Posted by CarolF/NC on 12/19/13 6:04pm
Msg #496676

Someone please explain advertising to me...

How can someone be advertising when they don't sell anything or make any money off a product? What is advertising?

Reply by ladyknc on 12/19/13 6:20pm
Msg #496679

Various online definitions is that it is a way to bring someone's attention to a product, service, need, etc. Usually for profit or a fee but can be to bring someone's attention to "something free".

Freecycle is place where you can advertise free items

Reply by MW/VA on 12/19/13 6:30pm
Msg #496682

Can I assume you're referring to this forum & advertising

not being permitted. If you read the "Rules & Guidelines" linked at the top of the page, I think it is covered there. We use our Profile for advertising purposes, but don't allow anyone to advertise on the forum, including competing sites, soliciting us for other purposes, etc.

Reply by CarolF/NC on 12/19/13 6:42pm
Msg #496686

Yes you can assume and assumed correctly...

I read that. I just fail to see why someone accused someone of advertising their website here when the site does not appear to be a competing site. I guess I'm not clear on what a competing website is.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/19/13 6:48pm
Msg #496688

Yep - here is the reason for no advertising.

Msg #129805 Intolerable Behavior Part I and
Msg #129807 Intolerable Behavior Part II

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/19/13 6:49pm
Msg #496689

^^^Harry's rules, not "ours." n/m

Reply by CarolF/NC on 12/19/13 7:04pm
Msg #496690

Well that makes sense but

WE CONSIDER IT A GREAT INSULT WHEN YOU ADVERTISE COMPETING PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ON OUR FORUM.

I don't see where the other website has a competing product or service. I guess I'm not clear about the other site.

Anyway, thanks

Reply by MW/VA on 12/19/13 7:25pm
Msg #496696

It's because you don't know the history of the posters &

why they created the site in the first place.
Sometimes it's better to listen & read.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/19/13 8:13pm
Msg #496705

Re: Well that makes sense but

Let's see...

NR offers BGCs, E/O insurance, training book, notary listing service, supplies, and a forum.

When you suck any notary dollars out of a notary's pockets, that is competition.

When a notary starts a notary forum that is free, one day that forum may compete with NR for notary dollars. That is what happened seven years ago. Nancy Notary pampered newbies and invited them via pm into her forum which was destined to become a paying notary forum & assn. It did not thrive.

It is very clear to me. I don't have a problem seeing how that is wrong to NR.

They built their membership list one name at a time. Others have tried to scrape names from it to advertise their own wares. It's rude, bad internet manners, bad form and it competes with NR.

Others just don't care and act like leeches using this board to advertise rather than paying Google, or using SEO to get their websites noticed on search engines. It's like going to McD and handing out coupons for a bakery in their eating area. Nothing hard to understand.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 12/19/13 8:36pm
Msg #496707

Well said, Brenda. Couldn't agree more! n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 12/20/13 8:29am
Msg #496721

Great post, Brenda and reminder

to those self serving, special interest groups that this is not the place to promote your own business, product, gimmick, group, etc. We have totally lost our focus and the purpose of this forum.

Harry's site is the best out there. It has survived and thrived for over a decade. Many have come and gone. Even though I've been a member of this forum since January 2003, it feels like we're still going through puberty. We haven't become a truly mature, well honed contributing membership. It would be great if we could move through this maze of confusion and focus on our business models for the coming changes in our industry without all the distraction of people trying to build their own infrastructures here.

Reply by Darlin_AL on 12/20/13 10:04am
Msg #496731

"building infrastructure" ......very good call! imho n/m

Reply by MW/VA on 12/19/13 7:30pm
Msg #496698

Thanks, Brenda. I had never seen those, since

I wasn't on this forum back then. Obviously, the same scenario has been tried quite a few times.

Reply by jba/fl on 12/19/13 9:33pm
Msg #496710

Thanks, Brenda...a good reminder of times past

and when people say today that we are rude, they haven't a clue.

Nice little walk down memory lane....

Now if we can get people to not shout!

Reply by CJ on 12/20/13 10:11am
Msg #496732

Re: Thanks, Brenda...a good reminder of times past

My understanding is that this forum is to help notaries connect so we can share our experience and wisdom. Whether people are trying to advertise other notary sites, or things like Tupperware or Avon, it's like having people over for coffee and chatting, and having a salesman bust in with his pitch. Very rude and inappropriate.

And for those who were not here a few years back, there was a LOT more rudeness happening overall. It seemed to me that any question or typographical error was an excuse to be drawn and quartered. I am glad they told people to play nice or leave.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 12/20/13 5:51pm
Msg #496786

Carol, I'm glad you asked the question and

that Brenda and others posted answers. While reading Harry's 2006 posts I couldn't help but think about some recent posts of my own for the Alabana notary group. I think I may have "crossed the line" more than once without realizing it.

I have emailed NotRot in the past asking for a little direction because the last thing I want to do is break rules, offend or take advantage.

I'm going to be more careful in the future. And to any Alabama Not/Rot members that I may have contacted about the group and Notary Day, I apologize.