Comment Spam, Do Follow, Keyword Names, and You
September 3, 2008 by Lillie
I’m pleased with the number of insightful comments this blog gets, and I appreciate comments from diverse readers from around the world.
As my comment policy specifies, first-time comments are moderated; after the first comment is approved, future comments from that person are not subject to moderation. In theory, at least. Recently Akismet, which generally does an excellent job of catching spam and not blocking legitimate comments, has blocked comments from regular commenters. I usually delete spam comments without looking at them, so it’s possible that some valuable comments have slipped through and been deleted. If you have commented before and your comment doesn’t appear immediately, e-mail me.
If you haven’t commented before, your comment won’t appear until I have approved it. If your comment hasn’t appeared within 24 hours, you can contact me.
However, if you leave a comment that says “great post,” “now there are more reasons than ever to comment,” or any other comment that doesn’t even indicate you’ve read the post, expect it to be deleted. The first time, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and delete the comment; if it happens again, the comment will be marked spam and any other comments you leave will go into spam.
This blog is a Do Follow blog, which encourages comments. It also attracts spammers. If you come here to comment because you want a link that search engines will follow, I’m happy to have you … IF you read the post before you comment and leave a comment that says something. If the comment is so generic it doesn’t relate to the post … that’s a different story.
The most egregious case of inappropriate commenting started with a comment I approved. The comment related to the post, and I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary so I approved it. The next day that person left about 15 comments—all of which posted immediately because the previous comment had been approved. The first comment I read sounded familiar so I read through all the comments on that post, only to discover that a comment left by another person had been copied. I checked all the comments, and all were duplicates of other comments. The comments were made on older posts with a lot of comments to make it more difficult to catch. Since they were copied from relevant comments, they were appropriate for the post and seemed like legitimate comments. In fact, they were legitimate comments from the original commenter—but plagiarized by the spammer. I marked all the comments, including the first one (which had also been copied though I didn’t recognize at first), as spam. So now we have spam and plagairism in the same comment!
Commenters we bloggers love. Spammers are not welcome.
I do appreciate all legitimate comments, and I reply to every comment. I like to address the commenter by name, but I won’t address someone as California Liposuction or Timbuktu Real Estate. I will approve and reply to the comment, but I’d much rather respond to Susie of California Liposuction or John @ Timbuktu Real Estate. Note: This policy has been changed. Now I automatically send comments with keywords only in the name field to spam. Including keywords with your name is fine—you get a keyword link, and I know I’m replying to a real person. I have a hard time relating to Fat-Burning Miracle.
If you are a blogger, what is your comment policy? If you comment on blogs, what do you think of my comment policy? How do you feel about using keywords rather than names?
This is the problem about becoming dofollow – spammers – a real pain!
I use keywordluv on a couple of my blogs which encourages real names but gives the benefit of a purely keyword link- it works great and perhaps it would compliment your blog nicely.
I also use Spam Karma 2 which seems to do a pretty good job of catching these types of spammers – you might want to check out that plug-in!
Keep up the great work!
My comments on one blog have been being filtered by Askimet, so I now check Askimet on a regular basis, daily if I remember.
My comment policy:
Constructive criticism is welcome. Even if I don’t like it, I probably won’t edit it or delete it.
I’ve got some simple rules that most people won’t have problem meeting. Comments not meeting the rules will either be edited, if possible, or deleted.
* No rude, mean or obstructive comments.
* No obscene or otherwise offensive language
* No spam
* Comments should generally be on topic and should seldom be longer than the post being commented on.
Off topic comments are allowed, unless it gets out of hand.
A blog isn’t a democracy — but even democracies have rules.
Your comment policy is reasonable.
I don’t particularly care for keywords instead of names. To me, they are a flag that this might be spam.
Mike Goads last blog post..Fruit of the Dogwood
Olly,
I might add those plug-ins when I re-do my blog soon. I’m going to use the Revolution theme and put my Web site and blog together. That’s be on my to-do list for a long time, but I have a new novel coming out soon, and I want to update my site to promote the book. Thanks for the suggestions.
Mike,
Thanks for sharing your simple and reasonable policy. I like your philosophy that “a blog isn’t a democracy—but even democracies have rules.”
Hi Lillie
Thanks for sharing your policy. I don’t have dofollow and I guess that makes my experience different to yours, and easier to handle.
I delete very obvious key word only commenters but leave some which are on the margin (maybe a name of a blog, or someone who wants to remain anonymous) – especially if the comment is written with a human voice and isn’t just a cut and paste from somewhere else (or as you said and I’ve noticed recently) a copied version of someone else’s comment.
