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[Mario Sanders Company: Life Force International Contribution Level: 6]

Thanks, Claire. Your article clears up a lot of things for me. I presently work in an environment where I do not get too much of a chance to talk to other people. Different departments just do not communicate with each other. There is nothing to talk about that's related what each is doing. So my meeting people skills have gone to mere nothing. Procrasination sets in of not speaking to anybody. I try to stay motivated in learning intenet marketing so when the opportunity arises I will be prepared and trainned in what to do. Staying motivated is one key I use to fight procrasination.

[Barb Doyle Company: Young Living Essential Oils Contribution Level: 2]

Hi Claire,

I liked your article. I have found that the things that hold
most people back are fear and lack of belief. Have a great
day!

Peace, Health and Prosperity,
Barb Doyle, Sc.

[Dereck Arreguin Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 3]

Claire,

I completely understand why you would post the link in your forum post. Sometimes (and yes this does include total noobies) it's the best way to gain exposure to your content as most wouldn't know where to look to find it.

Plus your link isn't to some sales page or even capture page. It's a link directly to your article. Oh and I also like how your post isn't titled "THE BEST COMPANY IN THE WORLD, MAKE MILLIONS OVERNIGHT". That's something a spammer would do.

It's relevant information for those who are interested.

Looks like you are using the system instead of abusing the system to me.

<Bump>

[Dereck Arreguin Company: Numis Network Contribution Level: 3]

No, I understand the need for sharing the network marketing companies link like that and it is a better way to hide it.

And it's a smart move, it's just that sometimes people don't catch on (I'll admit... like myself) the first go around... at least in forums.

Notice , I do this on articles and that can be found at the end of my xango home business article. It's inside the about author box but the reader doesn't know that.

But seriously hold off on those who at least make an honest effort.

Public bashing is not regarded by those who it's directed to as constructive criticism. Nor does it bode well on the community as a whole.

So the lesson should be, post your information sure... but when linking to it make sure to send people to the right page with actual text instead of "CLICK HERE" or misleading title techniques. Like this Free Traffic posting by a "REAL SPAMMER".

What matters most in the content and if the marketer doesn't understand the principle of building the relevant information perfectly, then they will in the future.

Hopefully...

[Cynthia Acoff Contribution Level: 4]

Brrrrr! A little cold here! "Smile and Move".

[Jagan Krishnan Contribution Level: 2]

Claire, let me answer your question.

Don't think that I am bashing anyone up and read this post with a little bit of patience. I know that what I have written may piss off some people but that's ok.

The fact is that a lot of people here have no clue what is and what isn't allowed in a forum. I mean A LOT.

First of all let me get some ground rules straight and define what is spamming actually?

Any value provided without anyone asking for it is SPAM.

Writing articles in the forum section. SPAM.
Linking to your blog in forum section. SPAM.
Linking to your articles in BN in forum section. SPAM AGAIN (SHOCK).

But I don't think you are a spammer. You obviously didn't know this but you can correct it.

In reality what content constitutes as SPAM in forums is a little bit of a grey area.
Technically any value given without someone asking for it is SPAM.

Now James Stein has a great thread on Article Marketing. Its an article written in the forum section.
But no one calls it a spam (and I don't think its spam too).

Why?

That article was written because of a lot of people kept asking James questions regarding Article Marketing. Yes I agree the article is self promotional but not even a single guy thought that was SPAM.

The thread got praised over and over and over again while articles from other marketers were being called SPAM. You know why?

THE NEED. A lot of people wanted to know about article marketing and many approached James.
It was evident from a lot of threads. James wasn't an ABN member for his own personal reasons. So the only outlet for him to give out his content was the forums. But even if he was an ABN member and had posted that articleof his in the forum section, he wouldn't have been called a spammer.

When Ferny posted his SEO Silo Structure video (or the link to it) on this forum a long time ago, people thanked him.

No one called him a spammer. Why?

The reason is because VALUE is relative.

If you go to a forum where people have no clue about attraction marketing (hypothetically speaking) and post an insightful article about attracting leads, you will be hailed for it. But try doing this here where everyone knows about this and you will be called a spammer.

Technically posting in the forum section is spam but its not all black and white.

Imagine this to be an SEO forum with most people knowing about advanced SEO stuff. I now go out there and post an article on how to do basic backlinking. Would I be called a spammer?
Sure. I would get slaughtered.

