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Wiz

Off Topix Novice
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Wondering how everyone else handles guest. Do you allow guest to view website? If so you allow them to read the posts or just home page? I allow them to view and see threads at this time. Think this might hurt site growth.
dontknow.gif
 
if they cant read threads how would they know how good a site is?..............and if they dont know that why would they join?
 
Unless I can see most of the content and can browse freely, then I won't join up for the simple reason is that I want to know what a forum's like before I join up, so I know it's worth doing.
 
I'm not an Admin of any forum, but a forum that I moderate lets guests, and there is also a section for them to post in, though we do get quite a few spam bots in that section..
 
I like to know what im joining.



On my forum, most of the sections are viewable to the guests. They can also post but have to type in a captcha.
 
The only thing I would block out if I were you would be things like blogs, possibly graphics, and maybe even adult forums or staff and VIP lounges (obviously), other than that, if you sign up to a forum, it's nice to know what the forum's about and what you're getting yourself into before you join.
 
Wiz said:
Wondering how everyone else handles guest. Do you allow guest to view website? If so you allow them to read the posts or just home page? I allow them to view and see threads at this time. Think this might hurt site growth.
dontknow.gif

Hi, Wiz.



I allow guests to view all the forums members can see, and the contents contained therein. My restrictions for guests are most notably placed on profiles, member list, and who is online page. Also, members must log in to see the shoutbox.



Regards,



Kevin
 
I allow guests to see, read, and post. Cause frankly, I don't see any problem with it at all.
 
Guests can view/read the forums. They have to register an account to post though.



Ive been on a few forums that will hit you with this message after browsing as a guest for a while:

Hey there!



It appears that you've exceeded the maximum number of posts you can view, but wait, there's a simple solution. To unlock the forum and continue viewing messages, all you need to do is sign up for a free account. The entire process takes just a few minutes so create your account now and view as many threads as you like!



Already a member? Login at the top of this page to stop seeing this message.



Not something I would do, also I'd see it as a way to turn-off/annoy potential members and make them NOT want to register.
 
I let them see most of the content but some content is hidden. when they register then they'll find out
 
Nebulous said:
Not something I would do, also I'd see it as a way to turn-off/annoy potential members and make them NOT want to register.



Yeah, I had the option to enable an inactivity reminder for a welcome messages feature for vB3 I added, but I left it disabled. However, I still display a message for members who haven't posted yet. That message simply encourages them to post an introduction by pointing them towards the introduction section. In any case, that message disappears after the first post. Here is that message, by the way:



Hello, new person. If you'd like, please post an introduction in The Immigration Center (near the bottom of the main page). Also, don't be afraid to post in old topics, as we don't mind. As for this message, don't worry, as it goes away after the first post.



I'm wondering if anyone here thinks I should disable that, too, or if I'm better off just sending a private message or email with that information.



Regards,



Kevin
 
Nebulous said:
Guests can view/read the forums. They have to register an account to post though.



Ive been on a few forums that will hit you with this message after browsing as a guest for a while:

Hey there!



It appears that you've exceeded the maximum number of posts you can view, but wait, there's a simple solution. To unlock the forum and continue viewing messages, all you need to do is sign up for a free account. The entire process takes just a few minutes so create your account now and view as many threads as you like!



Already a member? Login at the top of this page to stop seeing this message.



Not something I would do, also I'd see it as a way to turn-off/annoy potential members and make them NOT want to register.



I don't think I've been on such a forum, but if I ever did run across one, I would probably leave, because I know some people (myself included) sometimes like to get the feel of all the forum before they decide to register. Like me, I like to see how recent the posts are, how friendly the community is, and the like, which could also include browsing the whole forum. I think it's kind of stupid to have a guest message where you can only view so many posts before you have to register to see everything else. Major turn-off in my book.
 
I always allow guests to read all threads at my site, also i let them post in questions and help and suggestions and feedback
 
I don't allow guests to post as I really couldn't be bothered with all the spam and so on.



However, guests can see all the forums and their content, except for the staff forum.
 
If you want privacy within your member base, then what you can do is have the whole forums available to read via bots/non-members, except a members only forum, that can only be accessed when you are logged in to an account on the forum.



I don't know the simplicity in setting that up, but this way members can post stuff that only other members can read and it's free from being exposed to bots & guests.
 
There is some boards I have that are excluded from guests.



Also, the topic's title should be Do you allow guests to view your forums?
 
Yeah, I allow them to view the boards and everything. I used to think that they'd all join, but that's not true at all.
 
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