Update to Signatures on the BiggerPockets Forums

[Scott Trench]

Just wanted to announce today that we’ve added some enhanced capabilities to the forum signature here on BiggerPockets.

We now allow agents and other professionals to show off their certifications, license numbers, and more in their forum signature. Pro Members, if you have any titles like that (MBAs, CPA, J.D., MLS # and state, etc), feel free to add them to your signature here:

https://www.biggerpockets.com/profile/signature

You may also note that we’ve removed entirely the line at the bottom of the forum signatures for both free and Pro Accounts. Unfortunately, it seems that far too many users were violating our forum rules and promoting their businesses with every post in a manner that we feel violates the spirit of our community. The signature is intended to be merely a statement of contact information and the only contact information that is permissible is that which is now available as a form field.

[Brandon Hall]

@Scott Trench @Joshua Dorkin @Brandon Turner what prompted this change? I'd be curious to know if BP was receiving a lot of complaints from users about the solicitations in the signature lines. 

@Joel Owens and @Robert Hetsler are making great points. I'll second that I'm not going to list my VA CPA license as a CPA can practice virtually anywhere and I feel it will limit my ability to generate leads. But that's a small issue.

BP is a unique forum in that you have a lot of new people and then some experts that help answer questions for the new people. The ratio of experts to new people I'm sure is quite small. 

The experts drive the forums. The experts are the reason BP is such a great place - new people ask a question and receive free expert information. I speak from experience when I say that before an expert chimes in, the advice is usually incorrect (maybe not way off base, but even small inaccuracies can be costly). Sure it's reader beware, but when an attorney or CPA chimes in for instance, the reader knows they can usually count on that advice.

The problem as I see it is that signature line was a form of "compensation" for many of the experts. Maybe it wasn't even a solicitation but just a "here's how I'm different." I pointed people to my BP Author Page as my new clients usually mention they found me through those articles and I've written about many tax subjects which ultimately helps whoever clicks through to my Author Page.

So if the experts see a decrease in leads due to the removal of this signature line, will they stick around? I honestly have no idea but it's absolutely a question BP should ask themselves. Experts don't work for free. Some of them are here to help out of the goodness of their hearts, but others, myself included, are here to network and connect with people who need our services. 

BP is a valuable place for experts and the experts that have been long contributing to the forum are just as valuable to BP. New members need advice, experts fill that gap by providing high quality, expert advice for "free" and the new members are overly thankful. If you've removed the incentive, will they stick around?

I agree with @Brian Burke that a link the the person's podcast will be helpful. A link to the person's author page will also be helpful.

Perhaps instead of allowing all pro members to use the signature lines, only those with 500 posts are allowed to use the signature lines. What a great incentive to stick around. You're providing those who spend a significant amount of time on BP a competitive advantage over those that post here and there.

Merry Christmas everyone. Time to wake my family up. They clearly haven't read Miracle Morning :)