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Hudechrome
Hudechrome
Known Participant
September 16, 2010
Question

Commercial Advertising in the Forums

  • September 16, 2010
  • 3 replies
  • 3465 views

I am under the impression that advertising a service or a product of interest to forum members is frowned upon. I do see some of this going on, but the posts stick, so I assume there is a threshold of sorts that allows some to pass.

I sometimes want to indicate certain images are available and the price. Is the link to a web site ok for such purposes, and how is this different than simply posting the info directly?

Thanks!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    3 replies

    Harbs.
    Harbs.
    Legend
    September 19, 2010

    Yes. There is a threshold of sorts.

    It really depends what they are offering and how. If someone is a regular contributor, and mentions his own product in an appropriate place, most moderators have no problem with that.

    If the only posts a user ever makes is for their own product, basically all moderators will treat that as spam -- especially if it's posted in an unrelated thread.

    If someone is offering services of simple use of the product on which they are posting, it's generally considered spam as well.

    Ultimately, it's the call of the moderators of the specific forum to decide if it's spam or not...

    Harbs

    the_wine_snob
    the_wine_snob
    Inspiring
    September 18, 2010

    I think that the MOD's have to make a call on this.

    As John T. mentions, I often post links to Web sites for SFX, music, stock background motion Assets, etc., and point out that some are commercial, while some are for free. Same with various programs, say file conversion programs for PrPro. So long as the links are germane to the thread, and address requests from posters, I think that the MOD's leave them alone. Remember, this is just my feeling and observation, as I am not a MOD on any forum.

    OTOH - there are enough real spam posts to keep the MOD's busy.

    Hunt

    John T Smith
    Community Expert
    John T SmithCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    September 16, 2010

    Over in the Dreamweaver forum, when someone new asks about adding online sales, there are usually several answers pointing to various shopping cart programs and portals... and I will mention PayPal and post the link (not doing so here) to the web store I wrote for my wife, and one example of using PayPal

    Since other people do similar, I have never had any negative comments at all... but this is in reply to a specific question, not a message that I start saying something like "Go to my wife's web store"

    In various fora, when someone asks about doing a particular function, I will post links of software I use (did not write, or sell, just use) and never a negative comment... again, I am one of many comments

    I will GUESS that if you are answering a specific question by saying "what you want is available here" you SHOULD be OK

    Hudechrome
    HudechromeAuthor
    Known Participant
    September 16, 2010

    Thanks.

    But coming on to a thread and saying, maybe even in the Lounge "I have now have such and such available" and give the links or info, that is also ok? I see this at times for third party software so that is why I decided to ask.

    S
    shunithD
    Inspiring
    September 16, 2010

    Hudechrome wrote:

    Thanks.

    But coming on to a thread and saying, maybe even in the Lounge "I have now have such and such available" and give the links or info, that is also ok? I see this at times for third party software so that is why I decided to ask.

    Hudechrome,

    I guess:

    1/ If it's in answer to a specific question and points to a third party solution, absolutely no problem.

    2/ If the above, but points to a solution you sell, again, no problem as long as you're not actively promoting it and, ideally, if you also point to a couple of other solutions – if available.

    The problem is with actually promoting your own commercial website or product. To explain a bit... For example, there's a site called projectseven. They make extensions, templates, etc. for DW. Now, if they were to post saying: Announcing a new blah! blah!, it wouldn't go down too well. However, if while answering a query on availability of flyout menus, they were to point to a relevant solution on their site, it would be ok. Particularly if the answer also gave a couple of other links.

    But yes, it is a kind of grey area in some cases...

    Hope that helps...

    sD

    Edit: I think, a lot also depends on pointing to relevant products as helpful and effective extensions/addons/plugins to that particular Adobe product as against an open spam or a competitive product.

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