Forum - Private or Public

[WorkingDesigns]

I run an industry niche Web site which has a few hundred members and I am considering adding a forum to it. Having read some of the posts on here regarding the bandwidth costs, risk of rogue posters and potential legal implications involved in running a forum, I am considering some options:

1/ Restricting posting rights to members who register and are therefore working in the industry. But allowing non members to view the forum.

2/ Allowing only registered members (who work in the industry) to either post to or view the forum.

3/ Allowing both registered members of the Website and anyone else who wants to join the forum to both read and post to the forum.

I guess each approach has its own pros and cons. I would appreciate comments and suggestions from anyone who has been through a similar process with a forum, either as a member or administrator.

Thanks

[robotsdobetter]

1/ Restricting posting rights to members who register and are therefore working in the industry. But allowing non members to view the forum.

You may not have enough members to get it going. You need to keep a forum up to date and active. No one posts at a dead forum.

[quote]2/ Allowing only registered members (who work in the industry) to either post to or view t