Are banner exchanges illegal?

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  bookguy4 · Member · Jun 23, 2009 at 8:45 pm

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  Hello,
  my blog is http://politicalbooks.wordpress.com (mostly empty right now)

  I know that google adsense and affiliate programs are against the policy code. Is that though limited to just paid advertising? Can I join a banner exchange or click exchange type group?

  The blog I need help with is: (visible only to logged in users)

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  thesacredpath · Member · Jun 23, 2009 at 9:01 pm

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  You are going to have to ask staff that directly at http://support.wordpress.com/contact/ . The volunteers here in the forums cannot – nor should they – make that call. We have no authority.

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  bookguy4 · Member · Jun 23, 2009 at 9:07 pm

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  Ok.

  On a side note, sacredpath, you’ve been a lot of help the last couple days answering three of my questions so far. :) Thanks much!

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  thesacredpath · Member · Jun 23, 2009 at 9:39 pm

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  You’re welcome.

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  bookguy4 · Member · Jun 24, 2009 at 4:20 pm

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  Here’s a related question. (can’t hijack a thread from myself right?) can I add third-party “stuff” if that stuff has third-party ads?

  Example: I would like to add a forum and/or guestbook. The forum would be mine, but there would be the hosts ads on em. Or, if I link my blog to a personal website. My website has ads from the hoster. If my blog is directing people to my webpage ( non-commercial site) do I have to keep the website clear of ads too?

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  bookguy4 · Member · Jun 26, 2009 at 2:47 pm

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  As a self-answering follow up, (got the from support)

  1. Banner exchanges are a no-no if they are commercial. So a non-comercial one *might* be legal.

  2. They told me to be careful not to look like an SEO. Had to search out what that meant. :P This worries me a bit. They suggested that having a link on every post to my homepage or forum would be seen as SEO. Now the posts are not going to about my homepage, but it will be the same topic. I won’t link to myself in every post, but I do want to place a link in the sidebar. From reading the TOS I think as long as the posts are all legit and aren’t exclusively about funneling traffic I’ll be good.

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  xxcloverxx · Member · Jun 26, 2009 at 6:52 pm

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  Meh, if I was a cop I wouldn’t be thinking if it’s third party…

  But I’m not, so I do have to think about it!

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  raincoaster · Member · Jun 26, 2009 at 9:47 pm

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  Putting a link in the sidebar is A-OK. Talking about the same topic as your website is perfectly fine. I’m not staff, but I teach blogging and social media and staff is perfectly fine with me having a blog about all of that and even handling registration via the blog.