Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Does anyone else find it distasteful, annoying, and unfair that Visual WebGui consistently uses its community blog on weblogs.asp.net for commercial purposes?

It’s one thing to bring new, innovative products to the community’s attention – I do that myself occasionally. But, Visual WebGui repeatedly uses its blog to post promotional material such as news releases, white papers, and endorsements.

If Visual WebGui can advertise for free in blog posts, what about Telerik, ComponentArt, Infragistics, Intersoft Solutions?

To me, Visual WebGui should be removed from the main feed if it can’t separate its community content from its commercial interests.

Published Tuesday, May 05, 2009 8:39 AM by Ken Cox [MVP]
Filed under: ,

Comments

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009 11:53 AM by Jeff

I think I'm with you on that. Having been here for five years, I'd like to think that this is a place that individual developers post their experiences. It's OK if that relates to some specific work, employer or product they're involved with, but it shouldn't be a PR platform.

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009 12:13 PM by Dude Walker

Personally, I find Jeff's posts far more annoying, that is the most negative SOB i've ever read, no wonder he always gets fired.

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009 12:52 PM by AndrewSeven

What really makes me wonder about that product is the fact that no-one else seems to blog about it.

If it is really so super-awesome, why doesn't anyone else say so?

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009 2:43 PM by IsToFix

Good point Ken. I think they should use their own site for commercial blogging and they may post a technology related posts at asp.net

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009 5:26 PM by flalar

I agree... this is the only place i seem to pick up info on the product.

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Tuesday, May 05, 2009 10:25 PM by Stephen

@Dude Walker

LOL so true.

Maybe I should start a blog on MSDN and advertise myself for hire.

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Wednesday, May 06, 2009 6:39 AM by shallubhalla

I agree

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Wednesday, May 06, 2009 7:24 AM by Robert Wray

Ken - I agree with you. Every single time I see a posting by Visual WebGui in the main feed it raises my hackles.

I just had a look at the "Terms of Use" which appear to be generic ones on microsoft.com, that said they do specify "Unless otherwise specified, the Services are for your personal and non-commercial use", so perhaps one of the people who manages weblogs.asp.net could point that out to the VWG people...

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Thursday, May 07, 2009 3:36 AM by webbes

Fully with you on this.

I've actually filed a complaint to weblogs.asp.net about this half a year ago. They just don't bother.

Cheers,

Wes

# re: Commercial Blog on a Community Site?

Wednesday, May 20, 2009 4:51 PM by Radio Commercial Production

now now be nice to mr Jeff.

-Jack

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