Never Mind

bought it!

um....o.O

Hmm.. WC is letting you advertise? Interesting.   I also sell my skins on my own site prior to uploading them as Master skins.. I just don't blatently spam WC with them. Kinda cutting Stardock out of the loop eh? Not too classy imo.

No one is interested in your opinion. Excellent, as always! Keep 'em coming! Thanks.

Don't speak for others please.  

I don't think anyone is upset.. certainly not me..and if it's within the site policy by all means advertise all you want, I was merely looking for clarification, If all I need to do is advertise my work here.. then I wouldn't need to share revenue with Stardock. The Master skin program is a trade off.. traffic in return for a portion of the profits.. by advertising the skin here your cutting them completely out of the deal.. keeping all profits and I'm sure your well aware of that.

To me..using WC to promote your work and taking all profits is wrong, period.

No, you're right vStyler. Just wasn't thing. First time I've ever done this. (Yes, that's the truth!).

I'll have to talk with Zoomba about this. Thank God, I didn't make this into an article. They probably would have banned me.

I just realized, every time I put up a link to my website, I'm acually spamming. hmmm...

I don't see how that cuts Stardock out of the loop. It was a WindowBlinds theme after all.
AFAIK, master skinners aren't obligated to sell skins on WC, it's simply a way to contribute while distributing their works. You're not exactly locked into a contract or forced to sell your wares only on WC.

I personally find it useful when skinners inform the general community of work they've completed. As long as it's not overdone I think it's fine, IMHO.

The emphasis is on using the site to inform rather than spam blatant advertising.

It cuts both ways, I guess. Sure I get to sell my skin, but they need "Stardock Windowblinds and Iconpackager" to run it. So, they make money, also.
And God knows, I've never given anything to Stardock or the community...I'm cheap that way.

That's a joke people.....come on...

Stardock im positive would see it differently. I realize that we are not obligated to sell as master skins on WC. However.. We are also not entitled to use WC as our own personal advertising outlet. if that were the case, I'd like some free infomercials on TV.. in theory.. it is no different.

As far as not "overdoing it" Thats a grey line.. If all I did was advertise each theme I completed one time.. then obviously thats at the low end of "doing it" but its spamming neverthless.. Being in business for oneself by way of a website requires one to be creative in driving traffic to such site but announcing your wares on a website without paying for the privelage is unnaceptable in most circles. If advertising was free..this country would fall apart.



Thats fine, and most welcomed for free work.. but any kind of announcement of something one has to pay for IS advertising \ Spam.



I feel the same way.. but still people would buy Stardock products anyway.. just because we have contributed for free in the past ( and still do ) does not warrant free advertising. I assume that from Stardocks point of view.. awarding you master status is payment enough for past endeavours.

Look I didn't mean to jump your case, the only reason I even said anything was because I have to abide by this too.

Bought it too.

The way I see it is....You can sell your skins on your site Stardocks site and both. I don't think they would like you to sell on your site and advertise here. If your selling on both sites, I don't think they would still want you to advertise your site here as that would cut into their share. So I would believe that advertising on WC to sell your skins on your site would be frowned on. But thats my opinion.

Besides, it's been awhile since I've screwed up....so I was do...

It's no different than Winstep Xtreme putting out an article everytime there is an update. It has nothing to do with Stardock. This is a skinning community.

Winstep doesn't.. Stardock does.

Wrong again. Winstep Xtreme does. And has for years.

So far this has remained a mature and intelligent discussion/conversation between community members. What's important to remember is we will all have opinions, doesn't matter. What does matter is what is Stardock's policy.

Look on the good side, no one had to get a forum moderator or Stardock rep. It was handled as it should of been.

Z71, good looking blind and icons.  

As far as I remember every main page article has been posted by Zoomba or someone from Stardock. Care to show me? I don't mind being wrong at all.. when I am.

Winstep Xtreme

JCRabbit, owns Winstep Xtreme. Sorry...

But that doesn't make what I did right.

I stand corrected.... on that. I was wrong.   

Z71, That's a fantastic skin. Love the Blind and the Icons are terrific.

There is a fine line when it comes to so called 'spamming'.....you just have to do it 'gentley' and with a 'subtle touch', like some others do   

So far the conversation has been amicable. That rocks!

Looking at the TOS I don't see anything against posting items for sale. I think we all can identify the difference between spam and retail.
I know I've seen posts for commercial products and sites by many members here over the years and no one has crossed the line into being a pest. I think that is key here. You start spamming . . and it's an issue.

I think the post was fine. Z21, if you want to put it back that's fine. When someone with real authority returns to be . . well . . authoritative . . we can go from there.

Until then, I'll take the responsibility for this decision right or wrong.

Again, I appreciate the maturity here. Thank you all.

My issue would be this..and I tend to be quite harsh on spammers.

If just anyone is allowed to advertise skins then the entire Master Skin concept falls apart. Shitty skins will be put up for sale and there is more ads on a site that I pay to get rid of.

Brads screenshot of the day that has been up for well over a month is an ad in my opinion. Some people try to make screenshots to get a shot of the day. It is sort of disrespecting the community. It's an ad no matter how you try to spin it.

Of course, Ross isn't just anyone.

Therein lies my argument. If you use a website as your own personal advertising page where all you is blatantly spam your wares, then yes, you're in breach of, at the very least, proper netiquette.
A skinner's contribution would, I imagine, have a not altogether inconsiderable effect on raising awareness of the product itself, driving newer users to purchase and subscribe thus raising revenue.



Agreed. If all you ever did on WC (or any other site for that matter) was advertise your work, then it would be considered spamming. But an active and contributing member of the skinning community should be afforded the privilege of showcasing their work. Note that I say privilege, as I do understand the point you're making.

The crux of my angle is that an individual's constructive involvement in a community, be it skinning or otherwise, would afford that individual the benefit of mentioning his or her accomplishments, whether for profit or otherwise. If that community is part of your life then why wouldn't you share your achievements with others?

In the end, I believe it comes down to common sense and not abusing the privileges one is afforded. Respecting your host, peers and audience will always go a long way and keep you in good standing.

While i respect and understand what you're saying, vStyler, (and as ZubaZ confirmed) I don't really see that his original post breached any guidelines, stated or otherwise.

Having said all that, I think it's a nice skin. Good work Z71.