Advertising Section

[Lord Vectra 414]

"Since a number of members have had problems with following rules in regards to advertisement as of late, it's time to clear it up. Creating a post or topic for the sole purpose of linking and driving people to other sites is considered advertisement, plain and simple, and is not allowed.

 

That also extends to profile use as well.

 

Advertising is only allowed in signatures."

 

Why can't there be like a section where people go to advertise and others can come and see? Signatures are cool but not everyone looks at signatures(or at least I don't) and no one wants a wall of text in their signature.

 

I've been thinking about this since I read the forum rules. which was about a month ago and it bothered me ever since. Well, maybe not "bothered" but some other word I can't think of.

 

How come there isn't/can't be an advertisement section?

[Jonnie91 1,149]

In the simplest of terms, this place isn't an advert board. There is difficulties enough with members signing up just to post one link, to send you off site to some other forum/place. We're creating a community, where people can create games and make friends. not sell/advertise their own forums/websites etc etc. 

 

Signatures are actually a great to advertise I use my signature to advertise my website and thanks to the addition to my signature the majority of links to my own website makes up a good portion of my websites' traffic. 

 

Although, you may not look at the signatures quite a few others do!

[Lord Vectra 414]

In the simplest of terms, this place isn't an advert board. There is difficulties enough with members signing up just to post one link, to send you off site to some other forum/place. We're creating a community, where people can create games and make friends. not sell/advertise their own forums/websites etc etc. 

 

Signatures are actually a great to advertise I use my signature to advertise my website and thanks to the addition to my signature the majority of links to my own website makes up a good portion of my websites' traffic. 

 

Although, you may not look at the signatures quite a few others do!

oooooooh okay. It make sense now. 

[Rikifive 3,411]

Yeah, if you make a fancy, shiny signature, then it can be really noticeable.

I agree with Jonnie. Imagine how many people would create an account just to advertise their stuff. There would be so many [members with 1 active post] around.

Even now, some people are creating an account just to ask one question, because they're having problems, then they're never showing up again.

Signature is enough for advertising.

[Lord Vectra 414]

Yeah, if you make a fancy, shiny signature, then it can be really noticeable.

I agree with Jonnie. Imagine how many people would create an account just to advertise their stuff. There would be so many [members with 1 active post] around.

Even now, some people are creating an account just to ask one question, because they're having problems, then they're never showing up again.

Signature is enough for advertising.

Maybe, I might make mine flashy and colorful like yours.

[xoferew 261]

I feel unsure about the definition of "advertising."  Like, if someone is looking for some graphics resource and another poster tells them they can find it on another site, is that not actually allowed?  Or discussing scripts that are hosted on another site?  Or posting a detailed explanation of one's game which includes a link to an offsite blog?  Or directing people to check out an official site for RPG Maker MV so it can be better discussed here?  I'd appreciate any clarification.  I don't want to do the wrong thing!

[Rikifive 3,411]

For me advertising is putting links to your stuff like your games, your sites etc. Let's say I'm having a site with music - advertising would be putting these links all over the place, so everybody could see this. If advertising would be allowed, many new members would come, just to post their links hoping, that many people will click it and he'll earn some money etc.. Imagine how many thread would be created just to say: "Hello, I have a music site, take a look: http://jkawesomefreemusic.com!"

 

If somebody is looking for resources, then he's creating a thread, where somebody can point him to some sites, as long as they're not rip-offs etc.

If somebody wants to discuss a script, then I think nobody wants to discuss about these things -> more likely they want help with scripts and they're also creating threads, where all the stuff happens.

I already saw, that link to official RMMV page was posted on RMMV threads and there's nothing wrong - it's an official page of stuff, on which this forum is based and you're not advertising anything - just pointing a direction, where to find more information.

 

Basically advertising is an act of putting links etc. everywhere to make people go to your site, so that you can earn something ~ there are sub-forums, where you can share your work etc. so if you have some RM resources, then you can post them here - still advertising would be posting link of your thread everywhere, where possible to make spam.

 

I may be of course mistaking, so if there's something wrong, you can correct me.

[Jonnie91 1,149]

For me advertising is putting links to your stuff like your games, your sites etc. Let's say I'm having a site with music - advertising would be putting these links all over the place, so everybody could see this. If advertising would be allowed, many new members would come, just to post their links hoping, that many people will click it and he'll earn some money etc.. Imagine how many thread would be created just to say: "Hello, I have a music site, take a look: http://jkawesomefreemusic.com!"

 

If somebody is looking for resources, then he's creating a thread, where somebody can point him to some sites, as long as they're not rip-offs etc.

If somebody wants to discuss a script, then I think nobody wants to discuss about these things -> more likely they want help with scripts and they're also creating threads, where all the stuff happens.

I already saw, that link to official RMMV page was posted on RMMV threads and there's nothing wrong - it's an official page of stuff, on which this forum is based and you're not advertising anything - just pointing a direction, where to find more information.

 

Basically advertising is an act of putting links etc. everywhere to make people go to your site, so that you can earn something ~ there are sub-forums, where you can share your work etc. so if you have some RM resources, then you can post them here - still advertising would be posting link of your thread everywhere, where possible to make spam.

 

I may be of course mistaking, so if there's something wrong, you can correct me.

