Hi all,
I've noticed the disparity between registered members and visitor numbers, often 5-to-1 or more.
What would you think of a members-only area where the giveaways would be hosted, in an effort to convert the 'browsers' to 'members?'
If that's too much work or too divisive, maybe some "newbie only" giveaways are in order ?
Thoughts?
It is not just about converting them, I think it is also about making them actively participate, to write a message every now and then... although I think the addiction comes sooner or later...
One common method used to "force" more people to register in a forum, is making images and links (urls) visible only to members. So someone who comes to read a review, would read it just fine, but if they want it to see the images (product photos, beamshots, measurements etc) they would have to register. Same with the links, we help each other in here by providing links to products etc, guests would be able to read a thread but not see the links in the messages...
Excellent perspective.
Denying the "outsiders" Foy's photos, or the links to the good deals is a good idea.
It works great! Can you imagine reading a review without the images? Or reading about finding a good deal, or where to find a replacement driver without being able to see the link? You go immediately to register button! :P
This can also be done selectively, leave some subforums to "full view" for the guests, and make the rest like I described...
Consider this my vote for NOT doing this. I use forums for a lot of topics, and when I first start looking for a proper forum for my interest, this is one thing that will turn me off to it in an instant. I'll register after lurking a bit and getting a feel for the neighborhood, but if I can't even enjoy myself while lurking, there is absolutely no chance of me becoming a registered member. Protected "member's only" areas are actually far more likely to entice me to join.
PPtk
The only forums that I ever turned away from, are forums that to even read the content you have to subscribe first. Forums that require simple registration to view links & images don't bother me, there are many out there, for example ones that post links to file downloading. It is not a big deal to register once, then have your browser to automatically log you in every time you visit...
Giving the lurkers access to information is good. Let them peruse at their leisure, and entice them with a "secret club" if they want to get to the good stuff. Sharing the knowledge is good, but if they want access to free stuff, I'd say make them register.
That and I'd also put access to spiffy deals, listings for discount codes and other stuff like that in the member's area, too.
Or we could just beat them with sticks.
If it was a members only area I wouldn't bother signing up to look in there, there is also no way for them to know about give-aways in there etc.
Just like when I joined BLF, I checked out multiple websites before joining. I did't sign up to any of them.
If I am looking for information and see that I need to register to see links or images or search I just close the page and go somewhere else.
I don't see any benefit in making/forcing people to join either, if BLF was like that I wouldn't have signed up.
I think give-aways not in any special area would likely make more people join, because they can see it and might sign up to take part rather than sign up to see whats inside a members area.
10 seconds to come up with a user name and password, and then set your browser to login is not a big deal, is it? I haven't typed my log in info ever since I registered...
Also to me it doesn't sound so nice the "if I don't find it for free and 100% available I will go elsewhere"... the 10 seconds to register-and-then-forget-about-it to me is a small tribute especially to the people that spend their free time doing those wonderful and detailed reviews, full of nice images, explanatory charts, and on top of that providing help to the users that pose questions, all without any form of payment... it's not like reading everyday world news... so as I said, this is the least that maybe we could do...
+1 on PilotPTK (out of some unknown reason I cannot quote anymore?)
This was the main reason I never registered at the other place in the first place when my flashlight interest came to a more than average life and BLF didn't yet exist. To me this "members only" stuff has an elitist touch which I don't like.
That annoys me. Not a good idea.
And check your email for a activation link then go to the site and sign in and then find what you were looking for again to find out it doesnt have the information you wanted in the first place.
And what is the point of members having to sign up if they will never return again? How is someone signing up a tribute to anything?
If they don't contribute anyway how is signing up benefiting anyone? Its just a empty account and information stored on the server forever without any use.
And yes if it isn't free and 100% available, like most I would go somewhere else.
I like the idea but it would be hard to stop people from making new accounts to enter.
We are talking about the images and the links only, no the entire messages. So according to your view, the information most users seek is visual aka the images, so no images make the site worthless to visit, even more worthless to register, regardless of the quality of the content of a message... this is what is sounds like. Yes it does work fine on big (and healthy-run) forums, people who are members of such forums will already know this.
So talking about flashlights in specific, if it is not available here (talking about the images again), your other "elsewhere" option would be Gretta... :P
What is your take on what Chicago X asked regarding getting more members? Criticizing is easy, I haven't heard any other suggestions...
If it aint broke....
I do Prefer for BLF to stay the way it is now...
That was how I got started the hobby. Comparing to the CPF, Bright side.
I do feel for BLF more.
Just my humble opinion.
@taz
I'm not trying to criticize but just say that if things like that happened it would result in less members and not more.
I don't have any suggestions and think its fine just the way it is.
Pics only visible upon registration? That is a horrible idea... this is how CPFism starts. We want to convince members to register through good content and the benefit of being "one of us". You would also keep me as a registered member to look at BLF pics at work, because I can't/won't log in there most of the time.
Leave it as is, please. Most forums have far more viewers than members. That's the way life is - most people don't want to speak up and join in, staying in the background is just fine. I've done it many times on sites where I was just looking for specific info, not interested in becoming a member just to answer a question. If we want to encourage new membership, let's do it with a positive method, not a negative one.
The restrictiveness of CPF towards new members almost turned me off completely to researching flashlights. Thankfully I kept searching and found BLF - the most open and friendly forum I've ever been on. Let me repeat:
Leave it as is, please.
IMO those who are really interested will join sooner or later. I'm no fan of boards that force you to register. When I started lurking here, I felt like being a member already. Not really a difference.
Also dont forget that a lot of these guests are crawlers.