Rules The Trading Post: General Rules & Guidelines

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Notice: Our Trading Post is still a work in progress. Please be aware that reviews may take a little while for us to pick up, and the forums viewership and membership are both still growing. In other words, if you want a listing early, that's fine, but please do not expect instant sales at these early stages. However, definitely feel free to gauge how the current traders are doing.

Before submitting a listing to our Trading Post, ensure you read chapters 1 and 2 as well as whichever chapter pertains to your specific service.

For instance, if you want to list your web hosting service, chapters 1, 2, and 10 are what you would want to read.

Index

1. Basic Information
2. General Rules
3. Signature Rentals
4. SEO Services Rules
5. Web Design Services Rules
6. Software Services Rules
7. Social Media Services Rules
8. Content Services Rules
9. Proxy Services Rules
10. Hosting Providers Rules
11. Domain & Website Listings Rules
12. Graphic Design Services Rules
13. Miscellaneous
14. Partnerships
15. Trading Post Review Copies
16. The Tribunal Rules

 

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Chapter 1: Basic Information​

There's some basic information you should about The Trading Post before you submit a listing.

Section 1: Prerequisites To List In The Trading Post
The requirements to list in The Trade Post are as follows:
Founding Member Status: This was only given to a handful of people who helped build up this forum. OR...
Sapphire Status: This costs $100/annually.

Section 2: Trading Post Listing Fees
The Trading Post has a simple $50 one-time listing fee for services, with the exception of signature rental listings, which only cost $10.

Keep in mind that even though the listing fee is a one-time fee, you will be expected to maintain your sales listing. If your sales listing does not receive at least one response each month (even from you, the trader), then it will be closed automatically. We're not particularly strict about reopening listings for free, but if we feel it's been closed for too long, you will have to pay the fee again to have it reopened and agree to a re-test. You do not have to resubmit a listing, though.

Section 3: Review Process
The review process is fairly simple but individualised to some extent as we like to get to know both you and your service in order to provide a more detailed review.

1. You submit your sales listing, which into our approval queue.
2. A staff member will send you a message with details of the review process. You'll also be sent a few questions asking you about your service and what you feel makes it unique. In the same message, you'll be informed of how much the listing will cost and what's expected from you. Depending on the packages you offer, we may even offer you an alternative review process if the only difference between your packages is the amount of something being offered.
3. After this brief conversation, you can send the reviewing moderator any questions or requests.
4. Once we send what you need to start the delivery of your product or service, we wait on you to fulfill your end. Be aware that we take note of everything you send us and your conduct throughout the review process.
5. When you deliver your product or service, the reviewing staff member will then looking over everything to ensure that's as advertised and up to the standards we expect from services here.

Be aware that no service is guaranteed approval. If your service is not approved, you may take back anything you sent us. In the case of something like a link building service, you can optionally remove any links you created for us.

Section 4: Escrow Required For Specific Services
For services we've identified as being high-risk or one-off expensive transactions (i.e., whole websites), we'll require the trader to use an escrow service to complete the transaction.

Unfortunately, we can't do escrows ourselves, but as time goes on, we'll try to include more options.

Section 5: No-Tell Registry & Prohibited Services
Any products or services in our No-Tell Registry are prohibited in The Trading Post.

Section 6: High-Risk Products & Services
Some products & services have been identified as being high-risk based on our team's many years of internet marketing services both here and on other platforms.

Because these services are considered too risky or low quality overall, they are prohibited from The Trading Post.

 

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Chapter 2: General Rules​

Section 1: Prohibited Products & Services
Before you submit a listing, you should know that products and services mentioned in the No-Tell Registry are automatically banned from The Trading Post.

Additionally, the following types of products and services are prohibited from The Trading Post:

Product/Service​

Reason​

TrustPilot/Google/Yelp/Other Review Platform Reviews	2024 FTC Ruling banning fake reviews.
Any Services You Don't Own	You must own the product or service you're listing.

Section 2: Basic Listing Requirements

1. All content must be in English.
2. Services must be completed; please do not submit half-finished products and services to The Trading Post to get us to beta test them.
3. We allow reviews from third-party review sites (i.e., not your own website) and reviews from Office Outlaw.
4. Any joint venture partners who are members of this forum must also have Sapphire Status and be mentioned in your listing.
5. Related services can be lumped together, but garage listings filled with unrelated services are not permitted.
   • Example: Reddit accounts and graphic design services should be separate threads
6. You may not create duplicate listings for the same product or service that you offer.
   • This includes duplicate listings across any alt accounts you have here.
7. You may not copy the listing of another trader.
8. Traders may not request IDs or legal documents to fulfil their service.
9. Please do not resubmit a listing that has already been rejected.
   • This includes listings that were rejected for quality issues.
10. You may not use brand names, celebrity names, or other copyrighted or trademarked material in your thread titles or sales copy in a promotional or misleading way.
    • Permitted exceptions include neutral, factual use such as “Instagram accounts for sale.”
    • This rule exists to reduce the risk of secondary liability under Safe Harbour provisions.
11. At no point can listings make claims about staff or Office Outlaw itself.
    • Example 1: statements such as being the most trusted, most popular, or best-rated service on the forum are prohibited.
    • Example 2: claiming that the service is loved or vouched for by specific staff members.

