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.

[rajubd]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Not following you at all...

Ok i will try to add it myself. Thanks

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by madotds

Cheers Ted S

My bad I am normally spot on when it comes to reading the read me's but on this occasion I totally missed that bit! All working now.
Thanks for the help and sorry for the noob question.

Cheers

Mark
Rated/installed/nominated

Sweet!

[sticky]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Not following you at all...

He means an option to only run it on certain days...

[obmob]

Just installed, it is working great, thanks! :3

[insidedesign]

Does this plugin also count page views from other sections of a vb4.0 website? For example, picture albums and cms pages?

[howard007]

It would be nice if some sort of stats were possible of how many persons per day activated the script and how many registered from it.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by insidedesign

Does this plugin also count page views from other sections of a vb4.0 website? For example, picture albums and cms pages?

This mod only counts thread views.

[insidedesign]

Originally Posted by Ted S

This mod only counts thread views.

Great, thanks for clarifying.
It would be cool if we could control the additions of other sections of the website to be included in the page view counts. For example, if we could check off the CMS area or the Picture Albums area.

[Videx]

The included instructions make no mention of uploading the includes/xml file hooks_limited_guest_viewing4.xml, But I take it this is necessary?

[Chickenpotpie]

I *heart* this mod! Had it tagged for a while, just installed today. was one of the easiest mods I ever had to use! Site owner is very happy with it. I set to 10 views so visitors can get themselves a bit hooked first to the content

-CP