Is it just me who is irritated

5 years ago

By the Pros that pop up on threads to inappropriately advertise their stuff?

For instance, someone will post a thread about what colour paint to choose for their living room and then a company comes along with a thinly disguised advert, ignores the actual content and specific concern, and unhelpfully suggests perhaps you should buy their bookcase etc.

Or someone asks about some kitchen flooring, only to have the virtues of such and such worktop or splash back being offered.

Don't get me wrong, I think there is absolutely nothing wrong with a window company commenting on and advertising if someone were to ask about what windows they should have, frame colour or general window/door advice. And I do understand how useful (and valuable) it is to be aware of what's out there and of all the options.

But I absolutely hate that some, don't even try to assist with the query and just use the opportunity to tout for business, more so when what they're touting is not relevant as well as inappropriate.

But it may just be me........

Featured Answer

PRO

OnePlan

5 years ago

If you use the web version ( rather than app) you can click to report inappropriate posts - like those annoying ‘copy pasted nothing to do with the thread “ posts . They are obviously just spamming.

From a pro’s point of view - ultimately my design work is my job. It’s what puts food on my plate. I don’t sell products. So much as I’d love to be able to design for free for everyone - I can’t always do that, as I still need to make a living too.

I try to find a happy balance, as I also still like to help on threads when I have time before or after work - (or while waiting for a print to render) when I add suggestions where appropriate - especially if there’s a safety issue on the posters thread.
If I can see the poster is going round in circles and maybe doesn’t realise there is such a thing as an unbiased designer or concept planner that’s available to work with ( as it’s a pretty new idea in UK still - even though I’ve been doing it for years !) I’ll add a “there’s a few ideas in my pro page - go have a look if you‘d like to” type message.
I hope that people don’t find that type of message annoying ?

Ultimately, to pay to advertise on Houzz means I’d have to put my prices up. So instead of doing that I help where I can, in my own time, and keep my prices affordable.

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Comments (20)

Jenny Atkinson
5 years ago
I agree, if I want constant ads I'll go on FB
Ribena Drinker thanked Jenny Atkinson
Sonia
5 years ago
I made exactly this point a year or so ago, so yes I agree. It’s extremely irritating and that PRO is only trying to get free advertising rather than give helpful advice. You could always report the post. However, I think some of the PRO’s on here are full of great advice and knowledge, so a difficult one.
Ribena Drinker thanked Sonia
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E D
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Yes, it's a fine line sometimes, but when it's blatant advertising, f.i. when there is no element of advice or no involvement required from us, non pros, I flag/report them as 'spam' and they get deleted. Any Houzzer can do that, just click on the little flag in the top right corner of the 'offending' post.

I do agree with forzaitalia some pros here are very helpful and if that provides them with promotion for their company, no problem.
Ribena Drinker thanked E D
Carolina
5 years ago
It's not just you :-)
Ribena Drinker thanked Carolina
Chris Goodchild
5 years ago
The Houzz guidelines are that you shouldn't advertise in the advice forums, afterall paid for advertising is part of the Houzz business model so I imagine frequent abusers will get blocked.
Ribena Drinker thanked Chris Goodchild
PRO
Ikonografik Design
5 years ago
Haha, as a 'pro' I agree, it's tantamount to spam. Some people don't get it at all. The shouty shouty posts are like hardsellers at a party telling everyone how great they are, in their esteemed opinion = switch off, move on. I see this loads on other platforms like LinkedIn and FB too though...
Ribena Drinker thanked Ikonografik Design
Ribena Drinker
Original Author
5 years ago
It's good to know I'm not the only one. :-)
Ribena Drinker
Original Author
5 years ago
OnePlan - every comment I've seen you make has always been helpful and enlightening and relevant, very far from the type of PRO that irritate me so much!

