Where Is The Line Between Advertising And Asking For Feedback?

by stoltingmediagroup

Posted: 11 years ago 19 replies

INTERNET MARKETING

I've noticed a fine line that hopefully someday will be drawn by the warrior forum moderators between distinguishing blatant advertising of a website in a non paid thread disguised as someone looking for help with their site, and the "can you tell me if my site looks ok" posts which includes a link, and may or may not be a legit help request.

I'm not saying that everyone who asks for feedback on their website or squeeze page is knowingly looking to promote for free, however, from the perspective of someone who spends hundreds of dollars on the warrior forum advertising in the appropriate sections, it sometimes gets a little annoying when I see a thread filling up with tons of people jumping at the aid of someones "what do you think of my site" post, and spending days bumping these threads back to the top, and going back and forth discussing a website that is obviously up and running and doing business.

What If I launch a new product and website tonight, and tomorrow instead of paying a fee to promote it, I simply ask people here to let me know "what do you think of my color scheme?" or "what do you think of the pricing for my new product?" or why do you think I'm not getting any traffic?"

Ok, I'm ranting a bit, and hopefully I am not stepping on anyone's toes who may have recently asked similar questions regarding their site, but seriously, am I alone in thinking that maybe there needs to be a thicker line drawn? It would certainly be fair to folks like me who expose our links and new websites via actually paying for an ad.

#advertising #feedback #line #promoting #spam #spamming

writeaway

11 years ago

Where is the line? When it is obvious the OP just wants people to click on a link in the post or on the OP's sig. Usually very short posts or fake 'comparisons.'

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stoltingmediagroup

11 years ago

Originally Posted by writeaway

Where is the line? When it is obvious the OP just wants people to click on a link in the post or on the OP's sig. Usually very short posts or fake 'comparisons.'

As WillR mentioned though, it's not always as obvious. The same tactic is sometimes applied using a long serious sounding post. A link is a link, no matter how you dress up the post asking for help, and no matter how much the community backs up the post that is asking for help.

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WillR

11 years ago

I agree and there has been a noticeable spike in these sorts of threads lately because I think others see people creating them and think it's an easy way to get some exposure for their site.

To the post above, I do not think it's always as obvious as you make out. I definitely think a percentage of the people posting those threads are only doing so to get some exposure and links back to their site. They can disguise their real intentions quite easily in a post.

The solution? I think they should not be allowed. It's better to stop the problem now before it gets out of hand... and it will. If the forum still wants to allow these types of threads then ideally there should be a subforum created specifically for them so they don't get the exposure of the main forum traffic.

Alternatively still allow them in the main discussion forum but they must be a screenshot of the site only and not a link. That'll probably deter most from creating those threads.

That's just my take on things though...

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stoltingmediagroup 11 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

The solution? I think they should not be allowed. It's better to stop the problem now before it gets out of hand... and it will.

I think that would actually be a great solution. (To simply not allow them).
This would then eliminate the fine line that currently still exists. The current arrangement allows for crossing back and forth over that line, and as you mentioned, others see people creating them and think it's an easy way to get exposure. However as I eluded to before, it's a bit unfair to folks who pay money to the forum in order to expose our links and websites, while others creatively get around that.
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Arnold Stolting - Stolting Media Group
"I LOVE The Song! The Vibe Is Positive And Firm!" - Kymani Marley. (Son of Bob Marley).
"Very High Quality!" Jeremy Harding - Manager / Producer. Sean Paul.
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Curtis2011

11 years ago

Originally Posted by WillR

The solution? I think they should not be allowed.

I strongly disagree.

Asking for feedback on a website or marketing material is one of the major things that makes the Warrior Forum useful. It is one of the biggest types of threads created here.

If you prohibit this, then the Warrior Forum has lost like 25% of its utility to honest users.

Originally Posted by stoltingmediagroup

As WillR mentioned though, it's not always as obvious. The same tactic is sometimes applied using a long serious sounding post. A link is a link, no matter how you dress up the post asking for help with sugar on top, and no matter how much the community backs up the post that is asking for help.

You are discounting the fact that many people are being honest when they ask for feedback.

If you ban feedback request threads, you are screwing over all the honest people to keep out a few baddies.

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lgibbon Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by Curtis2011

Asking for feedback on a website or marketing material is one of the major things that makes the Warrior Forum useful.

I strongly disagree.
The clutter of numerous 'site adverts' is making the forum useless.
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- Kay King 11 years ago
  
  Most of these threads are not serious questions but many people answering them don't get that.
  
  If it's questionable, I report the thread and let mods sort it out.
  
  Asking for feedback on a website or marketing material is one of the major things that makes the Warrior Forum useful. It is one of the biggest types of threads created here.
  
  There is nothing useful when the purpose is to get a link and to advertise a quickly built site that is full of plagiarism, poor
  content or a blatant promotion for an mlm.
  
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  Paul Myers 11 years ago
  
  Les,
  
  The clutter of numerous 'site adverts' is making the forum useless.
  
  That's rather more than a simple overstatement.
  
  Scrolling past the one or two you might typically find on the front page at any given moment doesn't take as much time as reading even a relatively short post.
  
  Paul
  
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  OgleDirect 11 years ago
  
  What would you all think of a site that is asking for feedback and disables PayPal so that payment is impossible. Would a site like that be allowed? I want to ask for feedback on my site so I would be okay with disabling payment options so it does not appear I am advertising my site.
  
