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<span class="provip_member_name">Ken Peters</span>
Ken Peters
Designer / Brand Strategist
Phoenix, Arizona
Posted by Ken Peters, Phoenix, Arizona | Oct 14, 2009

Subscribe to Community-wide general discussion Annoyed By Biznik Spammers?

Anybody else noticed the annoying trend of people responding to Biznik articles, or posts like this one, with long diatribes about, and links to, their products and services?

I don't mind somebody discretely adding a link to their web site in their "signature". I don't even mind a modest mention of products and services if they are germane to, and actually helpful regarding, the topic at hand.

It's these people that make a brief comment (for appearance sake, I suppose) and then drop a paragraph about their business and finish with a link that really bug me.

Am I alone in this?

37 Bizniks have posted replies

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  • Ken Peters
    Posted by Ken Peters, Phoenix, Arizona | Oct 22, 2009

    Bill

    You said something that resonated with me. Lara's and Christian's comments here have been helpful. Perhaps they (Biznik) could expand on this and add some verbiage to the site outlining appropriate Biznik etiquette for spam and self-promotion.

    If something already exists on the site that discusses that then I guess I haven't seen it.

  • Judy Dunn
    Posted by Judy Dunn, Seattle, Washington | Oct 22, 2009

    Dennis,

    You always add to the conversation. : )

    By the way, I don't view event invites as spam. It's those people who resurrect an old thread (usually many, many old threads) and just link to a sales pitch without any regard to what was being discussed—those are the people I was referring to.

    Let's face it. We are all here to promote our businesses. It's the methods we use that make the difference.

    I think Christian was so wise when he said that people usually figure out how to do it in an inclusive, community-building way over time. I'm learning to just mellow out and let that happen.

    Great discussion here, Ken.

  • Bill Bradfield, EA
    Posted by Bill Bradfield, EA, Blaine, Washington | Oct 22, 2009

    Ken,

    You may be right, it may already be on the site. I'm sure there are a lot of things on the site that I have not seen yet.

    I like your idea of the staff putting some verbage on the site about appropriate etiquette.

    Bill

  • Lara Feltin
    Posted by Lara Feltin, Seattle, Washington | Oct 23, 2009

    I hear you guys and am working on some FAQ responses on etiquette. Thanks for the feedback!

  • Michele Edwards
    Posted by Michele Edwards, Kirkland, Washington | Oct 23, 2009

    Sounds great Lara!

  • Lee Kaplanian
    Posted by Lee Kaplanian, Burien, Washington | Oct 23, 2009

    Sometimes it is assumed that people know the rules and etiquette - you know what happens when you assume! I agree there are "clueless idiots", the term SEO whore is a new one for me, as well as those in between. I think it is a really good thing to have it stated specifically and there is discussion - glad you did this post Ken. I have not really gotten spam from Biznik so far - that's fine with me. Hope the spam gods aren't listening!

    Lee

    • Just thought of something to put at the end of the post - too bad it's shameless self promotion
  • Terra  Vita
    Posted by Terra Vita, Puget Sound, Washington | 4 weeks ago

    I have to go back to the original comments of three people I often agree with; Suzanne Melton, Sue Oliver and Judy Dunn. This morning I had three emails from one person that I am specifically not engaged with. I don't want to attend events he is at, let alone sponsoring. He is not welcome to send me invitations to paid events. I let him know personally. I am most specifically NOT on his mailing list. Biznik is a great place to meet many people. Additionally, it lets me choose the people I surround myself with.

  • Judy Dunn
    Posted by Judy Dunn, Seattle, Washington | 4 weeks ago

    Terra,

    I hear you. Perhaps an "Etiquette FAQs" page will help.

    I like the way you put it: "...choose the people I surround myself with." It's the richness of Biznik that gives us so many choices and allows us to do that.

    I need to go in and check those settings Lara was talking about. Maybe that will get rid of some of the problem.

  • Terra  Vita
    Posted by Terra Vita, Puget Sound, Washington | 4 weeks ago

    Hi Judy,

    I flagged him, barred him from communicating with me again and notified biznik he was spamming. I also personally asked him not to contact me again. I hope this works and trust others will be proactive when over invited(I am being polite).

    On another but connected note, I have had the opportunity to use the term "SEO whore" several times the last few weeks. Funny! Thanks again, Judy. Thanks to Ken for outing this not so secret and suddenly prevalent practice.

  • Martin Filion
    Posted by Martin Filion, Chicoutimi, Quebec Canada | 3 weeks ago

    Ken, I very agree with you about de lenght of comments, sometimes. And sometimes, people introduce themself as aspirator sellers. Personnaly, it's not the first impression that I whant to give. So I won't tell you about my site.

    Thanks !

    Martin

    foretnordique.com ; )

  • Dennis Dilday
    Posted by Dennis Dilday, Everett, Washington | 3 weeks ago

    Actually, I feel bad about my comment now. I downplayed the whole issue before looking at a good number of Ken's articles. (Guilty by commission as usual:-(

    Great writing by a great writer. Even if the writing is easy, the detail still has to take a lot of work. To have that level of effort and quality of product leveraged into an ad for someone else - whose primary purpose in leaving a comment is to do just that - is unfair and unwarranted.

    Ken, you also have a fabulous blog. I just visited it and had a hard time leaving. Very very fine writing.

  • Ken Peters
    Posted by Ken Peters, Phoenix, Arizona | 3 weeks ago

    Dennis

    Thanks. And, I don't think you need to feel bad about your initial comment.

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This forum is unmoderated, but please keep discussion courteous and not too far off topic.

Members posting in this topic

  • Ken Peters
    Designer / Brand Strategist
    Phoenix, Arizona
  • Judy Dunn
    Website & Social Media Copywriter
    Seattle, Washington
  • Bill Bradfield, EA
    Tax Pro; IRS Representation; Small...
    Blaine, Washington
  • Lara Feltin
    Cofounder, Biznik
    Seattle, Washington
  • Michele Edwards
    Marketing and Advertising
    Kirkland, Washington
  • Lee Kaplanian
    Creative Marketing Impresario
    Burien, Washington
  • Terra  Vita
    Ghost Blogger, Project Mender and...
    Puget Sound, Washington
  • Martin Filion
    Analyst in natural resources use...
    Chicoutimi, Quebec Canada
  • Dennis Dilday
    Wellness Chiropractic Care - Activator...
    Everett, Washington

Post tags

  • spam
  • links
  • bad practices