Is using multiple photos from Flickr a risk for "overly promotional"?

1. 69

   HikeGuyposted 12 years ago

   Every time I upload a pic and read the message that the pic link counts in my hub links I get the impression that my hubs could get penalized.
   
   I went through the learning Center and the FAQ and I did a few searches trying to find clarification on the whole "overly promotional" issue -- how many photos I can use, and rules about links in hubs... and I'm not seeing an answer to this.
   
   If I understand this correctly, two links to the same domain can be interpreted as "overly promotional." Does this mean if I use more than two pics from Flickr I risk a hub violation?
   
   I always credit the photographer and add the link to the source page. My hubs also include relevant educational links to non-commercial sites. I sometimes use more than one photo from the same photographer on the same hub. I don't have any financial relationship with Flickr or any of the photographers -- these are Creative Commons images.
   
   I've read of instances of hubbers who created content-rich hubs with numerous photos and extensive text having their hubs shut down.
   
   My hubs run about 1,000 words each -- I'm not referring to using a lot of pics without text. I just want clarification about the risk of my pic links counting against me on HP.
   
   Could someone please point me to the official rules on this? I've searched everything I can think of. I want to see the official guidelines for this, or at least something specific by HP staff, so I know whether I can add multiple relevant pics to my hubs -- or not. Thanks!

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      relacheposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes.

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2. 88

   mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years ago

   Try saving the pics to your computer before uploading them to your Hub, (using attributions where required). This might solve the problem because you are not linking to the picture on the domain, i.e. it removes the problem of you linking more than twice to the same domain, which is most likely why you are receiving the 'overly promotional' warning.
   
   This link will help you to know exactly how to attribute pics without this being a problem:  http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/legal-image-use

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   1. 69

      HikeGuyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      mistyhorizon2003 -- Thanks for the link. What you're suggesting only applies for images that don't require attribution. The photos I'm using require attribution, which includes both the name *and the URL* -- the Learning Center link mentions that also.
      
      Just to clarify, I'm not getting a warning, it's a message that photo links count in the hub's links. I suspect if I create a project I was thinking of doing on HP, this will be a problem. Thanks for your thoughts on this!

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         mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         'Attribution' means naming the photographer, the license details and the source. The link I posted explains how to do this. e.g. Joe Bloggs, CC-BY, via Flickr, and then placing the URL of the image in the 'source URL' box below. This is an attribution, which is required for most images even on when the images are 'free'. In other words, what I am suggesting is actually required for images that DO require attribution.
         
         Not really sure what you meant in the second part of your response. Can't help on that one.

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3. 79

   QuestionMasterposted 12 years ago

   From the HP FAQ:
   
   http://hubpages.com/faq/#overly_promotional
   
   Please note that promotional links are links that you have any interest in promoting (your blog, your Website, affiliate offers, etc.). Links to well-known Web resources which you don't have any personal interest in (like Wikipedia, news sites, encyclopedias, open directories, etc.) are exempt from this limitation.
   
   I believe Flickr would be counted as a well known site.

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   1. 69

      HikeGuyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks everyone. This is the message I'm trying to understand:
      
      "Optionally, add a caption and enter the name and URL of the image source when attribution is required. (Source URLs in photos are counted as links for purposes of determining if a Hub is overly promotional)" Emphasis added.
      This is verbatim from the photo capsule in the template.
      
      mistyhorizon2003 -- Thanks for your spirit of helpfulness here. I'm clear on attribution. Unless I'm misunderstanding, your first suggestion about downloading photos to my computer won't solve this, because I still have to enter the URL. If I find sources that don't require a link, that would be an option. It's good to have another angle on this.
      
      QuestionMaster: Thanks. I looked at that before I posted -- but the message in the photo capsule gives me pause.
      
      Relache -- That's what I'm thinking, based on the template message. Do you happen to know where that's spelled out?

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      1. 88

         mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Sorry, I probably didn't explain it very well. I suggested downloading the images to a computer first, but still expected the manual attributions to be applied. Probably didn't think it through, but essentially had in mind that by downloading it first, and not linking to the photo on the site itself as a means of displaying it, yet still attributing it correctly with a link, photographer etc below the image, you would avoid it being seen in quite the same way.
         I would suggest contacting the HP team to ask this question if you want a truly correct response. Good Luck

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         1. 69

            HikeGuyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks for the clarification. Your response did get me thinking about finding other sources, because not all images require a URL. So, it's all good.
            
            My original question wasn't entirely clear. I was away from HP during a lot of the Panda fall-out, so I'm playing catch up. I appreciate your thoughts on this. I'll see what I can find out before I publish anything else here.

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4. 73

   Maddie Ruudposted 12 years ago

   If you are correctly attributing photos from Flickr, more than 2 links to that domain will not result in moderation.  The only danger is, if you're only linking to one photographer's stream, mods may assume that it is your stream, and you're doing it just for backlinks.

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   1. 69

      HikeGuyposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Maddie Ruud -- Thanks for the clarification.
      
      I'm glad to know I can use more than two photos from Flickr per hub.

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      relacheposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That was my reasoning for saying you could get in trouble.

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