TBE Stance on Self-promotion

[ses5909]

I received a message from a member which has prompted me to address this topic. So, I'd like to give you my stance on it here.

TBE is a community where the conversations hopefully continue post to post without people having to go to 5 different blogs to follow the conversation; I think everyone can appreciate that.

If you have a post on your blog that is relevant to the topic, I have been very lax with people posting links to their site, but if every other post is an opportunity to send someone to your site or your blog, things will start to smell funny. I've been around forums for a LONG time and have no problem identifying self-promotion and as I said, in general I really don't mind it.

I would rather not have a all or nothing policy like some sites do as I don't mind if the link is really relevant to the thread but if you can summarize your thoughts in the thread but instead choose to just post a link, that really doesn't add to the discussion and chances are your link would be removed.

Basically, this is a place for everyone to come and share their ideas and really talk to each other, it's not a directory where you can just post link after link to your blog. If you are unsure about something, feel free to PM me and ask.

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions about this. I want people to be able to get as much as possible from the forum but I won't allow that if all of the posts just become a link farm.

[davemcnally]

I totally agree. Most people have a link in their signatures anyway so their blog link is popping up in everything they post as it is.

I think this should be stickied, or pinned (whatever VB calls it) for future members :)

[Prettyfem]

Then perhaps you yourself should not direct people to other websites to follow conversations.

You directed someone to Blog Herald regarding an article on Blocking Ads that was written by Jonathan Bailey.

I directed your members to my community to read an article written by me. You removed the link and requested that I discuss the topic here.



Funny- I thought I was.


Any other time I have shared a link to my blog it was in relationship to a topic here or I was sharing a resource to help someone here.

Instead of being thanked- I was accused of self-promoting.

I have mentioned my own forum 4 times. Two in connection with the same interview as I had forgotten I mentioned in on first joining- once to an article I wrote and once when someone was trying to assist me with Google's new service.

If you do not want members directing members to other blogs, articles and forums then why are you doing it? I counted 7 links you directed us to in the last three days.

Members are going to post links to articles, resources, and other communities etc.


Is that not the idea behind blogging and networking.

Blogging Forums are known for links, so good luck with all that.

[ses5909]

@Dave - Thanks for the support

@Prettyfem - Your situation has nothing to do with your blog forum Rose and a month ago I edited one of your posts out of 100 because I felt it was self-promotional (which you contacted me about just yesterday). Others felt the same as well as it had been reported to me. There is nothing more to it than that I'm afraid.

As I stated in my first post, the goal is to keep the conversation here as much as possible (as you do with ANY forum) but sure, you can provide a link to another site and this includes your own site if it's relevant. I haven't had any issue with it at all and I think I'm pretty lax with my stance as I et reported posts all of the time that people think are self-promotional or a link wasn't necessary, but I make a judgment call.

If the post/thread stands by itself and it looks like a member threw in a link just to have it there, that's not ok. If it looks and smells spammy or like the post was made JUST to get a link back to your site, that is where I draw the line. I provide a place for those kinds of posts (The Blogger's Backtable) specifically so it doesn't fill up the forum with self-promotional items. I think it's a nice compromise.

I know you feel this happened because you are have a competing blog forum (anyone is welcome to visit) but no, it really isn't. I've edited out links or in some cases removed entire posts from several members if there was a call for it; it's just part of the job.

[shyflower]

There is a vast difference between recommending someone check an article written by someone else via a link and directing them to an article you have on your site.

To post quote someone else on this forum can be construed as copyright infringement and at best, if the article isn't cited properly, it's plagiarism. It isn't the same with advising forum members in your own words.

Although I have been in freelance (in one way or another) for 9 years on the web and my site is full of freelance articles, when I have advice to give in a forum, I give it... I don't ask someone to click away from here and go to my site.

I notice you qualify your statement about "Blogging Forums are known for links". I also notice that you have three links in your signature. Although this is the only blogging forum I belong to, I belong to several others and some of them allow no links at all in signatures or otherwise. Some don't allow links until you have a substantial number of relevant posts in their forums.

Like Sara, many of the members here are on staff at Site Point Forums which is one of the biggest and most popular forums on the Internet. We all know what self promotion is. At SitePoint, many of the members here would have had their accounts terminated long ago for one reason or another.

However, Sara has chosen a different path for her forum and she has been very lenient. She should be commended, not rebuked because a couple of members didn't get their own way about how she allows them to use her bandwidth.

[Prettyfem]

There is no different accept that the article was written by me.

Sarah, you could have moved my article to the proper forum then.


Shyflower well I noticed that you have 4 links in your signature.

This is a discussion where Sarah has requested feedback- I gave that feedback based on my opinion.

[Golgotha]

When I used to run a forum (long time ago) my rule was this - You can't start a thread with a link to your site. But, if someone asks a question and you have relevant info to that question you can include a link...

The reality is threads offer very LITTLE link juice, almost next to nothing.

[Jelena]

I totally support this. I've been a member of other forums and staff member on some and self promotion was always an issue, and there should be a rule about it, any kind of rule!

I'm glad to see this was added.

[shyflower]

Shyflower well I noticed that you have 4 links in your signature.


Yes I do and they are within the guidelines that Sara has allowed within her forum. I'm not whining because I can't post links to my own articles within threads and I'm not suggesting to Sara what she can't or can't post in her own forum.

You say, "Blogging Forums are known for their links". I would say that having three to four links in one's signature and an option to display your current feed sure isn't restrictive.

How Sara chooses to run her forum and what she chooses to post or not to post is strictly her business.

We, members or lurkers, are her guests. You certainly don't accept a dinner invitation and then complain about the flatware, ask for a change in menu, or criticize your host for the size of their portion relative to yours.

[malique]

There is a vast difference between recommending someone check an article written by someone else via a link and directing them to an article you have on your site.



Amen.

[Michael Martin]

I like the stance. Hardline rules aren't necessary on a forum this size.

What about making things a little harder for self-promoters though? Instead of needing 20 posts to change your avatar, what about 20 posts to change your signature?

(And I also like the idea of not being allowed to start a thread with a link back to one of your own posts. :) )

[ses5909]

Yeah I liked the idea about linking in your first post. I have considered setting something for the links in your sig, but I wanted to make sure since the community was new, that there was some incentive for people to join. People like to be able to show off their blog and I actually like seeing it. I wish there was a nice medium.

[davemcnally]

I think it's fine as it is now with signatures, I think if people had to post so much before being allowed a link, they would simply be typing replies for the sake of their post counts.

It is, of course, not my forum but I would just let members keep their signatures as they are and keep links in threads to a minimum, editing posts if need be and for constant offenders, a warning system.

[shyflower]

I agree with Dave (although what you do isn't my business), but I think your initial idea was right. Allowing forum signature links is a big incentive to join and become and stay an active member. I especially love the feed link. That lets members keep up with what other members are doing and saying on their blogs and I believe, really helps to build community.

[ses5909]

I agree Linda. And especially since this is a "blogger" community, 95% of the people will have blogs or be starting one, people will want to show it off. I love the rss feed too!