Promotional items

Re: Promotional items

Arlo Guthrie — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 16:11:29 GMT

A bit late, but thought I would just jump in here so there is something on record!

First of all, it is always absolutely fine for any member to come and tell others about a product or service, provided they don't stand to gain financially. So NJ-VN's post was fine. As Caro said, offline we tell each other about things we buy, and here is no different.

The aim of this site (and www.vetsurgeon.org) is to help its members. So I really don't mind if veterinary nurses and vets want to tell others about things that they stand to make money from. Normal good manners dictates that you don't ram things down people's throats, but fine to come and tell other members, particularly if you are giving something to the community at the same time. A good example of this is a vet on vetsurgeon.org who has started a thread on VetSurgeon and VetNurse about his app. As far as I am concerned, that's fine. He's a vet, so I'm more than happy for him to promote his efforts. Plus he gives a lot to the community on VS, answering people's questions.

Where I draw the line is when obviously large companies with substantial marketing budgets use the forums to promote a product that they should be advertising. However, this very, very, very rarely happens.

The other stuff, like posts with links to ugg boots. That is just spamming. No need to get worked up about that. Just let me know and I will delete it. They are not doing it to try and sell you something, but to have a valuable link from this site to theirs which pushes them up the search results.

The obvious clues in deciding whether a promotional post is OK are:

Who posted it? If it is someone who has been a member for a long time, has a completed profile, and has posted a lot, then it is probably fine.
If it is posted by someone who has made less than 5 posts, it is probably spam.
If it is posted by someone who clearly represents a big company, the first question is whether they have an advert on the site (or have had one recently). If they do, then I don't mind them discussing their products in the forum, provided the discussion is a constructive one, and not just blatant promotion. If they don't, then I do.

Re: Promotional items

Roseann21 — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:45:56 GMT

Good heavens, don't some people get hot under the collar? What a load of fuss over something so trivial. I did originally, genuinely think that it was a promotional post by someone who would gain by it - I don't "know" NJ so how was I to know? I have objected to other people promoting services/items where I thought they were doing it for PERSONAL gain (hence not being much bothered by the Olay one).

So... I apologise to NJ. But I still don't think the forums are the place for this sort of activity. I have already said why.

I wonder if there is anything really important going on out there.... off to check

Re: Promotional items

NJ_VN — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:26:23 GMT

Thanks guys

Re: Promotional items

Katie Mansfield — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:08:44 GMT

The big difference being - NJ we know you - this bird that's posting about handbags - we don't. NJ - you were trying to be helpful. Handbag lady is just out for herself.

NJ - don't worry about it, I think if I'd found something I thought was useful I'd've done exactly the same thing,

K x

Re: Promotional items

Sal the 1st — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:50:42 GMT

not a problem - as I said it will appeal to some people who are interested but not to others that arent interested. But we are all different so you cant please everybody - and I hope I demonstrated that by posting the links a bit higher up

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/forums/t/17012.aspx

Rose didnt find this one inappropriate - maybe because it was of interest, but I dont see your post as being anything different - so if it is ok for one why should it be different for another.

I see we have been spammed this morning - now that is something different

Re: Promotional items

NJ_VN — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:28:04 GMT

Hi everyone!

First of all, Im sorry to have caused upset to any of you..

I genuinely didn’t know we were not allowed to post recommendations for companies..

I don’t own this company, I just used them and found them helpful, So I figured others might benefit.

Again, sorry for any upset/anger that I may have inadvertently caused.

NJ

Re: Promotional items

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:25:16 GMT

I dont own Arlos company l promote them, l dont own the small carpet shop family run in wigan and thats just 2 examples l do it for lots of places all over that l have heard good things about or who have done me a good service l promote them since when does "you have to own something" be a reason to try and help small companies that have done you a good service and you are impressed with or a friends small company (steph and her mates chocolates) and numerous others. And l disagree with Sal folks have always put up details and links of friends or small companies that have done them a good service and l joined the site within 2 weeks or less of it opening back in the mists of time l will say it has been cyclical so sometime a lot other times no adverts for ages. I do agree it has changed a lot since we joined but that is te nature of sites they grow or wither new join old leave. Arlo didnt used to own the site originally it was Novartis.

Re: Promotional items

Sal the 1st — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 08:10:35 GMT

[quote user="Rose Roche"]

I may well be wrong, and no doubt someone will tell me if I am(!) but I thought websites like this relied on paying advertisers to be able to continue. If everyone was allowed to advertise for free, then presumably the website would not be able to carry on. I personally think the website is great, and wouldn't want to see it jeopardised by this sort of activity. I don't have a problem with general recommendations, but putting on links, etc, I think is maybe a step too far.

A while ago I objected to a far worse "recommendation" for what I presume were fake Ugg boots. Is this the route we want to go down? Just saying.

[/quote]

I do agree with you. - the site has changed a lot from the one I first joined. The olay ad - and that was blatant advertising annoyed me,ok it didnt include a link but I saw it in the same class as the uggs post. Like I said before some people will be interested in a product and some wont be and to some people it would be relevant and to some it wouldnt - so I guess for those that want this sort of thing its fine and for those that dont you just have to ignore it or if it annoys you enough stop using the site. I recall getting annoyed about people blathering on about different hair straighteners at one bit ( probably because I didnt find it relevant) phones are another one that pee me off but everybody is different.

Re: Promotional items

Roseann21 — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 22:38:05 GMT

[quote user="Caro Laithwaite VN,"]Am pleased to say that my posting this will have bounced this post up to help NJ [/quote]

Why would it "help" NJ - it's not her company, is it?

Re: Promotional items

Caro Laithwaite VN — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:07:54 GMT

I dont have a problem with folks putting up links and items IF they are regular posters and nothing l have seen out up by REGULARS not spammers clashes with advertising. If it helps friends out with small businesses or similar whats the problem.The post will generally soon be swallowed up by others.

Am pleased to say that my posting this will have bounced this post up to help NJ whereas by now if left it would have dissapeared.

Re: Promotional items

Roseann21 — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:19:41 GMT

A while ago I objected to a far worse "recommendation" for what I presume were fake Ugg boots. Is this the route we want to go down? Just saying.

Re: Promotional items

Katie Mansfield — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:20:32 GMT

and NJ is trying to suggest something that others could use in practice - not a completely unrelated product / company.

K x

Re: Promotional items

Sal the 1st — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 19:30:22 GMT

[quote user="Rose Roche"]

This is blatant promotion of a commercial company and I have reported it.

[/quote]

I agree but then are so many posts on here these days

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/forums/t/16717.aspx

granted this one was in response to a question but its the same thing in my book

http://www.vetnurse.co.uk/forums/t/17012.aspx

and this one

and others I have seen all too often but cant be bothered to look for I suppose some people find them useful and some find them annoying

Re: Promotional items

Sarah Cahill — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:28:42 GMT

Are you not allowed to share/recommend companies?

Re: Promotional items

Roseann21 — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:51:09 GMT

This is blatant promotion of a commercial company and I have reported it.