DO NOT spam the WA community!
There are rules that we all must follow in life, stopping when the traffic light is Red, move forward when it is Green, do not steal from people, do not kill people, plus too many more to list here. If you do not obey these rules you may get caught right away or eventually but you will get caught and be punished. Well there are rules that we must follow here at Wealthy Affiliate too and a few of you are not following those rules. The majority of you are but hopefully those that are not are reading this post. If they are not reading this post I will definitely Private Message them this blog next time I see them spamming the WA community.
DO NOT SPAM IN COMMENTS UNLESS…
The No Spam rules of WA are accessible to all members by typing the word SPAM in the search bar at the top of every screen. There you will see every blog, question, video, and training that was created here within WA that has to do with the word Spam, as seen in the below picture. To read the rules for No Spamming here at WA, click on the blog post by Kyle that I marked off in red in the image. By the time you read this blog post of mine you will more than likely see this blog listed there as well.
Number 4 of the Rules says…
4. No promotions with comments or chat. Although these may seem like subtle ways to promote, if you are caught doing this, you will likely lose privileges. If a link is posted out of an act to help someone, not sell something, that is OK.
That rule is pretty self-explanatory but just in case you still do not get it, for those of you who this blog is meant for, it means you should not include a link to your website in the comments or chat areas. I recently had a new member tell me in a PM that he started signing his comments with a link to his website. He asked if that was okay and I said no. I do not believe he is doing it anymore but I have seen a few other new members who are. If you are one of these members, STOP!
If you want to share the link to your website for the sake of just sharing it, then post it on your Profile page in the appropriate area. Better yet, share it on Social Media because that is where your potential customers are, not here within WA.
HELPING A MEMBER
As the rule says, “If a link is posted out of an act to help someone, not sell something, that is OK.” If a member has a question about something they are trying to do on their website, try to explain it to them in words or by providing a link to training or a blog post here within WA. If you cannot find something relevant and/or you have an example on your website, then it is okay to share it but do so sparingly.
I had a member recently ask me about sub menus and drop downs so I sent him a link to my website home page to show him how it looks on my website and if that was what he was looking to do. Now I have 3 websites, 2 with sub menus. One is my Video Game website and the other one is my WA Promotional website. I never share the link to my Video Game website unless it is absolutely relevant. The majority of the time I will share my WA Promotional website because I have nothing to gain from any member here at WA because what I promote on that website you already have.
WELCOMING & THANKING FOR FOLLOWING
Though it is not listed in the WA Rules it should be a matter of commonsense that you should not be providing links of any kind to New Members just joining Wealthy Affiliate. The ONLY people that should be posting links is Kyle, Carson, and the member who has invited/referred the new member.
There is no reason for you to be posting links for anyone who follows you unless they ask. If you write a lot of blogs like I do and you want to direct these new members to them, tell them that they can access the blogs on your Profile page. There is no need for you to offer a link or anything more, just a mention is all that is needed.
If you are trying to help the new member just tell them to click the big green Get Started Here button. Don’t give them a link to something they can see on the screen. Plus they have already received that link twice before from Kyle or Carson and the member who referred them. There is more than enough information overload here for new members, don't make it worse with your links.
I have seen a several members listing links to their blog posts when thanking a new member for a follow or welcoming a new member. Did that new member ask for your link? Most likely not. So why would you offer one…unless you are a Rankspanker? If the new member should reply to your greeting with a question then by all means help them out accordingly but don't offer a link to them unless they ask or you are the one that referred them.
YOU CAN SHARE YOUR LINK WHEN…
The only times you can share a link to your website within the comments area is when the training tells you to do so for either Feedback or to get Comments, the latter being important for Google rankings for pages and posts. If you type the word FEEDBACK in the search bar above you will find 2 links by Kyle where you can leave your website link and if you type the word COMMENT you will find 4 links by Kyle.
Recent Comments
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Thank you. It drives me up a wall when someone breaks the rule. Like you say, common sense applies... God Bless! ~Cathy
Thank you. This was very helpful to me. I had not yet broken the rule, and probably wouldn't have, as I understand the purpose of comments, etc. However, I really like your blog post because it was clear, direct, and apparently much needed because of the SPAM you have seen. Thanks again.
I normally do not rant like this but after seeing more subtle spamming going on lately, I need to say something.
Thank you Robert for posting this !!!!!!!
... you are absolutely correct - and hopefully members will remember that if they find others spamming they can click the REPORT SPAM button under "actions".
I'm so sorry, I didn't realize I did something wrong, the link in my blog wasn't an affiliate link, I remouved it, I will pay more attention to this, didnot mean to spam in any kind.
YES YES YES! This was what I was talking about. Thank you for putting it up, Robert and making it clear. I am grinning and smiling here. You're brilliant.. :)
Glad you enjoyed my ranting. It just annoys me when I see some members always posting links when they are not necessary.
Another great post, Robert, and so needed. One of the reasons people like WA is because of the "no-spam" rule. They feel safe and I think when any of us see spam we quiver and try to provide advice if we don't outright report them for spam.
Another good idea if someone needs to see an example of a site is to use one of Kyle's. There was someone on Chat today who wanted to see an About Me page so I provided the link to Kyle's. Because he is part owner and full-time teacher, who else is better to learn from. I rarely provide my own; it's on my Profile page and people can check it out if they wish. But like you said, our work is "out there". Thanks.
Good point Rick, about giving a link to Kyle's website. I need to bookmark his website. Thanks for that idea!
Rankspanker ha ha I have never heard of this, I know this is a serious matter but could not help bursting out laughing with this word... I usually only link to training if someone needs help do not think I have done anything untoward
No Cathy, you and everyone who has replied so far I have not seen break any of the rules. This blog is only directed at about 6 people that I have seen so far.
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Thanks Robert
Haven't been on board for a few months but always like to read your blogs. Will be back in the fall.
Pam
And you just popped in to read my blog? I'm touched, Pam. :-)