When there is truly exceptional value (nothing short) provided, you may not be called a spammer. That's what happened in case of James and Ferny.

But this type of value cannot be classified into some category because value is relative.

What is valuable to me may be the same old rehashed repetitive content for someone else.
Similarly what is a great article for someone new to attraction marketing may be a piece of junky trash for me.

Its relative.

And the reason why Dean and James started posting links is because they believe its no point in talking about this again and again. Dean had said he tried doing to a long time back and gave up.

So they take up threads (which are spam) and they start posting their links. They are playing around.
They do it because

1. no one reads threads having links
2. the moderators are missing here
3. no one is gaining, so why not build up some backlinks to their site (in a very sarcastic attitude)

Just give this whole issue a thought.

Your article is valuable to some. That's why they give you those great comments.
But it is also worthless to some who know their stuff.

Now the best place for posting is the article section where interested people will view, like and vote for your article.

The uninterested will stay away.

But when you bring in this article in a forum, everyone sees it.

People who find it valuable say so in their replies.
For others it is the same stuff they had known a long time back.

If you were the only one doing it here, it wouldn't be much of a problem.
But now I see every tom, dick and harry doing it.

So naturally the frustration builds up. And eventually it pops out after a point.

If I were to summarise,

1. I would say that your content is good. But everyone may not find it thought provoking or revolutionary. So post your articles in the article section and stop putting your links here.

2. James Stein, Dean are giving it back in a hard way by hijacking threads, posting links to show how irritating spamming really is. If this is the way people are going to learn about not posting links, so be it.

Don't think I am being negative or anything. Just stating some plain facts.
As I said, think about this whole issue, stop posting links in forums and you will be fine.

[Daniel Attard Company: Neways Worldwide Contribution Level: 3]

At this stage I would like to hear what Mike Dillard has to say. After all hes the website owner. He makes the rules...whatever they are. We are in an industry were there is no real set system to follow. I know a marketer who just put an ad on a newspaper and built a massive downline in months. Then again when I put an ad up, I got little or no results.

Now BN is owned by Mike and I think he should do something about all this once and for all. I am sure he can come up with an awesome idea.

James I like your innovative thinking, but sometimes I find you too harsh. Its good to know that you stand firm by what you believe in, but sometimes bashing sucks. Then again we are all different minds here and different opinions.

Daniel Attard

[Daniel Attard Company: Neways Worldwide Contribution Level: 3]

What you say is very correct James. That being said, I still think that Mike Dillard should put his foot down about this...

Daniel Attard

[Jagan Krishnan Contribution Level: 2]

What you say is very correct James. That being said, I still think that Mike Dillard should put his foot down about this...

Daniel Attard

Daniel, check out what Mike Dillard said when Larry Beacham posted an article in the forum section.

Hey Larry, you always have great content, but let's try and keep this kind to the articles section, and reserve the forum for specific questions or conversations

Mike

Here's the link - viewtopic.php?f=2&t=22568#p86869

I think that there are 4 kinds of possible ways to spam:

1. Obvious Spam - Posting irrelevant comments just to link to some site.

2. Posting Articles - Spam. Mike Dillard prefers the articles to be only in the article section.

3. Posting Links To Blogposts/Websites - If you start a thread linking to YOUR site, its SPAM. Plain and simple. This is the rule in every forum.

4. Posting Links To Articles Present Here - I think its spam but we have to wait for Mike's response.

Here's my view on what he's gonna say:

Now how would a guy who invests over $40,000/month on a site like threads started by people that contain just links and no comments.

Now if Mike says that is not SPAM, every guy will start posting article links in the forum. So if BN gets an average of 15 new articles a day, be prepared to see 15 new link threads. We all know that by posting a link on the forum, an average article gets more views (because newbies click on them) and it has a better chance of making into the "Most Popular" list.

All the normal threads would get pushed down because of this link threads. This really did happen a week back.

So what do you think Mike is gonna say?

I am supremely confident that Mike's gonna not want that to happen to his site. Because if he even indicates its OK, then all hell will break loose.

So I THINK it is very clear as to what constitutes SPAM.

I think the only thing that needs to be done is to put out the forum rules link prominently on the front page.

Jagan Krishnan

[Daniel Attard Company: Neways Worldwide Contribution Level: 3]

OK so forums are for conversations and specific questions. Enough said. My verdict hence is that posting articles on the forum section is spamming.

Daniel Attard