Changes in signature rules

[Casinomeister]

By the way - I didn't realize that BEING AN AFFILIATE was considered a bad thing - SINCE IT WAS AN "option" as a group of people.

I thought it was a badge of honor...

Kinda like I think putting your site below your name as a signature was.

I guess Others have differing views - and AFFILIATES are scumbags or something.

I mean - that is what I'm getting out of all of this.

Well - I'm not a scumbag affiliate... That's all I want to say. I'm a decent affiliate - and I share links and I put people in my site - and actively promote others... And you know what? I'm also a very nice person. So there... Pfffffffffftttttt.

Hi all,

Some of you are taking this way way too seriously. I already explained the reasoning behind this - many members who were ignoring the current guidelines. There was nothing wrong with placing a link to your website with a brief description or catch phrase. But when the rules explicitly stated "No ad copy language 'Best Casinos', 'Best Bonuses', etc.," then that was the impetus for their removal.

They will probably come back, but only after one of the mods goes through and ensures everyone has made the necessary changes.

And if the shoe fits, wear it. It seems that a bunch of you are thinking I was implying it was you who sparked the change - it wasn't; this is change I was contemplating for some time.

[TOC]

Everyone is talking about a message board here, how hard is that? If you want a board that allows links then lets start one, are we not webmasters? I personally don't add my link here, don't need it but would be willing to help with a board that allows links if this is really a big deal. It's not the end of the world and the internet is a big place! If not deal with it and move on...

[jetset]

Trying to get back to the root of this 10 page thread isn't easy but I have the perception that it was the players who originally objected to the links and the overt manner in which some members of CM were allegedly using the forum to promote their wares.

I guess at least some of this issue comes down to one question - do you visit Casinomeister for the more upfront benefits of PAB services, the enjoyment / interaction with the other members and relevant information about a shared interest.....or is your main objective to use a very popular and respected website and an influential webmaster to further your own fortunes in a business sense?

The other comment that disturbed me some pages back was the implication that coming here on a regular basis and offering advice and help in some way made overt promotion more acceptable for some individuals.

I don't share that view - we're all here because we want to be here (for one reason or another) and noone has compelled us to come or to contribute. Whatever the extent of our involvement, I believe that in general most of us have probably received more than enough in general to keep us returning....and I therefore don't think this site owes any of us 'special promotional dispensations'.

[dominique]

I have always thought of a signature link to your site as the honorable thing to do.

It identifies you and shows you stand behind your site, it shows that you invite scrutiny, and it makes it perfectly clear that you are an affiliate.

I guess I have always been annoyed by affiliates who preach this or that but won't tell you what their site is, makes me feel they are hiding something. I prefer transparency.

But, either way, it isn't affecting the usefulness of Casinomeister.

Dendrite, that's a lot of visits. I get maybe 4 or 5 and probably will continue to get these anyway - and I send players from my site to Meister also.

[lots0]

I have always thought of a signature link to your site as the honorable thing to do.

It identifies you and shows you stand behind your site, it shows that you invite scrutiny, and it makes it perfectly clear that you are an affiliate.

I guess I have always been annoyed by affiliates who preach this or that but won't tell you what their site is, makes me feel they are hiding something. I prefer transparency.

I guess we all have our own definitions of 'Honorable', 'self promotion' and 'spam'.

I have removed all my links from CM. But the links from my casino directory to here remain in place. I don't see this as 'dis-honorable' I see it as practical. When you are an out spoken, opinionated jerk like myself the negatives of having promotional sig links here out weigh the positives, at least in my opinion.

Most(but not all) affiliates that promote their site here and elsewhere with sig links are afraid to speak their mind for fear of retribution from the casinos, affiliate programs and anyone else that they may 'accidentally' offend or expose.

God forbid that you say something here that may cost you a buck or two.. So some affs think it's just better to say nothing at all or just be 'nice' to the Rogue ass holes so they don't come after you.

[WagerWitch]

I'm not afraid to speak my mind...

But I also don't like to hurt ANYONE'S feelings or make things bad.

I try to see the positive side to everything.

I do see it as a badge of honor tho - and thanks Bryan for thinking about putting it back - I would really appreciate it - even if it is a few months down the road.

Interesting tho: Within ONE DAY of removing my link - my site jumped UP at least 5 spaces in almost EVERY keyword on Google.

Just an FYI - for those who thought that keyword linking and backlinking here made a difference.

In my opinion - it may have had a negative impact --- and even if that is true - (I don't know for sure) - I would still want my link on here - because I am proud of my site - and do think of it as a pride issue - and not necessarily a LINK issue. I mean - if people really want to see me - they CAN go to my profile page here... so it isn't "THAT" hard.

Anyhow - Bryan - thanks for at least looking at the issue from all sides.

WW

[aksana]

Links, links, links, I'm tired to hear that links are very important for SEO, "your website can't live without links". Today I have talked to a one SEO manager, who tried to sell me his links from thousands of his sites, and I tried to explain him that buying links is not very important (maybe I'm wrong), but for me it's really not important, but he couldn't understand my position.

I stopped exchanging links two or maybe three years ago, and my site is still live, and moreover now I have much more traffic than I had earlier. I'm very glad that I'm not worried about any links.

Of course, if it's allowed to add links to signatures I'll do it, because it's allowed

And I like this new rule, because the forum really becomes very clean.

Sometimes strict rules make us only stronger!

[dominique]

Forum links are not worth anything in google. No matter how many you have, they are counted as one.

That's why forum link spammers are usually hit and run - hoping their one link survives.

Google is up-dating to caffeine at this time and that's responsible for any changes in serps.

[RobWin]

[quote]

Forum links are not worth anything in google.

That's not what Google Webmaster Tools is telling me, 10 days ago it was showing me 396 backlinks from "Forum Posts" here, and now it is showing me 294 backlinks from "Forum Posts". The backlinks are now dropping off the radar like flies in a Raid spray...

The 396 number had gradually been increasing over the past 6 months. I check it everyday in GWT so I have been keeping a close eye on the pulse of my backlinks all this year.

No matter how many you have, they are counted as one.

Are you sure about that? I have evidence of just the opposite from pics taken straight from "Google Webmaster Tools".

Attachment 19126
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If that is not backlinks from "Forum Posts", then someone please explain to me why Google is counting all those links there? And that is just from one page in Google Webmaster tools.

I can also show you the exact same scenario in Bing and Yahoo too.

I keep hearing some of you guys state the fact that they are not important and that Google does not count them or that Google only counts them as one when I can clearly see that that is definitely not the case. I think it also confirms the fact I mentioned in my previous post about why other members here have failed to remove their hyperlinked "Sig" links even after being asked to do so!

I could be wrong about this, wouldn't be the first time I've ever been wrong. But the fact still remains why some are allowed to keep the hyperlinks "Live" and others have even had non hyperlinked Sig's turned into a 'script look' like this ([CENTER]"[SIZE="1"][I]). See "Sig" below!

I will even be more than happy to remove my remaining couple of links from my profile page too if needed and if that is Bryan's wishes, but I still would like to keep it real here by knowing how others managed to dodge this "Sig" bullet and still to this very minute have "Live" Sig Links in their Sig's? I'm not talking about mod's either. Did I miss something here? I hope you see those as fair questions there.
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[dominique]

From what I have heard, no matter how many you have, they are still counted as one.

Google shows you there how many you have. It doesn't mean they carry any weight.

Google obfuscates links on purpose, never believe what counts you are shown.

Yahoo webmaster tends to be more accurate.