instead reminds people that they can register -- if you survey forum visitors you discover many don't immediately see the ability to participate or get the value, being able to message them helps.

Of course no one should expect 100% of their members to participate as an active contributor nor would that necessarily be a good thing. Lurkers are a part of the online space but for every person you bring in you have many opportunities to engage them and whether they post down the road or simply return to visit it's adding to the utility of the community.

If this mod doesn't need your forum's needs I certainly wouldn't suggest using it, as with everything here, it's an option for those that want it.

[Silencer Groans]

Thanks! Installed!

[gyaronn]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Give this versiona shot...

works perfect thanks allot man :-) say if i write 0 in the amount so that ppl have to register emedeatly and they can see any thread will it work?

[bullet07]

haha.. was just looking for this thanks.

[AzzidReign]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Please don't use your statistics to get into whether or not this mod is good, everything is dependant on what works best for the individual site/ community and one can find sites far bigger using this mod, or non-forums using the same type of approach but that's meaningless if it's not right for your site.

In any event, this mod exists because people requested it, use it and keep using it. Why?

Because while you're correct that it may get empty users, many sites, including the largest communities on the web, have found that when you get someone to sign up you can get them active much more easily than if they simply visit and disappear. Whether it's through email or simply not having a barrier for the user down the road, a member is able to participate and many do. In the few a/b test I've run on this that's been supported -- not in ratios that change the world but enough to be statistically valid and prove that there's a conversion benefit to registration and overall growth.

Initially this mod didn't allow people to block threads from being viewed entirely but that was requested, and added for those that want it. I've never recommended blocking threads at 0 views as I agree, few people will register without seeing any content. Instead I suggest that people allow guests to view many threads targeting just the most active guests who have a much better reason to join. Similarly the register bug message which was the original point of this mod does nothing to stop viewing of content but instead reminds people that they can register -- if you survey forum visitors you discover many don't immediately see the ability to participate or get the value, being able to message them helps.

Of course no one should expect 100% of their members to participate as an active contributor nor would that necessarily be a good thing. Lurkers are a part of the online space but for every person you bring in you have many opportunities to engage them and whether they post down the road or simply return to visit it's adding to the utility of the community.

If this mod doesn't need your forum's needs I certainly wouldn't suggest using it, as with everything here, it's an option for those that want it.

I'm sorry, but from what I've seen on sites, they don't use the feature to bug people to register...they block people from viewing the content and force the user to register. But if you are using it to say, "Hey, look here, you can register, free blah blah blah...." then cool...but as I said, if forcing a user to register is your tactic, then I feel you are turning a lot of people away from the site. Yeah, you might get cool looking registration stats, but the threads and post counts are on a hideous ratio to the number of users register. I can point out examples if you'd like...but if that's not how you think this product should be used, then I agree with you.

tl;dr if you use this to let the user know there is a register option and the benefits to it, then cool. If you use it to make people register after a few pageviews, then your community will not be a quality community (IMHO I guess you can say...I say it due to the sites that I've seen use this).

[denman75]

i got total database error ,

PHP Code:

Database error 
The bullterrierforum database has encountered a problem. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Please try the following: 
Load the page again by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser. 
Open the bullterrierforum.nl home page, then try to open another page. 
Click the Back button to try another link. 
 
The bullterrierforum.nl forum technical staff have been notified of the error, though you may contact them if the problem persists. 
 
We apologise for any inconvenience. 


have no clue whats wrong
i used this mod in my previous vb so i sticked to your upgrade install faq
but no luck

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by gyaronn

works perfect thanks allot man :-) say if i write 0 in the amount so that ppl have to register emedeatly and they can see any thread will it work?

This module is not recommended for 0 settings. If you want to hide your forums from guests use the permissions system which will truly lock them out.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by denman75

i got total database error ,

PHP Code:

Database error 
The bullterrierforum database has encountered a problem. 
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
Please try the following: 
Load the page again by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser. 
Open the bullterrierforum.nl home page, then try to open another page. 
Click the Back button to try another link. 
 
The bullterrierforum.nl forum technical staff have been notified of the error, though you may contact them if the problem persists. 
 
We apologise for any inconvenience. 


have no clue whats wrong
i used this mod in my previous vb so i sticked to your upgrade install faq
but no luck

What you've copied here is the friendly error - to help you solve this I need the full issue.

Please check your email for the full error (or right click on the page and view the source).

Thanks!