[The Jester of Wibbly]

Just a bit of fun...

The forum is not a closed private one, it's open to all and sundry to read posts without them actually requiring to be a member but are unable to interact until you join.

You only have to look at the stats and at this time there are 34 people active members and over 370 unknown guests.

Surely to be able to benefit from this forum they should all become a member.  This way we might get more two way traffic coming through encouraging more members to sign up so they can read threads, encouraging more interaction, and a busier forum.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

100% in favour so far.   But only the 10% of the readers can vote though 

[Jonny 87]

Absolutely agree.

The problem is that it will never happen. Forums like this are ran for profit, (and understandably so) which means that it’s all about traffic to sell advertising.

If you make people sign up, then that’s a barrier to get people viewing the advertisement.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

Absolutely agree.

The problem is that it will never happen. Forums like this are ran for profit, (and understandably so) which means that it’s all about traffic to sell advertising.

If you make people sign up, then that’s a barrier to get people viewing the advertisement.

Yep, I see what you mean mate.   FB groups are closed groups.   The other forum (we cant name) is only readable to members too. so why not this one?

If membership is needed to be able to read,  then more relevant people will join.   This will improve the forums activity pushing it in the right direction which will help the sponsors over time having a busier media rather than seeing the usual same few regulars.   Having members only will also assist the forum in collecting better data to show sponsors a more accurate audience info. 

There are too many non members who we know nothing about who are able to trawl through a wealth of information for free that we have worked hard to provide.  Yet, they give nothing back to the forum in return do they?

[nathankaye]

True, but on the other forums you get the same questions daily n weekly. Thankfully not that much on here, as we generally refer people to the search feature.
Yet on the other forums it's constantly:
How do you price this job?
Or
I've put this bid in, how much would you say?

How much Hypo do u use?

How do u get this mark off,
Leaflets or canvassing.

Quaranteed same questions on a weekly basis, so as long as its not newbies who don't know how to usethe search feature, or perhaps make them have a tutorial ofthe search bar first 

[Clever Forum Name]

You do realise these unknowns could be google crawling,.....

[Llaaww]

A few years back this forum was full of innovation and trade, it was a b.usy spot with a lot going on. Now  it seems to be a bit of a ghost town. Why make it any more complicated to join in with it.

[Dry Clean]

Absolutely agree.

The problem is that it will never happen. Forums like this are ran for profit, (and understandably so) which means that it’s all about traffic to sell advertising.

If you make people sign up, then that’s a barrier to get people viewing the advertisement.

Yep, I see what you mean mate.   FB groups are closed groups.   The other forum (we cant name) is only readable to members too. so why not this one?

If membership is needed to be able to read,  then more relevant people will join.   This will improve the forums activity pushing it in the right direction which will help the sponsors over time having a busier media rather than seeing the usual same few regulars.   Having members only will also assist the forum in collecting better data to show sponsors a more accurate audience info. 

There are too many non members who we know nothing about who are able to trawl through a wealth of information for free that we have worked hard to provide.  Yet, they give nothing back to the forum in return do they?

I occasionally lurk on the other forum and have never joined, infect unlike this one where you cant read the mad section unless a member the other one has access to all areas, you can even post without joining, subject to mod approval.

[The Jester of Wibbly]

A few years back this forum was full of innovation and trade, it was a b.usy spot with a lot going on. Now  it seems to be a bit of a ghost town. Why make it any more complicated to join in with it.

Exactly.  Thats why it needs changing.  It's too easy to just read without any interaction.

[CleanClear]

100% in favour so far.   But only the 10% of the readers can vote though 

Sorry, read the question wrong. So i voted the wrong way. You should have to sign up to read i think.............

[Jonny 87]

Absolutely agree.

The problem is that it will never happen. Forums like this are ran for profit, (and understandably so) which means that it’s all about traffic to sell advertising.

If you make people sign up, then that’s a barrier to get people viewing the advertisement.

Yep, I see what you mean mate.   FB groups are closed groups.   The other forum (we cant name) is only readable to members too. so why not this one?

If membership is needed to be able to read,  then more relevant people will join.   This will improve the forums activity pushing it in the right direction which will help the sponsors over time having a busier media rather than seeing the usual same few regulars.   Having members only will also assist the forum in collecting better data to show sponsors a more accurate audience info. 

There are too many non members who we know nothing about who are able to trawl through a wealth of information for free that we have worked hard to provide.  Yet, they give nothing back to the forum in return do they?

The “other” forum is the same. You can read everything without joining. It’s seems to be the done thing.

[Slacky]

A few years back this forum was full of innovation and trade, it was a b.usy spot with a lot going on. Now  it seems to be a bit of a ghost town. Why make it any more complicated to join in with it.

Because not being logged in IS not joining in.

[Ooooooog]

Enforce compulsory posting.

[G Griffin]

Enforce compulsory posting.

It's the only way.