I don’t mark them as spam – and I don’t address them by their keywords.
Your policy sounds clear, reasonable and fair
Joanna
Joanna Youngs last blog post..Introducing the Theme for September: Writing with Respect
I have always thought that the more a site gets comments, whether spam or real ones are the more popular sites and authors appreciate this. Now, I know the reason why sometimes I do not get to see my comment posted when I think they are legit and reasonable ones.
Akismet did the same thing over at my blog a couple of months ago — started filing legitimate comments (from repeat/regular commentators) as spam. I scan Akismet every day, so luckily I caught the error.
I wish those spammers would stop with the automated comments. Whenever I clear out my spam, I’m thinking “How disrespecful!” Ah well, I’m just grateful for Akismet.
Joanna,
Sounds like our comment policies are similar. Do Follow does invite spam, but I like rewarding commenters with do follow links so I will keep it unless it gets much worse.
Melissa,
I usually try to skim Akismet for legitimate comments, but unless I clean it out several times a day, there may 100 spam comments to go through. Sometimes, I get so disgusted I just delete them all. The ones we’ve mentioned are, as you say, disrespectful, but the porn stuff is absolutely vile.
I found your comment in Akismet—it was flagged as spam but I de-spammed it. This is the third time I’ve checked Akismet today, and there were 110 comments there this time (about the same number as the other two times). All the others were really spam. I’m glad my post gave you a different perspective and hope you return to make more legitimate comments that address the topic of the post.
i use blogger so i don’t have access to the plugins other users have. and my blog’s still a no follow blog, though i’m thinking about changing that.
i think it’s just reasonable to expect a name or nickname, instead of keywords. after all, comments are about conversation, and it’s distracting to have to address someone solely with keywords.
koujis last blog post..haiku poem: leaf
kouji,
WordPress does offer a lot more plugins to make blogs comment friendly that Blogger does, for sure. I agree it’s distracting to try to carry on a conversation with keywords.
A comment policy is a great idea for nofollow blogs. I have just passed 1000 comments on my do follow blog, and in that time I have had over 48,000 spam comments. Crazy business?
Simon,
You get more spam than I do … and I thought I had a lot! I have more than 4000 comments and Akismet has caught over 88,000 spam comments. I didn’t install Akismet until after I’d been blogging about six months (of course I had little traffic and few comments then). The number of spam comments started increasing when I added Do Follow. I never will understand why pornographers and sellers of pills for the male anatomy would imagine it would them any good to spam this blog.
One time I accidently deleted a TON of comments including some really valuable ones. I really kicked myself. Since I don’t receive a lot of comments, I now just have them all on manual approve. Then again, I don’t have a do-follow blog, but I plan on it in the future. I just have no idea how to set that up with blogger.
Lillie, I am so glad you wrote this post. I have been having the same issue with “creative” spam lately. The first comment appears to be legitimate but then is followed by 5 generic comments on older posts. There is never a comment on the current post. I agree with your policy. I also use Akismet and I have never checked those messages – whoops! Thanks for the tip on that, I never even thought of reading them but I certainly would not want to lose real comments. It’s really sad that in addition to writing and managing our blogs we have to become members of the Spam Crime Fighting Team too!
Karen Swims last blog post..September – New Beginnings
I’ve been doing quite a lot of looking at blogs that use do-follow. Some just to get more visitors to boost their Alexa rank I’m assuming. 500 comments on a post and 2% of them make sense.
It gets a bit irritating, and in my opinion it really lowers the quality.
Please continue to check your spam filter though, they are good for some things but can catch what we’re really looking for, quality comments!
FreshUp Website Maintenance
Tertius,
It is a constant struggle to maintain quality by deleting meaningless comments while not accidentally blocking legitimate comments.
I agree with your point about not using keywords in your name it just encourages spammers. Overall I think Dofollow is a great idea but it is ruined and sometimes cheapens and lowers the quality of a website.
There’s my 10 pence anyway.
Nice blog by the way
x
Oliver Cardings last blog post..Flight of the Conchords to play The 02 arena ??
Oliver,
I agree that Do Follow is a mixed blessing—it certainly can be easily abused. Thanks for the compliment on my blog.
Lillie, Do Follow is always a hot topic. What I don’t understand is if people are trying to create links to their site, why are they posting crap comments on the blogs that are only going to get deleted? Seriously, are you ready to be part of the online business world if you are going about your marketing so poorly?
