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What's the scoop on recommending your own products?

by Tom B Banned
28 replies
I was about to post this question to the help desk but thought others may want to know. I was wondering what are the rules for recommending your own products when someone asks for recommendations.

Someone just asked for an alternative to a software program and I offered up my own free programs as an alternative.

My post got deleted. Not a problem, if this against the rules, but I would be interested in know the official take so I don't repeat this possible mistake.

I honestly don't know if this was a rule violation or overzealous users reporting it as spam. I think it is obvious from my history here I am no spammer.
#products #recommending #scoop
  • Profile picture of the author agmccall
    It is spelled out clearly in the rules of this forum,

    no self promotion

    but, you can get creative with your signature

    al
    Signature

    "Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." Thomas Edison

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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by agmccall View Post

      It is spelled out clearly in the rules of this forum,

      no self promotion

      but, you can get creative with your signature

      al

      I never had a problem with this before. If fact, I went many years without a sig until just recently. These things were generally ascertained by who was doing the posting. Someone popping up old threads so they could recommend was spamming. Those people weren't here adding to the community like some of us.
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  • Profile picture of the author digitalproductreporter
    this thread could get deleted also

    http://www.warriorforum.com/main-int...bers-read.html

    5. If your thread is deleted, do not re-post it. Do not post a thread asking why it was deleted. Read the rules, watch how things are done here, and figure it out. This is not complicated stuff.
    Signature


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  • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
    Banned
    Yeah Thomas. Considered self promotion. Consider this as a reason for the rule. Seller has a product he wants to promote but knows better than to start a thread about it, so he creates or has friends create a thread asking for recommendations or asking for reviews on said product. He then chimes in mid thread. Mission accomplished. Happens here a lot.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Folks,

    Thomas is not reposting his thread, he is asking a legitimate question.

    RoD
    Signature
    "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
    - Jim Rohn
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

      Folks,

      Thomas is not reposting his thread, he is asking a legitimate question.

      RoD
      Thanks bud!

      Yeah, I just didn't want to repeat the mistake.
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      • Profile picture of the author Tom B
        Banned
        Well, there you go! Dang spammers hurt the rest of us. haha

        Anyway, thanks for the responses. I think it cleared it up for me. Like I said, before there was some latitude depending on if the person was a known contributor and not a spammer. I'm now starting to wonder how you people see me.

        I will hire Frank and Suzanne to recommend my products for me.
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        • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

          Well, there you go! Dang spammers hurt the rest of us. haha

          Anyway, thanks for the responses. I think it cleared it up for me. I will hire Frank and Suzanne to recommend my products for me.
          Thomas, if I'd recommend anyone's products, you're one that I would. You went without a signature here for years. Obviously not a spammer and from your posts, obviously knows the software biz.
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          • Profile picture of the author Tom B
            Banned
            Originally Posted by sbucciarel View Post

            Thomas, if I'd recommend anyone's products, you're one that I would. You went without a signature here for years. Obviously not a spammer and from your posts, obviously knows the software biz.
            Folks, Suzanne is officially on my payroll. Thanks!
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          • Profile picture of the author Kay King
            Thomas -

            In the past this would have come under the heading of "common sense". You are recommending a freebie and no subterfuge or payment involved. You have a history here - good rep - not a spammer...that should count for something.

            I'm surprised it would be deleted - guess you were too honest about it. Can't have that, can we?

            I think the procedure now is to have someone else recommend your product - and then you can go in and post about it and no one notices.
            Signature
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            Live life like someone left the gate open
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            • Profile picture of the author Tom B
              Banned
              Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

              Thomas -

              In the past this would have come under the heading of "common sense". You are recommending a freebie and no subterfuge or payment involved. You have a history here - good rep - not a spammer...that should count for something.

              I'm surprised it would be deleted - guess you were too honest about it. Can't have that, can we?

              I think the procedure now is to have someone else recommend your product - and then you can go in and post about it and no one notices.
              I guess my disclaimer killed me.
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              • Profile picture of the author Lance K
                Why not ban the threads asking for recommendations then?

