No links allowed!

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Do you ban people from putting link back to their forum, blog or website in their signature?

If so, why do you do this? Do you feel like its spam or are you insecure that your other members might leave if they see a link to a different forum in a signature?



Do you think its hypocritical for an admin to ban links on their own forum but then turn around and put links in their signature on every other forum they visit?

 

[Flurry]

I would find it hypocritical of them to do that. I know I don't do that kind of nonsense.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

I would find it hypocritical of them to do that. I know I don't do that kind of nonsense.

I agree. There isnt really a need for it. Just about every forum in the world (at least the majority of the ones Ive been to) allow people to have links in their signature. When I come across one that doesn't it just seems odd. Its as if they want to shield their members from the outside world and not let them escape.

 

[Flurry]

I agree. There isnt really a need for it. Just about every forum in the world (at least the majority of the ones Ive been to) allow people to have links in their signature. When I come across one that doesn't it just seems odd. Its as if they want to shield their members from the outside world and not let them escape.

Besides, they are only hurting theirselves by doing that.

 

[sbfc]

I think those rules are stupid yes, but I can understand the logic behind no advertising if you're a competitor.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

Besides, they are only hurting theirselves by doing that.

This is true. We should all help each other out.. If someone is taking the time to be involved with a community, they should at least be able to have a link back to their own forum / blog / website in their signature. In fact, that is a major source of traffic for some people.

Its beneficial in two ways:

• Other members/guests actually clicking on the signatures.
  
• Search engine bots finding the backlinks and improving their page rank.
  

Not allowing a link-back in a signature and calling it spam is pretty rude. Its not spam at all. The admin should be happy to allow people to link back to their own sites. After all, the members are taking the time to contribute that forum so the admin should show some gratitude and make it worthwhile to them!

 

[Ashley]

I think those rules are stupid yes, but I can understand the logic behind no advertising if you're a competitor.

I remember being on one advertisement forum that wouldn't allow competitive sites to be advertised. This is when I tried my luck with my own advertisement forum, and it wasn't allowed because my site was a competitor site. Kind of an odd rule, really.

 

[Corleone]

As long as the links serve an alternative purpose besides advertising, I could care less.

 

[Nebulous's iconNebulous]

As long as the links serve an alternative purpose besides advertising, I could care less.

I doubt many people have an alternative purpose for linking back to their site in their signatures.

 

[Corleone]

lol I'll be honest, I didn't read the entire thread. I only read the title.

I don't see why you wouldn't let people advertise in their signature, because that's why some, not all, but some members join and post around; however, after posting around for a while to get their signature with the link in it exposed, they may actually enjoy the site. I believe it equals out in pros and cons.



Plus, I'm sure most who don't allow it do it on other sites, so it's hypocritical.

 

[Ashley]

Personally, I myself don't ban people for putting links in their sigs. I mean, we're not an advertisement forum, but if people want to put links in their sigs, it doesn't bother me. I'll send out warnings though if their sig is too big, or if it stretches out on the screen, but otherwise, I don't mind if they have links in their signatures.

 

[hotspot]

I was banned on a forum once for having a link in my sig, it was so retarded and it wasn't even in the rules.

I would never ban anyone for having a link in their sig, it's stupid to do that.