Topic: [IMVU] changes to Pulse blocking 'off-site' links

[kat]

OK this is causing enough misunderstandings within the IMVU community for it to be posted here for fellow IMVU Creators.

Effective immediately, a new rule is being implemented for the Pulse feature that will affect all IMVU customers irrespective of their registration date or status:

We will no longer allow any non-IMVU links to be posted in a pulse post or comment. Shortened URLs will also not be allowed to be posted. All links must be to IMVU website pages - product pages, groups, forum posts, public rooms, photos posted in IMVU's albums are considered IMVU links and therefore allowed. All users irrespective of their registration date will be able to use Pulse feature to make their own posts or comment on other community members' pulse posts.

Thank you. [source: http://www.imvu.com/catalog/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpbb2&file=viewtopic.php&p=10595635#10595635]

OK so if you've not seen the above then take note.

For CONTENT CREATOR's in IMVU this means;

1) Use PHOTOALBUMs for screen shots and other IMAGE BASED MEDIA (find the image in your photoalbum, click it, then copy/paste the imvu.com url if you need to link to a specific image - this also reduces the amount of "Photo not available" errors when using services like PhotoBucket etc.).

2) Drop YouTube videos and other offsite material into your PRODUCT PAGES (copy/paste the product page url - increases the rate by which products are purchased because "Buy" and 'watch' are on the same page).

3) Link directly to a Resellers IMVU ACCOUNT (authorised resellers will have one and should have an official 'reseller badge' on display).

4) Advertise your products by linking directly to the PRODUCT PAGE.

Use the tools IMVU have provided and make it easy for people to buy your stuff!.

[kat]

Although this change prevents active links being posted other than those containing "imvu.com", for Creators wanting to link to offsite products and/or services it's possible to post a URL which users edit to activate. For example posting a link as follows might work;

katsbits . com / tutorials /
katsbits[dot]com[forwardslash]tutorials[forwardslash]
katsbits(dot)com(fs)tutorials(fs)

In each instance users would simply copy/paste the text into a browser, removing the unnecessary bits to 'reactivate' the link.

Bare in mind that although this is possible, the ability to do this might change in future as IMVU find and block the different solutions used to work around the problem. It's important to also note that messages posted like this may be reported or 'flagged' as ToS violations, enough of which might escalate to an account being disabled or banned - "use at your own risk" as the saying goes.