What Precisely Constitutes Advertising?

[The Oni]

For as long as I can remember I was under the impression that advertising on GITP can and will resort to permabans; however, I've seen a lot lately of what very much appears to be advertising and yet appears to be allowed. Maybe the rules changed and I missed it. As someone who sells some 3rd Party Pathfinder stuff on other sites, I want to be very clear on exactly what is "advertising" and what isn't.

Is it not advertising if the product you're talking about isn't for sale *yet,* but will be? Are links in your signature allowed? Is it simply a matter of limiting the advertising to a post per day so as not to be obnoxious? Does it have to be in a certain forum?

I enjoy GITP both as a resource and a community and I'd hate to not be a part of it, but I'd also hate to be missing out on an opportunity to sell books to people who might like to buy them. Hence the question.

[Vaynor]

Here is the relevant section from the forum rules, which I believe answers all of your questions quite nicely.

Commercial (For-Profit) Advertising
Posting advertisements for commercial products, services, or events will result in an immediate ban, and all advertisements removed. Note that a suggestion of a product in the course of a related discussion is not considered advertising (unless the poster holds a personal stake in the finances of the company suggested). For example, if you are posting to a thread regarding d20 rules for shipboard combat, feel free to point other posters to a sourcebook on the topic. You can even link to the company that publishes it—as long as you do not work for that company. But do not start a thread whose sole purpose is to trumpet Book X and declare its greatness to the population at large.

(Exception: Representatives of Giant in the Playground and/or its licensees and distributors are permitted to make posts advertising services and products related directly to Giant in the Playground. They are not permitted to make posts advertising other services they might provide.)

Posters are not permitted to advertise or sell goods or services on this forum. If you wish to advertise a non-commercial website, please refer to rules regarding advertising.

If you see a post that you feel violates the forum rules, for the above or any other reason, feel free to report it.

[The Oni]

Roger that.

[Roland St. Jude]

Sheriff: Groovy.