Thoughts On Hiding Forum Content?

[Smithee]

Some forums have sections which are hidden and can be accessed only be certain members [some require paid subscriptions] while others hide some sections of the forum so only members who've logged in can see them.

Is this a good strategy to get guests to sign up if they like the content/discussions they see or does it drive away prospective members because while looking at the forum as guest they may not see something they like [which might be hidden]?

 

[Maximum]

Hiding content may seem good for certain things like improving registration but it will also make the spam rate go up on your forum.

 

[T J Tutor]

I have several continuity sites that have membership levels though paid monthly subscriptions and I find that I get little to no spam as a result of it.

Featured content available only through paid access is commonplace and helps to organize monetization paths. This is not a deterrent to users, it is a proven business model for increasing sales, engagement, and referrals.