Jason Unger

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Everyday — at least the days when I can actually check my RSS feed — I stop by Ask MetaFilter, specifically the Work & Money category.

If you're not familiar with MetaFilter, it's a community blog-type site, with the Ask MetaFilter section specifically for user questions to the entire audience.

One of the reasons Ask MetaFilter works well is that, despite current Web trends, it requires a membership payment. The payment isn't high — only $5 — but this barrier keeps out the people that the community does not want.

Historically, forum sites have been brooding grounds for the type of community you don't want, mostly because of the ease of participation and high number of unqualified audience members. Blogs have this problem, too, but forums stereotypically are seen to have it worse.

Is it worth putting up a barrier to your product? It could be. In the niche-necessary market out there today, a qualified audience tends to be much more valuable than a massive audience that is generally unqualified.

Trade publications have done this for years; they reach out to a specific audience segment, often denying access those not deemed qualified. And it works.

Money may not be the answer, but don't be afraid to make it difficult for unqualified participants to have access to your product.