Yahoo! Answers Question

I wrote several articles today over at Suite101.com. To build backlinks to the articles and do a little promotion for them, I headed over to Yahoo! Answers.

I answered a few questions without putting any links, but then (for about 4-5 answers), I recommended one of my articles as a url link within the body of my answer.

In each case, I assure you that the article was pertinent to the question being asked. And I didn't just put the link. I wrote 3-4 sentences for each answer. In a couple cases, I wrote a couple paragraphs.

Then, in a matter of just a few minutes, I get 4-5 emails in my inbox, telling me that my answers have been reported as violations and they've been taken offline.

No explanation as to WHAT the violation(s) is/were.

But I was given the right to appeal, which I did.

I went back and read through the Community Guidelines, and can't find ANYTHING that I did, which was wrong.

It's very frustrating. It's like someone's on some kind of "crusade" over there to target me personally (unlikely, since I'm not that well known and don't loiter around Yahoo! Answers a lot, but I suppose it's possible) OR to target anyone he/she perceives to be promoting themselves or "spamming."

In my case, I've seen "spamming" and I'm careful not to do that. Very careful. My answers were thoughtful and tailored right to the person.

It's VERY frustrating.

I am LIVID! Really ticked off with Yahoo! Answers.

I just got notice that my account has been suspended!

I've occasionally provided answers over at YA for years. In some of my answers, I've provided links to articles (some of which I've written and some written by others). Never a problem! Never!

Then, last night (after a long absence from YA), I go on and answer several questions, providing links to articles in about 4 of the answers. In one of the answers, I linked to 2 articles. In the others, just 1.

All four of the answers were flagged as in violation!!

I appealed them.

Two of the appeals were accepted. Two were rejected.

And then.....

Apparently, YA reversed its decision on one of the appeals. I got another notice tonight that I violated the Terms of Service, referencing an answer from the previous night (one that had already been flagged, appealed, and then re-accepted). Strange and confusing!

But, no matter, I got an immediate follow up email, informing me that my account had been suspended!

This is RIDICULOUS!

If they're all coming from the same IP address, I assume they'd notice that.

I have a question. Yahoo Answers has a PR of 8, but the actual answer pages have a PR of 0.

So are these backlinks pointing from an 8 PR site, or a 0 PR site?

I don't know how long I'll be suspended. If they let me back, I'll take the advice of those here, and just post links in the source box.

Though, quite frankly, I'm pretty miffed about YA, and would prefer to promote another way.

The really frustrating part is that I was honestly and sincerely trying to be helpful to the ppl who were asking questions.