How many views before forcing registration?

[AustinReilly]

Big change for me today. Thanks to all the smart people (and their posts) here on the forums, I just made the switch from a free for all site to a forced registration site. You have to understand this was a huge deal for me as I've been getting good leads for 2.5 years withOUT registration but it was time for a change. I based my decision on all the arguments for both sides here on the forum. I don't want to start the 18th thread on forced registration vs. no registration. There is a lot of history on that subject if you look for it. So the purpose of my post is... If you DO forced registration, what is the optimal number of views you allow a user before popping the registration screen? One view, no views, seven views? I just set mine at three.

Any thoughts?

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

I let them only review my search page, to veiw details they have to sign up

[OCTeam]

It probably doesn't matter if they like your site. You just want to tease them with info and then they sign up. I make them register as soon as they want to view details.

[DMG]

I had mine set up for 1 freebie then force and then I tried 2 freebies then force. Had more leads with 2 free then force on the third with my little test. So now they can see 2 full details then they need to register to see more than the thumbnail view.

[Justin Havre]

I had mine set up for 1 freebie then force and then I tried 2 freebies then force. Had more leads with 2 free then force on the third with my little test. So now they can see 2 full details then they need to register to see more than the thumbnail view.

Nothing wrong with a little teaser.

I have forced on mine but I do not require them to give phone #, just name & email.

[CherryCreekPro]

With my current IDX system, forced registration to see any listings other than our own. With pending REW IDX system, I am going to allowing some teasers then force registration to see details. Currently phone number optional but I am often tempted to force that too.

[Joelrunner]

Here's a freebie Brian (even though you're a competitor) ;-)

Don't bother making phone number required. We get about 35% to voluntarily give a phone number, and that acts as a good benchmark to determine who is serious & who is just tire kicking. Besides, making the phone number a required field just means that you'll have to spend about 60% of your time weeding out bogus phone numbers. (and the most common one will be 382-5633).

[OCTeam]

We make it appear a phone number is required, but it really isn't. We have an * on the form to make it appear like it is required. Since we put that on the form as a "required" field, we have received far more filling in a real phone number than when it was not there.

[AustinReilly]

Here are some stats since we converted our site on Thursday from no registration to forced registration. I set the number of detail page views at 3 before my site popped the form asking for a registration. We got a 35-40% registration success based on number of visitors and number of registrations. Tonight, I am increasing the number of detail page views to 5 before I force the registration. I'll let you know if my percentages of registrations increase or decrease in a few days.

Regarding the required phone number issue that was brought up here... Why would you want a registration without a number? Do you really get that many leads from just sending emails to people asking them to call you?

[Micheal Pannell Realtor]

Regarding the required phone number issue that was brought up here... Why would you want a registration without a number? Do you really get that many leads from just sending emails to people asking them to call you?

You have to Call them, No If and or Buts. I registered on alot of sites from here and never gotten any calls. My Agents are required to call all leads with in 4 hours but most likely in 15 minutes. We do other things but we wont go into that here.