Section 3: Review Requirements

1. Any downloads must be uploaded to an approved file hosting site and scanned with an approved virus scanner.
2. Traders may not request IDs or legal documents from staff.

Section 4: Rules For Customers

1. You may leave up to 1 negative review or 1 positive review per listing
2. You may not hijack a listing by attempting to sell your own product or service in a listing you do not open.

Section 5: Rules For Managing Listings

1. You may post a promotional advertisement or a grouped quote response in your listing once every 24 hours.

Section 6: Recommendations For Traders
The following are not strictly rules, but rather recommendations to ensure that you provide the best experience possible to prospects.

1. Check your sales copy against both the light and dark theme.
2. Ensure that your sales copy does not have any text that's difficult to read (this includes text that's the same colour as the background)

Section 7: Listing Bumping
Our listing bumping rules in The Trading Post are simple:

1. After your initial review has been completed, you may post your first response whenever you're ready.
2. Every response after should only be posted after 24 hours.
3. In your promotional bump, you can use the charge tag to charge credits for others to view content, like a coupon code. You can see an example of it here.

 

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Chapter 3: Signature Rentals​

Section 1: Signature Rental Listings
We allows members to rent out their signatures here on Office Outlaw. Some members simply advertise this in their signature spaces, but others like to create listings in order to attract advertisers.

1. There are no extra rules for signature rental threads.

 

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Chapter 4: SEO Services Rules​

Section 1: Guest Posting Services
These types of services consist of doing outreach to other websites to get a customer a backlink.

1. If you advertise a list of potential guest posting websites, we will need to see the full list during the review process.
2. You must provide us with a report, even if you don't normally provide one to customers.
3. Do not disguise a private blog network as a guest posting service as your service will be rejected if we see tell-tale signs of a PBN.

Section 2: Niche Edits
Providers of niche edits reach out to other websites to have an aged or existing article on the site edited to include a link to a customer's site.

1. Injected links are not permitted.
2. The article that's edited must be done so in a way we can verify. For example, we must see the article before and after the edit is done.
3. We must be able to verify that the article existed prior to the service being delivered (e.g., through web caching services).
4. You must provide us with a report, even if you don't normally provide one to customers.

Section 3: Private Blog Networks
Private blog networks, or PBNs for short, are networks of blogs owned by a single person or company. People who own these blog networks allow customers to buy link placements on their blog network.

1. We thoroughly scrutinise PBNs, especially if you advertise it as "footprint-free".
2. You must provide a report on the backlinks you used to the reviewing moderator, even if you don't normally provide a report to customers.

Section 4: Third-Party Metric Services
These are service to increase third-party metrics such as domain authority, page authority, or site speed.

1. You must provide a report on the backlinks you used to the reviewing moderator, even if you don't normally provide a report to customers.

Section 5: Web 2.0s
These services offer backlinks built using quickly-made blog sites like Wordpress.com.

1. We expect Niche-relevant claims to actually be relevant to the niche of the website we send you.
2. You must provide a report on the backlinks you used to the reviewing moderator, even if you don't normally provide a report to customers.

 

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Chapter 5: Web Design Services Rules​

Section 1: General Web Design Services
If you build WordPress, bespoke websites, Wix, Weebly, or other types of sites; then your services fits under this category.

1. Websites cannot have any plagiarised content. This is a liability for the customer, and is therefore not allowed.
2. Websites cannot use any copyrighted images or logos. This is a liability for the customer, and is therefore not allowed.
   • Bespoke web design services must be made from scratch and not use themes.

 

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Chapter 6: Software Services Rules​

Section 1: General Software
If your software doesn't fit under any other category, then follow these rules.

1. We will need a VPS to test software. We will not need access to the VPS after the review.
2. As with all downloads on Office Outlaw, a clean VirusTotal (or equivalent) scan is required. If you believe there are any false-positives, you can submit proof of this so that we can take it into consideration.

Section 2: Link Indexing Software
These are the rules for linked indexing software.

1. If your software requires proxies, you will need to provide these to us just for the sakes of the review.
2. If your software requires a 2Captcha API key, we will need this for the review.

Section 3: Social Media Account Management Software
Some traders offer social media account management software to schedule posts or simply to just easily access the accounts.

