Hi

Yes...Jenny_RR...& all...there needs to be some clarification.  And yes, we delete an average of 6-8 blatant advertisements per day.  The reason of course is because HairBoutique.com gets an average of 1 million hits per day and the HairTalk boards gets a lot of that traffic that visits the site.  I also refer people who read my various articles to the appropriate boards when I can.  So if I am writing about a celeb who wears hair extensions...I will refer them to this topic to bring in new members...that hopefully will participate.

Unfortunately there is always someone looking to take advantage of any situation and you can only imagine what they would have to pay for Google ads to be seen by that many people.  So they decide to "use" HairTalk for their own advertising.  Sort of like we become a free billboard sitting on a highway somewhere that they just slap their ads on.  :-)

This has been happening since 1997 when we opened HairTalk and HairBoutique.com.  So nothing new.

However, I like to do what is in the best interest of everyone.  I really don't have a problem with the way you guys currently do it.  What I have a problem with is blatant ads OR when someone is trying to sell products that compete with HairBoutique.com.  After all, that is how we fund these messageboards.  From the profits of the Marketplace.  Even then, I try very hard not to let very much advertising bleed into the boards because I really want this to be a comfortable place to hang out and share info.

I personally love the Hair Extension thread and it is one of my favorites of all the threads.  With that said....why don't you guys give me some of your feedback on what you think is appropriate/inappropriate and I will definitely try to find a fair way.  We are in the process of updating the Rules of Conduct for HairTalk but trying to be sure that we don't make them uncomfortable.

I like to think of HairTalk a little like a coffee shop like maybe a Starbucks.  You buy their coffee and maybe thigh busting goodies and in return you can hang and chat w/friends, play MahJong or talk about hair extensions.  I certainly would think Starbucks would have a problem if people showed up with Dunkin Donuts coffee cups or Hostess Twinkie snacks.  But you get my drift here.

Anyway...enough rambling.  Let me know what you all think about what should or should not be allowed w/advertising on these boards.

Thanks in advance & thanks for all the cool threads.  I just love em.

Karen

Jenny_RR wrote: metalgirl wrote: Hey Jenny and girls-Do we allow advertising on this board? Generally, no--we're not supposed to advertise, especially if our only participation in the boards is creating new threads advertising our own products and services. That never goes over well. Of course, quite a few members here are stylists, and potential clients do come on the site asking for references in their area. A few members are also hair sellers, so sometimes they chime in about how different products work, etc., which I, for one, find quite helpful. And a lot of us trade/purchase products to sample from each other. I don't know that these things would be considered advertising, though. Perhaps Karen should clarify exactly where the line is drawn.

I have no problem with someone who posts here on a regular basis offering advice and sharing experiences who also may be an extensionist or a supplier. Of course these people are going to get asked from time to time about their services or supplies, or their store or website. I would prefer at that point that they take their business private, but sometimes the general flow of conversation in a particular topic or thread goes into more detail on the board than what really is necessary but it dont bother me at all when its coming from someone who contributes in a valuable way also. Nor do I have a problem with a supplier or stylist coming here asking questions so they may find out what types of services or products that would help there business, or the customers. My advice to the stylists or suppliers that come here is that if someone asks or a thread starts to go in that direction, try to take it to PM so others dont make the accusations that you are advertising. (Please dont shoot the messenger)

The only ones I have a problem with, are the ones who come here strictly to advertise themselves for sake of their own profit, and have nothing valuable to contribute to the board.  My biggest peeve is when someone will post an advertisment, even in a thread that is of different topic than what they are advertising!