I just turned it off after a year. The traffic/leads were just horrible. People just went elsewhere. I just turned it off this December & already I've seen a slight increase in search according to my analytics.

I tried it both ways & forced registry turned out to be a bust.

I do not make them sign up....  it's a full buffet on my site...

Sign in not required. How do you feel when other genres of sites ask you to sign in first?

I am torn on this question all the time, anxious to see what the consensus is. 

Free buffet of information. Blogs, websites and social media are all FREE transparent consumer information and services. Searching listings on my site is free but only my contact info appears on listings.

Follow me, read me, get to know me, be impressed with the information then call or contact me through my multiple call to actions and receive more service, information and representation.

I have never required registration. They will just move on to another website if they do not want to register.

I have tried it both ways (many times) and forced sign up makes me the most money. I let them look at 3 listings before registering. Each market is different so you just have to try each way

We let them have the full meal!

My policy is:

There is benefit and privilege with membership.

Or you can go to the buffet. 

Two different kinds of people.

Why? Becuase what I offer regarding priveledge and benefit other agents do not have. 

Andrew Mooers - good question. I prefer the buyers to sign up after 3 tries.

I use the Market Leader webiste and it requires registration which I am fine with. I get 10-15 from this a week.

Only if they want access to the IDX and a unique search

With over 45,500 agents in my board, and growing, it is extremely easy to locate another agent.

It's always been a full buffet with me but if they want dessert... they need the real me.   I never had any walls to my content and never will.

I would leave it open. We longer have the control of what and where they want to do their searches. If we don't provide information on our websites, they will just head over to Z or T. What we can control is the service we provide when they call us after searching our website.

Virtually all the info on my site is free and accessible.  I have 2 ebooks for sale as well (at low prices).

You can search IDX on my website without a sign in, or you can set up a listing manager account, allowing you to customize and save searches, which requires a sign in.
I hate mandatory sign-ins, as someone that has gone to agent websites just to look, not wanting 'the drip system' as a casual user.

Barbara Todaro nailed this one!

Visitors can view 5 homes, then they need to register.

I do not make them sign up

They get to look at three properties in detail before I require sign-up. If they want auto-notifications, they need to sign up.

yes, if they want information

I have no time for list full of fake names from people who were forced to fill out a form while cursing my existence for making them fill it out. 

I let them study at their leisure and call me when they are ready

Andrew,

There all kinds of theories here on the subject.  Personally, I don't sign up on any site that requires signing in,  There are dozen more places I can find the same information.  Others will say that this works for them...A

I have done it both ways and the leads and conversions are FAR better with required registration.  In MHO, you land the 'serious' buyers who are not just 'playing on the internet.'

I do have one site that does not require registration and the number of leads that I get from there is about 1/10th of those from the two that require registration.  

I work hard on my site and I appreciate the fruits of my labor!

I give liberally and I realize that people may glean and go their way. I am okay with that. I am after the one who says...I like this and hires the source

  Greg Cremia  and Jennifer Mackay make a good case for mandatory sign-up.

Full buffet ... search to their hearts delight. Forcing anything is just not my thing.  If they want/need help they will ask ... and they do. 

No sign up on my site. When they are ready to work with me they call.

I do not make them sign up on my site.  When I used CoreFact, I did make them sign up before they got to the site.  Only had one signup (out of 400 cards sent) so I'll be reconsidering that strategy.

They need to sign up for detailed information.

I'm still experimenting. I did have my settings where they could view 3 properties before being asked to sign up. Then I read another post where they said to make they sign up right away. The jury is still out on this one.

In your question you added "knowing you will hear from them in time". I wouldn't count on hearing from them in time. 

I let them search three properties and then suggest they sign up.  Then three more and force them to sign up if they want to continue.  This has proved to work well for me.

I've been forced registration since I started - I've tried free twice, both times I got zero contacts.  Once I put the forced reg back on the leads started coming again

IMO - Anyone not doing forced registration is missing quite a few opportunities

It also depends on the site type _ I have a semi custom site and the information I provide is NOT available from generic sites that use IDX broker or realbird for example (I'm not knocking idx broker as I've used it on my satellite sites)

 I can't tell you how many times a week I get a registration from a lead working with another agent.  When asked why they don't use the agents website the answer is always "Yours is better and has more information"!

They are not required to sign up on my site.

in the old days it was a great lead gen to have them sign up after a few clicks, these days its not recommended.