Registration Required????

[tdisraeli +]

Hello - First I wanted to know if it's possible (and easy) to eliminate 'required registration' and allow users to just post listings? Or at least a way to make registration optional?

Second, in the experience of seasoned 68'ers, is this even a good idea to help increase listings?

My current growth has been pretty good but I think that if I removed the registration requirement my numbers would be even better. Currently I average 50 unique visitors a day and 7 new registered members for a small targeted market - Outdoor gear listings (only) in the state of Idaho.

I know that I'll loose newsletter sign-ups and other data but I'm OK with that since it's not a source of revenue; and never will be.

Any thoughts?

[Mike-N-Tosh +]

The reason can be put into one word, SPAM!

If you allow posting without any registration, then it would take no time before you have a classified ad site riddled with spam. Although, just the act of registering doesn't eliminate spam, it is one way to help keep it down.

Secondly, without registration how would a potential buyer contact a seller either through email or private message if the site doesn't have that information?

-Mike

[Lhotch +]

Also, payment info is derived from registration.

[tdisraeli +]

Thanks Mike and Larry. I appreciate the insight and understand your points.

I will keep things as is and be happy with a close to 10% conversion.

[Eric Barnes +]

Another idea which wouldn't be simple is to include the registration as part of the checkout process. Let them start placing a listing but before they can finish they must login or register. But as I said this would not be a simple change and would require totally rebuilding the checkout.

[tdisraeli +]

Originally Posted by Eric Barnes

Another idea which wouldn't be simple is to include the registration as part of the checkout process. Let them start placing a listing but before they can finish they must login or register. But as I said this would not be a simple change and would require totally rebuilding the checkout.

Great idea Eric. My advertisers are set to launch in December so I'll budget for it then.

[Lhotch +]

Keep in mind a 10% conversaion rate means nothing nowdays. Unless you can specifically track the source and qualify those visitors I would be a large portion of thm are scripts or people simply looking for a place to post their viagra/porn links.

[tdisraeli +]

Originally Posted by Lhotch

Keep in mind a 10% conversaion rate means nothing nowdays. Unless you can specifically track the source and qualify those visitors I would be a large portion of thm are scripts or people simply looking for a place to post their viagra/porn links.

That's pretty funny Larry! Nope, my 10% conversion is counted as an actual listing posted by a person in the state of Idaho for a legitimate 'outdoor product' listing. Furthermore, all of my traffic is tracked and coded so I know where it's coming from 96% of the time.