Several of my favorite blogs have gone No Follow, which bums me out. I have to bypass them for the sake of time. Because I have to say that I have truly come to appreciate bloggers and have really become fond of several of them, to the point that if I was no longer seeking out Do Follow blogs, I’d still visit. (Present company included, of course!)
The flip side is that I see so many No Follow blogs that just don’t get the traffic and comments, and they seem so boring. For me, part of blogging is the exchange with visitors and the community it creates. I think that Do Follow blogs can really bring in some stellar visitors, even though sadly, yes, it does involve wading thru the “Good post glad you wrote it!” posts.
I’ve wondered for years why people send spam e-mails and make spam comments. I guess they just try to throw out as much as they can in the hope that something will stick. Obviously these are people who are trying to make a quick buck and not to build a long-lived business.
To be honest, I didn’t even understand why people need to use the keyword names when they’re commenting on a blog…?
I only will make the comments, when I have something to talk or abbreviate, thus I won’t force myself to comment if I have nothing to say…!
wilsons last blog post..Beauty Supply is the Essential Needs For Everyone!
Hi Lillie!
Great elaboration on your spam policy!
I definitely dislike spam, but I faithfully check the askismet filter before I hit the delete all button. Often there is nothing in there but spam. Several times, however, I have rescued a comment.
Obscenity would also get deleted by me, but I don’t have much of a problem with getting obscene comments (other than from spammers). I seem to have nice readers.
Of course, I reserve the right to use my best judgment about comments. Typically, however, all that gets deleted are obvious spam messages.
Good discussion.
Laura Spencers last blog post..Is Your Freelance Writing Timeless?
Really spammy posts create lots of headache and pain. I like your way to tell people not to submit spams.
I’ve recently read about “keywordluv”. Great way to not be speaking to “Spandex Manufacturing” but to speak to “Kosie from Spandex Manufacturing”. Feels better.
Maybe an idea.
wilson,
You have a great policy: comment when you have something to say!
I understand that people want a keyword link to their blog, and I don’t mind them including keywords. However, I really, really, really wish they would also include a name.
Sometimes, I think, people comment when they don’t really have anything to say because they want to let the blogger know they appreciated the post. Sometimes I do that—I don’t really have anything constructive to say but I like the post so much I want the blogger to know. But generally, we should comment only if what we say contributes to the conversation.
Laura,
My commenters are nice as well. I don’t recall ever getting an obscene comment that wasn’t spam. I have had comments from people who disagree with me, and as long as they are respectful in their comments, I allow them.
Tertius,
Thanks for the suggestion. Keyword Luv is one of the plugins I’m looking at adding when I redesign my blog in the near future.
I’m impressed that you respond to every comment. I am appreciative of the comments I get, but I respond by going to that blog, reading, and commenting on a post that interests me. While some bloggers feel they are having conversations, I feel like I’m writing articles and receiving letters to the editor.
Travelinomas last blog post..What I’d Give Pete
That’s an interesting distinction, Travelinoma. When I first started blogging, I thought I would be writing articles—if I’d thought at all about comments, I probably would have thought of them, like you, as letters to the editor.
But as soon as I started getting comments and carrying on conversations, that all changed.
I like your idea of visiting and commenting on the blogs of your commenters. I always visit the blog before approving a comment to be sure it’s not porn or something else offensive. I have tried to comment as much as I can, but I find there are many blogs I simply don’t have anything to contribute. Many of my commenters have blogs that are on topics that I just can’t relate to, things like product reviews of electronics that I don’t know—or care—anything about. And a surprising number of my commenters write blogs in other languages, and, alas, I am fluent only in English. Whenever I can, though, I do comment—and frequently subscribe to the blog as well.
[...] August brought more comments from fewer commenters than July: more than 400 comments from 100 commenters. I appreciate each and every comment, though I prefer to respond to people rather than keywords as I explained in my last post about comments. [...]
I think WordPress does offer a lot more plugins to make blogs comment friendly that Blogger does.
Do you think Akismet is something useful to use? I am not in the favor. Rather than catching only spam comments, it is catching all of them which i have on my blog. I have just get rid of it.
I agree with you on you cannot always contribute to every single topic on every blog. There are something you don’t know about or not enough to contribute with quality comments/feedbacks. But still checking out other blogs is a good way to learn new things, things that are outside YOUR box.
Mobiuss last blog post..Star Wars: The Force Unleashed demo review
Ryan,
And some spam does slip through. However, on the whole, Akismet does a great job of catching spam without blocking legitimate comments.
