Badge Etiquette

For Badge Collectors:

1. A few things to remember when requesting a badge from someone. First of all it's very nice to use some common curtousies. Please and Thank you go a long way. Many people do not want to grant their badge to someone who is rude.

2. Also if you are a badge "collector" you need to realize that not all badges are going to be available for request. Many of them are personal thank yous or gifts given to friends or customers. Some of them are also just for fun. Please show some class and leave them be.

3. If you know who a badge owner is that you know wants to remain anonymous please don't go dropping hints or explaining to people how to figure out who a badge owner is. They want to remain anonymous for a reason!

4. Do not use copy and pasted messages. It's just rude okay? If you want a badge that someone paid 100,000 credits to make at least be nice enough to give them a personal message.

For Badge Owners:

1. Put as much information as possible in your badge pop-up.
a. If the badge isn't available for request, clearly state that in the pop-up.
b. If the badge is available but only under certain conditions, clearly state that in your pop-up. Examples: Badge available to group members only; Badge available after purchasing 5 products.
b. If the badge is available to the IMVU community, state how you would like people to request your badge, and put a link to where they can make their request (HP msg, Forum PM, Group thread, etc).
c. Put a link to your product page so it is easy for customers to view your products. Remember that anyone who sees your badge can use the link, not just the customers you have granted your badge to.
d. Put a link to your homepage, so customers can contact you by message if they have a question about one of your products they have purchased.
e. Make sure the banner you place in your pop-up is small, so there is room for the important information listed above.

2. If you want people to request your badge by a message on your homepage, remove all the stickers that cover your "send a message" link on your homepage. If your page is coded such that the normal "send message" link isn't available, make sure your layout has a send message function that is clearly visible and easily accessible.

3. If you have an automatic badge granter on your home page, place the auto granter at the top of your page, with a clear message in a large font directing people to use the granter.

4. If your badge is not available to the general IMVU community, or there are special conditions about granting (such as friends, best customers, etc only get the badge), put that information at the top of your home page in a large easy to read font.

5. If you have a badge that was once available to the general IMVU community, but for whatever reason is no longer available, please update this information in your badge pop-up and place a message at the top of your homepage.

6. Be very cautious about revoking a badge that you have granted, as it will only reflect badly on your business. Think of your badge as a business card or an ad in the Yellow Pages. You wouldn't ask a customer to give back your business card or instruct them to rip out the page where you advertised in the Yellow Pages.