Why do we see more visitors than members on Team-BHP?

rocksterraghu · 21st November 2007, 00:44

I am not sure whether there is a thread on this or for that matter, anyone has closely watched this.

Everytime I log in, I see that there are more visitors active on Team-BHP than members. Ever wondered why? Read on...

This is the status on 21st November 2007, Approx 00:30.

Quote:

Currently Active Users: 655 (175 members and 480 guests)

Never have I seen this ratio better than 1:2. In fact, it is always less than that.

I understand that this is true with many sites and forums on the Internet, but I want to know your opinions about this.

Mods: I know this can be included in the suggestions for Team-BHP, but a discussion and poll would give better inputs.

FYI, more than one reason can be voted.

vivekiny2k · 21st November 2007, 00:51

a lot of times when i work from different computers, i am not logged on to TBHP. in any case, i think it's good to have people look around and decide if they want to join.

rocksterraghu · 21st November 2007, 00:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivekiny2k

a lot of times when i work from different computers, i am not logged on to TBHP. in any case, i think it's good to have people look around and decide if they want to join.

Good point. I am just trying to find out in general about why people don't sign-up or just like you mentioned, log in.

Based on personal experiences, if members could contribute the possible reasons, it would help understand the intricacies.

P.S: I am not doing this as a survey for commercial benefits. It is just for BHP.

aZa · 21st November 2007, 01:43

Lot of those 480 guests will be crawlers and bots from search engines!

Sam Kapasi · 21st November 2007, 02:25

I like visitors. Visitors are fun and more interesting than you lot that I see on a daily basis.

Zappo · 21st November 2007, 02:26

aZa is right. half the times the traffic is because of those bots and crawlers from various search engines and indexing sites.

another fact is that we are very well indexed by google. so anyone looking for car related info lands up on this board. they start reading through the content as we do not restrict info for guests unlike some other sites. many of these guests then also become members after lurking around for a while.

eclectix 1st · 21st November 2007, 07:38

Privacy issues, may be people don't want to give their email ids & start receiving spam or merely unsolicited mail.

Personally I haven't received any unsolicited mail from TBHP since I signed up less than a month ago, but generally speaking its an issue with lot of other public forums.

Easy way out of this is to create a email just for this purpose......

heavy_foot · 21st November 2007, 08:40

i guess there are lot of members like me who log in only when a post has to be made..and do the reading stuff with out logging in.

GTO · 21st November 2007, 12:02

Interesting query; here is what I understand from my experience:

1. Unlike some other communities, Team-BHP keeps *all* of its information open to guests and members alike. This is in keeping with the foundation on which Team-BHP was created i.e. to provide an unbiased and comprehensive resource to anyone who wants / needs / seeks / enjoys it.

2. Again....unlike some other communities, Team-BHP does not require registration to search within our archives. Trust me when I say this; searching the forum is one of the most hardware intensive processes and we could lower our costs significantly by disabling search to guests. But then, that would be against our basic principles wouldnt it? The search (basic and advanced) will always be open to guests.

3. As long as guests are happy in receiving the information that they seek.....we are happy. If they cant find it (or it isnt discussed already), they are welcome to register and create a thread for the same.

4. Search bots : Google and Yahoo scan our board like crazy. During peak hours, there are probably 200 - 300 spiders recording the forum sections as "guests". Good for us.

We, the Support Team, are extremely happy with the way that things are.

rocksterraghu · 21st November 2007, 12:32

Thanks. Some great inputs indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I like visitors. Visitors are fun and more interesting than you lot that I see on a daily basis.

lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTO

3. As long as guests are happy in receiving the information that they seek.....we are happy. If they cant find it (or it isnt discussed already), they are welcome to register and create a thread for the same.

4. Search bots : Google and Yahoo scan our board like crazy. During peak hours, there are probably 200 - 300 spiders recording the forum sections as "guests". Good for us.

Part in bold: That is another reason why I created this thread. Many newbies who introduce themselves mention a few months of browsing before registering.

And the part about crawlers is amazing. I did't know there were so many monitoring Team-BHP.

hydrashok · 21st November 2007, 12:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocksterraghu

And the part about crawlers is amazing. I did't know there were so many monitoring Team-BHP.

