Restricting content to members only
- Thread starter Gio
- Start date
I think it's unfair. Guests should be allowed to view topics and such so they get a 'feel' for the forum. If they like the discussions taking place, it'll encourage them to join and take part too. Whereas if they can't see the content they're less likely to join altogether.
milksheikh
Paragon
I think its ok for them to view topics, but not post.
Scribbler397
Up-and-Coming Sensation
I know that if I have to register to see posts, I leave. It doesn't exactly give you that welcome feeling...
karateninja
Addicted
I think guests should be able to see posts so they can know what the forum is like before they join.
Like many things, I feel there is a good balance somewhere in the middle.
Guests should have access to enough content to see whether they're inclined to join or not. But they should not have access to all the content.
There may be some content that you don't want guests to see... Perhaps some unique content generated for members only, as an incentive so people will become members to gain access. Or even that you have more mature sections on your site and you don't want to allow access to those under 18 (to prevent any potential legal issues)
Guests should have access to enough content to see whether they're inclined to join or not. But they should not have access to all the content.
There may be some content that you don't want guests to see... Perhaps some unique content generated for members only, as an incentive so people will become members to gain access. Or even that you have more mature sections on your site and you don't want to allow access to those under 18 (to prevent any potential legal issues)
D
Deleted member 17779
I do have a "Staff Lounge" on my forum which is for staff only so members and guests can't view it. I do that to be able to communicate things with the staff and not have to worry making sure PM's are sent out to all the right people. You can just post something once, and every staff member will be able to see it.
Other than that, they only part of the forum that guest can't see is there this "mature discussion" type section where members can discuss and/or debate topics that are a little more serious and mature in nature than what is in the Off Topic section.
Other than that, they only part of the forum that guest can't see is there this "mature discussion" type section where members can discuss and/or debate topics that are a little more serious and mature in nature than what is in the Off Topic section.
Joshua Farrell
FP's Housekeeper
It actually depends on the type of forum that one wants to have. For example, what if the forum is a creative writers forum, and a number of the content on the forum is getting prepared to be published? Do you think that the Administrator of the forum would like to have the content viewable to just anyone, or would you think that it would be hidden from guest view?
Violetstar
Up-and-Coming Sensation
I think those forums that won't allow guests to see anything at all are not doing themselves any favours, i've never bothered signing up for any of those type.
I like to keep a part of my own forums back for members but also let guests view a good part of it with Spiritual Inspiration some might have things they prefer to share with members only, and especially with Living With COPD people might want to discuss very personal/medical issues and out of respect in a health forum I think that's the right thing to do
I like to keep a part of my own forums back for members but also let guests view a good part of it with Spiritual Inspiration some might have things they prefer to share with members only, and especially with Living With COPD people might want to discuss very personal/medical issues and out of respect in a health forum I think that's the right thing to do
I personally am not a fan of forum which completely disables guest viewing. I can understand if only some sections of the forum is hidden from the guests. They may contain private information (for example, a section in which people complain about their lives, talk about their diseases or any other private matters) and should be protected. Or a unique feature only accessible to members, yes. It can be a turn-off, but it can also be what keeps people coming when used in the correct way.
Very much couter productive. Your viewing function is your shop window, and should invite/entice people to take part themselves!! The exception would be if the discussions would be of a sensitive professional nature, for instance if surgeons are discussing medical advances or professional methods, I imagine they do not make the exchange available for general viewing.<br /><br />-- 09 Jul 2014, 15:21 --<br /><br />Very much counter productive. Your viewing function is your shop window, and should invite/entice people to take part themselves!! The exception would be if the discussions would be of a sensitive professional nature, for instance if surgeons are discussing medical advances or professional methods, I imagine they do not make the exchange available for general viewing.
It pretty much ruins your SEO as well because search engines cannot get into places that members only can see. And in all honesty, if you want members to join, you should let them see what they are joining. Restricting them is not going to help you at all, I don't normally sign up on boards that restrict guests, simply because I cannot see what I'll be joining.
Some boards I can see being members only, however for the majority of the board to be cut off from guests is just going to kill your chances of those guests signing up, as well as SEO. 😛
Some boards I can see being members only, however for the majority of the board to be cut off from guests is just going to kill your chances of those guests signing up, as well as SEO. 😛
I would never restrict my content to just members only because I love receiving free traffic from all the major search engines every month. There's nothin getting free traffic all the time, but private boards such as a trash can should never be shown to guests nor members. I actually hate coming across other forums that restrict their content to just members.
It's a fairly bad idea. Quite simply, would you try something know little to nothing about it? Probably not. I know I wouldn't. At least giving them some sort of preview of your content is how you turn members from viewers to members. If someone looks at your forum and can't see anything, do they have any real motivation to join aside curiosity? No, they don't. However, if they see that your staff and members are having good and interesting conversations, they'll feel more interested to join because they'll want to join in on your conversations.
The only sections that should be hidden from guests is either a staff area, or some sort of personal help type section. Both of those would probably contain sensitive information that you (or in some cases other people) don't want other people to know.
The only sections that should be hidden from guests is either a staff area, or some sort of personal help type section. Both of those would probably contain sensitive information that you (or in some cases other people) don't want other people to know.
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