As the site is growing in popularity we are having more businesses trying to advertise their businesses on the forum. I have deleted two threads this morning which don't (in fairness) break the current rules. The rules being you can't promote on the forum, leaving website addresses or blatent advertising.
One of the threads this morning read something like - "OMG there is an amazing cake shop you must look at, visit my page and follow the link".
Putting a link on there own page isn't the problem.
BUT then promoting the link (or I have found a great place to get wedding dresses from look at the website address on My Photos) IS a problem.
Please feel free to delete, even if you are not sure. We MUST keep the forum clean.
I read on another wedding related business forum (naming no names), that one of their members suggesting joining as a bride and then directing traffic to fellow members. Fortunately the members on that site have scruples and said that that is not good business practice (he then retracted the comment). But it clearly demonstrates the problem.
Remember eben our paying clients are NOT allowed to plug, advertise, hint or promote in anyway.
lol i was gonna start one saying "omg check out where I got my wedding ring from" - you can trust me...? :) lol it was only cos I got it today and I loooove it and it was cheap :)
sorry, I was here this morning and I missed that, have not had my mental health the last two weeks :P
18-09-10
Now a married lady :)
Im a rebel me
CommentAuthorlemondrops
CommentAuthorLindsey Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ
I personally think the site is steering away from what it startd as. I understand the whole non avertising thing but dont agree with deleting references to wall. Tbh the last uproar did it for me....made the site a really unhappy place, and dont think i will be on here any more.
i have to be honest here that i personally dont have a problem with people posting saying that "if you would like a fab site to look for (shoes) then il post a link on your wall,but i think what J is getting at is the competition factor,we have suppliers on here that pay to advertise selling,dresses cakes invites socks and so on,so when someone posts iv found a great site for (socks ) if you want the link let me know then theres were the problem arises as it could potentially cause friction with advertisers
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
I can see both sides here - I totally get the advertising thing and the need to raise revenue through this route. However, most people come here to get advice from people to help them plan their weddings and a lot of that does involve buying stuff, so it's natural that if you like something you would want to know how to get it, and to want to share good stuff because people here are lovely!
Maybe you could post that you are happy with something you have bought and be able to put up piccies and only be able to give links if people explicitly ask? I think that's pretty much the rule at he moment, right?
CommentAuthorLisa"n"Iain
edited
as part of planning for my wedding - on a budget!!! - i have found peoples "check out this"- "i found a cheap" etc etc soooooo useful - its saved me loads - and even got myself a photographer for FREE!! - i do understand your point J- but its going to get to a point where we cant say where we got this that the other from and people WILL go elsewhere!! at the end of the day we all want a bargin!!. To be honest - i dont really understand now what we can or cant say!!
CommentAuthorMrs (Dove) Pidgeon
I think its a case if someone asks you can tell, but you can't just announce your bargains.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
CommentAuthorLou lou
i'm getting confused as what we can now mention n what we cant :( i'm stating to loose interest in the site as i dont know what is appropriate in replies etc?
CommentAuthorKizzy81
So if you see something that you don't want to buy as it's not right for your wedding, but someone on here has hinted or blatantly said they are looking for it, then you're not allowed to share it?
Can someone just remind me what the point of the forum is?!? It's like Big Brother is watching us!
CommentAuthorAngelaeris
would it not just be better to allow the people who have paid to advertise a section on the forum that us ladies can go trawl through when we're looking for something specific. That way the advertisers cant complain they're missing out on advertising? Just a thought?
21st September 2011 the day I became Mrs Davis!
CommentAuthor
Lou Lou - I feel exactly the same - I've loved this site but am now worried about what I can say and what I can't. I've had several bargains following recommendations including my wedding wellies for if it rains. I've had a quick look at a couple of other wedding forums - including one run by a well known bridal magazine and they don't have trouble at all with links/recommendations.
CommentAuthorMrs (Dove) Pidgeon
I like this forum as there is no advertising allowed! It gets in the way of impartial advice and help from brides and grooms.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
I think it's good that there's no advertising by suppliers directly on the forum, but it seems too strict that someone can't find a bargain or something they think others would like and not pass it on. I understand on the asking if you after something but you may not know that you want something until you are told about it, if you see what I mean. I think that means that people are too tied from giving the impartial advice that is one of the main points of the site.
