> >>>Does anyone have any input on the best ways to gather user profile
> information online? I would like to learn more about who is using our site,

My opinion: gather discreetly (and discretely) and correlate. With cookies
you can gradually match up small amounts of information voluntarily given
by users over a period of time. Instead of requiring registration, why not
offer useful services which require user information (email bulletins,
postcode searches for outlets) and build up profiles over time without
annoying the user?

> chance of winning a prize. The polls are single-question, often amusing
> topics, and offer instant feedback on how others have voted. While neither
> of these give you a scientific sampling, the information can still be
> surprisingly useful, and offers an interesting user experience, too.

...and, as slashdotters will know, seeing the results of a simple poll is
reason enough to enter...