Putting Together Specific Terms Of Service

I think what Shawn is trying to say is that he does not want to be part of or be known as a link farm because that will do more harm than good to everyone in the network.

All of these networks tied in together would be a universe of unnatural linking and could spell the end for a lot of sites that go overboard and have so many links to penalized sites that they will be removed from the index as they would be part of banned link farms.

 

I'm not too keen on the idea of banning sites which use another ad network.

I think people in the network should get more say in what should be done. Having one dictator of the rules seems wrong in a COOP network, as we benefit each other equally, yes I know digitalpoint is the owner of the network but the network would be nothing without the other webmasters.

Personally I would much prefer a democratic proposal and vote system. Rules are proposed, and then members of the network vote.

 

If that is the case then an intelligence forum would have to be set up to expose suspect sites and then a poll would have to be taken.

You have to trust someone to manage the network and Shawn knows a lot more about it than anyone since he created it.

It would take a lot more work and management just to conduct such a vote and to run a forum to review and take votes on sites.

Why not just put together a board of 5 or so folks that are active in educating the forum members on the co-op?

You could have, Shawn, Foxy, Compar, Tops, VS and others on the review board and that would be good enough I would think.

 

Every legit person who takes part in the network should be able to cast a vote. A simple public voting system would be easy to setup in the ad network control panel.

I would not feel comfortable with anyone having the say what my site may or may not do without my input, which is what is proposed.

Of course there must be rules, but I'm sure a lot of people cannot afford to tie their sites down with such rules. E.g. the rule about not allowing use of other networks is IMHO selfish.

Valuing opinion of 5 people in a network of thousands of sites is laughable.

 

You need to be careful when looking at someone's site and deciding that they've joined an evil competitor network as well. I have not, but if you look at some of my pages, you might think that I have. Specifically, I'll often add a few links of my own to the list of Ad Network ads, like this:

Our Site's Supporters:
(Ad Network ad #1)<br>
(Ad Network ad #2)<br>
(Ad Network ad #3)<br>
(Link to my other site)<br>
(Link to my friend's site)<br>
(Link to my brother's site)<br>

Often I will rotate my own links randomly, so it would be quite hard to tell which links are from a network and which are not.

So don't bring that ax down too quickly when deciding that someone's in violation. Another network quite likely will figure out how to do this without the identifying class in the href. I'd rather see a few scumbags get away with joining multiple networks (I'm not convinced that it causes great harm to the rest of us), than see legit good guys like myself get axed after working hard to follow the rules and contribute positively.

It could be argued that I've created my own "private network" among a dozen or so sites that I own. Considering that most of us here probably do something similar to one degree or another, I hope you take this into account and exclude such "private networks" from comprising a violation.

 

I am sure that Shawn knows the difference between simple links and other networks, he is only talking about known copy cat networks that would damage members of the DP network.

It is for the members own good that this happens because if the network is considered part of a link farm it will be destroyed along with the SERP's of all the members sites.

What is so hard to understand about that?

 

You shouldn't have such a derogatory attitude to competing networks.

This is your opinion, and you have no evidence the SERP placements would be destroyed. Google I am sure can already identify sites in the network, from link maps. Alternatively Google could easily get data from http://ads.digitalpoint.com/network.php

Its not hard at all to understand.

If a voting system was implemented you could vote for what you would want, and I could vote for what I want.

 

I don't have anything to say about the other networks, I am telling you what I understand that Shawn said about them in the thread.

Next, you know that Google has banned link farms in the past. So how can you say that all of these networks intertwined could not damage DP co-op members if they are linking with known link farms?

 

When did I say it wouldn't damage rankings?

From what I gather the main reason for applying the "this network and this network only" rule is to remove spammy sites. An administration process by members would be a better method, and from the feedback in other threads I am sure there are MANY people willing to help.

 

Well that is more understandable to what I assumed.

 

If run properly how would they damage dp members/network?

 

And we are defining good and bad by the sites in the network? Spam = bad. A network with normal sites = good?

