Disputes about the "referral links" rules...
By ivyoon
@ivyoon (673)
United States
August 25, 2007 12:11pm CST
Hello myLotters,
I've seen a lot of disagreement about the rules for posting referral links here on myLot. As far as I understand the policies, we are not allowed to post our referral links when we START the discussion, and we can't post them as responses where they are not RELEVANT to the discussion. What that means to me is this: If someone starts a discussion asking about ways to earn money online and they are clearly looking for programs, we can respond to them with our referral links.
We can also respond to them with links to our blogs or our own websites that have links to sites where they can earn.
I have seen so many people on here saying that their discussions were deleted, but nine times out of ten it was because they STARTED the discussion promoting their programs and including their ref links to the sites.
I have seen many people doing this, and myLot can't possibly catch them all, so I believe that those who have their discussions deleted had them deleted because another myLotter saw their link and reported it to myLot admin.
I hate to see people complaining about this. Although I've never reported anyone, I'm glad to see that people do. If they didn't, all the discussions on here would be filled with ref links. myLot wants substance here.
The guidlines I use when posting are as follows:
I never start a discussion that includes one of my ref links. I did in the past, but when it came to my attention that this was against myLot policy, I researched it and decided it's a good rule.
I never respond to a discussion with one of my links unless it is relevant to the discussion.
I don't put my links in discussions unless it's in the "make money" section.
If I'm not sure, I just refer people to my profile.
Am I wrong in the way I have interpreted the myLot policy?
They don't come out and say that we can't use links at all... at least, not that I've been able to find.
What's your take on this? Can we use links or not?
Do you use links, and if you do, where do you use them?
PLEASE DON'T LEAVE LINKS ON THIS DISSCUSSION, I'm only asking if you use links on myLot and how.
4 people like this
11 responses
@wonderful1 (2075)
• China
25 Aug 07
I've seen a lot of disagreement about the rules for posting referral links here on myLot. As far as I understand the policies, we are not allowed to post our referral links when we START the discussion, and we can't post them as responses where they are not RELEVANT to the discussion.
thank you for your discussion, lots of my discussions with referral links have been deleted. Frankly, it is hard to increase referrals, so i often like to post a discussion with my referral links in any site i joined.
i know if everyone is allowed to post referral links then all of referral links here, and we don't pay more attention to the site. it is just a tool for increasing referrals.
1 person likes this
@jpetals (314)
• Canada
1 Sep 07
Wow, I'm surprised mylot still hasn't replied to your email. I would be curious to hear what the exact expectations are, because the rules as they stand now, are ambiguous.
I try to find a balance about posting links. If it's appropriate, I feel I should be able to supply my blog or referral links, but if I'm answering a question about naming a baby, it would be most inappropriate.
I'm looking forward to mylot's reply.
Thanks for starting this discussion.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
4 Sep 07
I was expecting a reply from them today since the holiday is over now, but nothing. I've been set straight by some of the other myLot users, though. If you read the guidelines carefully it says
"Do Not post referral links to promote other affiliate programs or responses that are not relevant to the discussion..."
So, we are not allowed to post referral links at all.
I don't do it anymore.
I send PM's to friends who request info, or refer people to my profile, but I don't post links of any kind on my discussions.
@cempires (171)
• United States
31 Aug 07
LOL, you can excuse it any way you want it guys, but referral links are referral links, and MyLot does not want them in posted discussions, the "or" does not mean 'either or' it means 'neither this OR that' is allowed.
I have had discussions deleted where I have asked others to provide me with links to good sites, the fact is, they do clutter discussions, and promote spamming.
It is just as easy to converse with members here, and ask them to PM you a link, a great way of making new friends.
Also, you can always beef up your profile page with a little simple html and tweaking.
@Drumman (305)
• United States
28 Aug 07
Did you ever get any official word from MyLot on this subject? I know everyone is saying that we "shouldn't", but I'm not interested in weather we should or not. I'm interested in weather we "can" or not. Just like we shouldn't go to Vegas and gamble our life savings away, but we can.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
29 Aug 07
Good point. I did email myLot about it but haven't gotten a response as of yet. I'll let you know when myLot replies to me about it.
It would be good to know their view on it.
As far as I can tell from the guidelines, after reading them several times, we CAN'T post referral links at all, but, like I said we'll see exactly what myLot has to say about it.
