Guests Blocked From Viewing

[Jazzy]

I went to check out a forum today and every forum I clicked on, I got this message:

We are sorry the Administrator has disabled guest to view this forum. Try registering on the forum to gain access.

Questions:



What are your thoughts on a forum doing this?



Would you join a forum that won't let you view it first?

 

[Jazzy]

I agree with you Smooth. There was no way I was going to waste my time creating an account not knowing like you said if it's a bore-fest or not. I also agree that this is a bad way to run a forum. How the heck do you expect to get new members when everything is hidden from view. Well, this forum today just lost a potential member!

 

[Raven]

Depends. I have had to make my old forum member only before.



If it's a forum genre I like then I would join it and try it out. If I didn't like it I just wouldn't go back.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

To view should not be members-only. By allowing guests, you also allow bots to roam your pages freely, making your content more popular in the end.



Just like previewing a product. It's only smart to allow customers to preview their product before buying.

 

[Evil Eye]

I've seen it before. Rather annoying really.

If you aren't going to let me have a look, just block everything already!

 

[Jazzy]

By blocking, IMO, it's forcing people to register. When you force people, they are just going to move on.

 

[Evil Eye]

When you force people, they are just going to move on.

Not always. I registered somewhere because I wanted to use the search function once. Post once in a while too.

 

[Jazzy]

What really made me laugh was an announcement come check out our new features. Once you get there, you can't check out a damn thing!

 

[Evil Eye]

That's rich.

 

[Fatal Dawn]

What really made me laugh was an announcement come check out our new features. Once you get there, you can't check out a damn thing!

Are you serious? That's like being given a coupon for an item that is not even sold at the store (which has happened to me).

 

[Raven]

Why?

My old co admin wrecked it. With help I managed to sort it out again, but I was worried he would attack again or get someone else too. It wasn't just that, i've had countless emails from him so much so I even had the police involved.

 

[Raven]

It does because I though they were watching my forum looking for areas to attack it. When I went away I closed it twice, until in the end I shut it off for guests for about 3 or 4 months. Then I opened it back up for a trial. and then opened it up fully a month after that.

 

[Bluezone777]

Clan forums are well noted for blocking guest access to the entire board but I can understand the logic since they don't want rival clans looking at their forum. For the typical forum, I can understand blocking some guess access as an incentive to join but it doesn't seem like a smart move to block access entirely. If guests can't get an idea of what you have to offer then they won't join but if you block some of the forum then they can see part of the forum and if they like the part they can see then they can join and see the rest.

 

[Jazzy]

My bottom line is that if I can't see it then I'm just going to move on. I don't have time to waste signing up and then finding out the place wasn't worth my time and effort.

 

[alan@stgiles]

I would not join for the reason's Smooth & Jazzy & fatal dawn have all-ready mentioned

 

[Jazzy]

I can only speak for myself but I'm not only looking at the content of a forum. I also am reading replies in threads to see how members interact with each other. You can have great topics but if you have nasty members/staff, then I don't want any part of that.

 

[alan@stgiles]

Well said again Jazzy. I also go by recommendation as well, as it is thanks to my gorgeous princess Boogie that I am here, and I am glad to of arrived here, should of come here sooner

 

[saintsinner]

I think it depends on the kind of forum. If you have a rare niche forum than people will sign up just to view the content. But if its one of common forums than guests won't bother registering because they have many other options.

 

[Scarbo]

Good to keep leechers out, I prefer a post requirement to see certain forums though. On my old forum I required 50 posts to view the tutorials section. It certainly got a lot of people posting.



It all depends on what content is in your forum. If it's just mindless discussions like on this forum then guests should be allowed to view it. If it's groundbreaking underground information then having to register and make 100 posts to see it is a bargain!

 

[Jazzy]

It's a turn off really for me...



Pretty much telling me that I MUST join to read/view the content, no sorry, I'll move along with my life thank you...

I agree 100%