1. If your software requires proxies, you will need to provide these to us just for the sakes of the review.
2. We will need a handful of test social media accounts you have on hand. We will not keep these social media accounts after the review.

 

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Chapter 7: Social Media Services Rules​

As a general rule for social media accounts, accounts cannot be cracked/hacked or compromised in any way. This will result in an automatic rejection.

Section 1: Facebook Accounts

1. If the Facebook account requires a proxy in a specific location, you will need to provide this for us. We will not need to keep the proxy after the review.

Section 2: Instagram Accounts

1. If the Instagram account requires a proxy in a specific location, you will need to provide this for us. We will not need to keep the proxy after the review.

Section 3: Reddit Accounts

1. If the Reddit account requires a proxy in a specific location, you will need to provide this for us. We will not need to keep the proxy after the review.

Section 4: YouTube Accounts

1. If the YouTube account requires a proxy in a specific location, you will need to provide this for us. We will not need to keep the proxy after the review.

Section 5: Social Media Growth Services

1. You must state somewhere in your sales listing whether or not you're building the account with real or fake followers. If you're using a mixture of both, you can also just state that.
2. We require you to track the growth of the account.

 

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Chapter 8: Content Services Rules​

Section 1: AI Content Writing Services
If your services uses AI to write content in any regard, then it's considered an AI content writing service.

1. Even if your content only partly uses AI, we expect it to be listed under this category.
2. Excluding quotes, we expect a plagiarism score of 99%+
3. You are welcome to use your favourite AI detector tool to show that this content passes any checks.

Section 2: Human Content Writing Services
If your service is written by a human and AI is not used during any part of the writing process, then it's considered human-written content.

1. If any part of your content is written with AI, it should not be advertised as human-written content.
2. Excluding quotes, we expect a plagiarism score of 99%+

Section 3: Spun Content
Spun content takes existing content and "spins" it into what comes across as unique content by swapping synonyms and sentences, among other tactics.

1. Your sales listing must state if your content is spun by hand or through software.

Section 4: SEO Content
This is content written with SEO in mind. There's usually a keyword that's the focus on the article, optimised headings, etc.

1. Excluding quotes, we expect a plagiarism score of 99%+

Section 5: Copywriting Services
Not to be confused with copyrighting services, copywriting services focus on writing content for sales copies and ads.

1. Excluding quotes, we expect a plagiarism score of 99%+

 

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Chapter 9: Proxy Services Rules​

Section 1: Proxies
Proxies servers act as intermediaries between the user and a website, making it appear as if a user is browsing from a different IP and location.

1. Proxies must not leak the real IP of the user.
2. If specific use-cases or websites are advertised as working with these proxies, be aware that these will be checked.

Section 2: VPNs
VPNs function similarly to proxies, although they also have an added benefit of encrypting your internet traffic as well.

1. We expect the VPN to be fully-functional
2. VPNs must not leak the real IP of the user.
3. If specific use-cases or websites are advertised as working with your VPN, be aware that these will be checked.

 

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Section 10: Hosting Providers Rules​

Section 1: Shared Hosting
Shared hosting have multiple websites on the same physical server, and these websites all share the same resources.

1. The OS of the server must be specified.

Section 2: Dedicated Hosting
Unlike shared hosting, dedicated servers are physical servers that server a single client.

1. No additional rules

Section 3: Virtual Private Servers
VPS' create a private server environment on a physical server. Multiple customers may use the same physical server, but resources are not shared and are instead allocated virutally.

1. If managed, the OS of the server must be specified.

 

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Chapter 11: Domain & Website Listings Rules​

Section 1: Single Domain
Sometimes, someone wants to sell a single domain. In this case, there isn't a website that comes with the domain.

1. Proof of ownership over the domain must be provided to the reviewing moderator.

Section 2: Bulk Domains
If you're selling more than one domain, it counts as selling bulk domains.

1. Proof of ownership over the domains must be provided to the reviewing moderator.

Section 3: Full Websites
If you're selling a domain that comes with a website, then it falls under this category.

1. Proof of ownership over the domain must be provided to the reviewing moderator.
2. Monetary claims will need to be verified
3. Traffic claims must be verified
4. Images, videos, and content must be original; ownership must be demonstrated for any images or videos that have been purchased.

 

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Chapter 12: Graphic Design Services Rules​

Section 1: Logo Design
If you design logos, then your service should follow the rules below.

1. You must have created the logos.
2. Text logos must use non-copyrighted font, such as Arial.
3. If you use AI to design the logo, this must be stated.

Section 2: AI Image Editing
If you're using AI to edit an image, then it falls under this category.

1. We expect these to be of professional quality. Streaks or other obvious errors will count against you.

Section 3: Human Image Editing
If you're editing an image yourself or with a team, then it counts as human image editing.