I think Akismet is absolutely essential. I notice that your blog is quite new so you probably aren’t getting a huge number of comments yet. As your traffic and comments grow, I think you will find that your spam comments become unmanageable. Akismet has caught close to 89,000 spam comments on this blog in less than 2 years. I would have given up before wading through all those. Yes, occasionally I find a legitimate comment in spam—ironically, I dug this comment out of spam.
Also, Akismet “learns” as you de-spam blocked comments and mark comments that got through as spam. When I first started using it, I had a lot more spams get through and a lot more non-spam comments marked as spam. But the program has “learned,” and the number of mistakes is far less. If you have been using Akismet only a short time, you might try it again and give it a chance to “learn.”
If you don’t use Akismet, you will certainly need to use something to protect against spam comments.
Mobius,
I do visit the blog of every person who comments here. I skim through posts and look for something to interest to comment on and will comment if I can. But even if I have nothing to say, everyone who comments here should know that I have visited your blog.
Yes, WordPress offers many more options in plugins and features. I have a Blogger blog simply because so many Blogger blogs require a Blogger login to comment. But all I do over there is periodically post some links to articles here. Blogger is not nearly as user-friendly as WordPress, and certainly not nearly as commenter-friendly.
I have to say that you are one of the friendliest “do follow” blogs around. Some blog owners are do follow but they don’t allow for keywords… which seems sort of uppity. I mean, why bother?
I view it as a two way street, blog owners get NEW content for the bots to revisit and a livelier and more interactive blog. Some savvier commentators will also give stumbles and social bookmark the page in hopes the PR of the page will rise, hence giving more PR juice to the link.
I just wish that blog owners would less tyrannical and that commentators would stop spamming.
So thanks for putting up with the spammers and know that we aren’t all bad
PR @ Social bookmarkss last blog post..Card Magic Tricks
I appreciate comments—I just wish there weren’t so many spammers.
Your comment policy sounds fair to me. I also have a dofollow blog and I know that many people take advantage of the dofollow to get a linkback without a relevant comment. As I understand that’s why nofollow became the standard.
All of us in the dofollow movement are providing a valuable service to other bloggers, just as relevant comments benefit our sites.
It’s too bad that there are always people who want to benefit from something without giving anything back – spammers. I believe the first rule of any business is you have to give before you receive. Spammers want to get, but don’t want to give. They are not a legitimate part of the blogging community.
Do people think that bloggers are stupid or they are not smart enough? Let’s say If i shall report a comments to akismet as spam, what will happen? I think this is beyond the commentators imagination. All of his/her further comments will go in Akismet trap so who check Akismet’s cached comments? Perhaps only Lillie do this.
Linda,
Giving before you receive—good advice for business and for life. Spammers try to take the easy way to get before they give and end up not getting what they want.
Mark,
It seems the spammers do think we’re stupid. But maybe some of them are learning it’s not as easy to fool us as they thought it would be so now they’re getting trickier. This business of copying an earlier comment means we have to check closer because we don’t always remember every comment on every post, especially on older posts with a lot of comments. Sometimes several people make similar legitimate comments so it’s not easy to catch one that is an exact duplicate. But even if they get through once, they’ll get caught and all their comments marked spam.
I see a few people here have mentioned KeywordLuv. That is a great way to allow people to use their real name and their keyword phrase. Since this blog doesn’t use KeywordLuv, well, you can see how I worked that in right there. As long as people contribute the conversation and do not submit a generic comment, I think those comments should be accepted, as you do.
Justin, Going Greens last blog post..10 Great Gas Saving Tips
Justin,
I’ll probably add KeywordLuv when I revamp my blog, which I’m in the process of doing right now.
I have several do follow blogs and it amazes me how much crap that has to be waded through in approving the comments because of spammers. If you want the link… work for it. Read the article and post something worthwhile. I have yet to see a do follow blog that is not well moderated.
We do have to wade through a lot, don’t we? Do Follow brings in a lot of great readers/commenters. Too bad it attracts so many of the bad guys as well.
I found your blog because of this conversation about nofollow vs dofollow links. I am debating how to handle them on my blog so I do appreciate the tips. Thanks all!
Andy,
—dealing with the spammers. You’re being wise to consider everything before you jump into a decision.
DoFollow is a great tool to generate comments and to bring in visitors who otherwise would never find your blog. I really appreciate having such a diverse group of readers/commenters. On the other hand, it does present extra work—and frustration