Link exchange etiquette

[The Visitors]

I understand most people here are here to learn from one another and also promote their own site. It's why I; myself joined. But I always believed there was some "Link exchange etiquette" when you join another community or attempt some link exchange.

My personal ideal of link exchange is for someone to join another person's site and have a small signature or maybe list their link in their profile as their homepage (preferred). Then continue to be an active member of that community and hope maybe someone else will notice your small link and join your community. It's a fair system and helps communities grow and network, without spamming.

Recently I had someone do the following...

• 
  Added a large banner (bigger then here) in his signature
  Added 5 others very large & bold text links in his signature
  Changed his user title to his site
  change his location to his site
  changed his homepage to his site
  posted a link to his site on his profile
  change his user status to his site
  posted about his site in other threads

To me this is clear spam. But I thought I would get a few opinions and ask you all, what are your thoughts about this?

 

[iron hide]

I think that little too much but it depends on the forum's rules. The forum admin should post all guidelines about posting sigs and all other stuff. If what you are doing is not violating that forum's rules and guidelines than its OK but still it sure looks spammy to others.

 

[Deleted member 7467]

To me, that sounds like spam. You should contact the user asking him to tone it down and explain your reasoning.

 

[MissTake]

Yep it sounds like it's spam to me too?

Contact them and explain it's too much, if they pull a strop they are spammers and worth getting shot of, if they tone it down then they are genuine but didn't realise how greedy they were being? you have nothing to lose 😉

Although......

Location: SociallyUncensored.eu .....you did the same :lol:

 

[Fergal]

Honestly I would say that it comes down to whether or not it breaks your rules!

If it breaks your rules PM the member, thank them for participating on your forum, tell them the rules they've broken, ask them to fix it and not do it again.

What this member has done, is obviously something you don't want on your forum. Hence, if it doesn't break your rules change the rules accordingly then PM the member tell them the rules have changed, apologise for the inconvenience and ask them to comply with the new rules.

 

[Green Cat]

If he is a very active/useful member just shot him a PM.
If he is not I would warn him, if he doesn't react ban him.