Is really referral or affiliate are not allowed in Forum ?

[~speedx~]

I have seen the posts of some members in some places of the forum that referral link or affiliate link is not allowed in the forum. But is it really not allowed? Because I have seen some campaign managers and users using referral links in their posts & signature.
So the question arose in my mind, is it really prohibited to use referral or affiliate links? Or referral or affiliate link can be used following some rules.
Seeking for some answers 

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[Charles-Tim]

Referral links are not allowed. But allowed on announcements threads (I mean the OP of the thread).

[Don Pedro Dinero]

You can use them in your signature but not in posts.

Referral links are not allowed. But allowed on announcements threads (I mean the OP of the thread).

They are allowed in your signature.

[Gladitorcomeback]

Read it what Theymos said in his post regarding ads. you cannot use refer link or affiliate in the post body ad it prohibited and will open the doors for spammers. Although you as Theymos mentioned you have still chance to promote referel link in your signature. I hope reading below official message about ads will clear your confusion.

It occurred to me that I should write a little about this in case anyone's wondering about what dogie's doing, or why other people are getting banned for somewhat similar activity:

Ads are typically not allowed in posts (outside of the signature area) because they are annoying and off-topic. It is especially disallowed to put ads or signatures at the bottom of all of your posts. Except for traditional valedictions, which are tolerated but discouraged, signatures are for the signature area only.

However, if you are using the forum as a publishing platform to host something really substantial and useful, selling ads in that substantial work is allowed. To be eligible for this, your post must be in a topic that you started, and your post must be substantial and long enough to make the ad seem entirely insignificant. If in doubt, ask me.

[Charles-Tim]

They are allowed in your signature.

Yes. There are even some campaigns that their signatures have referral links. This can be used to know if there are people from this site (Bitcointalk) that join (the site with the campaign) or use their service through the referral link.

[Adbitco]

I think some post it at game and round sections or the announcement section as Charles-Tim said. Sharing referral links not just create a post in any section of the forum and post them it should be channel at the right section and to my notice any ref link that requires one to make deposit or earn higher amount is not that allowed it may leads to scam. I have seen some users that has been tag for sharing ref links that doesn't meet to the standard.

[Jawhead999]

If I want to add, you should avoid to wear referral link about mixer in your signature after this year ends.

my notice any ref link that requires one to make deposit or earn higher amount is not that allowed it may leads to scam. I have seen some users that has been tag for sharing ref links that doesn't meet to the standard.

I don't think that's some sort of standard, such user is just a scammer because he promote ponzi, that's why get red tagged. Similar to wearing a signature from scam casino, it will increase the chance to get red tag too.

[crwth]

It's not allowed in your posts. I think it's the right decision to maintain it like that. It could prevent spammy messages and like what other members said it's annoying.

This is what makes bitcointalk a unique and trustworthy source because of this IMO.

[Wapfika]

Referral links are not allowed. But allowed on announcements threads (I mean the OP of the thread).

The only affiliate link allowed on ANN thread is the tracking link of the casino and not the referral link to earn money. Just clarifying here since some of the user that starting ANN thread of casino that doesn’t have representatives here are just a player trying to share the casino and at the same time their referral link to get referral commission.

There’s a lot of case like in the past so newbie should be aware that it’s totally not allowed in any post. It’s only allowed on the signature space.

[coin-investor]

Referral links that allow you to track the clicks for traffic evaluation are allowed but referral links where you can make money from the clicks from your links are not allowed, you can post your referral link in your signature but never in the announcement and post, because if the forum allowed it, the forum will become spam fest and a get paid to sites like the GPT forums I stumbled where every post are full of referral links.
Bitcointalk is generally a Bitcoin discussion forum and they just added niches for Bitcoin investors for awareness.

[Adbitco]

my notice any ref link that requires one to make deposit or earn higher amount is not that allowed it may leads to scam. I have seen some users that has been tag for sharing ref links that doesn't meet to the standard.

I don't think that's some sort of standard, such user is just a scammer because he promote ponzi, that's why get red tagged. Similar to wearing a signature from scam casino, it will increase the chance to get red tag too.

It's self explanatory I believe every single users do come across that post as pinned below everyone's username., About promoting ponzi scheme that is highly frown over here  since is at a higher risk of losing one hand earned money. I have also seen some casinos that are declared scam but yet people are still promoting them knowing too well that is a scam site even as that I think people just focused on what they earned from the site instead of looking at protecting users from falling scams into that site.

[348Judah]

So the question arose in my mind, is it really prohibited to use referral or affiliate links? Or referral or affiliate link can be used following some rules.

If the content are trusted, tested and approved by following the due process under the announcement board, there's nothing bad in it, why this must be done with extreme caution is because, most of the affecting scams that are going out are more related to such referrals and there's no point in making promotion of what cannot be trusted, it may not be against the rules, but when you promoted a referral link that scam, you may have the reward of being tagged as well, the forum does not moderate scam, but such is not an excuse to enroll for them.

