MaryAnne
12-04-2005, 12:12 PM
New rules regarding kit threads on UKS -- Sponsor and Non-Sponsor
You may recall I said I had some ideas on how we might handle this on UKS. I've laid out the basics and discussed it with the Mods and we agree this could work for UKS while still maintaining our stated goals of promoting UK scrapbook retailers.
I believe we have developed a compromise that walks the line between sponsor and non-sponsor threads and that allows the members to share their glee while protecting the value of sponsorship and limits non-sponsor advertising.
We at UKS have always tried to embrace all things scrapbooking in the UK. We have always remained firm in our intent to promote UK scrapbooking and keep as much of the scrapbooking £ in the UK. We feel this is the way for the UK to build a home grown scrapbooking base and to support the UK businesses as they support UKS and contribute towards the site to keep it free for you all. We do not ever want to lose sight of those goals!
However, we DO realize that the rules on non-sponsor advertising with regard to kits are perhaps a bit different than those for advertising US websites. While websites often DUPLICATE the goods offered in the UK, kit companies offer a totally different set of supplies. We also acknowledge that it is the appeal of a kit, and not the geographic location of the owner that makes people subscribe to it. In many cases there is simply no true equivalent avaialable in the UK. Different kits, some of equal or even higher quality, but not the "same". In point of fact they are NOT really competing with each other. This critical difference is what has prompted us to review the policy and make these changes.
Here are the specifics. Please read them carefully and get back to me with any request for clarification!
We have a sub-forum in And Now A Word from our Sponsors for Monthly Kits. This has always been, as is the rest of UKS, sponsor only. However we have a long standing tradition of allowing limited "gushing" posts for US kits that people subscribe to but thiis is getting harder and harder to moderate, and to limit in such a way that people are allowed to share their enthusiasim without being seen to "advertise" these non-sponsor kits.
The Monthly Kit forum will soon allow replies.
Sponsor Kits
1. Sponsor Kits will include full info on the kit, prices, a URL link, and small images are allowed.
Sponsors, if you produce a kit, you can post the info and PM me with a link to your post. I will make it sticky.
2. All the Sponsor Kits will be pinned to the top of the forum.
3. People may comment in the threads by replying. Share your delight in the kit, talk about projects you have made with the kit (although please still post your layouts, books, etc in the appropriate gallery album) and discuss any aspect of the kit you like. Problems should be addressed to the kit sponsor directly.
4. Sponsors may post in this forum but it is NOT an additional advertising mechanisim -- you can answer basic questions but may not request people post orders or sign up in the thread -- that is for your own website/email/PM system.
Non-Sponsor kits
1. If you subscribe to a kit, check for a thread already If there isn't one, you may start one.
2. As a member you may reply to gush about the kit. You may post about problems. You may discuss projects you have done, but as above please post the images in the appropriate Gallery album.
3. Kit Owners MAY NOT post here.
4. You MAY NOT post links to the site.
5. You MAY NOT lift from the kit site and post the entire kit contents (but may discuss generally what is in the kit), or advertise the kit. Use your head. If you seem to be urging people to visit the site and sign up or ask they mention your name when doing so this is advertising -- don't do it!
These threads will not be pinned so will appear after the Sponsor kits.
No non-sponsor kit discussion will be allowed elsewhere on the board. Threads begun will be moved or merged with the exisitng threads in the Kit forum. In some cases they might be deleted (for example if they are caught when they have no replies)
I will hope to have the technical changes sorted shortly and will announce when it is "open for business"
Hopefully this will be a solution we can all live with!
You may recall I said I had some ideas on how we might handle this on UKS. I've laid out the basics and discussed it with the Mods and we agree this could work for UKS while still maintaining our stated goals of promoting UK scrapbook retailers.
I believe we have developed a compromise that walks the line between sponsor and non-sponsor threads and that allows the members to share their glee while protecting the value of sponsorship and limits non-sponsor advertising.
We at UKS have always tried to embrace all things scrapbooking in the UK. We have always remained firm in our intent to promote UK scrapbooking and keep as much of the scrapbooking £ in the UK. We feel this is the way for the UK to build a home grown scrapbooking base and to support the UK businesses as they support UKS and contribute towards the site to keep it free for you all. We do not ever want to lose sight of those goals!
However, we DO realize that the rules on non-sponsor advertising with regard to kits are perhaps a bit different than those for advertising US websites. While websites often DUPLICATE the goods offered in the UK, kit companies offer a totally different set of supplies. We also acknowledge that it is the appeal of a kit, and not the geographic location of the owner that makes people subscribe to it. In many cases there is simply no true equivalent avaialable in the UK. Different kits, some of equal or even higher quality, but not the "same". In point of fact they are NOT really competing with each other. This critical difference is what has prompted us to review the policy and make these changes.
Here are the specifics. Please read them carefully and get back to me with any request for clarification!
We have a sub-forum in And Now A Word from our Sponsors for Monthly Kits. This has always been, as is the rest of UKS, sponsor only. However we have a long standing tradition of allowing limited "gushing" posts for US kits that people subscribe to but thiis is getting harder and harder to moderate, and to limit in such a way that people are allowed to share their enthusiasim without being seen to "advertise" these non-sponsor kits.
The Monthly Kit forum will soon allow replies.
Sponsor Kits
1. Sponsor Kits will include full info on the kit, prices, a URL link, and small images are allowed.
Sponsors, if you produce a kit, you can post the info and PM me with a link to your post. I will make it sticky.
2. All the Sponsor Kits will be pinned to the top of the forum.
3. People may comment in the threads by replying. Share your delight in the kit, talk about projects you have made with the kit (although please still post your layouts, books, etc in the appropriate gallery album) and discuss any aspect of the kit you like. Problems should be addressed to the kit sponsor directly.
4. Sponsors may post in this forum but it is NOT an additional advertising mechanisim -- you can answer basic questions but may not request people post orders or sign up in the thread -- that is for your own website/email/PM system.
Non-Sponsor kits
1. If you subscribe to a kit, check for a thread already If there isn't one, you may start one.
2. As a member you may reply to gush about the kit. You may post about problems. You may discuss projects you have done, but as above please post the images in the appropriate Gallery album.
3. Kit Owners MAY NOT post here.
4. You MAY NOT post links to the site.
5. You MAY NOT lift from the kit site and post the entire kit contents (but may discuss generally what is in the kit), or advertise the kit. Use your head. If you seem to be urging people to visit the site and sign up or ask they mention your name when doing so this is advertising -- don't do it!
These threads will not be pinned so will appear after the Sponsor kits.
No non-sponsor kit discussion will be allowed elsewhere on the board. Threads begun will be moved or merged with the exisitng threads in the Kit forum. In some cases they might be deleted (for example if they are caught when they have no replies)
I will hope to have the technical changes sorted shortly and will announce when it is "open for business"
Hopefully this will be a solution we can all live with!