                What if Thomas' (or anyone else's) competitor has a Google Alert set up and a handful of Fiverr vendors ready to recommend their product at a moment's notice? Heck, they could even have one of them start such threads. Thomas (or anyone else) is supposed to just sit quietly by because they can't "self promote"?

                What's wrong with saying that you offer a solution that may work for the OP and encouraging them to take a look at it and compare it to others while conducting due diligence? Now if people just say "I've got what you need, see my sig"...yeah then nuke it.
                Signature
                "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
                ~ Zig Ziglar
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              • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
                The users and abusers are pretty much killing off common sense when it comes to rules and policies, both here and in the world in general.

                I made it two-thirds of the way through my age before I even heard the term "zero tolerance". Since then, it's become a way to avoid judgement and common sense. See, when you exercise judgment and common sense, the abusers are waiting in the wings to jump on the precedent.

                Old-timers around here will remember the days when there was a protocol for including affiliate links in a post recommending a product. The abusers killed that by making the forum unusable until the zero tolerance policy on affiliate links (posts and sigs) made it simple enough for even them to understand.

                There are a handful of people around here whose products I would recommend based only on who they are. Thomas is one of them.
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        • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

          Like I said, before there was some latitude depending on if the person was a known contributor and not a spammer.
          But who gets to decide that?
          That causes problems in itself.
          One rule for all is much fairer.
          A simple PM to the poster would have saved a lot of trouble too.
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          • Profile picture of the author Tom B
            Banned
            Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

            But who gets to decide that?
            That causes problems in itself.
            One rule for all is much fairer.
            A simple PM to the poster would have saved a lot of trouble too.
            Well, before it was up to the mods discretion. Now that we went to a member mod routine, it was probably more black and white.

            You're probably right, it might be a better black and white rule. Easier, cleaner and saves more time on the mod side.

            Ha! Leslie, you're trying to get me into trouble with pm spamming. Just kidding.
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          • Profile picture of the author Lance K
            Originally Posted by lgibbon View Post

            But who gets to decide that?
            That causes problems in itself.
            One rule for all is much fairer.
            A simple PM to the poster would have saved a lot of trouble too.
            Easier, less work for mods, less friction/complaining...sure. But fair? I'm not sure I agree with that.

            I have no problem with subjectivity in moderating practices. And I'm sure no 2 moderators would see the same situation exactly the same way a lot of times. It's just like a judge or a sports referee, their job is to enforce & sometimes interpret the rules. It's not an easy job and they deserve to have their decisions respected even if one doesn't agree with them (as long as there is no blatant abuse of power).

            Fair isn't always equal. That's life.
            Signature
            "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
            ~ Zig Ziglar
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            • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
              Originally Posted by Lance K View Post

              Easier, less work for mods, less friction/complaining...sure. But fair? I'm not sure I agree with that.

              I have no problem with subjectivity in moderating practices. And I'm sure no 2 moderators would see the same situation exactly the same way a lot of times. It's just like a judge or a sports referee, their job is to enforce & sometimes interpret the rules. It's not an easy job and they deserve to have their decisions respected even if one doesn't agree with them (as long as there is no blatant abuse of power).

              Fair isn't always equal. That's life.
              And how is a member to know if they're a "good" witch or a "bad" witch and able to say "I have something that might help you" or not?

              With my rep here as a big mouth, whiner, and whatever else I've been called over the last 8 years, one "I've got something" out of my mouth and not only would my post be deleted but I'd probably be banned for life as well.

              So how does a member know where their line is? Unless it's specifically pointed out to them, they can't know. And since nobody is going to point it out to them, it's just safer for them to keep their mouth shut.

              In my case, yeah, it's pretty much a no brainer where I stand here, and that's cool. But somebody who has been here for say a year or so and has been relatively quiet? Where does he stand? Does he know? Can he even have a clue?

