Recommendation or advert?

[onimolap]

Apologies if this is in the wrong place, or if the answer is elsewhere on the site (couldn't find anything in faqs).

When is a recommendation become an advert, and what is acceptable here?

I'm asking because I posted a couple of links yesterday on threads which were asking for specific recommendations (eg fancy dress for 18mth old). But I've also seen on other threads comments that a post has been reported because you should pay to advertise.

So can anyone help me with an explanation of where the boundaries lie? Many thanks.

I think if you are promoting anything in which you have a vested interest, directly or indirectly, ie. you are part of a business selling a particular product or own a holiday home you link to, you should have paid first, not only on the classifieds threads.

yy

so if you like a dress in M and S then link away, or if you like a face cream then tell us

but what happens sometimes is a marketing team decides to do a viral (internet-based) campaign and floods MN with threads saying ooh you must get this or that

google Haliborange Kills Otters for an interesting example

HTH

Thanks!

I have no vested interests, so will just do it

It can vary by board. For example, on the Childminders, Nannies board it tends to be self-policed by the regular posters. It can be very clear at times when something is an advert and when it is someone coming up with a solution to a problem.
We tend to link to other sites quite a bit, pointing parents towards information about childcare services specific to their area, or nationally... also to sources of official information.
That can be seen as promoting certain companies at times... and what sometimes happens is that those companies will take out paid advertising.
Individuals will promote their own websites from time to time... which in general is permitted as long as it does not occur too often. What is discouraged is people posting a deliberate advert and not taking part in discussions.