2009 30DC Rules & Procedures :-)

[Caro]

Hi wonderful 30DCers!

I can't believe we're at that time of year again.

This year we've started Pre-Season in June, with the 30DC kick off itself August 1st.

Each year we attract a lot of Newbies - which we LOVE!

Gosh and even with the veterans - we were ALL newbies at some point!

And we're very aware that each online forum environment is different to another.

Therefore we want to make sure you are fully clear about how we operate. What Rules we have. And what procedures we ask you to take.

We have the most awesome team of Moderators, who have been briefed to be vigilant to ensuring people follow the rules and respect the procedures.

OK so here goes:

30DC Rules for 2009


1. Signatures are to have ONE Link in them. This can be either a Friend Feed link (as per 2008) OR a Twitter Link.

ONE, not two.

If you choose Friend Feed as your one link, it doesn't then mean you can put in a personal one and a group one, even if it relates to your team.

ONE link.

You can also include your 30DC 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 myself, Bambi or Lisa.


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 30DC stands for. As is using the 30DC 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 30DC (this rule is to protect the 30DCer, 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 30DCer, name calling, defamation of character or sharing your frustration at a particular person or entity.

30DC is a unique community. It has been going since 2005, 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.

How this will be moderated: Moderators will delete the duplicate post. And keep one.

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.


Phew!

Everyone here at Team 30DC and Team 30DC Moderators are SUPER excited about this years 30DC even better than every other year. And we are all committed to making your personal experience absolutely the best!

Best to you,

Caro

[Caro]

Procedures For 30DC 2009


1. Please use the Search Function before posting.

This is a huge community with a lot of wonderful, enthusiastic people. Experience has shown that a lot of the same questions get asked.

We have a team of dedicated Moderators and helpful 30DC community members.

It is not a good use of anyone's time to answer the same question time and time again on different threads.

Therefore our requirement is for each person to run a search BEFORE posting their question.

NB: When searching - which is GREAT! Please also check the date of when the first post and last post were made. This is particularly relevant in the Team section. If a thread is from 2007 looking for team mates, chances are it's a 'dead' topic.

How this will be moderated: Moderators have been asked to remind you to search if they come across a post with a question they know has been asked and answered.

PS: I will be creating a video as part of Pre-Season that will show you how to navigate the forum, and within that I will include working with the search function - personally I use it all the time to great results.


2. Please do not PM Ed, Dan, GuruBob (Robert), myself or the Moderators looking for one on one assistance.

The 30DC team are committed to creating the BEST 30DC experience for you. The best way to reach and teach as many people as possible is via the videos, audios and forum responses we offer.

It takes us away from helping the community at large if we have individuals looking for one on one assistance.

Honestly - we see you as ALL special to us, AND no one is more special to warrant one on one assistance over the rest of the community - so please be respectful of your fellow community members.

Post in the forum, where you are offering the opportunity to help more people by asking your question and having it answered publicly.

How this will be moderated: Moderators have been informed that they are not required to answer PM's asking for special assistance. They instead are asked to redirect you back to the forum.


3. Make the Title in the Heading relevant to the content of the Post.

Please think about what you put in the title.

To say: 'I need help' - is not informing anyone of what question you have.

Please do not put Ed, Dan's, Gurubob's or my name or any of the Moderators in the subject title - hoping to attract our attention.

How this will be moderated: Moderators have been asked to edit Titles that are not informative. And you will receive a post in that thread with a link to this thread as a reminder of that point.


4. Please direct questions regarding working with the third party tools, such as Market Samurai & WPD to their respective support areas.

Market Samurai: Noble Samurai

Word Press Direct: WPDirect.com

Traffic Bug: support [at] traffic-bug.com

How this will be moderated: Moderators have been asked to include these support links in posts where you ask questions that are best answered by the experts who designed the tool. And more often than not will close the thread.


5. Please include tags when you create a new thread

By tagging a thread you create - it will help you and others when you go to search the thread.

This will make everyone's life easier. Especially since we are asking people to search before posting.

How this will be moderated: Moderators may choose to tag a thread themselves or post encouraging you to. As this is a new addition for 2009 it is basically just getting into the habit of adding tags.


6. Please listen to Ed, Dan & Gurubob over anyone else.

Essentially this point is to encourage you to listen to what comes out of the horses mouth over and above anything else you may be told. In relation specifically to the 30DC process.

My job in this forum is also to pass on those teachings via the written word here. So anything I say is also based on what these three have spoken to me directly about.

The Moderators are also well equipped to answer your questions, as each has completed the 30DC themselves in previous years.

This point is being made, because if you are a newbie, you can also by default be a sponge (I know I was!). And sometimes, in people's genuine desire to help, they may offer suggestions/advice that have a lot of merit - however do not pertain to what we are teaching here at the 30DC.

So please listen to Ed, Dan & Gurubob (and myself as their mouth piece) over and above anyone else.

How this will be moderated: Moderators may gently offer a comment on a thread if they are seeing well meant advice that is outside of what we teach here at the 30DC.

7. We ask that if including an email address you use the [at] instead of an @

This is to protect YOU. It is common internet practice to write out your email address as: prefix [at] suffix. com

Complete with those spaces, just as I've written it.

This is so that your email address can not be picked up and spammed. And I am sure that you are aware of how virulent the spammers can be on your inbox.

How this will be moderated: Moderators will remind you to do this, and go in and edit email addresses to read as the above.

Caro

[Caro]

Areas of the Forum and What they Mean:

1. General Chat Area:

This section is for questions relating to the 2009 30 Day Challenge strategy.

2. Getting Ready for the Challenge:

This section is for questions relating to the 2009 Pre-Season.

3. Team Talk

This section is where you are to post for team members/set up teams.

4. Extra Tips

This section is for tips you may want to contribute to help another's Internet Marketing experience.

May be technical, organizational, pyschological.

5. General Internet Marketing Chat

This section is for questions outside the 30DC strategy, so general Internet Marketing questions.

6. Forum Questions, Comments & Suggestions:

This section also includes technical issues you may be having with any of the 30DC tools - such as the forum, itunes, youtube etc.

It does not include questions regarding 3rd party tools such as Market Samurai or WPD.

NB: The other sections should be self explanatory.

How this will be moderated: Moderators have been instructed to move posts that are not in the correct area. They will leave 1 days notification if your post has been moved.

Caro