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.

[hiker]

I installed this and registrations took a huge jump.

Although I don't think it's clearing out the cookies as I've got it set. I have the Register Block Page set to come up after 5 page views, and to be cleared out daily.

It seems I still see the block page too often. What time of day is it meant to clear out?

Thanks.

[Videx]

Originally Posted by bogley

I don't think it's clearing out the cookies as I've got it set.

I don't see any option to clear cookies. You may be mistaking that for the option to clear the db log?

[hiker]

Originally Posted by Videx

I don't see any option to clear cookies. You may be mistaking that for the option to clear the db log?

err... yes, my mistake. So does clearing the IP log enable them to start fresh the next day, if I've got it set daily? Or does this still require the users to clear the cookies in their browser?

[Videx]

It was my vague belief that somebody said somewhere that things are cleared in a 24 hour rolling period. But I sure don't want to volunteer to try to find that right now.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Videx

It was my vague belief that somebody said somewhere that things are cleared in a 24 hour rolling period. But I sure don't want to volunteer to try to find that right now.

Thats correct. You can insure this is working by getting yourself blocked and then manually inning the scheduled task and clearing cookies.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by Ted S

Thats correct. You can insure this is working by getting yourself blocked and then manually inning the scheduled task and clearing cookies.

To add you set the clear time but it runs daily

[Bano Host]

great job thanks my dear

[howard007]

Ted,

Are you aware of any crawlers that are not able to crawl because of your app?

If I have it set to 2 views, is this ok until it blocks them to register?

I also assume your app is a solution for someone who wants to go to a paid subscription system but doesn't want to make forums private because crawlers can't crawl them?

Originally Posted by Ted S

The plugin tracks via cookies or ip address depending on your settings. It also checks the user agent to try and avoid spiders. If Google or another engine wishes to spoof and use cookies there's little more I can do.

Google has generally been ok with this approach on sites provided that people can see the content at times. For example, many news sites show Google the full article and paid members. This isn't 'tricking' google as the content is really there for people, you just have to be logged in.

As I say in the main thread, I do NOT suggest setting this to 1 or 0 views.

[Ted S]

Originally Posted by howard007

Ted,

Are you aware of any crawlers that are not able to crawl because of your app?

If I have it set to 2 views, is this ok until it blocks them to register?

I also assume your app is a solution for someone who wants to go to a paid subscription system but doesn't want to make forums private because crawlers can't crawl them?

There's a detailed description in the main post and documentation of how crawlers are impacted.

This is not a solution to block people for paid memberships as it is beatable by clearing cookies and/or changing IPs.

[harry12]

Good day I installed the plugin but it does not go my guests can read all what I'm doing wrong