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| Force Guests to log in/register before viewing; just a cheap way to get members? | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 8 2005, 08:24 PM (1,528 Views) | |
| Payton3486 | Jun 8 2005, 08:24 PM Post #1 |
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www.sports-dome.com
  ![]](../../../../0/1/0/p601690/pipright.png)
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IMO, i think this is a cheap way to get members. guests should be able to look around the forum and then decide whether they want to join or not. |
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| ~Jalba | Jun 8 2005, 08:54 PM Post #2 |
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Officially Wubblelicious!
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I agree, cause evertime i go to a forum like that, i just leave instantley, i need to be able to see at least a few forums before i make a decision if that is the type of forum i am looking for. :yes:. |
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| Payton3486 | Jun 8 2005, 08:59 PM Post #3 |
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www.sports-dome.com
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i do that too. i see no point in joining if i dont know what im joining for. i immediately leave. |
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| armin | Jun 8 2005, 09:25 PM Post #4 |
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http://s9.invisionfree.com/X3000
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I THINK IT IS GOOD BUT SOME GUESTS MIGHT LEAVE AND DONT REGSITER. |
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| Brandon | Jun 8 2005, 09:38 PM Post #5 |
 
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It is not just cheap, but a bad idea if you want members. Allowing guests to see part of your board gets them interested. In addition, search bots may see your site as a guest and thus your position in searches would be harmed by forcing guests to login. |
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| Das | Jun 8 2005, 09:46 PM Post #6 |
Smells of rich mahogany
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The people who do that make puppies cry. |
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| Dale | Jun 8 2005, 09:54 PM Post #7 |
TeleArena Gold
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Very true with the SE's...personally I leave and don't go back |
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| Minato-ZNS | Jun 8 2005, 10:24 PM Post #8 |
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Someday the Dream Will End
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If you force guests to login, as everyone has stated, it will hurt your chance of getting decent members. That's why about 7/8 of the communities out there don't use that feature. As like everyone else, if I can't see what it is, forget me coming back. |
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| Catsy | Jun 8 2005, 10:40 PM Post #9 |
Member
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Kinda... No, not really :P. |
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| doug05257-ZNS | Jun 8 2005, 10:59 PM Post #10 |
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http://www.gepforum.com
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It's not a cheap way of getting members; it's a cheap way NOT to get members. |
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| Sam-ZNS | Jun 9 2005, 12:34 AM Post #11 |
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bai
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Why would anyone join something that they can't see first? :huh: |
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| Pixie | Jun 9 2005, 02:11 AM Post #12 |
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Seeker of Knowledge
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My forum is a dual... some open areas and some areas that can only be accessed by registering. The reason I do this is that mine is a "spiritual, arts and writing" forum. Some people do not take kindly to many of the beliefs of our members (multi-cultural, multi-faith), and guests have been known in the past to leave nasty posts, so those areas are closed to the general public to guarantee the privacy and safety of our members. People who do register are put into a specific user group until myself and mods can see how they react with the rest of the community before being promoted to view the private areas. Other areas where we post our art and writing are closed to the general public to prevent copyright abuse. Too often, we have found our works being posted on websites, and some were even for sale on a well known auction site... so those forums are not accessible without registering. I am also a member of a closed forum and the reason that admin has her forum closed is that it is by invite only... there are trust factors involved, so a closed forum is best for her. She isn't interested in recruiting a vast number of members, just a select few that work well together as a community. Through the past 5 years, we have all formed a close-knit on-line family.  So, I would say it depends on the situation.. open or closed forum depends on the needs of the community.
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| jappyx | Jun 9 2005, 03:37 AM Post #13 |
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GaGaGa ™
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I have to say that i am guilty of doing it. Only on one of my forums... 
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| ultra mc | Jun 9 2005, 03:48 AM Post #14 |
Im from the ment-al-in-sta-tute
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ive done it but changing as soon as i can find out how to lock topics untill you get a certain amount of posts..... |
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| Del Pegiero | Jun 9 2005, 04:13 AM Post #15 |
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Member
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I've done it and got 12 members out of it but most never came back. So yes it's a cheap way of getting members... |
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