[BitMaxz]

According to the forum rules, ref links is not allowed but I saw some ref link with(only if you want to support me) a long time ago if I remember correctly it was posted on the mining section before but they included non-ref link. So I guess it's only allowed on selected sections and if the referral link is related to the topic/section and also if the post includes non-ref?
I hope mods should give us insight because other forums posting referral links are allowed if you include a non-referral link and virustotal scan link.

[Mpamaegbu]

This isn't to derail the issue being discussed here by any means. However, it occurred to me as birthed by OP's line of question just now that sooner than later someone will come up with an idea of how this forum should copy that sister forum mixer campaigns are moving to and ask admin (theymos) to let members who bring others to the forum invite them through their referral links. Just watch and see.

[Stalker22]

I noticed some people here say there is a blanket ban on referral links.  But I dont think thats right.  Hopefully the mods will correct me if Im wrong!

Based on the forum rules, referral code (referral link) spam is not allowed - fair enough.  But if your post is on-topic, has good, relevant info and you include a referral link, that seems to be fine. 

I did some searching and found a couple quotes from theymos and mprep that relate to this:

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Ref links are allowed if they're on-topic, which this is.

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If the post is directly on-topic (like in your example) and is constructive (i.e. not just parotting content that was already posted), it's allowed.

(You might want to visit the relevant threads for the full context.)

[joker_josue]

I noticed some people here say there is a blanket ban on referral links.  But I dont think thats right.  Hopefully the mods will correct me if Im wrong!

Based on the forum rules, referral code (referral link) spam is not allowed - fair enough.  But if your post is on-topic, has good, relevant info and you include a referral link, that seems to be fine. 

Yes, I have that idea too. If the link is supported by credible and viable information, and not just a simple link, that's it.
Furthermore, it is also recommended to clearly state that the link is an affiliate link and that it be a clearly visible link, and not "hidden" beneath any words.

Either way, it is not a recommended practice in general, it can be used in moderation, in the right context.

[robelneo]

I noticed some people here say there is a blanket ban on referral links.  But I dont think thats right.  Hopefully the mods will correct me if Im wrong!

Based on the forum rules, referral code (referral link) spam is not allowed - fair enough.  But if your post is on-topic, has good, relevant info and you include a referral link, that seems to be fine. 

I did some searching and found a couple quotes from theymos and mprep that relate to this:

........

(You might want to visit the relevant threads for the full context.)

That's interesting so there could be a scenario of two shill accounts creating a thread about promoting a site with their referral link on it in disguise of a good discussion like what is mentioned as an example, all I know is referral links are not allowed at all post, now this can be abuse or manipulated but it can still be reported to the moderator and let the moderator decide on the merit of the discussion where the referral link is included.

[joker_josue]

That's interesting so there could be a scenario of two shill accounts creating a thread about promoting a site with their referral link on it in disguise of a good discussion like what is mentioned as an example, all I know is referral links are not allowed at all post, now this can be abuse or manipulated but it can still be reported to the moderator and let the moderator decide on the merit of the discussion where the referral link is included.

Well, I believe this is even easy to detect.
It is clearly noticeable when what is being done is a way of promoting the affiliate link, or when we are talking about a service.

Either way, I believe that 90% of users capable of doing this feasibly do not do so because they agree with the idea that affiliate links should not be used.

That's why, fortunately, we managed to keep that appearance clean. And continue to promote the idea of no affiliate links. 

[EarnOnVictor]

So the question arose in my mind, is it really prohibited to use referral or affiliate links? Or referral or affiliate link can be used following some rules.

When it comes to this forum, a lot of things are complicated and people do as they like, and it's maybe because the forum administration is not strict about some things. I remember when I was reading the rules when I came newly here that referral/affiliate links are not allowed, but yet some people are using it in their posts without anyone questioning them. This is why I said it's kind of complicated than me telling you an outright No. Also, affiliate and referral links are used on the signatures you see all over the place and no one will ever penalise you for creating your own signature and embedding the referral/affiliate links into it as well. I believe this still serves the same purpose as the person who embedded it in his posts directly instead of the signature design.

[digaran]

Also, affiliate and referral links are used on the signatures you see all over the place and no one will ever penalise you for creating your own signature and embedding the referral/affiliate links into it as well. I believe this still serves the same purpose as the person who embedded it in his posts directly instead of the signature design.

So in your opinion it's alright to wear a signature that leads to a site and then getting paid a fix amount, but it's not alright to have a special link for the same site to then earn as people click on it and use the service? Which one is better for you as a promoter, a fixed payment, or a dynamic one? Here is a better question, what if you are advertising your own site?

If you don't know the reason for restriction on ref links, here is why:
Scammers advertise for fake profit by promising good return, but in reality they just scam the unsuspected newbies. So it's not allowed to do that. Everything is in place for a reason, to avoid abuse.