Description
This article is from the Scuba Diving
FAQ, by njs@scifi.maid.com (Nick Simicich) with numerous
contributions by others.
32 Some comments on commercial postings in rec.scuba and scuba-l.
There has long been great controversy over commercial postings on
Usenet and in the scuba-l mailing list. Commercial postings clearly
generate more heat than light. Some people clearly appreciate
commercial postings, while other folks are completely alieniated by
them. Since the purpose of a FAQ is to reduce the heat in the
newsgroup, I feel that I should present a compromise that I feel that
most people are willing to live with, without generating heat.
Generally, I think that the following is considered reasonable:
1. Set up a world wide web site. Since people visit your world wide
web site because they want to, you can advertise as much as you
want, on _your web site._
2. Make postings that are relevant and valuable in the scuba-l
mailing list or rec.scuba.
3. Contribute generally to the discussion, not only to items which
relate to your line of business.
4. Allocate one line in your .signature file to announce what you do
and your web site's url. Appropriate examples would be:
+ See our dive travel specials at http://www.divetravel.com
+ http://www.tankblast.com - Special prices on tank
sandblasting.
+ Special deals on fin straps at
http://www.onramp.com/~me/scuba.html
5. Hold your whole .signature to four 80 column lines, or less. You
will see people with huge block signatures from time to time. Be a
good net citizen and avoid that practice. Avoid framing your
signature, ascii graphics, and other irritating practices. Your
goal is to get prople to visit your site and see your advertising
and you will do that by being as unirritating as possible while
impressing people with your general knowledge of scuba.
6. If someone asks a question about your product, consider answering
them in e-mail. If you feel that you should answer in the open,
post a a short factual answer and a reference to a URL rather than
a sales pitch.
If people believe that you are making irrelevant postings just to push
your URL into their line of sight, they will be just as irritated at
you as if you posted outright advertising.
On the other hand, if you avoid irritating people, they will want to
do business with you. That is what you want, and I believe that the
redustion in the total heat will be what the folks in rec.scuba and
scuba-l want.
Finally, consider posting your announcement to the scuba-commerce
mailing list. You'll find an audience that has signed up to see your
commercial announcement, on a list where chit-chat is frowned upon.
See the scuba commerce web page for instructions on how to
subscribe, or mail to scuba-commerce-request@scifi.squawk.com to
subscribe and for posting instructions. This is a closed list. You
must be subscribed before you can post.
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sport, scuba, diving, snorkeling, dive travel, underwater activities. safety, equipment, certification
