I had someone post this letter on Stampin Addicts a few days ago. It’s from Jennifer Fong to some of her readers regarding the use of WordPress.com and their demonstrator businesses. I found it quite interesting, particularly WordPress.com’s own take on the matter. Here’s the letter as sent by Jennifer.
Dear xxxxx,
It was recently brought to my attention that WordPress.com is now outright banning MLM blogs, referring to them as “affiliate marketing” and “pyramid schemes.” While I disagree with this assessment, and have alerted the DSA who is looking into the issue, it is important that you be aware of this, so that you don’t get your blog shut down.In my own correspondence with WordPress about the issue, here is their clarification:
“Any kind of MLM blogs – or blogs created to direct readers to external domains for commercial purposes – are not permitted at WordPress.com. If you are creating the blog to make money, WordPress.com is not the place for you.”However in WordPress’s rules, they do allow business blogs to demonstrate expertise:
“Business: Professionals ranging from realtors to lawyers and stock brokers are using WordPress to share their expertise, and companies have discovered the power of blogs to more directly and personally engage with their customers.”When I followed up with them asking about this, here is what they said:
“> If legitimate direct sellers are only using their blog to demonstrate
> their expertise, wouldn’t that fall under those rules?”“Yes, but if the direct seller is continually linking back to their own domain to sell things, they will not be allowed. If the blog is purely information (with no intent to direct users elsewhere to buy things), that is perfectly okay.”
You can read all the rules here: Types of Blogs WordPress.com
If you follow the strategy laid out in my course, you SHOULD be OK. You should not be highlighting specific products or opportunity, but instead should be giving practical, actionable content that people can use right now without spending a dime. However you will NOT be allowed to include a link to your personal website based on WordPress’s interpretation of the rules. Instead, you should have a place for people to sign up for your newsletter, and you can share the link to your website there. Be aware, however, that WordPress.com will shut you down without notice if they decide your blog is in violation of their rules.
Please note that this does not apply to you if you are hosting your blog on your own domain. However if you are using the free WordPress.com service, it is important to make sure you are in compliance.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or email WordPress directly at support@wordpress.com.
Have a great weekend!
Jennifer
Note that Jennifer did contact WordPress.com directly about their stated policy.
“If legitimate direct sellers are only using their blog to demonstrate their expertise, wouldn’t that fall under those rules?”
And the subsequent reply which sure seems to confirm the intent of the policy.
“Yes, but if the direct seller is continually linking back to their own domain to sell things, they will not be allowed. If the blog is purely information (with no intent to direct users elsewhere to buy things), that is perfectly okay.”
We are pretty active in the Stampin’ Up! community and for any demonstrators that have their business blogs hosted at WordPress.com this could be a real issue for them. It’s uncertain at this point what will happen, this could just be sabre rattling on the part of WordPress.com or demos could wake one morning to find their blogs just gone.
With that in mind, I’ve been hunting for another project to take on and I think I’ve got it. Since WordPress provides the backend code for their multiuser system WordPress MU and I have a the domain stampincorner.com (which is very stamper friendly) I think I’ll launch a blog service for stampers.
It should be an interesting project and something I hope to chronicle the efforts of here. With that said, I’m off to do some coding.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Thanks for sharing .
About the view of if you are using the free WordPress.com service, it is important to make sure you are in compliance. So I do not agree with Jennifer..