I didn't either

Nice thread Raghu!

superavi · 21st November 2007, 12:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sam Kapasi

I like visitors. Visitors are fun and more interesting than you lot that I see on a daily basis.

And they can't post on the Yeti (r) Products thread!

I also think that the information availability is the key here. Most people use Team-bhp for information - like a wiki, and they do not need to register/post.

rocksterraghu · 21st November 2007, 13:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by hydrashok

Nice thread Raghu!

Thanks Hydra!

Quote:

Originally Posted by superavi

And they can't post on the Yeti (r) Products thread!

I would say can't create or post.

Thanks Ravi!

l3g0l4s · 22nd November 2007, 17:04

It is a bit off topic but never came across a single ad till now on the web site ! how do ya guys manage then bandwidth costs ??

BaCkSeAtDrIVeR · 22nd November 2007, 18:47

I was a visitor for a couple of months before signing up.

View Poll Results: Why do you think people stay visitors and not sign-up?
People are just too lazy. They don't like form-filling and e-mail verification	24	38.10%
They get most information without registering	44	69.84%
Many people think they'd rather be visitors than inactive members	19	30.16%
They are not regular visitors	9	14.29%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 63. You may not vote on this poll

21st November 2007, 00:51	#2
vivekiny2k Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: cincinnati, jabalpur,chennai Posts: 1,264 Thanked: 209 Times View My Garage	a lot of times when i work from different computers, i am not logged on to TBHP. in any case, i think it's good to have people look around and decide if they want to join.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 01:43	#4
aZa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noida / Delhi Posts: 1,595 Thanked: 21 Times View My Garage	Lot of those 480 guests will be crawlers and bots from search engines!
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 02:25	#5
Sam Kapasi Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Mumbai (but wat Posts: 6,997 Thanked: 2,378 Times View My Garage	I like visitors. Visitors are fun and more interesting than you lot that I see on a daily basis.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 02:26	#6
Zappo Team-BHP Support Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 5,922 Thanked: 2,699 Times	aZa is right. half the times the traffic is because of those bots and crawlers from various search engines and indexing sites. another fact is that we are very well indexed by google. so anyone looking for car related info lands up on this board. they start reading through the content as we do not restrict info for guests unlike some other sites. many of these guests then also become members after lurking around for a while.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 07:38	#7
eclectix 1st BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: BANGALORE Posts: 381 Thanked: 5 Times View My Garage	Privacy issues, may be people don't want to give their email ids & start receiving spam or merely unsolicited mail. Personally I haven't received any unsolicited mail from TBHP since I signed up less than a month ago, but generally speaking its an issue with lot of other public forums. Easy way out of this is to create a email just for this purpose......
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 08:40	#8
heavy_foot Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Navi Mumbai Posts: 1,048 Thanked: 163 Times	i guess there are lot of members like me who log in only when a post has to be made..and do the reading stuff with out logging in.
	() Thanks

21st November 2007, 12:02	#9
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,534 Thanked: 300,743 Times View My Garage	Interesting query; here is what I understand from my experience: 1. Unlike some other communities, Team-BHP keeps all of its information open to guests and members alike. This is in keeping with the foundation on which Team-BHP was created i.e. to provide an unbiased and comprehensive resource to anyone who wants / needs / seeks / enjoys it. 2. Again....unlike some other communities, Team-BHP does not require registration to search within our archives. Trust me when I say this; searching the forum is one of the most hardware intensive processes and we could lower our costs significantly by disabling search to guests. But then, that would be against our basic principles wouldnt it? The search (basic and advanced) will always be open to guests. 3. As long as guests are happy in receiving the information that they seek.....we are happy. If they cant find it (or it isnt discussed already), they are welcome to register and create a thread for the same. 4. Search bots : Google and Yahoo scan our board like crazy. During peak hours, there are probably 200 - 300 spiders recording the forum sections as "guests". Good for us. We, the Support Team, are extremely happy with the way that things are.
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 17:04	#14
l3g0l4s BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: hyderabad Posts: 44 Thanked: 0 Times	It is a bit off topic but never came across a single ad till now on the web site ! how do ya guys manage then bandwidth costs ??
	() Thanks

22nd November 2007, 18:47	#15
BaCkSeAtDrIVeR BANNED Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Kochi Posts: 2,522 Thanked: 752 Times	I was a visitor for a couple of months before signing up.
	() Thanks