Get those "Guests" attention!!!!!!!

[hcfwesker]

Alright, you have a good amount of guests per day, but not alot of new members when compared to that number, huh?

That's because your forum may be too big for them to actually look around and see what all you have to offer.

What i've done, and it does work periodically, is create a topic, either sticky it somewher Guests will look, or make it an announcement on every Board, which i've done... and explain everything your site offers, what each Category and Board represents.

I'm going to display the example from my site, to give you all an idea... **Links are active***

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Welcome Guests! This is Your Tour Guide Speaking <---- the title of my topic , lol

If you're ready to register, then click the next link. Just create a unique username, password, supply your e-mail, two more questions, and you're past step #1.

Activating Your Account :: after you've completed registering, you'll be sent an "Activation Code" in either your emails "Inbox" or "Spam" box. A Activation Code link is provided in the e-mail to get you right back where you were, and inputs the Code for you.

Sign Me Up!


Once you're Registered, and your account is activated; it's time to reveal who our Mystery Guest is.. Here, you can introduce yourself and meet Members faster and get a feel for the place. Also, in this section, you can submit your Brawl friend code and Wii friend codes and exchange with other Domain Members. This Section is not viewable by Guests, i can't provide a link.

The SSBB Domain Brawlers! <---(no link)


If you're here to meet, discuss and play against other SSBB players, then you've found the right place! In these Boards, anything related to Brawl is open for Discussion.

Brawl Characters

General Brawl Discussions


You can Request Member matches here to playonline, set up tournaments, and discuss your matches with Members for other Members to view.

Online Brawl Discussions


Not too into Brawl at the moment? But wanna Discuss other Wii Titles you own or interested in? We've got a Wii Games thread for you.

Wii Games Discussion


Into the Wii Vitrual Console? Wanna talk about those classic games you've got, and see what others are buying? The new Wii Ware service got you hyped? The Wii Online Channels is waiting for you.

Wii Online Channels


Got more Gaming to talk about, on other systems, past or present. There's a Gamiong Board specifically for any game Discussion.

General Gaming


Too much gaming at the moment? There's an Off-Topic Discussion Board open for any Discussion. What's your interests or what's on your mind?

General Discussion


Got some original artwork, story you've written, or any form of creativity, then some them off here. We wanna see them. We also have Signature Shops if you need help finding and tweaking your pic in your Signature

Fan Made


Got your own web site? Fell free to Advertise and tell us about it. You can also Affiliate with The Domain as long as you repay the favor.

Advertising


The Announcements Section at the very top of the Main Page will let you know specific things about The Domain; Rules, FAQ's, and other topics the Staff will provide for Members to be aware of for the Domain.

Forum Announcements


Now! If you're ready to sign up and become a Member of The SSB Brawl Domain, and help us grow as we're just in the beginning of things. Then allow me to redirect you to the Registration Process.

OK! Now, I'm Ready. Sign Me Up!


Thank You for taking the time to visit our site. We hope to see you soon 🙂

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it is kind of long, you can edit your how ever. this was just my example, and it's the first thing Guests see when visiting.

i hope i posted this in the right section -redface-

 

[Carson]

I would just create a table in the header that appears for guests explaining the same thing, but your idea works too.

Also, this is in the right section. 😉

 

[hcfwesker]

That's true, but i try and limit content on my home page ... i have no news banner, or chatbox ... which I'm not fond of on any forum.

 

[Carson]

That's true, but i try and limit content on my home page ... i have no news banner, or chatbox ... which I'm not fond of on any forum.

Generally that gets guests to register, but whatever floats your boat.

 

[VNinjaV]

The thing with Guests is, well they are just Guests, and going from experience the majority of them will stay Guests, sure some will re-visit, but they will forever stay Guests! In todays world there is to much sceptisicim that shrouds the internet, and just supplying there email address to you is enough to put them off! If you can have Guests turn into members without submitting there email address then you will become very succesful!

No matter how flashy or how tempting you make your welcome message to guests, the majority won't turn into members. It's frustrating I know, I've seen so many guests appearing on my forums I've learned to ignore them, if they want to sign up they will, there's not a lot you can do about it! There was a suggestion once to show a girl in a bikini, and say register with us and see her naked! Then when the guest registered they would see her naked, but not her bits (if you know what I mean, she was sat down curled up, lol, with a message saying this is a family friendly forum that caters for all ages, please no nudity on these forums. -😉-

 

[Online]

I'm sure that a majority of the guests are just people who just click a link and leave at the same time. Guests are sometimes mean, they don't want to read anything in the forum and just leave after. They are only a small amount of people that take the time out of their "busy" schedule and sign up and dont post. Then there are those that register and post and advertise like they do here( Well, Most of them ). Then there are those who sign up and post. I think that guests everywhere should automatically post.

I like your description though Ninja -lol-

 

[Carson]

I'm sure that a majority of the guests are just people who just click a link and leave at the same time. Guests are sometimes mean, they don't want to read anything in the forum and just leave after. They are only a small amount of people that take the time out of their "busy" schedule and sign up and dont post. Then there are those that register and post and advertise like they do here( Well, Most of them ). Then there are those who sign up and post. I think that guests everywhere should automatically post.

I like your description though Ninja -lol-

The most active forums I have seen are generally custom boards, just because they generally have more features that fit the board. Plus custom boards are always something new and unique, so guests don't feel uncomfortable registering.

 

[Cjanz]

That's a good guide, and it's bound to catch a guest's attention.

 

[Snorki]

What a guide.. Really nice man. Rep +1.

 

[Callum93]

I don't have email validation on. Not needed with phpBB3. And it's annoying, i find it a turn off on forums.

However nice guide!

 

[VNinjaV]

I am now offering free Ebooks related to content on my site for new members! And the links for the downloads are placed in the welcome PM message they automatically get when they sign up! This could encourage Guests to sign up!

 

[Slacker]

Yeah. Cool guide.

Our forum requires an email, but no email verify. You just sign up and immediately you can login and talk away.

Are you saying that eliminating the email altogether is more tempting?

We also get alot of lookeyloos but alot less registrations.

Do you guys think promoting that we are unmodded will make people want to join?

 

[zoso]

It is a bit long, but good enough to skim over, haha its cute, and great idea 🙂

 

[apocalyptic_end]

Sweet, guide. Maybe my board should try this.

 

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

I do what alot of other forums do, I created a Guest welcome box that appears first in the forum list and gives a general outline of the forum. This gives the same general info, but alot easier to read. FOr the different sections, use different colors to draw the guests attention to those features. It seems to work rather well.

 

[GreyStreet34]

so would it be better to just not have any validation for the member to do, and just have them sign up and and automatically start posting?

 

[ℓєσ gнσѕт]

Most people expect to have to activate their account at some point. I know I hate ProBoards because you have to copy/paste in a key it gives you. IPB and a few others you just get emailed a link, and im fine with doing that. phpBB has no activation, but you do need an email to signup. Im using phpBB as my software, and it doesnt give me a choice. If in some upgrade of phpBB they allow you to chose email activation, I probly wont.