Promoting Your Business on MySpace

The question of whether or not MySpace can be used to promote a business is
certainly debatable. MySpace is intended to be a non-commercial website by
nature but there is a different between blatant commercialization and
mentioning a product or service you offer and providing a link as a useful
resource to visitors of your website. This article will take a look at the
opportunities to promote a business on MySpace by providing information on
determining whether or not your method of business promotion is permitted on
MySpace and information on how to promote your business without being accused
of spamming MySpace.

Review the Terms of Service Carefully

The terms of service provided by MySpace can provide the greatest insight into
whether or not there are ways to promote your business through MySpace. Members
of MySpace are asked to review the terms of service before becoming a member.
Each member should carefully read through this entire agreement to come to a
better understanding of which types of activities are allowed on MySpace as
well as which types of activities are prohibited.

One of the stipulations of the MySpace reads as follows, “Non-commercial Use by
Members. The MySpace Services are for the personal use of Members only and may
not be used in connection with any commercial endeavors except those that are
specifically endorsed or approved by MySpace.com. Illegal and/or unauthorized
use of the MySpace Services, including collecting usernames and/or email
addresses of Members by electronic or other means for the purpose of sending
unsolicited email or unauthorized framing of or linking to the MySpace Website
is prohibited. Commercial advertisements, affiliate links, and other forms of
solicitation may be removed from Member profiles without notice and may result
in termination of Membership privileges. Appropriate legal action will be taken
for any illegal or unauthorized use of the MySpace Services.”

This section of the terms of service stipulates that MySpace is created for
non-commercial use unless Myspace.com has approved the use of a member’s website
for commercial purposes. Therefore care should be taken when designing a MySpace
website to ensure the website will not be deemed to be a commercial website by
MySpace administrators.

When In Doubt, Ask Questions

Those who are unsure of whether or not their MySpace website, as they have
designed it, will be considered a commercial website should consult with
MySpace administrators. This step is not necessary unless the member is concerned
their content will be perceived as being commercial. Reviewing the terms of use
agreement can provide a great deal of information but some users may still be
concerned with the possibility that their website will be penalized if the
administrators deem it to be commercial in nature.

Contacting MySpace is a fairly simple process. Members can use the,
“Contact MySpace” link from the MySpace.com homepage. The contact page enables
members to select a subject and a subtopic and submit this information.
Once this is done MySpace provides some preliminary information which may be
relevant. If this information is not useful to the member they can email a
detailed request to MySpace.

Avoid Spamming at All Costs

If you determine there is an opportunity for you to promote your business through
MySpace, care should be taken to ensure the promotion does not cross the line into
spam. Spamming is taken very seriously by the MySpace administrators and it may
result in links or content being deleted or the privileges of membership may be
revoked when a member is found to be guilty of spamming.

Links to your ecommerce website integrated into your MySpace website isn’t
considered spamming. Depending on how it is used it may not even be considered
advertising, and therefore prohibited, by MySpace administrators. However, visiting
other MySpace websites and placing a link to your ecommerce website on each website
you visit would be considered spam. These individuals may or may not be interested
in the website you provide but even if they are interested sending these links to
numerous websites unsolicited is often considered to be spam.

Written by Michael L. Mayhew
Michael Mayhew is the webmaster of WebmasterAutomation.com.
You can get additional information at:
http://webmasterautomation.com/