CommentAuthorLisa"n"Iain
i think a section (as Angelaeris said) would be a good idea- somewhere the advertisers on here can post about and somewhere we can post about our bargins too - maybe a seperate thread (dont know what-lol) called "advertisers only here" etc etc- that way dont we all win!!
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
i like the idea of a links section but the advertisers already have a section,under suppliers,,theres loads there,i was looking for something yesterday but managed to find it and at a good price
CommentAuthorLisa"n"Iain
edited
if we have a joint thread where we and advertisers can post then maybe we can bargin with the advertisers a bit lol!!
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
maybe a seperate thread entitled "if your looking for",,then if someone finds something usefull they could put "cufflincs" forinstance then messages could be left on the persons wall if the link is requested
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
or even an "im looking for thread,then people can post directly on to walls
CommentAuthormrs pinkalice
I thought the whole point of the forum was to share ideas, don't see the point of it if you can't name anything!
CommentAuthoriluvcakes
I am so confused as to what I now can and can't say ...... I have to be honest and think that the site for me, is losing it's appeal and sparkle :0( xx
Became Mrs Robinson 4th October 2012 xxx
Can't wait to do it all over again on the 4th October 2017!!
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
by enforcing to many rules people are going to lose interest,so maybe we can all work around this and keep everyone happy,,pleaseeeeeee lol
CommentAuthorMrs (Dove) Pidgeon
I don't think J is saying we can't say where we got somehitng if people ask for help.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
CommentAuthorLisa"n"Iain
edited
i think J needs to clarify "exactly" what we can or cant say!! Personally so many posts on here are about "i need help to find best man gifts" or where can i get ........ from? - how are we suppose to help if we cant say- lol Personally i find this confusing- but maybe its just me
from J post at top:
"One of the threads this morning read something like - "OMG there is an amazing cake shop you must look at, visit my page and follow the link".
Putting a link on there own page isn't the problem.
BUT then promoting the link (or I have found a great place to get wedding dresses from look at the website address on My Photos) IS a problem.
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
That's the thing though - there does not seem to be any clear way of defining what can and can't be said, because the advertisers want something different to the forum users. It's great that people can ask for help, but it seems silly that people cannot say if they have found something good and want to share. It just feels too complicated and not fun. I am not at the stage of buying bits and pieces - just nattering about things - but when I am this does not feel like the best place to do it with all the 'you can do this' but 'you can't do that'. Too complicated for something that should be simple!
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
Yes Lisa - I found that unclear too.
CommentAuthorMelly
I think its all getting a bit complicated as well, but i've said this for a long time when it comes to advertising. Even now, people mention shop names, but yet cant mention a link,i personally dont see what the difference is. xx
CommentAuthorMrs Joyce
at the moment i tend not to post on here no more incase you offend someone or you get into trouble with what your posting, personally i feel that what is the point in a wedding website if your not allowed to say "by the way ladies i have just got a great bargin on bubbles at this shop if anyone is searching for them" isnt that what we are ment to be doing as brides to be heling other brides find bargins and help with other wedding quires??
just my opinion!
xx
CommentAuthorwendy woo
well to be honest i think its all the wrong way round,bhs, ebay and some woman called ann get plugs on here all the time(even by the moderators...ann...ann...ann..whoever she is) and the poor woman with the cakes , who has paid alot of money to advertise on this website cant even have a mention.is that right?
CommentAuthorjojomc5
well i think if some1 is advertising a certain site you would know because they would prob be a new member.like if 1 of us that have been here a while advertise something we have just bought etc.you would know we are just sharing our bargains an nothing else...like i said if its a new member whos only ever visited uk bride say once then they prob are advertising their own companies..sometimes though obviously newbies advertise but if they are gettin married pretty soon,some1 who has a while to go maybe are only gettin ideas at this stage..does that make sense?? i know what im tryin to say lol xx
CommentAuthorMrs (Dove) Pidgeon
Wendy- Ann can no longer be mentioned by name- the mods agreed that to be unfair.
Now a extremely happy German housewife and now a Mother!!!!
Islay Jean born 24th June in Hannover.
CommentAuthorLisa"n"Iain
yes it makes sense jojo- lol
J?????? are u able to answer us yet??
