but that does not explain to me why the guys here would have to give you permission to post your links in your signature anyway... this is a reason you want to apply, not something written in the license or elsewhere...

vb.org is not a target for backlinks, nor a place where to advertise, it's a service for the distribution of addons for vBulletin...

vB.org staff can not see any details on a license. All they can see is if a useraccount is associated with a valid license or not. Providing more information would be against the Jelsoft privacy policy. The number of licenses will not be considered wehn determining the number of links allowed in a signature.

A bit of a contradiction. You are using the links in your signature as advertisement, even if only to advertise your board better on google.

Hence why we don't want to decrease the value of a backlink from vB.org by allowing too many links to, maybe not as high valued, sites.

I can fully respect that decision.

One of my original statements still stands. My suggestion is:

No active license = no signature links

Active license = signature links > 2.

Take the signature links away from the people that do not help pay the bills. And give them to the people that do.

If anything, this would decrease the number of outbound links. While encouraging people to renew their license faster so they can keep their links.

If this was implemented across both sites - .com and .org - members could lose a lot of links by letting their license expire.

One of my licenses is up for renew this month. I have no reason to renew at this very second. Most of the time I wait until there is another big update to the VB software, then I will renew and update my site.

But, if you take something away from me, such as a few hundred signature backlinks. And this might affect my sites ranking. Well, I have a solid reason to renew my license BEFORE it expires.

If you would excuse me, I would like to bow out. I have nothing more to say on this topic. Thank you for your time.

We are already considering if we should disable signatures (disable, not limit the use of links) for unlicensed members.

I do appreciate that you are trying to think about maximising the income of Jelsoft, but we are not going to create artificial boundaries only to increase sales.

boundaries?... i call this "privilege"... we have the privilege to have access to this site's resources ONLY when we're licensed, aren't we? so why letting non-licensed people have access to features most other vBulletin forums are not allowing?

if you visit some forums, you will see that guests and non-subscribers have no access to avatars, siggies, pm, etc... you already block pm, but this is just to avoid miscommunication/spam to members, it's not like a privilege so to speak.

ah, come on, i'm into it again...

It was late when I typed that, but that's what I meant. Listen to him for that part of my post. ;)

Just wanted to ask how long those with links to sites that aren't vb forums will be allowed to have them?
I mean, I got an infraction in one day, I see several Sr. members with links to their blogs, and other sites that have no forum to be found ;)
Just wondered how long till they get infractions or removed as well.

Cheers
-Brandon

Not to sound like a b*tch, but I don't believe you really need to be concerned about that, do you? You only need to worry about yourself - Staff will worry about the other users.

As long as they want, nothing in the rules says links must be to a vb forum.

Just making sure I don't get anymore infractions for things I didn't know about :)
Good to know, I was under the impressing they had to be links to your vBulletin index, since that's what the rule said that I quoted.
I'm safe to change my 2 links now I guess :)

cheers

so it seems this site has some users they don't care about and some they do
I got an infraction after a one day notice of my sig links being more than 2, yet I've seen several users who have 4 or 6 external sig links and no one seems to care
I've reported a few users and I know they have been around & posted, yet the links are still pointing to their sales pages

so why do some users get several external links and some get punished for having more then 2??

and ps, before another remark like Lynne's come up, explain why someone ppl have staff all up in their businesses, yet others seem to do whatever they want..

The current rules state that a user may have links to two external sites. Sometimes a user has three links, but they are to the same external site, so that is fine.... *currently*. The signature rules are probably going to change to limit the total number of links Period, but currently total links are not in the rules.

Also, the rules state that there should be no promotional language and that Staff will ultimately determine if a signature is fine.

Hello Lynne,
Thanks for replying,

This is the exact rule, it says nothing about 3 links if they are to the same site.

# No signatures may have more than 2 external links - otherwise it will be considered as SPAM.

I think you know the user I'm talking about, if you see the reported post.
https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/member.php?u=57621
(sry Gio, nothing personal, there are several other examples)
I reported his post MONTHS ago, and yet he still has more then 2 links (as per the rules)

Why does he get away with it, yet I got an infraction with a one day notice?

All I ask is that we are treated fairly, I could really care less if I have any links out, but if you're (staff) going to punish one person for breaking the rules (which were made after my infraction btw) then the same rules must apply to all. ;)

regards

lol Brandon - I got into yet another argument with Paul who had just battled a dinasour, all because you realize you have a bit too many links? I honestly would have never expected it was you but ok.

