While open registration encourages growth, invite-only access can ensure higher-quality members. Which model has worked better for your community, and why? Do you find that one approach leads to more sustainable engagement or better forum culture?

I'd be lucky if I could get anyone to join my forum, even after all the material I put into it. Well, it requires a huge investment just to get people to join, but I don't think I would need to rely on invite-only access, that seems like overkill.

If you want to keep it small, invite only access can be good, if you want to grow big, you need open registration

It depends on your forum’s goals. Open registration fosters growth and inclusivity, allowing diverse participation, but it can lead to spam and irrelevant posts. Invite-only access ensures quality control and targeted communities but limits growth. A hybrid model, like requiring invitations initially and allowing open registration later, could offer the best of both worlds.