Apr 05 2019
08:40 AM
- last edited on
Feb 01 2023
11:52 AM
by
TechCommunityAP
Apr 05 2019
08:40 AM
- last edited on
Feb 01 2023
11:52 AM
by
TechCommunityAP
Hey guys,
I don't want to set off a firestorm here, but I did want to ask a question regarding vendor participation in the forums.
As an IT solutions vendor, we monitor the forums for issues that people are struggling with. I get that the forums are not a bulletin board for vendors to advertise but in cases where we have posted a solution in response to an issue that someone is struggling with, we have been chastised.
My question is... if a forum user has a problem that isn't being solved, wouldn't that person want to know that there is a solution out there (even if it involves a vendor product)? Isn't the objective of the forum to help people find solutions to problems?
What are your thoughts on this?
Thanks,
Kevin
cloudbridgeplatform.com
Apr 05 2019 08:52 AM
Apr 05 2019 11:17 AM
@adam deltinger I agree with the need to keep forums information driven. However, if a vendor has a unique solution, why not create a post? There are endless threads of folks frustrated with challenges that many would like answers for.
The nature of the forum allows people to select what thread they're looking at. As long as the vendor is open that they're a vendor and that they're suggesting a solution, I would rather have the choice to look or not look than to have a policy dictate that I can't learn about useful solutions. That's my two cents at least.
Apr 05 2019 11:46 AM
It depends on how it’s done. If it adds some value to the discussion or provides some additional insights, giving more options for a particular problem, then I think it could be ok. 3rd party products do get mentioned from time to time but its often by the people that have had success with that solution and are recommending it, for example like I have done a number of times with ShareGate.
However, if it comes across as spammy or overtly commercial, that could break the Microsoft Tech Community Code of Conduct and is generally frowned upon. Another telltale sign is if someone has several posts, all of them promoting paid solutions and not much else, that’s not really contributing to the community.
Also let’s face it, if lots of vendors did this, informing users of their solutions for each issue they may have, we’d be awash with these posts and it would just clutter up the place!
Apr 06 2019 02:20 AM
Apr 06 2019 02:23 AM