Where do I post my topic that pertains to giving away an iPod?

[tvwright01]

We're giving away a free iPod and I don't want to seem like I'm spamming, but I want the iPod to go into true Apple/iPod fans so this forum was the perfect place I thought to inform people about it. However there are no boards that are for giveaways/sites so I don't know where to post up the link for members to see.


Advice? Most forums I've participated in already have a special board for GIVEAWAYS and Other Sites.

Thanks!

 

[MacDawg]

I'm skeptical

Who is "we" and what are you advertising?

I think the Forum Rules will probably prohibit this...

Advertising/soliciting. Using the forums for advertising or for commercial business deals and offers. See the MacRumors About page if you want to buy advertising at the site. Threads will be deleted if their purpose is to advertise, announce, or promote products, services, or organizations, build traffic at other websites, solicit donations, votes, or participants for surveys, contests, or product testing, carry out business activities including employment requests/offers, or other similar purposes that do not benefit our forum community. Memberships created solely for such purposes will be banned.

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[tvwright01]

Yes well I figured those rules were generally for the memberships created solely for promoting whatever business they represent, or worse, advertising links to X-rated/virus-filled sites. I can promise you that's most certainly not what I am!!

The iPod giveaway is not part of any business, and to post a link to it would not be advertising anything other than the iPod giveaway itself, which is pertinent to the forum criteria so that's why I feel it's fitting to post it here.

It's similar to when people post Apple news articles and provide the news link where they got the article from for members to see - unless of course, that is against the rules too.

 

[MacDawg]

I'm still skeptical based on the information you have provided, but I suppose that will be for the Moderators to decide


Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[GGJstudios]

Yes well I figured those rules were generally for the memberships created solely for promoting whatever business they represent, or worse, advertising links to X-rated/virus-filled sites. I can promise you that's most certainly not what I am!!

The iPod giveaway is not part of any business, and to post a link to it would not be advertising anything other than the iPod giveaway itself, which is pertinent to the forum criteria so that's why I feel it's fitting to post it here.

It's similar to when people post Apple news articles and provide the news link where they got the article from for members to see - unless of course, that is against the rules too.

The rules apply to all of us, whether a membership was created for a sole purpose or not. ANY advertising links are prohibited, whether to a porn site or not. If a member posts a link to a product page in response to a question, that's not advertising. That's directing someone to a solution to their question.

If you want to give your iPod away, why not just walk up to someone and hand it to them?

 

[tvwright01]

The rules apply to all of us, whether a membership was created for a sole purpose or not. ANY advertising links are prohibited, whether to a porn site or not. If a member posts a link to a product page in response to a question, that's not advertising. That's directing someone to a solution to their question.

It's absolutely no issue if the rules prohibit me from creating the topic. The reason I started this is I simply have the best interest of the members here in mind and I wouldn't want them missing out on a free Apple product. My only concern is, I don't see how me creating a topic about a free iPod and then directing people to where to get it would be any different from this topic:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/521096/

Is this topic not directing traffic to visit the toucharcade.com link provided inside the original post, therefore "advertising" that site?

 

[MacDawg]

Is this topic not directing traffic to visit the toucharcade.com link provided inside the original post, therefore "advertising" that site?

Which is owned by the owner of THIS site

Woof, Woof - Dawg

 

[swiftaw]

Is this topic not directing traffic to visit the toucharcade.com link provided inside the original post, therefore "advertising" that site?

Toucharcade and Macrumors are run by the same person, so he can pretty much do what he wants.

 

[GGJstudios]

It's absolutely no issue if the rules prohibit me from creating the topic. The reason I started this is I simply have the best interest of the members here in mind and I wouldn't want them missing out on a free Apple product. My only concern is, I don't see how would me creating a topic about a free iPod and then directing people to where to get it any different from this topic:

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/521096/

Is this topic not directing traffic to visit the toucharcade.com link provided inside the original post, therefore "advertising" that site?

TouchArcade.com is a sister site, owned by arn, the creator and owner of this site.

Bottom line: if you have any doubts, it's best to send a Private Message to a moderator and ask before you post.

 

[Blue Velvet]

I've just closed this for now. Doctor Q, Arn or WildCowboy may reopen it and respond at some point soon.

 

[Doctor Q]

Some giveaways still make money for a group or business by attracting attention and visitors to a site, so even a giveaway can constitute commercial advertising.

Based on our experience and problems we've had in the past, we treat giveaways as sales for $0. As such, they may be posted only by members who qualify for our "Marketplace" forum, and only if they are giving away free items they own personally, not on behalf of a business, group, promotion, etc.

The exception is when a well-known site, not affiliated with the member making the post, is offering a deal of some kind, such as "I learned that Amazon.com is giving away free iPod with every purchase of Music Analyzer Pro." That type of thread could be posted in our "Buying Tips, Advice and Discussion" forum.

Where the situation is borderline, the moderators use their best judgment about the intent of the poster and the value of the information to our community. We generally don't give brand new forum members the benefit of the doubt. You can use the Contact Form to ask in advance about a particular post you would like to make.

And thank you for asking in this case.