There's literally no way to read any story on MiamiHerald.com right now without registering. Every link, whether from an inside or outside source takes you to a registration page. They say registration is free and easy, but it's also annoying.
Sure, for regular readers all they have to do is register and remember another password.
But what about the non-regular readers who enter the Herald through a search engine, link, or aggregation site?
Very few of them are going to register, and Quantcast says that 69 percent of the eyes that land on the Herald's website are people who visit less than once a month. That makes up 27 percent of pageviews.
Let's hope this is some temporary glitch or stunt to drive registration. Because if the Herald keeps it up permanently they can say good bye to random Google search traffic, or for that matter ever getting Dugg or Drudged again.
One also has to wonder if a registration wall is a prelude to a paid content wall. Hmmm?
Update thought: Also, seriously how stupid is this considering so many of the Herald's stories can wind up on the website of up to four other papers? People will just go there instead.
Real Update: Raul Lopez, Interactive General Manager of the Miami Herald Media Company, left a comment explaining:
Consumers can read up to 20 pages per month, once you reach that threshold, you are asked to register. Main channel pages are always open.
We have had site registration for several years and are proud to have over 1.5 million registered users.
Ok, so random passer byers aren't effected, but this is still a little annoying.
