Lots of people looking and not many joining?

[Karl Harrison]

I have a network and when viewed on Google live analytics I can see maybe 9 or 10 people using (on) the site, most of the day and making no real attempt to contact us or join the site?

Any Ideas?

http://www.deckingnetwork.com 

Many thanks

Karl

[Nor Cal Social Media]

I used to agree with you on this not too long ago Scott. Good points.

[Writer Chick {Diane}]

You know the saying...

Why buy the cow  when you can get the milk for free? 

Your site is completely public so there's no incentive for anyone to join.

 

[Nor Cal Social Media]

While I disagree with this position, I respect your opinion on this Diane. Many Ning Creator's have indeed proven successful with this approach.

[Writer Chick {Diane}]

You wouldn't disagree with this position if you ran my network. I'm a WRITING site, and we MUST have reader/author interaction. That's our claim to fame in the fiction world. If I didn't close the site to main page only, the lurkers would just read and leave.  Amateur authors want and need reader feedback. It's just how fanfiction works.  The only site that hosts fanfiction that is completely public is Fanfiction.net, and they have a HUGE troll problem because they allow "non-members" to post reviews as "guests".  It's harder to troll when you're an actual MEMBER of a site and can be reprimanded for such behavior.

[Nor Cal Social Media]

Very good. Whatever you decide to do must be based on your specific goals and needs.

[soaringeagle]

ning doesnt alow ni=on members to comment so your still screwing yourself by not being public

[Nelson Freytes]

'ni=on' ??

[soaringeagle]

non

[soaringeagle]

i disagree 1000000% why join something when u only see 1 page? whats the incentive to join? they join because they like the content they see

give them all they want free then they will join to be a part of a great site

[Writer Chick {Diane}]

Public, Main Page Only, and then put teaser content on the main page....

[lorianne]

Thanks for this conversation. We are a writer/blogger site, & while my activity is pretty good I would love to see more.

One thing I was hoping for was that any blog overhaul might include ability for people to comment without joining using other services such as google+ and Twitter or whatever.

Perhaps I should try your method of making the site private with the exception of the main page. Interesting.

[Writer Chick {Diane}]

We don't utilize the blogs on my site, so third party commenting is NOT something I want.  That just invites trolls in the fanfic world. LOL  But there are just too many lurkers on writing sites, and if they aren't forced to join, they will read all your content and never say one word. That's not much help to the writers who spend a great deal of their precious time writing stories and hoping for reader feedback.