Allowable Signatures

vingogly · #1 Dec 27, 2007, 07:42 AM

I used the contact form to ask the following question, and never received a reply. Today I noticed my signature has disappeared so I'm assuming someone decided I was in violation of TOS (a message of the form "we're removing you're signature" would have been nice).

Here is what the Posting Rules say: "...Do not advertise or spam. You are welcome to include information and links in your signature to a reasonable extent, but do not advertise in posts..."

I had the name of my career life coaching practice and a link to my site in my signature. If this was not providing information "to a reasonable extent", then I'd like the Powers That Be to clarify the Posting Rules with regard to the meaning of this phrase. Providing a practice name and a web site link seems like "reasonable extent" to me.

RubyPitbull · Dec 27, 2007, 01:24 PM

I am not one of the "powers that be" but hopefully you don't mind me explaining it to you. We are allowed to include our links and personal info within our profiles. When you are setting up your profile, you will see the area in which you are allowed to include your website address if you so choose. We are not allowed to include them in our signatures because our signatures show up every time we post a question or response. When we do that, we are advertising free of charge. The owners are able to maintain this site by charging companies to advertise. Advertisements show up in the bottom section of every question, in addition to being attached to the moderators, admin, experts,... response posts. That is the format they have established for advertising.

P.S. I see that you have included your business info properly in your profile. That is the most advertising that you are allowed to do on this site without paying for it. That is what is considered "reasonable" by the owners. If you look at my signature, they are made up of quotes along with asking people to read the site rules. It shows up on every post I make. In your signature, you can quote something that has relevance to your work, philosophy, .... but nothing that will be considered an obvious advertisement for your business.

vingogly · Dec 30, 2007, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RubyPitbull

P.S. I see that you have included your business info properly in your profile. That is the most advertising that you are allowed to do on this site without paying for it. That is what is considered "reasonable" by the owners.

AtlantaTaxExpert includes in his signature the statement: "If you need my professional tax help, contact me at [email address]." ScottGem includes an Amazon link to a book he's authored in his signature. There are no doubt others like this, but these are the signatures that immediately come to mind. I'm assuming then that these signatures are somehow not seen as advertising in the owners' eyes, or that these members have paid to include this advertising information in their signatures?

RubyPitbull · Dec 31, 2007, 04:57 AM

vingogly, both AtlantaTaxExpert & ScottGem are site Experts, as Father Chuck is. Chuck, I was under the impression that those who are given Expert, Moderator,... status, are allowed to include their business info as a way to bolster/support their title/position here and their responses in their area of expertise. Unless of course, they are paying for the priviledge to do so. I am not privy to whatever arrangements the Experts have made with the site Owners.

nymphetamine · Dec 31, 2007, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vingogly

I used the contact form to ask the following question, and never received a reply. Today I noticed my signature has disappeared so I'm assuming someone decided I was in violation of TOS (a message of the form "we're removing you're signature" would have been nice).

Here is what the Posting Rules say: "...Do not advertise or spam. You are welcome to include information and links in your signature to a reasonable extent, but do not advertise in posts..."

I had the name of my career life coaching practice and a link to my site in my signature. If this was not providing information "to a reasonable extent", then I'd like the Powers That Be to clarify the Posting Rules with regard to the meaning of this phrase. Providing a practice name and a web site link seems like "reasonable extent" to me.

I haven't really seen your posts, but I haven't been on here as much lately. Does the help that you give here relate to coaching? They may mean that they allow links like mine. Mine is a legit site that is dedicated to helping the wm3 and making people aware of their situation So I guess its not seen as advertisement.

RubyPitbull · Dec 31, 2007, 05:23 AM

I just took a quick look and noticed that both ScottGem & AtlantaTaxExpert don't have direct links to their business websites in their signatures. Nymphetamine, your site isn't soliciting for your personal business.

vingogly · Dec 31, 2007, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fr_Chuck

My personal advice, is to go ahead and put it back, with the link of your web site. ** and personally it is a great web site, I went there and while I still am not sure exactly what you do, the site is very professional, and I would love to find out who made it, or what system you used, since it is a great design for a site.

Gee, thanks for the kind words, Father (although it's rather distressing that you're not sure exactly what I do -- that suggests the site isn't getting my message across effectively)! I made the site myself using a Mac-only product called RapidWeaver, which is great for simple to moderately complex websites. Unfortunately, there's no Windows version.

I think I'll do a little further research into other signatures before I decide exactly what to put into mine. Perhaps something along the line of "visit my web site" without giving the name of the business would be acceptable...

excon · Dec 31, 2007, 05:31 AM

Hello v:

I've always thought you give great advice. Now I wanna visit your site but I dunno where it is. Maybe I can tell what you do.

excon

RubyPitbull · Dec 31, 2007, 05:33 AM

vingogly, I don't know if this helps, but I understood perfectly what you do. I am not sure how you can make it any clearer. The site is very nicely done and it states exactly what you do. Personally, I think writing "visit my web site" without providing a link would be a way to go.



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