Registration is not compulsory until 8 March, and users are being offered the chance to win a Mac iPod digital music player if they register before then.
There are no plans to start charging for the site, according to the newspaper, though no other free part of the site currently requires registration.
"We don't anticipate that the drop-off rate will be a problem," said a Guardian spokesperson.
"For most people, this is an essential site - and it's a very simple registration process."
Registration involves giving information about your location, employment status and industry sector. The Guardian estimates that process will take less than one minute, and the information will inform both their editorial content and their advertising.
"We're not planning to change the product, but it will help us to give readers what they want," said the Guardian.
"This will also help to keep the site free by allowing us to offer more targeted, effective advertising."
Related stories:
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story780.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story771.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story700.shtml
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story679.html
http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/story691.shtml
See also:
http://media.guardian.co.uk
Free daily newsletter
If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).
Related articles
- DCMS-backed media literacy programme is supporting vulnerable internet users
- Tip: Lessons from the Guardian's membership model
- How should the media cover COP26 and climate change long-term?
- How memberships and subscription models drive business growth
- How the Guardian's supporters helped save the newspaper
