WordPress.org

1. ce_bradm
   Member
   Posted 1 year ago #

   Hi everyone,

   I'm not sure where else to post this. I've done quite a bit of searching, but haven't been able to find what I'm looking for.

   I've noticed that several wordpress.org forum users are able to link their username to a specific link.

   For example:

   http://wordpress.org/support/topic/500-internal-server-error-message-with-go-daddy?replies=5

   In the above post, Godaddy is able to link their username in the left column to their website. How can I do this as well? Do I need to assist in X number of posts beforehand?

   Also, I read that moderators generally are taking out signatures as they cause clutter. I'd like to be able to help out in the wordpress.org forums, while at the same time help promote my own site. Is this generally frowned upon? If not, does anyone have suggestions on best ways to do this?

   Thanks,

   -Brad

2. esmi
   Theme Diva & Forum Moderator
   Posted 1 year ago #

   How can I do this as well?

   You can't. The link is added manually by senior forum admins.

   Do I need to assist in X number of posts beforehand?

   I'm not sure that's the best frame of mind to be in if you want help out. Helping users comes first. Self-promotion is not an option.

   Is this generally frowned upon?

   Sigs will be removed on sight. There are no exceptions.

3. Ipstenu
   Half-Elf Support Rogue & Mod
   Posted 1 year ago #

   I'd like to be able to help out in the wordpress.org forums, while at the same time help promote my own site. Is this generally frowned upon? If not, does anyone have suggestions on best ways to do this?

   Yeah, it's a VERY careful/thin line situation.

   First, to get your site linked to in your profile you need to do two things:

   1) Edit your profile (Go to http://wordpress.org/support/profile/ce_bradm and click EDIT on the right) and add your URL.
   2) Be around a little while. I think they don't show as links for x-months.

   As for how to provide help AND promote your site, the best thing I can say is be altruistic. If every single 'help' post involves you saying 'You can solve this via my theme/plugin/blog post' then you're unintentionally spamming. If you're going to help, answer the question here, regardless of if YOUR product has the answer. List OPTIONS. If you have a plugin, list the others that can do it. Give the info and then say 'I have more details here, if you need them.' That's better.

   Don't use WordPress.org like Twitter and just tell people 'Check out my <whatever>. Use your common sense. People don't like ads, so don't be one. Think of what YOU would like to see when you need help. Pay attention to what people say and what they mean, help them ABOVE and beyond promoting yourself.

4. ce_bradm
   Member
   Posted 1 year ago #

   esmi and Ipstenu,

   Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated.

5. esmi
   Theme Diva & Forum Moderator
   Posted 1 year ago #

   I think one way to approach this to to look at the forums in terms of a learning experience rather than something that will promote your own business. I know I've learnt far more from helping out here than I would have learnt had I just stuck to my own themes/plugins/client sites. And if it helps you to broaden your experience, that has to be good for your business too. :-)

6. ce_bradm
   Member
   Posted 1 year ago #

   I'm marking this post as resolved.

   The rest of this is just a hello to everyone. I've been around wordpress for almost 4 years now. I've installed it in both windows (iis - not very fun) and linux, and am quite comfortable with "getting under the hood". I recently have written quite a few Joomla plugins, and am interested in doing the same with WordPress. I have quite a bit of history with support, and I know I can offer quite a bit to the WP community.

7. Rev. Voodoo
   Volunteer Moderator
   Posted 1 year ago #

   [don't] just tell people 'Check out my <whatever>.

   'You can solve this via my theme/plugin/blog post' then you're unintentionally spamming

   Oops.... I've been unintentionally guilty of this.... After about the 100th time of answering certain questions..... I just started linking to a post about it rather than repeating over and over.... a bit lazy I guess....

8. Ipstenu
   Half-Elf Support Rogue & Mod
   Posted 1 year ago #

   Well there's a fine line, y'know? If that's ALL you do, and that is the totality of ALL your posts, then you should re-think...

9. esmi
   Theme Diva & Forum Moderator
   Posted 1 year ago #

   @Rev: I don't think anyone doubts your motives after all this time. :-) But I agree that it does get a little tiresome typing out the same answers again and again. I get around this by copy'n'pasting the comments from one of my blog articles, if it's relevant. However, if you find yourself pasting in the content from the same post over and over again, perhaps you could consider adding it to the Codex instead? I know I did that with a couple of my original posts.

Topic Closed

This topic has been closed to new replies.