@medstudents4 (826)
• India
25 Aug 07
hi ivyoon,even i am not fully sure and able to understand their guidelines concerning referral links..you know when it was my 2nd day here i asked about how can i earn more here without any link as i was totally new into it and it was a simple one line question..but so many people posted thier referral links related to other sites even when i have not asked about them and 4 days later i noticed that my post has been deleted when i saw my total number of posts written right next to my username..so i think they deleted it because people were not stopping to post such links..and i don't understand this thing that why we loose our points and earnings when somebody else has posted their link..!well i am much careful now and if i have any doubt concerning money making i specially mention in bold letters not to put their referral links..why should we take risk..i have one discussion which got resolved today in which nobody posted their referral links..and i was so glad that people co-operated..good luck to you too..
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
25 Aug 07
I agree, I think myLot should make it so that they can delete responses they don't want to see rather than deleting the whole discussion, but that would require a lot of time and more staff to view the discussions than myLot probably has at this point. It's probably very hard for them to monitor all the discussions as it is.
I guess we should all just refrain from posting ref links and refer people to our profiles or pm them the links instead.
Thanks for your response.
1 person likes this
@medstudents4 (826)
• India
26 Aug 07
you are welcome dear..i hope you soon get this issue resolved..and please do post about it again..have a nice day..
@johnbaby008 (54)
•
26 Aug 07
Thanks for your grant discussion. I am anewcomer and almost unaware of the sites policies and rules. I once also did the mistake of starting a discussion to promote my referral lunks. Now i know it's not allowed. Though my discussion helps many earn some cash i feel sorry for violating myLot rules.Thanks
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
27 Aug 07
Your welcome. As far as I have learned up to this point, we aren't supposed to put our referral links when responding either. We can refer people to our profile on myLot or send them a private message if they add us as a friend, but other than that, we can't put any links to refer them to programs in the discussions.
This is a good rule. I'd hate to see myLot become one of those sites that is just full of links and no discussions of substance.
The substance of the discussions here on myLot is what keeps me coming back. I've met a lot of great people here.
If you have referral links, put them on your profile page and refer people to them there, or add them as a friend and send them a private message. I think that's a good rule, and that's what I'm going to do from now on.
Thanks for your response!
@yanjiaren (9031)
•
25 Aug 07
Hello my friend..Well you are not allowed to post links to any program but if you have a blog you may refer people tolook at your blog or in your profile as you may promote your businesses or talk about them under making money online..But no referral links that is strictly out of bounds. I hope this helps..By the way I am flying to New YYork to see my Beloved Next week..I haven't seen him in six months!
@ryanphil01 (4182)
• Philippines
26 Aug 07
What mylot is trying to say is that referral links such as those bearing with referral id's directly inviting others to join or sign up under his name are the ones being prohibited by mylot. I have been persistent in avoiding using these direct referral links in any kind of discussions, however, I am using my personal referral link to my blog specially to members who are asking help or advice on how to earn money online. I see nothing wrong sharing your blog's url to others in this case.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
26 Aug 07
Yes, I guess a blog link can't be considered a referral link in and of itself. I am going to be very careful in the future though. I noticed that my star dropped from 9 to 8 since I started this discussion and I don't want this discussion to be deleted, so maybe it's best just to say "no referral links at all" and be done with it.
Thanks for your response.
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
27 Aug 07
I've been trying to clarify whether we're allowed to post referral links on our discussions for other programs that we are involved in online. From what I can tell, the only way to refer people is by pointing them to our myLot profile or sending them a private message.
Thanks for your response.
@drmusic (172)
• Mexico
25 Aug 07
AHHH!!! so i can poost them if someone asked me to get them riht? for exapme a memebr ask how do i join that program and then i post the link for him is that correct? in that case i have missed a lot of posible referrals U_U well i have to read the TOS with more caution the next time so i can knwo whern i can and when i cannot
@ivyoon (673)
• United States
25 Aug 07
Yes, as I understand it, you can post your ref link in response to discussions where people have asked for programs where they can make money online. Then your link would be relevant to the discussion.
What you can't do is start a discussion saying "hey, join this site... " and put your link there.
Or "Hey, look at my blog" and post your blog link there.
You can respond to people with your link though.
Like, say someone started a discussion asking "how do you make money online?" Then you could answer them with links to your sites. Or if someone wants to know how you get referrals or more traffic, that sort of thing, then you can give them links to get referrals and traffic.
As long as you don't start the discussion with your links in it or respond to a discussion about, say, Horses, with a link to a money making site you should be fine.
That's the way I understand it anyway.
thanks for your post!
