About trying to use TOTV for free advertising

[Talk Host]

Advertising of any sort on Talk of The Villages, including the Private Message service is allowed only by those who are paying sponsors. Recently several of our members have forwarded information to us about individuals who consistently use our services to drum up business without paying for the privilege. In fact, it's reported that there are a few people who are making their entire retirement income from unauthorized use of our forum to solicit business. This activity is unfair to us and our paying advertisers. It amounts to theft of services. We have lost thousands of dollars in much needed revenue.

We have no access to the content of private messages sent between people, but frequently, infractions are reported to us by concerned members . Additionally, from time to time, we receive the content of a private message when it is inadvertently sent by email rather than inside the message service. We are then the unintended recipient of a private message that contains a pitch for goods and services and other, sometimes, embarrassing stuff.

The only way Talk of The Villages can stay a viable free service to our members is through paid sponsorship by our advertisers. The theft of our advertising services in any fashion, makes it difficult for the administrators to meet the ever increasing cost of operation. Effective immediately, any member who is determined to be in violation of this policy will receive one warning. Further action, including the loss of membership privileges will follow if the activity continues.

Another phenomenon that occurs occasionally is a service professional joins TOTV and begins dispensing "free" advice about their particular service. Their hope, of course, is that when it comes time for you to need that service, they will get the business. That kind of free advertising is also not permitted.

Your administrative team

Jan, Tony and Darrel

[graciegirl]

TH How can we forward a PM to you?

I mean how do we address it?

[K9-Lovers]

Thank you for discussing this important issue with us. Some of your message is not completely clear to me. Can you please tell me exactly what members can or cannot post? For example, if someone asks for a recommendation for a contractor to repair their air conditioner, can we post our recommendations? The same question applies for hair dressers, lawn service, pest service, etc., etc., and on and on.

If there is a person who provides a personal service, but does not have a "business" can we recommend them? This would be something like a pet sitter, house watcher, etc.

I want to support the rules of TOTV because I enjoy so much being a member. So, I am trying to understand exactly how you want us to proceed. Thanks.

[Talk Host]

Thank you for discussing this important issue with us. Some of your message is not completely clear to me. Can you please tell me exactly what members can or cannot post? For example, if someone asks for a recommendation for a contractor to repair their air conditioner, can we post our recommendations? The same question applies for hair dressers, lawn service, pest service, etc., etc., and on and on.

If there is a person who provides a personal service, but does not have a "business" can we recommend them? This would be something like a pet sitter, house watcher, etc.

I want to support the rules of TOTV because I enjoy so much being a member. So, I am trying to understand exactly how you want us to proceed. Thanks.


It is perfectly acceptable and, in fact, encouraged for our members to recommend or comment on service providers when asked by other members. The line is drawn when the providers themselves post for their own enrichment.

If your friend "Sally" has a pet sitting business and charges for the service, you cannot come on and say, "Hey all you dog lovers, call Sally's pet sitting service."

If you happen onto a wonderful service and wish to legitimately share the information with no intention of helping your friend we look the other way. It's easy for us to tell when a post is designed strictly to attract business for profit.

You have no idea how many times a first time poster will tell of the wonderful service provided by "Bob's fixit place." Turns out it's Bob or Mrs. Bob doing the posting.
.

[champion6]

Another phenomenon that occurs occasionally is a service professional joins TOTV and begins dispensing "free" advice about their particular service. Their hope, of course, is that when it comes time for you to need that service, they will get the business. That kind of free advertising is also not permitted.It saddens me to read this. Some of the value of TOTV is diminished for me becasue of this.

I have found the advice from experienced professionals to be very informative and to the point. Sometimes the advice from do-it-yourselfers like myself is not on the mark because it contains a personal bias that "my way is the best way" when in fact it isn't.

Oh well, it is what it is.

Carry on...

[Talk Host]

It saddens me to read this. Some of the value of TOTV is diminished for me becasue of this.

I have found the advice from experienced professionals to be very informative and to the point. Sometimes the advice from do-it-yourselfers like myself is not on the mark because it contains a personal bias that "my way is the best way" when in fact it isn't.

Oh well, it is what it is.

Carry on...

Service professionals are welcome to offer all the advise in the world. First they need to purchase advertising. Why would it be okay for one person to pay and another get free advertising by posting advice. Nobody would pay and we'd be out of business. The people I refer to in this post are those who do it deliberately to circumvent the system not because they wish to be a fountain of information.

For example, Vivo Tours is a paid advertiser on this site. If somebody were to ask a travel question, would it be okay for Ajax tours to jump in here for free and answer the question. Why would Vivo ever buy advertising when they could get it for free like Ajax did?

[jannd228]

maybe you should have levels of advertising, display ads are more costly than a board section with minimum of advertising and a website link, pet sitters and home watch people may not be able to afford a display ad but could afford a board ad, it could give you another level of advertising, sometimes smaller is better, as TV grows there could be others who could start a similar board to yours, just sayin'

[Tom Hannon]

I agree with Talk Host. I've seen seen some posts that pretty much said "Use me" followed by a plug for the business. Most of these posts are from members with less than a handful of messages. Recently, I inquired about a used golf cart shortly before I was in TV for a week and a well known and active member sent me a private message recommending a particular company. It was a great lead and I was very happy with the service. TOTV is in business to make $$$ just as the Moorse's are. Okay, perhaps the Moorse's are in a better financial situation than The Talk Show host, but we all have to make a living.

[Talk Host]

maybe you should have levels of advertising, display ads are more costly than a board section with minimum of advertising and a website link, pet sitters and home watch people may not be able to afford a display ad but could afford a board ad, it could give you another level of advertising, sometimes smaller is better, as TV grows there could be others who could start a similar board to yours, just sayin'


Display ads are not the only way for people to advertise here. There is a very useful section here called "Products and Services."


Home sitters, pet sitters, handymen and so on advertise on this forum for an entire month for $42. It is an extremely effective way for people with a small business to tell others about their service. One beauty shop has been with us for several years and says she gets two or three new customers every week from Talk of The Villages "products and services."

Another of our clients deals in golf cart batteries. When he renewed last week he said he was "Extremely Happy" with the response from TOTV.

I would think that just about anybody in business should be able to consider $42 per month a worthwhile advertising investment.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=146

[jannd228]

gtk good to know now others do too!!!