CommentAuthorjojomc5
thank god for that thought i was gonna be here all nite tryin to make the point lol x
CommentAuthorwendy woo
i think if you have got a bargain or are really happy with someone you should be allowed to share it especially if you have found them on here.i rang one of the advertisers on here about a cake,she said i was the only business she had had from here and wouldnt re join next year.J once said withouy the advertisers we wouldnt have a site so maybe if we like something about them we should be allowed to plug them
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
unfortunately wendy when we have people just joining as jojo said just to come on the forum flash post links to their sites and services its not very nice.. i do agree that we should be able to say if we have found a bargain and we should be allowed to post it,, last week alone i had to delete 8 posts from people just joining to promote their own business instead of buying advertising space,,
CommentAuthorHoxxyhula
I agree that that is out of line.....
CommentAuthorwendy woo
i totally agree but the poor cake lady got deleted and she paid 400 quid to be on here and ann who's paid nothing must have had 200 mentions since christmas
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
can i ask what cake lady,,,and surely if thats the case its up to J to confirm or in this case deal with,J makes the rules we the moderators only enforce them as best we can
CommentAuthorMrs Turps (Nicpep)
heres the dilema. I would love to start a thread about my wedding ring that arrived today. Its a fab ring at a fab price and I want to share that. Also the company were great and they deserve to be talked up. Now, people around here are gonna know that I'm being geniune and just sharing a bargain, cos you know me. But if I was a newbie then you'd think differently. But we cant say only users who have been here for x amount of time can do it - there has to be a blanket rule.
I'm not really contributing, just trying to work through this in my own mind, hopefully I've helped :P
18-09-10
Now a married lady :)
Im a rebel me
CommentAuthorwendy woo
i think it was J who deleted the post ,not sure if it was the same cake lady i am using,from lincoln,
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
thats a new one on me
CommentAuthorauntiewoo
not wishing to be pedantic-but "anne" is not the name of the company-and is not mentioned in e-mail address etc! How can that be advertising? It's just a name! Posting stuff(links) on peoples walls seemed to work for us-but to make it fair to suppliers-why can't they do the same? ie-if someone requests help looking for something and we post links-then they could post their own link-if their option is better we would choose them -if not...it's a competitive market place!
CommentAuthorLeanne
Well i'm jumping in now & asking a question............is it all links that we can't put in posts or just one's to do with advertising?? As I have replied to a thread today & as the question asked had already been covered I found an old post & posted the link to it, but I have just gone back to it and it has been deleted, why when it's nothing to do with advertising, mods???
Leanne
Just Married 22.5.10
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
if it was a link from a previouse post on here then it shouldnt of been deleted
CommentAuthorKizzy81
Isn't it fairly obvious when someone's advertising and someone isnt? Believe it or not I work for a company that sells the kind of products that brides could be interested in but I haven't mentioned it once as I know it's against rules. I fail to see, however, why I can't mention things like the lipgloss favours which I KNOW helped a lot of brides to be out! Can't we all just play it by ear? Us old timers will report any suspicious behaviour and if it's not reported, it could be argued it's not doing any harm?!?
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
its advertising links that J has the problem with
CommentAuthorMrs Turps (Nicpep)
yeah, wasnt me either x
18-09-10
Now a married lady :)
Im a rebel me
CommentAuthorMrs Daltry
ok im closing this post now as it J who needs to answer your questions,as iv already said J makes the rules THE MODS ENFORCE THEM,,
CommentAuthorUKBride (Boss Man)
Wow that hot a huge response...
Okay so why do we have to be careful about advertising!
1 - let's say a Newbie joined the site and said there's an amazing wedding photographer, he's brilliant and only £250. let's also assume that the newbie is really the photographer posing as a bride. Would you be unhappy if your wedding photographs were rubbish!
2 - let's say I say, look people are getting 'mardy' about the advertising, so let's just let anyone promote whatever they like...
a - you wouldn't know if it's honest advice or someone posing as a bride b - why would our advertisers pay us money? They could do it for free (no money coming in means no UKbride) c - the forum would be swamped with advertisers on all members would leave.
Unfortunately we are not in an honest world, remember I read on another forum people were planning on becoming brides to trick you.
If you are not happy with my decision but no a way that will solve the above problems please let me know. I am happy to look at other ways!
