As you can probably guess, when a community of this size is in one place there need to be a few rules. Please read through them here and get familiar with them.
Here they are:
The Challenge Rules for 2011
1. Signatures are to have ONE Link in them. This can be either your Facebook Fan page (not a Facebook Group page) OR a Twitter Link.
ONE, not two.
ONE link.
The text on the link leading to the FB fan page or Twitter page is to have no promotional text in it either.
You can also include your 30DC/Challenge history.
And ONE quote of choice.
ALL are to be in normal sized font.
If you want an example - please refer to any of the Moderators signatures as your guide.
How this will be moderated: You will be asked either in a public post, and/or you will receive an email. If you do not change it yourself by the next time you return to the forum, it will be changed for you by Caro or one of her Mods.
2. There are to be NO links in the body copy of your post that lead to a website or blog related to your name or business which has:
a) A lead capture (where you capture names & email addresses)
b) Adsense
c) Affiliate products
Self promotion is AGAINST what the Challenge stands for. As is using the Challenge to get traffic to your site, to build your list, and to make money from.
3. There are to be NO Affiliate links in the body copy of your post.
4. There are to be no links to your niche blog that you are testing for the The Challenge (this rule is to protect the TheChallenger, as unfortunately there is a small minority who do not have the best intentions).
NB: You CAN put non affiliate links to third party suppliers or posts to third party blogs that DIRECTLY relate to the subject of the thread, and is clearly designed to help the people on that thread.
How 2-4 will be moderated: Moderators have been instructed to remove any such links within the body copy of the post, that go against these requirements.
5. No flaming. No directing anger at another Challenger, name calling, defamation of character or sharing your frustration at a particular person or entity.
The Challenge is a unique community. It has been going since 2005 (previously known as the 30DC), and what is special about it, is it is truly an environment where people pitch in and help each other.
We have high standards of behavior here.
So temper tantrums & projection will simply not be tolerated.
If you have a specific issue with a specific person about what they've said or done, we ask that you take it off line.
It is understandable that there will be times when you are feeling frustrated, please own that as your own feeling in response to what you are experiencing, rather than pointing fingers and blaming others for your emotional reaction.
Please remember, when you post, it is about what is going on for you, this is your experience, your feeling, your issue - even if it is shared.
We also accept that our approach may not be for everyone, so we accept if you decide we are not for you, and wish you well.
How this will be moderated: Moderators have been instructed to moderate such posts. They may remove the inflamed section of your post. Delete it and/or PM you regarding their decision to moderate your post.
6. No spamming of the forum is permitted!
How this will be moderated: Moderators will delete the post. And if it is repeated behavior will ban that person from the forum.
7. No duplicate posting by the same author. Also no bumping up posts to get it to be seen.
How this will be moderated: Moderators will delete the duplicate post. And keep one. Moderators will remind you not to bump - if it's been 2-3 days - that is acceptable (not hours or a day!)
NB: Also if we see duplicate posts by different authors - Moderators will merge the smaller of the two into the larger one. And leave a notification lasting 1 day of this.
8. It is an expectation of Moderators for you to have searched before posting.
It can be very easy to post your question before looking to see if it's already been asked. And it is exhausting for other community members & moderators to answer the same question again and again.We like to be a community that shows consideration to others and is about helping others to help you. Therefore we expect you to take the time to run your own search to see if a question has already been asked and answered as opposed to just posting.
How this will be Moderated: Moderators will ask you if you have searched first, and guide you to doing so. Please do not expect your question to be answered if it is a repeat of many other posts on the same topic already answered.
9.Please do not PM Caro, myself or the Moderation team seeking one on one assistance.
Our commitment is to serving the community as a whole. And one question asked in the public arena has the capacity to assist many, as opposed to asking it privately. Plus The Challenge team do not have the available time to hand hold individually.
How this will be Moderated: Moderators will either PM you back with the reminder as the above. Or they may not respond.
10. Please choose a subject heading relevant to the content of your post & type in normal case (not caps).
Please do not put in a 'I need help', 'help me' or the Moderator or Challenge teams names (ie: Ed, Dan, Caro, Nez, Gurubob). It will help the Moderation team find your post more easily if you relate the subject in the title to the contents. For example: 'Please Clarify Market Samurai Criteria' or 'My rankings seem to have changed from fab to not so' etc
Please do not SHOUT in the heading either (nor in the body copy).
How it will be moderated: A moderator may choose to change your title to make it more user friendly for Forum users. The biggest downside for the author of the thread is that it is not likely to capture attention.
11. Please contact the support team of the 3rd Party (Market Samurai, WPD etc) tool you are using, as opposed to posting the Support issue on The Challenge Forum.
The Challenge forum is for questions pertaining to The Challenge strategy.
Each third party tool we have, has their own extensive Support Service. It is the expectation you contact them for Support about their tool as opposed to looking for Support from The Forum.
How this will be moderated: Moderators will direct you to go to the relevant Support Service and close your post.
12. Please do not seek Legal or Tax advice via this forum, as unless you are an Attorney or Accountant, we are not permitted to offer such advice
No member of The Challenge team of Challenge community is permitted to offer Legal or Tax advice to another member, unless they are professionally qualified in that field.
How this will be moderated: Moderators will offer a reminder that we can not offer legal or tax advice, and will close the post at their discretion.
13. Asking for Feedback On Matrix Analysis
When you post a matrix and ask for feedback, in order to receive Feedback from one of the team of Moderators, please ensure you have:
a. Included a screen shot in the post of your SEOT, PBR & SEOC
b. Included a screen shot in the post of your Matrix
c. Provided a thorough analysis of the matrix yourself, that is to include your interpretation of what you see, and what conclusions you are drawing from it.
The rationale for this is borrowed from the analogy that you don't teach someone to fish by doing it for them. We have your back, and we will certainly provide feedback based on having seen you making the effort of analyzing it yourself.
Your analysis is expected to be between 2-3 paragraphs. Here are some excellent examples from 2010 to give you an idea of how to approach it
How this will be moderated: Moderators will request you to provide an analysis of your Matrix as per the above.
There is nothing restrictive here, it's all about having respect for your fellow Challenge participants. The rules have been modified from the 30DC rules of 2009. Once Caro and her mod team get up and running we may find the need to tweak the rules that are here, but not a lot.
Here's to a huge Challenge in 201! for everybody.
Cheers,
Nez
Last edited by Caro :-); 09-12-2011 at 06:53 PM.
Reason: Updating for The Challenge 2011
The Challenge Forum Rules
