Forum Moderators: open
I've posted links to my site as examples of coding, but other people have their URLs removed when asking for help with their code, etc.
What's the criteria for when a URL is allowed and when it's not? Don't want to embarass myself later by posting one inappropriately...
#1 - Is this a long-time, contributing member? They usually don't like urls, either, so what is the reason for this one?
#2 - Is there any hint of self-promotion
#3 - Was the url required, or could a "mydomain.com" work as an example just as well
This one raises my blood pressure, particularly when a poster lies and attempts to appear totaly unconnected to the URL dropped. Some of the mods are exceptional detectives (I'm learning) and these posts rarely remain on the board for very long.
Unless a drop is CLEARLY a TOS violation, it is usually discussed in the mods forum. Often clear violations are discussed as well. Every effort is made to avoid editing, we consider the poster's history here and at other forums and try to determine his motivation for the drop in question.
Someone who dummies up a question or an example just to have a link posted to their site, is diluting the usefulness of that particular thread and downgrading the board in general. That's when we edit. And we almost always email the person involved to explain -- we're not just arbitrary censors. In fact, we'd prefer never to edit anything.
One good thing to do is post your site in your profile. That way, you can make reference to the site without dropping the URL in the post.
While we may have to work to figure out the intent of a URL in a post -- you always know your own intentions. Never fear asking a legitimate question about your site.
>poster's history here and at other forums
>
The importance/weight of this can't be emphasized enough when we run our <do we edit> algo. We try and consider not only the volume** of posts, but also whether they have tried to contribute to the community, even if it's something as simple as helping to point someone to a past thread.
** This is one of the reasons WebmasterWorld does not add posts made in FOO to the member's profile tally, so the post count will more accurately reflect participation in the "on-topic" forums.
>One good thing to do is post your site in your profile.
>
Absolutely!
::we have uncovered teams of promoters working in pairs, framing seemingly innocent questions that are then "answered" by an url-drop from the other operator.::
Wow... that seems like an awful lot of trouble to go through for a few cents per click through! But then again, chain letters always seemed like an awful lot of trouble to go through only to have most everyone throw your letters away, so I guess you never know.
[edit] Ooooh... I just noticed I made it to "Preferred Member"! *blush* I'd like to thank the Academy...[/edit]
Have you considered just letting those with a specific number of previous posts to post linked URL's? Say 25 or 50 or so?Almost all URL dropping abuse comes from new users (usually their first post!).If someone has been proven a good community member by reaching some sort of number of posts, then maybe they can be trusted.
Seeing Brett seems to do magic things regularly with scripts and such, this could be linked to those category names "Senior Member, Member" etc...
This would solve problems with people thinking they have been unfairly treated as its one rule for all...
Edited by: rcjordan
>considered just letting those with a specific number of previous posts
Yes, Brett and the moderators have discussed it. You are absolutely right, those that come to spam the board are not regular contributors and their post count is usually "1" and certainly <10.
I think the consensus was that it would be confusing to those that did come here to participate, and -as you know- getting someone to post that first post is difficult enough.
More comments about the editorial process....
We do not operate in a vacuum here, our moderators and members are some of the ''best read'' on the web. How does this relate to url-dropping?.... You would not believe the number of times we see the post in question working its way across numerous forums and are already on the alert here. What appears to be a single, innocent drop to the members is known to us to be a part of a systematic campaign to advertise via forums.
While we operate as a group, and routinely post ''what do you think of this?'' requests for other moderators to review our own decisions on an url in question, WebmasterWorld is now a HUGE place and the individual moderator's sensitivity to the use of urls may vary from forum to forum.
And, on occassion, we will allow an url-drop to stand because we are knowledgeable about the product or service and wish to provide an opinion about its claims. These are very often negative reviews, and it doesn't take an online marketer too long to realize that a post here might not have the desired effect.
We are a highly targeted audience.
Q: If you produced search engine software, or webmaster software, where would you want to advertise it?
A: Right here.
With some SEO software running over $2000, it wouldn't be pennies per click - it could be dozens if not hundreds of dollars per click.
