I'm not asking for much

You know there are a lot guests reading this forum sometimes more than registered members. If they like to read the forum why don't they register? So as of today I am shutting the forum down to guests. Let's see if we get more people registering. You want to see what the forum looks like to non members (Guests) log off the forum and check it out.

"Why don't they register?"

Might be the case of takers, no givers in that group. I would like to think that many are just shy about jumping in, but I am beginning to wonder. Still, we have had a few join the conversations lately, so there is hope.

The first forum I registered was real cleaners cafe, I have to admit that was because Joe offered free stair hook, not until a few weeks or months later 'til I joined in the conversations, and the main reason is because most of you guys are being nice and professionals with your posts, so as much as I want the lurkers to contribute, if they're like me, you may not see them post or register until a few weeks or months later.

Human nature to browse before buying.

I would think the highest percentage of new registered members will always be from guest-to-member conversions.

I may not necessarily be a negative thing to have a lot of guests browsing only. Each browser is a new prospective member that will eventually join if they like what they see.

I'm not sure blocking them will help your numbers.

Personally, I rarely will join a forum without seeing the content, feeling it's vibe, or being assured that is even active.

Tough to see browsers only browsing, but what is the incentive in registering to a forum that is in the dark?

Hey....They are just browsing.......

Great idea Mo.

btw, Goomer, the video was critical of browsers for just browsing. They got hauled off, as they should have.
It is not ok to browse with no intention of supporting what you're browsing. That's what I would call snooping.

Mo, you oughta take another step and charge a small fee for members with less than a minimum # significant posts.
For these are clearly Snoopers. 
Since they are obviously not Givers of information, they can pay hard cold cash for the privilege of taking it.
Otherwise it's stealing right?

Maybe you could keep a list of the threads for all to see, especially the Snoopers so they can see what they are missing.

It's clearly a different model we have here. Whereas other boards seek any and all posts from their members then use the volume of posts to solicit suppliers for advertising dollars on the premise that these posts are coming from serious buyers, when in fact most are freeloading lurkers, snoopers if you will, waiting for the next free handout from unsuspecting, paying advertisers. These freeloading, snooping, lurkers are the first to hold out their hand. Right? 

I saw this firsthand as a paying advertiser on Mikeyboard.  I gave it a year or so then told publically told him & his audience I would quit paying Mikey.  Cuz that's all it was. It was a losing proposition from an advertisers perspective; a bad investment. Same with Rob Allen telling more lies about how I'm a 'cheap ass' for not advertising on truckmount forums.  Truth is he is just following Mikey down his beaten go-nowhere path, take from members, line thy pocket with the fruit of their effort. Truth is Rob Allen never asked me to advertise. He knows I'd tell him to take a hike, just like I told Mikey.  Totally F'd up model if you ask me.  Without content, these guys would have nothing. So they do everything they can to get it. They ask for content so they can go make money from it. They twist facts, encourage others to tell one-sided stories without disclosing the other side, knowing full well the intent - to damage others who threaten to expose them - and withhold info that might actually help cleaners grow. All for the sake of making themselves mo money. Of course they never said it was for helping cleaners did they? Unbelievable.  

Here, we have a much simpler, honest approach, the RC Model carried over from the cafe. 
We don't have much in the way of suppliers and probly never will.
They've had opportunity to come, but they choose not too. Don't wonder why.  They are afraid to be exposed for who/what they really are. 
Truth is we just need ourselves, sharing quality info amongst ourselves.   
Together we prosper.



IMHO.

Joe

Agreed, I don't care a bout the minimum. We should all pay something.

Speaking of content, I bet it will only increase.
I know it will from me.
There's so much more I wanna teach; just don't wanna help the thieves get at it.

It gets back to voting on accepting members based on honesty and that can be determined by what they have to contribute.

How about a proving grounds - a public forum for newbies, and private forum for established members, where we go to share amongst proven members?

Joe you really nailed it.

How can anyone's intentions be judged on merely the fact that they are only browsing in that moment.

Can anyone here honestly say that they immediately join every forum they come across, and have never browsed a forum before?

During this process, do you feel you are stealing something??

Forget our industry specific ones, but when looking for a new forum related to a new hobby for example, isn't the first step to BROWSE through the available choices and get a taste of each to determine which one offers you what you are seeking?

What are the chances you are going to immediately join one that you come across that is locked, based on absolutely no information about it's activity or content.

Regarding this giver/taker status, personally, I couldn't care less how many people may learn from any ideas or experiences I may post.
I don't expect, nor demand anything in return.
I have no qualms with putting my advice out there for whoever it may help, regarldess if it is reciprocated or not.
I offer it free to anyone who can benefit from it, and can only hope that it actually helps someone, and if nothing is given in return, im not going to loose any sleep, because I have better things to do than keep score.

I don't require anything in return.

That's being a REAL giver.

I agree you have to browse the forum before you decide weather you would want to join. But this experiment is to see weather the guys that have been browsing for 6 months would bother to register. I'm not even talking about contributing just registering.

Like Joe said. Keep one forum open. Like the carpet cleanjng forum and show the rest but give no access with out registration.

You all should also consider the fact that the lounge has a pretty broad spectrum of topics and content. We aren't just the new kids on the block any more. This place has some serious validity.

Good point about real givers not expecting anything in return Goomer.

For now the guys that come on the forum day in day out to read put refuse to register are going to see this  

This has been an interesting discussion. Of course, you expect people to browse before making any decisions on joining, but how long does that take? Would you be treated differently at the local car lot if you stop by a few times per week to "browse" for 6 months?

Maybe we need to establish a trial period to the board. You get to browse for 30 days, if you don't join after that, you get blocked. No need for more than 30 days to decide if this is the kind of place that you feel comfortable with joining.

I still don't see why you wouldn't join for FREE. So what would be the difference between the lurker and a registered lurker? Either way they just look and not participate. Only difference is you can see their names logged in.

I guess I can put pure lurkers into the same basket

I have lost count of how many times cleaners call me ask for tons of info and you cant even get their name or company or phone number. But they expect me to give the 411. Many emails asking this and that and for spects numbers prices pictures with no name or anything just Johnyyrugsucker@gmail.com phone number is private.

They all ask for tons of info with many emails and never give you a phone number or company info,

Even when asked for contact information they email me again asking more questions and never even let me know who the person is?

After the second email and no contact info it all stops