(I apologize in advance, as I’m certain this has been asked before, but I can’t seem to come up with the correct search parameters for a hit.)
What’s the SDMB policy on linking to a commercial site to answer a question? That is, if someone asks a question and I cannot find a non-commercial site with information on a topic, is it OK to link to a seller who happens to have quality information as well? Or if the OP is asking for simple information and non-commercial sites are all technical? (Inspired by this thread, although I found non-commercial info for the OP)
I’ve seen people link to Amazon, so by that token I should be OK, but I thought I’d check with y’all first.
Obviously a Mod will have to give the official answer, but if I can be allowed to give an unofficial one…
I see nothing wrong with linking to a commercial site per se, but self-promotion is frowned upon. If your purpose in posting is primarily to sell your own products, it is not likely to be viewed favorably.
However, linking to your own site if clearly informational and on-topic, especially if non-profit, seems OK. I hope so; I have done it bunches of times.
The Official Answer is: generally not, but it depends.
The guideline/rule is that we don’t allow direct links to commercial sites (by “commercial”, we mean sites that exist primarily to sell a product or service.)
We have allowed some exceptions in special cases:
Amazon.com is so well-known as a resource for information about availability of things, that we’ve sometimes allowed a link. This is still best done by asking the forum Moderator’s permission in advance (and so noting in your post.) We’ve allowed some, but I’ve removed some links that were just to an Amazon location for buying something, that provided no information.
We’ve allowed exceptions when a site has good information about a topic, and also happens to sell stuff. For instance, we allowed a link to Ian Rowland’s website in reference to cold readings, even though he sells stuff there.
We’ve occasionally allowed a link to a charitable organization that is looking for contributions (that’s “commercial” even though non-profit). Again, prior approval from a Moderator is required.
The bottom line: if there’s any doubt, ask the forum Moderator for an OK in advance of posting.. And, assuming you did get such permission, please indicate such in your post (that way, another Moderator won’t overrule the decision of the first Moderator. Don’t get too smart-alecky here, though – it’s not a case of Mommy says no, so ask Daddy. The Moderators do communicate with each other about this sort of thing.)
1.) Other posters have put links in their signatures or set their profile homepage to their sites which sell stuff. Is this sometimes allowed or have they obtained permission to do so?
2.) Personally, I dislike Amazon.com. Were I to link to a book, I would look to do so through Barnes & Noble or Borders. Is that less acceptable?
What about threads like this, where the OP asks for info about a commercial product, and links to their website? At the time the thread appeared, I wondered if it was a bit over the edge, but the mods either missed it, or let it go.
Sig links to an individual’s web page is usually OK as long as the main purpose of the page isn’t to sell something.
And the Mods can’t be everywhere and see everything. Squink, I’ve called that link to the attention of the Mods for that forum (via REPORT THIS POST button, available to all)… so we’ll see what they say.
Sorry if I was unclear. If the Amazon.com website provides INFORMATION about a book – plot synopsis, history of publication, whatever – then we’ve said it was OK to link there.
A link for the sole purposes of saying “Buy this book” would NOT (usually) be acceptable. A link to a page of information (that happens to sell the book) is acceptable because of the information. When it comes to book sellers’ pages, there’s a fine line sometimes, and we’ve been pretty flexible.
Repeating: the rule is that we don’t want links to sites whose sole purpose is to sell something. IF the site provides information, and also happens to sell something, we’re more likely to make exceptions.
Example: Someone asks for a plot summary of CASABLANCA. Poster A provides a link to DVDs-For-Less which provides a lengthy plot summary, and also offers the DVD for sale. That would probably be acceptable.
Poster B provides a link to the JOIN-THE-HUMPHREY-BOGART-DVD-CLUB which has no plot summary, but offers CASABLANCA as the introductory offer for only $5.99 if you agree to buy six more DVDs with Humphrey Bogart at normal prices in the next two years. That would NOT be an acceptble link.
Many times in GQ I’ve seen posts where the OP is somehing like, “I need to find a device that will do such and such.” Often a response will be, “You need something like this,” where the link is to a product in some online catalog. (Don’t click on this link–it doesn’t really work.)
Would this kind of usage be against board polices?
Repeating: it depends. It depends on the specific site and what it said, on the specific product and what it did, and on whether prior approval was sought.
I don’t know how much more clear I can be. We do not want people posting links solely for the sake of selling stuff; go to eBay or somewhere. We do not want commercial sites using our boards for unpaid advertisting; let 'em buy a banner. We do not want to have to monitor which sites have legitimate stuff for sale, and which sites have pirated merchandise, or are pure cons, or otherwise don’t deliver what they promise.
On the other hand, if someone is legitimately asking a question, we don’t want to be prohibiting a link to an information site, just because that site happens to also sell subscriptions or merchandise.
Dex, thanks so much for all your help. I think you’re being perfectly clear, or as clear as you can be in an “it depends” situation. When I feel I need to link to a commercial site (other than a lengthy description or piece of information at a site such as Amazon), I will check with the Moderator of the forum I want to post to first.
I think that’s all the usefulness we’re going to get out of this thread, y’all. When in doubt, check with a Mod!
