Don't think that's an issue, I first found sailboatowners by following a link from another website, ( a direct competitor with store board etc) so if they have a problem with someone listing a website here they should take steps to eliminate any other website from refering to them.
There is a difference between hyperlinking to something and advertising. The original post is technically on the border of what we consider legit and as of now we have laid back and let the thread roll. So far it seems like a good thing for the community but if it turns into a regular barrage of "click to my site", "click to my site" it may be a different story. There are currently a fair number of "click through" ads including Rib Craft & JSI Sails and Canvas on this site. Please keep in mind that Phil also sells canvas..!
If this was a honest to goodness DIY boat owner site, where no income was derived or attempted, like many are on this site, it would be considered 110% legit. Where the OP's site tends to cross the line is in the "click through" advertising. Click though ads derive revenue based on clicks to a web page that were routed from another page. The intent, as I see it of the op, is genuinely two fold. #1 build a site of links for sailors and DIY pages (good) #2 Sell advertising to other sites and collect "click through" revenue by traffic driven to his site.
This is NOT the only forum he has posted this on and it could certainly be interpreted as advertising to drive "clicks" his way. This and many other forums have rules that do not allow commercial advertising, selling of goods, or phishing for business.
The inherent difference between a forum member recommending another vendor such as Hamilton Marine, Defender or McMaster Carr, in a post, and linking to, it is 100% different than said vendor coming onto the forum and doing the same. The vendor is a direct beneficiary and the forum member is NOT.
As I mentioned above the admin is taking a "wait and see" approach and always take each event as a case by case basis.
Please do know that business owners, vendors, surveyors, brokers or anyone else who specifically derives revenue from a business is specifically not allowed to market it, advertise it or solicit any sort of business through the use of the SBO forums.
Also selling or even mentioning you have items for sale, in the forums, is one of this sites biggest pet peeves. These post, above most all others, will be deleted as soon as they are found so please don't do it. There is a free
Gear Ads (LINK) section and a very, very, very reasonably priced
Boats For Sale (LINK) section.
All cases are not cut and dry, and this one falls into that category. Rather than be hasty with the delete feature, we try to avoid it at all costs, the admins have chosen to monitor this one instead for the time being.
Hope this info helps..