There are a lot of good people like yourself, that take time to help or advise others and I for one, appreciate getting a professional's input and the advice forum would be the poorer, if you were all to stop.
Sonia
5 years ago
OnePlan it’s definitely not you!
Tani H-S
5 years ago
I think I know who you are meaning as the biggest cuplrit, Ribena ! One of them is always posting links to their products that have nothing to do with the post. Half the time I don't even notice the Pro's are commenting as they are usually very helpful and I always post hoping a pro will help advise me as well.

Noticed I am a 'Pro' on here, haha but I no longer trade with what I registered as (stained glass specialist!) but not sure how to remove it now.
Ribena Drinker thanked Tani H-S
PRO
Lomuarredi Ltd
5 years ago
It happened to me that someone asked for advice on how to redecorate the kitchen and about the new table and chairs to buy. I answered by saying my opinion on the colour of the walls and then proposing some tables and chairs that we sell. Obviously, selling furniture by profession, I proposed my products and not those of a competitor. This person thanked me for the comment and then deleted it. This is not the first time this has happened. If a person asks for advice on how to decorate an empty living room, I feel to propose furniture. And especially if a person asks for advice on new furniture to buy, I put links to my products. Deletion of comments if a request is answered in a relevant way is not serious. That's what irritates me. To respond to your article, I think that on both sides there should be more seriousness and respect!
Tani H-S
5 years ago
@Lomuarredi - there is nothing wrong at all with doing what you did. The person asked for advice and of course you would recommend furniture you sell that you think would work. That's how the Pro's can be helpful and what I'm sure, most people on here appreciate. It's the same with window advice I have been asking for - if the Pro's help then I have no issues with them saying 'ps we sell the windows if you do need a supplier' - after all, that's ultimately what I am trying to find. Nothing worse than someone suggesting something only to find you love it, but actually you can't find who makes it or it's only available in another country, haha.

I think if someone posted a general decorating question about which wallpaper and you decided to tell them to swap out furniture instead and put yours in, then that would be more of a spammy post and I think that is what Ribena is probably referring to ;o) ie when it's completely irrelevant to the post.
Ribena Drinker thanked Tani H-S
PRO
Lomuarredi Ltd
5 years ago
@Tani - agree with you!
Chris Goodchild
5 years ago
Your answer and proposal for your furniture was directly related to a question, that is completely relevant and should not be a problem.

It's the unsolicited ads for products that annoy people.

When I comment I often refer to work I have done as an illustration of what is possible and of what I as a professional can do, I think that is the point of being able to register as a Pro.

It adds value to the Houzz forums for people having work done or looking to buy something for their house and it gives Pro's a platform to highlight their work or products outside of direct advertising. When a pro answers a question it is more than just an opinion of another commenter, the answer (in theory) is backed by professional experience and knowledge that combined with comments from other commenters who are interested and often as knowledgeable and talented as many pros keeps people coming here.
E D
5 years ago
Lomuareddi, Houzzers may not have seen your blatant advertising because I have been flagging those up and they were deleted.

Hopefully you too will now contribute more in the spirit of this forum.
PRO
Lomuarredi Ltd
5 years ago
The people who wrote the articles I commented, thanked me and one also answered me. And they were not advertising at all! What you did is not serious at all!
ALee
5 years ago
I think consistent peppering of products can be a little annoying, but at the same time I don't mind a comment with a pro suggesting their own work, asking you to take a look at what they do etc. And if I see something that isn't relevant, I just scroll past. If it's not relevant then ignore it. I expected a lot of advertising on here, but I think the majority of comments are helpful, coming from people that actually want to help, pro or not. Seems like a lot of negativity here which in my opinion is nothing compared to all the great comments you get on Houzz.
E D
5 years ago
I stick by what I said and did. It was perfectly reasonable and 'serious', if it wasn't, the Houzz moderators wouldn't have deleted your posts.

However, here ends my discussion with you, Lomuareddi.
E D
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
ALee, I agree, there is much more positivity than negativity here (and let's keep it that way!), but ignoring some irrelevant posts is often impossible because you only find out if they are, after reading. :)

Is it just me who is irritated

OnePlan

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