Visitors/Unregistered users

[JPM]

Should I allow them to see -

Some of the forum and blogs?
None, so they have to register to view?
All, as they will be attracted by the content and want to get involved?

Your help would be appreciated, as we have a large number of visitors and guests viewing who do not convert to registered members - yet.

http://www.productforum.info

 

[bretttina]

I think all ... i think it is like you say if the content is good then they will register and join in ,

That's just my opinion from visiting other sites that say "you have to be a registered user to view" and all i do is click off the site and look else where.

 

[JPM]

Thanks Brett - would you still click off the site if you could read some of the thread but not all? or maybe you couldn't see the links and images?

 

[Puma]

Hiding signatures or other elements isn't a bad idea. But yeah, if guests can't see anything then at least from my experience, they won't even bother unless they're desperate for something, or extremely interested.

 

[JPM]

Hiding Signatures is a nice idea. Thankd, gave you a rep'!

 

[bretttina]

i don't let visitors access the attachments that are posted ... so if a new visitor reads what some one has posted and then wants to download the attachment this gives them a push into registering , i usualy put a small caption in the post just to let visitors know that they have to be a registered user to access the attachment

 

[JPM]

Good idea. I'll look into that - Thanks Brett.

 

[juststeven]

I disagree you see, if the title is something that makes the guest really want to read then they'll register if they have to.

 

[JPM]

I disagree you see, if the title is something that makes the guest really want to read then they'll register if they have to.

So you would say that it's more important to not show any content of the post?

 

[Taz]

Maybe hide some useful topics from guests.

 

[juststeven]

I disagree you see, if the title is something that makes the guest really want to read then they'll register if they have to.

So you would say that it's more important to not show any content of the post?

Yes.

 

[Yehya]

although that is a good trick Steven, i usually leave the site immediately if it chooses that option
i only stay if i need it so desperately

 

[David]

Terrible logic in disable viewing of content.

That's too admin mindset - "block important content so people will join to see it". Think of it from the user's perspective. Would you sincerely join a forum if they block viewing of the content? Probably not. You wouldn't know what to expect, so I see no purpose in signing up to a forum not showing content when there is the next link down in the search engine which content is shown (that's if you can even rank well from not allowing content to be seen).

Sure you can disable such as premium tutorials etc. and only registered members can access them, but there's no successful logical reason to disable viewing of content.

If you're visitors aren't converting into members, you need to offer some incentive, not disable reasons to visit your forum.