1. We expect these to be of professional quality. Streaks or other obvious errors will count against you.

 

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Chapter 13: Miscellaneous​

Section 1: Affiliate Programs
If you're looking for affiliates for your website, product, or service; then the rules below must be followed.

1. Access to affiliate tools must be provided during the review.

Section 2: Business Listing Optimisation
These services improve the way business listings read or appear in search results.

1. A report must be provided going over what changes you made.

Section 3: E-mail Lists
Some people sell e-mail lists, and if you're one of them, then please read the rule below.

1. Because of the CAN-SPAM act, we legally require you to have explicit permission to sell the list from every individual on your e-mail list.

Section 4: E-mail List Cleaning Services
E-mail list cleaning services remove bad or invalid submissions from e-mail lists.

1. No extra rules

Section 5: GPL services
These services offer plugins, themes, or software that have GPL licensing.

1. No extra rules

Section 6: Google Business Pins
If you offer to create pins for Google business listings, the rules below apply.

1. A report must be provided.

Section 7: VCCs/VBAs
VCCs and VBAs are useful when someone doesn't want to use their regular card numbers or banking information. If you offer this kind of service, read the rules below.

1. These cannot use real people's information in any regard. This is identity theft and against the rules here.

Section 8: Video Services
If you make or edit videos, the rules below apply.

1. No extra rules

Section 9: Virtual Assistants
Whether you set people up with a VA or you act as a VA yourself, the rules below apply.

1. Be sure to state if you're the VA or if you have a team of VAs.

 

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Chapter 14: Partnerships Rules​

Howdy, partner!

Are you looking for an outlaw to team up with for your next project? Then the Partnerships section is the right place to post.

But before you post in this section, we just have four simple rules we want you to keep in mind.

1. Please do not sell in this section.
   • This includes charging someone to be a partner.
   • If you want a sales listing, you need to post one in The Trading Post.
2. Please do not use this section to look for goods and services.
   • We have a section for that already called Wanted: Goods & Services.
3. Financial investments are prohibited.
   • This means asking you cannot ask others to invest in your product or service.
4. Ensure you use select the correct prefix out of the 3 options we have.
   • Skills Trade: If you're looking for someone with specific skills, choose this prefix.
   • Resource Collab: If you're looking for someone who has a resource you need (e.g., they have a lot of proxies and you have a lot social media accounts), choose this prefix
   • General Collab: If it doesn't fit anywhere else or you're looking for multiple things in a partner, choose this prefix.

That's it! Now get on out there and find yourself a partner! Yeehaw!

 

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Chapter 15: Trading Post Review Copies​

1. Authentic Feedback Only
   • Requests for fake reviews or any form of dishonest feedback are not allowed. All feedback should be genuine and based on actual experience with the service or product.
   • Additionally, if you're taking this and are required to leave feedback, you must leave feedback. Otherwise, expect the Trader to leave negative feedback on your profile.
2. Respect and Professionalism
   • Maintain a respectful and professional demeanor in all interactions. Personal attacks, harassment, or offensive language will not be tolerated.
3. Compliance with General Forum Rules
   • All general forum rules apply to feedbacks. Please make sure any content in here adheres to our Terms and Rules.
4. Delivery Is Required
   • If you're sending someone something for a review, you must deliver what you say you're going to deliver and nothing else.
   • Non-delivery or abuse of offering feedback may result in action being taken against your account or sales listing.

 

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Chapter 16: The Tribunal Rules​

The Tribunal section here on Office Outlaw is a place where you can submit a thread to ask our moderators for help in settling a dispute.

When you start a tribunal thread, please title your thread "Your Username v. Their Username". Don't worry if you forget to do this as a moderator will adjust the thread title for you.

Aside from the title, there are required fields to fill out with each submission:

• A summary of the issue. Just briefly describe what the issue is. There's a 500-character limit applied to the field.
• Has the other party been informed of your intentions to submit a tribunal thread?
• What do you need to consider this dispute as resolved?

If you forget to fill these out, a notice will simply appear letting you know that they need to be filled out before the thread can go into our approval queue.

As for the thread content itself, we don't have a strict format here, just let provide us with any additional information that you feel could help us resolve the issue faster. Just be aware that you should stick the facts and avoid overloading our moderators with hundreds of screenshots as this will only slow down the process.

The Tribunal Process
Our Tribunal Process is quite simple!

1. You submit a thread to The Tribunal, which then goes into our queue.
2. A moderator will review your Tribunal thread. If more information is required, the moderator will send a direct message to you to inquire about this.
3. If enough information is present, a moderator will start a conversation between you, the other party, and the themself.
4. If the issue is resolved, The Tribunal will go into The Tribunal Archive, which only moderators and above have access to.
5. If the other party is unwilling to resolve the case, we will unfortunately have to ban them from Office Outlaw and The Tribunal thread will go live in this section to alert the community.