Website Online Or offline For guests

[Page]

This is an question that has been said many times, should the website be offline for guests or online?

What I mean by that, is that they have to join the community to able to see the content. So if they get linked to that website all they see is an login page.

I know some website that do that, Just to get new members rank number up but it doesn't work unless the website is running by an YouTube guy with over 200k hits

 

[David S]

I think it should be online to guests, because I really don't see the point of you having to join. It's forcing you to join not joining because you want too. It doesn't give a great impression to the guests or the users because your too being strict, you have to guests to know what the site is about. Guests like to have an idea of what the site is like before they join, not sign up and have a mystery tour!

 

[Cierra]

I think if it's a few sections closed off to guests that's fine, but if it is the entire forum that will definitely detract visitors. I know before I join a forum I like to look at things like the rules/guidelines, staff, atmosphere of the community, and the content of course. I wouldn't join a forum without knowing anything about it. I have tried a max view plugin on my forum before where guests could only view 10 threads or so before signing up, but removed it later on. It wasn't worth losing potential members.

 

[Mozzie]

Online, i know many many people who will not join a forum if they cannot see what is on there, me included

 

[Tucker933]

If you plan on growing at all, definitely have most of your sections online. In addition to what everyone else said above, your members will be far more inclined to create meaningful content if they can share it, or think someone might find it in search results.

 

[Marie 1988 Forum]

Since most promotion forums are strict about how much content should be viewable to the public is keep my site online. I have nothing to hide anyway and I know how it feels not to know what your getting yourself into

 

[Golddisk]

Unless there is a special reason only people with accounts should access the forum, it should be open for people to view. If people can't see the content, very few will bother to join.

 

[David S]

Another thing is the only sections is where you hide from guests, is the one for exclusive staff.

 

[Danielx64]

Another thing is the only sections is where you hide from guests, is the one for exclusive staff.

That just plain common scenes really. Anyhow I think the main forum should be online 🙂

 

[David S]

Another thing is the only sections is where you hide from guests, is the one for exclusive staff.

That just plain common scenes really. Anyhow I think the main forum should be online 🙂

Indeed it should, I cannot think of a forum that has it's main boards hidden from guest view. Have you?

 

[Danielx64]

Another thing is the only sections is where you hide from guests, is the one for exclusive staff.

That just plain common scenes really. Anyhow I think the main forum should be online 🙂

Indeed it should, I cannot think of a forum that has it's main boards hidden from guest view. Have you?

There were 2 that I can think of but I don't know if they are still around.

 

[Gus]

I've seen a few invitation-only forums out there that are locked to guests and registrations have to be approved by the admin. They are a "secret club" and they typically don't want random newbies to join their forums in the first place.

 

[David S]

I've seen a few invitation-only forums out there that are locked to guests and registrations have to be approved by the admin. They are a "secret club" and they typically don't want random newbies to join their forums in the first place.

Well I think that is understandable if it's a secret club. How would guests be able to join then this secret club?

 

[Gus]

I've seen a few invitation-only forums out there that are locked to guests and registrations have to be approved by the admin. They are a "secret club" and they typically don't want random newbies to join their forums in the first place.

Well I think that is understandable if it's a secret club. How would guests be able to join then this secret club?

They don't, typically the admin rejects any registrations unless they're expecting a certain person with a certain email address to join.

 

[David S]

I've seen a few invitation-only forums out there that are locked to guests and registrations have to be approved by the admin. They are a "secret club" and they typically don't want random newbies to join their forums in the first place.

Well I think that is understandable if it's a secret club. How would guests be able to join then this secret club?

They don't, typically the admin rejects any registrations unless they're expecting a certain person with a certain email address to join.

Oh OK. So the admin knows who is going to join, if they don't know them reject.

 

[Page]

Since most promotion forums are strict about how much content should be viewable to the public is keep my site online.

well that is why all website needs to be open. otherwise we don't get the benefits of being on FP

Unless there is a special reason only people with accounts should access the forum,

I only can think of websites that maybe offline for guests if it's an adult xxx rating website and they don't want to get small younger guests to see it

 

[Golddisk]

I only can think of websites that maybe offline for guests if it's an adult xxx rating website and they don't want to get small younger guests to see it

That is one example, but there also could be forums for clans or other types of exclusive groups where they want another way for their people to communicate with a more advanced method in addition more simpler IM services they may use.

 

[David S]

I agree, Empire that is a great example, I forgot all about that stuff. It depends what the site is on really though.

 

[Allenafaith]

I honestly don't like that idea. I feel like guests should be able to view things, even if they can't view everything, just a few things to get a good feel of the forum. I wouldn't want to join a forum that I couldn't scope out first.

 

[Shannon Apple]

If I go to a website, and I have to sign up to view content, I will leave. I feel that it's okay to hide certain sections from guests. For example, if you're a graphics site and give away free resources to members, then they should have to sign up and contribute a little to your site first.

Otherwise, everything should be open. Potential new members can't decide if they want to be part of your forum without seeing the discussions there. Often times, I signed up somewhere because I wanted to reply to a thread.

Recently on TAZ in the thread for one of our addons, someone asked me "why are your comments on your article blog hidden to guests? People often sign up just to reply to comments on an article." I didn't realise that they were hidden and made those viewable since that was an excellent point.