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retsced

11 years ago

I've raised this issue before, so I agree with what you're saying. Unfortunately there are obviously genuine people looking for feedback, but like anything else in this business we always then have to deal with the knobs who'll take advantage. In my opinion it shouldn't be allowed.

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Paul Myers

11 years ago

Arnold,

If a site appears to be targeted to this market, we'll usually delete a "request for feedback." I know... That sounds silly, since your market is who you should ask. But if we didn't do that, any and every request would have to be treated as on topic and allowable.

That said, you can ask for design critiques in the design section and copy critiques in the copywriting section. Those are usually allowed. It's more sensible, and the regulars aren't going to be considered "prospects" in the usual sense.

This is one of those annoying "judgment calls" that mods have to make.

Paul

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Joel Young

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

...you can ask for design critiques in the design section and copy critiques in the copywriting section. Those are usually allowed. It's more sensible, and the regulars aren't going to be considered "prospects" in the usual sense.

If a member were to ask in one of those forums for feedback, but made the site URL unclickable, such as www(dot)mysite(dot)com, that should help remove any fear of shameless promotion/spamming, right? Plus add a disclaimer that it's a request for feedback only, and is in no way meant for promotional purposes?

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Gary Ning Lo

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

I agree, these two sections of this forum should be used to ask for feedback.

There has really been an increase recently of these types of thread in the main discussion section.

But i also saw some marketers who looked like they were genuinely looking for feedback (not promoting)

Cheers,

Gary

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Paul Myers 11 years ago

Joel,

That shouldn't be necessary. The folks in those sections are more likely to be selling the related services than buying them. And, even when that isn't the case, they're used to requests for critiques, and probably also more qualified to give them.

That said, a link to a full page screenshot might be the safest way to avoid challenges. You don't even need to have the site URL in the post that way.

Hmmm....

Paul
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stoltingmediagroup 9 years ago

Today, it's still obvious that not much has been actively done about this issue in order to draw a clear line between allowing people to ask for help with how their site looks, and blatantly posting for the purpose of making people check out their sales page or opt in form.

It's still unfair, and always has been, that some of us pay, or have paid hundreds, if not thousands of $ to the WF to expose our links and products, when it appears to be just as easy (and free) to ask "How does my site look? Does it look ok?" In the main forum.

It's even more ridiculous that a link to someones very basic "opt in page" has stayed up for almost a full day today on the main forum, (albeit it being their FIRST post!) What's double ridiculous is that some of you actually respond to these threads, start a discussion, and before you know it, the OP is getting tons of free exposure with your help.

I am working toward releasing a whole ton of products, but may boycott advertising here on the WF due to this still going on.

Instead, should I maybe just ask everyone how they think my optin form looks?
Is it square enough? Is it too square? Can you put in your address in and help me see if it works?
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- Steve B 9 years ago
  
  Arnold,
  
  I agree with what you're saying. I think the only way to handle the practice is to not allow it at all.
  
  Yes, it's a bit harsh for those few newcomers that genuinely are asking for help and not just trying to get "free" web site traffic. But in most instances, rules have to be made for the few who would knowingly break them.
  
  ". . . but may boycott advertising here on the WF due to this still going on"
  
  Honestly, boycotting isn't going to change anything if you are the only one doing it. Such a move will hurt you more than Freelancer.
  
  Maybe if enough members made the suggestion in the "suggestion forum" we would have some action by Freelancer. I've had suggestions in there for years that still haven't been given any notice.
  
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agmccall 9 years ago

Most other forums in the IM niche have a subforum where folks can post their site for feedback. It would probably take someone at the freelancer IT department about 5 minutes to add this to the site, but, unfortunately like everything else suggested by warriors here and in the suggestion forum, it will be ignored. So, just accept it

al
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- The Niche Man 9 years ago
  
  I'm not sure why they would even have "is my site o.k" questions in the main forum anyway. That's what the copywriter section is for isn't it? It's shocking that it's almost a Ghost town over here with some of the top copywriters in the business waiting to help some poor soul for FREE!
  
  That's how I'd tell if the "is my site o.k people" from the "link baiter's". Most (link baiter's) will go where the most traffic is .... not where they can actually get the best help (the copy writing section).
  
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Mark Singletary 9 years ago

Many years ago there was a forum section for site reviews that was very popular. People would ask for advice, they would get advice, then make changes, come back for more, etc. Not sure why it went away but it was missed by many of us after it did.

I can understand the OP's position and agree to an extent. However there are a couple things to consider:

1. Many site review requests are for sites not in this market at all such as weight loss, travel sites, cooking sites, etc. While it is free advertising, in a sense, the people that may be inclined to visit a pregnancy site, let's say, from here would not be many I would think. Likewise a pregnancy site probably wouldn't advertise here.

2. If it's exposure to the link that is a problem, then don't we already have that in the sigs? Yes sigs don't have that interactive back and forth attention getting quality but it's still free advertising.

3. Many, but not all, of the people wanting help are just starting out. Someone that is proudly opening up their first site with their traffic secrets sales letter and squeeze page wouldn't normally impress me personally enough to take any action because I know this is their first site and there is no way they know the traffic secrets or whatever. So their free advertising or attention seeking doesn't do a whole lot of good - at least to some of us.

Just me playing devil's advocate here.

Mark
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Where Is The Line Between Advertising And Asking For Feedback?

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