              Like I said, better to keep your mouth shut which is why I am also for the blanket "no self recommendation" rule. But that's not my call either. The mod will ultimately make that decision.

              I'm just glad I don't have a horse in this race.
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              • Profile picture of the author Lance K
                Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

                And how is a member to know if they're a "good" witch or a "bad" witch and able to say "I have something that might help you" or not?

                With my rep here as a big mouth, whiner, and whatever else I've been called over the last 8 years, one "I've got something" out of my mouth and not only would my post be deleted but I'd probably be banned for life as well.

                So how does a member know where their line is? Unless it's specifically pointed out to them, they can't know. And since nobody is going to point it out to them, it's just safer for them to keep their mouth shut.

                In my case, yeah, it's pretty much a no brainer where I stand here, and that's cool. But somebody who has been here for say a year or so and has been relatively quiet? Where does he stand? Does he know? Can he even have a clue?

                Like I said, better to keep your mouth shut which is why I am also for the blanket "no self recommendation" rule. But that's not my call either. The mod will ultimately make that decision.

                I'm just glad I don't have a horse in this race.
                Umm...yeah. Well I don't know anything about all that.

                My point was that blanket rules aren't necessarily fair. Not to say that makes them wrong. House rules.
                Signature
                "You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want."
                ~ Zig Ziglar
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  • Profile picture of the author Frank Donovan
    If recommending your own products was allowed, it's not hard to see how that could be abused. For the same reason, drawing attention to your sig is also a no-no.

    It would be difficult to make exceptions, no matter how justified - too many folks ready to cry "favoritism".

    However, I've seen people recommend other members' products (with no affiliate link) and that's usually acceptable.
    Signature


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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

    I was about to post this question to the help desk but thought others may want to know. I was wondering what are the rules for recommending your own products when someone asks for recommendations.

    Someone just asked for an alternative to a software program and I offered up my own free programs as an alternative.

    My post got deleted. Not a problem, if this against the rules, but I would be interested in know the official take so I don't repeat this possible mistake.

    I honestly don't know if this was a rule violation or overzealous users reporting it as spam. I think it is obvious from my history here I am no spammer.
    Thomas,

    Blatant self promotion is against the rules, but what you're describing to me sounds legit. If I had seen it I would not have deleted it. One of the things the mods do take into account is the person's history, as well as the context of the post.

    Now having written that, we do have some new moderators around here and I have not been told exactly what kind of permissions they have. I know a couple have been brought on solely to focus on spam. The other two that were brought on board recently, I'm not sure about.

    If someone is asking for a specific piece of software and your software does exactly what they are looking for, then I would not have a problem with it at all considering your history here. This is one of those areas where it's a judgment call on the moderator's part.

    Thomas, was the entire thread deleted or was it only your post? If the thread is still there, if you wouldn't mind PM-ing to me so I could take a look at it.

    RoD
    Signature
    "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
    - Jim Rohn
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

      Thomas,

      Blatant self promotion is against the rules, but what you're describing to me sounds legit. If I had seen it I would not have deleted it. One of the things the mods do take into account is the person's history.

      Thomas, was the entire thread deleted or was it only your post? If the thread is still there, if you wouldn't mind PM-ing to me so I could take a look at it.

      RoD
      Thanks Rod. Yeah, that was how I thought things ran here since I had no problem before. Not that it is a habit or anything. I just didn't know if things changed or not.

      As for the post in question, it was just that post while my other posts in that thread remain.

      To me, it isn't that big of a deal and I wouldn't want you to go through any more trouble. I am thankful for the responses to clear up my confusion. Well, there is a whole ton more confusion but no one can help with that.

      I was just interested in what the official take was so I know better next time.
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  • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
    Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

    I was about to post this question to the help desk but thought others may want to know. I was wondering what are the rules for recommending your own products when someone asks for recommendations.

    Someone just asked for an alternative to a software program and I offered up my own free programs as an alternative.

