Make forum open or log in?

theundpilotguy · 10-26-2005, 12:03 PM

Hey,
I was curious, for a forum starting up would it be better to let everyone be able to read the posts or restrict it to members only and make them sign up? Thanks!

sdsinc · 10-26-2005, 12:41 PM

I would let everyone read the posts
but require registration if they want to post/reply

BTW if you leave the forum read-only for everyone
then the search engines/crawlers will be able to index your content as well

135791 · 10-26-2005, 12:48 PM

i hate forums that recuire signup before you can actually see what there forums are about

domainprince · 10-27-2005, 02:01 AM

I think it would be better to let everyone to read all posts. They'll sign up once they're intereted in your forum. Just my opinion.

peter phillips · 10-27-2005, 02:03 AM

I think to let people read the posts and ask for a log in only for posting a reply or to start a new thread will be helpful in getting members to the forum. Not many will register in the forum without reading the posts and without knowing about the topics .

infinitomagazine · 10-27-2005, 02:04 AM

i think the same, let everybody to see ur forum, is better in this way.
people can see post and replies and when someone can reply a thread im sure he will register

AHA7 · 10-27-2005, 03:37 AM

Yes! make it readable for all! And require registration for posting

bmx1king · 10-27-2005, 04:01 AM

most ppl i know and myself usualy restrict ppl from view posts in certain forums but make it so that they can see all the forums from the outside, so that they can know what is in it...

LeetPCUser · 10-27-2005, 12:34 PM

Restrict posting. Let them read.

killaklown · 10-27-2005, 05:19 PM

if you restrict reading, then you may be loosing some members who dont have the time to signup just to see if the forum is worth registering in.

Troubled1 · 10-27-2005, 05:53 PM

At least let some parts of your forum be read without registering, sometimes making certain areas only readable by members will increase signups if it looks like they are interesting.

commes · 10-27-2005, 08:46 PM

let them read it, but make them have to signup in order to post that way search engines can go over it, and you'll get more people that way to join

anirudh90 · 10-28-2005, 06:23 AM

the forums should be read by all. People should be able to post only after registering

10-26-2005, 12:03 PM	THREAD STARTER #1 (permalink)
theundpilotguy NamePros Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 32	Make forum open or log in? Hey, I was curious, for a forum starting up would it be better to let everyone be able to read the posts or restrict it to members only and make them sign up? Thanks! __________________ Student Forums!!!! Check it out

10-26-2005, 12:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
sdsinc Domains my Dominion Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Web 1.0 Posts: 9,963	I would let everyone read the posts but require registration if they want to post/reply BTW if you leave the forum read-only for everyone then the search engines/crawlers will be able to index your content as well __________________ NameNewsletter.com - free lists of available domain names ZoneFiles.net (beta) - ccTLD and gTLD droplists

10-27-2005, 02:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
domainprince NamePros Regular Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 851	I think it would be better to let everyone to read all posts. They'll sign up once they're intereted in your forum. Just my opinion. __________________ Paid Posting Reviews. Submit A Review. Submit A Service. :lala: Www.MySmartScripts.com Smart Scripts ! Smart Prices ! Find everything you want to know in our mobile phone forums.From Nokia to Samsung, we have it all! Premium Web Directory

10-27-2005, 02:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
peter phillips Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,318	I think to let people read the posts and ask for a log in only for posting a reply or to start a new thread will be helpful in getting members to the forum. Not many will register in the forum without reading the posts and without knowing about the topics . __________________ Outsourced Hosting Support \|\| Server Management \|\| Web Development Portfolio ICQ : 487-845-393 \|\| AIM : EtecDesigns \|\| MSN : sales@etechdesigns.net

10-27-2005, 02:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
infinitomagazine Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: peru Posts: 2,571	i think the same, let everybody to see ur forum, is better in this way. people can see post and replies and when someone can reply a thread im sure he will register __________________ Shoutcast - Web Radio - AutoDJ - Playlist available TRIBALHOST.NET Shoutcast & more 1 day Trial - Custom packages Chicago servers located

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10-26-2005, 12:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
135791 Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 202	i hate forums that recuire signup before you can actually see what there forums are about

10-27-2005, 03:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
AHA7 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 2,072	Yes! make it readable for all! And require registration for posting __________________ HI!

10-27-2005, 04:01 AM	#8 (permalink)
bmx1king NamePros Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 109	most ppl i know and myself usualy restrict ppl from view posts in certain forums but make it so that they can see all the forums from the outside, so that they can know what is in it...

10-27-2005, 12:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
LeetPCUser Account Closed Join Date: May 2005 Location: Whitewater, WI Posts: 3,710	Restrict posting. Let them read.

10-27-2005, 05:19 PM	#10 (permalink)
killaklown Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 3,472	if you restrict reading, then you may be loosing some members who dont have the time to signup just to see if the forum is worth registering in. __________________ hostvouchers - Coupons and Reviews for the top web hosts! (shared, reseller, vps, servers, adult, offshore, proxy)

10-27-2005, 05:53 PM	#11 (permalink)
Troubled1 NamePros Regular Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 306	At least let some parts of your forum be read without registering, sometimes making certain areas only readable by members will increase signups if it looks like they are interesting.

10-27-2005, 08:46 PM	#12 (permalink)
commes Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Regina, Sask, Canada Posts: 1,318	let them read it, but make them have to signup in order to post that way search engines can go over it, and you'll get more people that way to join __________________ Friendly Birthday Party Games \| Elvis Presley: What You Didn't Know \| Study Trouble? \| The Dumbest of Dumb Laws! Styledboarder.com

10-28-2005, 06:23 AM	#13 (permalink)
anirudh90 NamePros Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 30	the forums should be read by all. People should be able to post only after registering

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