First off, I was contacted as well for both my links and "promotional line". I changed my line and removed a link, and brought it down to 4, all pointing to one site - hence why I am now in the clear. You have 3 links pointing to 2 different websites and a banner mind you.

I also don't remember having that many links months ago, especially since ProvB Listings wasn't released months ago but ok. I understand your issues with the rules, you're not the only victim - I had to change a few threads as well as my signature but um, it's going to be fun when they look over this thread and only limit us further, proving your post to be 100% insignificant especially considering the extent of your signature.

Lets see where this goes.

ps.. I have 2 links.. the banner and first set of anchor text are all under one link. (which btw I had checked with Paul before adding the banner to make sure it was ok)
You have 4 links to different pages..

and I don't really care, it's the principle of the matter
the rules say 2 links so that's what they should be
like I said, it wasn't anything personal towards you, there are many others with more than 2 links I was just using your profile as an example.

Well then in that case, it's still 2 websites. And the pages doesn't matter Brandon, it's the website itself - we both know that. I understand you are frustrated but I can assure you this is going nowhere but down for the both of us if everyone continues to complain - hence why i dropped the argument myself.

In addition, I'm in the clear based on what I was instructed via pm and the following quoted message below. I suggest you place yourself there as well and we both continue doing what we're actually here to do.

These are the Sig rules

Signature Rules

1. Staff will ultimately decide if something is appropriate or not.
2. No signatures may include a message intending to disrupt the peace and harmony of this board.
3. No signatures may include text or images that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, racist, sexist, discriminatory, and/or otherwise violates of any local or international laws.
4. No signatures may have promotional language* or offers for paid services. You may include a link (no text) to a page offering paid services.
5. Links to your site are fine unless your site violates the terms of service for Jelsoft. A site name with a link to the main index page or forum page is all that is needed.
6. No signatures may have more than 2 external links - otherwise it will be considered as SPAM.

*promotional language - verbiage trying to convince readers to visit your site(s)



Which apparently need edited ;)
I don't see anything that says we can have multiple links if they are from the same site :)
If so, it looks like I can add more links to my site, as long as all links are to the same URL

ps.. it doesn't look like the right hand knows what the left hand is doing. :rolleyes:

There clearly is no Bob & Billy, but with that being said, let me be the first to sincerely kiss some ass and hope that we're not further limited after all the arguing.

The reason Lynne's theory works is simple. We've spent years arguing that we should be allowed to show off our services since we offer them for free on here. Because of that, they are trying to be somewhat reasonable. I believe a limit on the amount of unique sites will serve us well, something like 1 website with 4-5 links or 2 websites with 2-3 links I think would be reasonable. I think what really irritates them is the banner + link in your face combo, although I'm sure you have good intentions Brandon.

I argued with a cop the other day who thought I had robbed a house and tore my car apart only to find nothing. After arguing with him he gave me 3 tickets instead - lets all calm down before the same happens here.

I'm just going by the rules ;)
if they didn't want the banner (which I just recently added, after I asked Paul) they should add that restriction to the rules.

so I guess we can have 4 links to the same site, even tho the rules clearly states that isn't allowed

I never even noticed the "2 external links only" rule (I was away for 2 years afterall).. I've had 3 for a couple of weeks :o.

Ammended my sig to comply, even if I do think it's a bit daft.

Has this rule become relaxed?
I see some users with 6+ links all separate external sites

just asking

thx

Looks like it to me.

Meh i allways piss about with my signature "its what i do! + avy*

Does this mean i cant do my pretty ^^ and smiles anymore :(

As for people with blogs Last year "06 May 2009 17:54" i got a Signature Violation for having my blog twitter and my sites Url on my Signature and now from what ive read that was fine back than :eek:

Ps. Brandon you made me spill my Drink!!!!

No, it hasn't been relaxed. If a signature with more than 2 different external links is reported, then we do something.

How do we report this, PM or Report Post

Just click the Report this Post button.

k thx Lynne
glad to see things a bit more relaxed, it seems to make the whole community happy :)

relaxed?

i got flu the other day, this is not relax...

apparently it is ;)
at least I am relaxed :D

I did, nothing happened. The user still have 5 different links.

No one has dealt with the report yet. It doesnt happen by magic ;)

:o :up:

Is here any way to automate this number of links allowed in signature ? I want to implement this in my forum..