 

It seems to me that the guys that are pissed off are the one's who are developing their own link co-op's and are members here also.

I seen the same thing with some forum operators that took Shawn's idea, came to his forum to promote their forums with their new revenue sharing scheme after stealing the idea from him. How stupid can folks be?

This seems to be a low class way to operate any business, it is like me owning a McDonalds and standing in front of Burger King handing out coupons for buy one get one free hamburgers across the street.

 

I've not thought of developing a ad network.

I get the impression you're pissed off just because some people don't share the same opinion as you. You'd make a great dictator.

Thats exactly what happens.

 

You sure do take things personally for some reason, I never said you were pissed off but you assume I was talking about you. Did I say you were starting a co-op or were pissed off?

Maybe I should take over for Bush in Iraq, would you support my dictatorship XML?

You brought up many good points and I am not delivering a message against you but you seem to think all of my comments are directed at you.

Take it easy man, this is what forum is about, getting subjects exposed, finding out your feelings and clearing the air.

I still love you man, OK

 

lol Merry Christmas

 

ok, I'm really pissed now! I just spent half an hour typing a response and one freakin wrong click on an unfamiliar mouse wiped it out!! GRRRRRRRRRRRRR

Listen, as an average site owner participating in the coop network, I DEMAND a TOS that is strong and enforced! I joined this network on its reputation which I read about over and over again!

I want to continue participating, but am now having second thoughts after reading a thread the other day about porno and seeing porno links in my link logs and now this thread. I am deeply concerned about the safety of continuing from loose members willing to play fast ball with no rules at the expense of MY RANKINGS and INCOME!

For those of you complaining about a TOS:

If I had designed this network, you can darn well bet there would have been a very strong TOS, just as there are Privacy, Copyright and TOS protection on each of my sites. The difference is, you can bet the duplication of this network would have landed any member attempting it with a nice court date!

Each of you has seen the benefits of this network to your sites rank and income or you wouldn't be here complaining about restrictions.

Each of you must ask yourself, is it worth risking known gains for unknown losses!

Each of you are free to participate and free to leave. A nice fishing analogy, its better to skim the scum off the surface early than let is bloom out and kill all the fish!

Each of you must realize a coop must protect all participants, not just some.

Each of you must understand, there can be only ONE cheif. Someone must make the decisions and those decisions should ONLY be made by the author and creator of the program. Your participation does NOT infer a right to make the rules! If you don't like it, don't play, but DON'T begin to think its your ball and you can leave and take it home with you! You may find the only one you're hurting is yourself. So be it, better you than me!

The most important thing each member must understand:

You cannot ask all coop members to risk their income and rankings just so a few of you members can selfishly play fast and loose with the serps and sites at the risk of damaging EVERY SINGLE site that participates in the network!

So, stop squealing, suck it up and choose where you stand in this COOP network. Do you stand for the WHOLE or do you only stand for YOU.

What this co-op needs:

A strong TOS.

NO intermingling of any unpaid/coop type duplicate banner or text type program of any kind should be allowed!
All members must agree to not duplicating the coop network in any form and agree to be subject to court action for damages within the state and jurisdiction of the coops choice.
Income producting advertising, i.e. paid advertising, should be allowed.
Adsense and Overture should be allowed
Affiliate marketing programs that produce DIRECT INCOME for a site owner should be allowed
Members found to be using unethical SEO techniques are subject to suspension and up to a life time ban for all sites owned and/or managed by the offending party.
Members found to be placing code on unacceptable sites (example - PORNO) will be immediately banned to include all sites which the offender owns and/or manages both now and in the future.

and a special one for those that can't see the grass for the trees;

Existing members who choose to leave due to the new TOS may not return to participate in the coop network for any existing or future sites, ever.

If you believe the coop hasn't helped you, and/or you can do better elsewhere, let me open and hold the door for you. However, I will NOT open the door for you to take my site down with yours!

TYVM!

 

WOW, you should be on the board of directors man

You are scaring me out of this thread

Great post man!!!

Talk about passion.....