 

Yup, this is pretty much correct  

 

Adding a link that is useful to the post (such as a request for free resources meaning a link to someone's resource website) that's fine, we don't mind that. 

 

Coming over and making one single topic saying something like:  

Hi I'm an artist (that has nothing to do with RM) this is my website come and buy my work

 

This is the most frustrating, and disappointing thing to see on the site, as I said before, this is a place to make a community, and (as someone who runs an RM related business) I get that advertising on forums is great and useful, that's fine. But at least make some effort, don't just swan in making one post, to advertise your work and then bump your post every three days going: 

 

"I'm still available for commissions/art/ to join my site, come to my website" 

 

It certainly doesn't persuade people to come to your site, make yourself known in the community, make at least some form of effort, if you can't do that, and make a thread worth looking at. then just put it in your signature and hope for the best. 

[Rikifive 3,411]

I agree. Something like this could be really frustrating.

 

There are sub-forums for this already. If you want to 'advertise' your work (RM related), then you can simply make a thread. (Resource showcase, commissions etc.)

I don't know what else could be advertised here. Stuff not related to RM? Does anybody needs that? There would be 1,000 of threads just to IDK, advertise YT channel or other things - but still you can have your LP thread here as long as it's RM related.

 

This forum is to gather people with similar interests, which are RM related things.

As for me - advertising in signatures is more than enough - your banners and links will be everywhere.

Some people don't pay attention to signatures, but some do ~ what is more a thread can die, (no posts etc.) but signature is always active - as much as you're posting here and there.

 

I don't mean that I don't care about anything - Personally I'm paying attention to signatures ~ sometimes good stuff can be found (scripts, resources etc.), but seeing many threads just to post a link would be so spam'my. Also amount of '1 post members'  would raise drastically - create an account to leave a thread of my thingie and don't care anymore.

 

Anyway signatures are more efficient to advertise stuff - if someone is not paying attention to it, then for sure he wouldn't pay attention to freshly created thread named "Hi, naew heree, thaere is mah musik XDDD". (=

Edited September 3, 2015 by Rikifive

[xoferew 261]

Thanks for the clarifications!  This forum feels a lot friendlier now that I understand that.  The rule is a good, commonsense one.

[Lord Vectra 414]

 

For me advertising is putting links to your stuff like your games, your sites etc. Let's say I'm having a site with music - advertising would be putting these links all over the place, so everybody could see this. If advertising would be allowed, many new members would come, just to post their links hoping, that many people will click it and he'll earn some money etc.. Imagine how many thread would be created just to say: "Hello, I have a music site, take a look: http://jkawesomefreemusic.com!"

 

If somebody is looking for resources, then he's creating a thread, where somebody can point him to some sites, as long as they're not rip-offs etc.

If somebody wants to discuss a script, then I think nobody wants to discuss about these things -> more likely they want help with scripts and they're also creating threads, where all the stuff happens.

I already saw, that link to official RMMV page was posted on RMMV threads and there's nothing wrong - it's an official page of stuff, on which this forum is based and you're not advertising anything - just pointing a direction, where to find more information.

 

Basically advertising is an act of putting links etc. everywhere to make people go to your site, so that you can earn something ~ there are sub-forums, where you can share your work etc. so if you have some RM resources, then you can post them here - still advertising would be posting link of your thread everywhere, where possible to make spam.

 

I may be of course mistaking, so if there's something wrong, you can correct me.

 

 

Yup, this is pretty much correct  

 

Adding a link that is useful to the post (such as a request for free resources meaning a link to someone's resource website) that's fine, we don't mind that. 

 

Coming over and making one single topic saying something like:  

Hi I'm an artist (that has nothing to do with RM) this is my website come and buy my work

 

 

This is the most frustrating, and disappointing thing to see on the site, as I said before, this is a place to make a community, and (as someone who runs an RM related business) I get that advertising on forums is great and useful, that's fine. But at least make some effort, don't just swan in making one post, to advertise your work and then bump your post every three days going: 

 

"I'm still available for commissions/art/ to join my site, come to my website" 

 

It certainly doesn't persuade people to come to your site, make yourself known in the community, make at least some form of effort, if you can't do that, and make a thread worth looking at. then just put it in your signature and hope for the best.

I agree, I make myself involved in the community. Its almost like school. U gotta get involved wit the community to be seen.

[amerk 1,122]

We're actually much more lenient than other sites, too. For example, some people may be hosting a game on another site or blog. As long as a topic for the game is created here, we do allow them to link to their site for the purpose of downloading the game, but people do this as a form of advertising for their site. So long as they're not posting the link as a sole means of derailing or driving away traffic, there are exceptions like the one I just mentioned.

 

Heck, I use RMN now for hosting my games (since they offer it free), although I only have one game so far.

 

And while we don't recommend or encourage it, we don't police ad-hosting sites (like adfly). It may discourage some people who may otherwise have downloaded your game or script or resource, but it's your perogative to use those types of hosts or not.

 

Others may house most resources on a site or blog and they can create a topic here and link there (as long as the site isn't known for rips). And sometimes a discussion may lead to a link if necessary.

 

The mods will make the decision if they feel something is advertising or shouldn't be linked, but big rule of thumb is to think about the reason for the link. If it's only purpose is to advertise something, it more than likely won't be allowed. If you're not sure, you can always send a PM to kaz and myself.