    My post got deleted. Not a problem, if this against the rules, but I would be interested in know the official take so I don't repeat this possible mistake.

    I honestly don't know if this was a rule violation or overzealous users reporting it as spam. I think it is obvious from my history here I am no spammer.
    Thomas,

    I found the post in question.

    I can see now why the other mod deleted it (he's been one much longer than me). This is the line that did it:

    "You can get them from the link in my sig file. They are a straight download with no registration or optin required."

    You are not allowed to point people to your signature. A good work around would have been a private message to the original poster or making a post that didn't directly point to your signature.

    I hope that helps.

    RoD
    Signature
    "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
    - Jim Rohn
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    • Profile picture of the author Tom B
      Banned
      Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

      Thomas,

      I found the post in question.

      I can see now why the other mod deleted it (he's been one much longer than me). This is the line that did it:

      "You can get them from the link in my sig file. They are a straight download with no registration or optin required."

      You are not allowed to point people to your signature. A good work around would have been a private message to the original poster or making a post that didn't directly point to your signature.

      I hope that helps.

      RoD

      Thanks for looking into it Rod.

      So you can recommend a product but can't point to a sig link nor it seems link directly in the post.

      haha Anyway, it seems I am rusty on the rules so this was a good refresher and hopefully a reminder for others.

      Well, my main job should be making such cool stuff people recommend it for me. A lesson for us all!
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      • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
        Originally Posted by Thomas Belknap View Post

        Thanks for looking into it Rod.

        So you can recommend a product but can't point to a sig file nor it seems link directly in the post.
        Yes, you can recommend your product but can't tell people to look at your signature. Just let your signature do it's thing. If people like what you wrote, they'll look at it.

        If we allowed that, we'd go back to the old days where people would simply type "Look at my sig".

        haha Anyway, it seems I am rusty on the rules so this was a good refresher and hopefully a reminder for others.
        So was I awhile back when I took a long vacation away from the forum. I had to go in and re-read all the stickies again, which I've been told are in the process of being updated.

        Well, my main job should be making such cool stuff people recommend it for me. A lesson for us all!
        Exactly.

        RoD
        Signature
        "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
        - Jim Rohn
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        • Profile picture of the author Tom B
          Banned
          Originally Posted by Rod Cortez View Post

          Yes, you can recommend your product but can't tell people to look at your signature. Just let your signature do it's thing. If people like what you wrote, they'll look at it.


          RoD
          Ah, ok, that cleared it up perfectly. Thanks again.


          Thomas
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          • Profile picture of the author Steven Wagenheim
            I was under the impression that sending a PM to the person asking for recommendations was considered spam. As it is, it drives me crazy when people PM with some of the stuff that they PM me with. I just report it and move on. What's to stop the person who asked for a recommendation from reporting MY PM? Unless it's somebody I know personally, I wouldn't even take the chance.
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            • Profile picture of the author lgibbon
              Banned
              Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

              What's to stop the person who asked for a recommendation from reporting MY PM?
              One would assume that someone who was requesting a recommendation,
              and then received one, would be highly unlikely to report it, unless they've completely lost the plot.
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            • Profile picture of the author Rod Cortez
              Originally Posted by Steven Wagenheim View Post

              I was under the impression that sending a PM to the person asking for recommendations was considered spam. As it is, it drives me crazy when people PM with some of the stuff that they PM me with. I just report it and move on. What's to stop the person who asked for a recommendation from reporting MY PM? Unless it's somebody I know personally, I wouldn't even take the chance.
              Steven,

              If a person makes a post specifically asking for suggestions, they should expect to get PMs. That's not spam as long as it's not abused.

              I've rarely seen those kinds of PMs reported. In the rare chance when it does happen, I PM the person who reported it and advise them that they ASKED for suggestions.

              Repeatedly PMing a person, especially if they've asked to stop being contacted, that's definitely a problem and if that happens, definitely report it.

              RoD
              Signature
              "Your personal philosophy is the greatest determining factor in how your life works out."
              - Jim Rohn
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