Do you hide or restrict access to content for guests?

[simonweb]

Do you hide content or restrict access to parts of your website for unregistered users visiting your community?

If you are: what kind of content are you hiding for guests?

And if you don't: why not? Couldn't it be a good way to entice guests to become members?

 

[Tarkin]

I would never hide any content from a user. To be honest, if I was a guest, and I wanted to search for content and I came on a forum that says I have to register to view the content, I would leave instantly without hesitation. It's annoying for a guest to be prompted to register to view content and it chases away clients. That's my opinion on the subject.

 

[Page]

I only hind like three or so boards, the rest is open.. Other then VIP and staff boards

 

[Mozzie]

Only one section i restrict all the others are open

 

[simonweb]

I would never hide any content from a user. To be honest, if I was a guest, and I wanted to search for content and I came on a forum that says I have to register to view the content, I would leave instantly without hesitation. It's annoying for a guest to be prompted to register to view content and it chases away clients. That's my opinion on the subject.

But sites like Twitter, Facebook, and many others, are restricting access to parts of their website and user-generated content for unregistered users, why can't forums do the same?

I only hind like three or so boards, the rest is open.. Other then VIP and staff boards

Why did you decide to restrict access to those specific boards?

Only one section i restrict all the others are open

On my own community, guests cannot view member's profile pages but everything else is open. I think that's pretty fair, if they want to see a specific profile page they must register their own account.

 

[Tom]

I personally don't hide anything, I don't think that by hiding content I'm going to get more registrations and I believe it has the potential to have an adverse affect.

I think that if a user has any intention to register in the first place, having content shown up front won't make a difference. I keep the content available so it makes a good first impression.

We're a new forum however so my opinion doesn't have much gravity.

 

[Page]

Why did you decide to restrict access to those specific boards?

VIP: Meant for members that get paid groups.

Most of the boards are all open to guests. The one's that they can still see is greyed out from the front , that's "website, suggestions, support. It's more for members and guests doesn't need to use those boards. But those threads/posts are public as it gets sent out from RSS feed.

 

[SolviturC]

I hide our 18+ sections because no need for underage (potential) members to run into porn by accident.
Or rather, the nodes are visible, but people can't see the threads or content without the right permissions.

 

[Azareal]

I have a strange feeling of deja vu here. Anyways.

But sites like Twitter, Facebook, and many others, are restricting access to parts of their website and user-generated content for unregistered users, why can't forums do the same?

Something to keep in mind with Facebook and Twitter is that they're miniature internets in a sense. Practically everyone has a social media account, but that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will sign up on your site.

 

[Bryn]

In my old forum, I once hid a certain section to guests which was just of memes and that although that was also hidden to members until they reached a certain post count. Say it as a "reward" for them when they got active.

Now, I see no reason to hide anything on my new one. But in general though, hiding or restricting everything on the forum is a major turn-off, and that's a fact.

 

[Corzhens]

I have no forum but I know of a local forum which hides everything from guests. The admin said that it is their safeguard and a way for guests to register so they can see what's inside. But I think it's not a good idea because they are not getting new members like before. My suggestion was to hide some of the boards but not all so that guests can at least see something that may be interesting to them which will cause them to register.

 

[Reverie]

If it is content created by users such as graphics or writing I like to hide that so people don't get their work stolen. Otherwise I typically let guests see areas.