Comments on: Comment Spammers the End of Do-Follow Movement? http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/ the business of blogging and new media Sat, 31 Jul 2010 12:49:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Jen / domestika http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4236 Jen / domestika Tue, 17 Jul 2007 13:16:53 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4236 Looks like those blog spam comments have started rolling in, big time! Fortunately, Askimet seems to be on top of it - overnight it trapped a whole *wadge* of comments on the theme of "This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading [insert post title here]. Thanks for informative article." (Wonder if this comment of mine will get spam-trapped for quoting that!) So I googled the first part of the comment and it sure looks like someone's been a pretty busy little spammer! On the bright side, if the fake comments are going to be that obvious, it shouldn't be long before this guy goes out of business. Looks like those blog spam comments have started rolling in, big time!

Fortunately, Askimet seems to be on top of it – overnight it trapped a whole *wadge* of comments on the theme of “This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading [insert post title here]. Thanks for informative article.”

(Wonder if this comment of mine will get spam-trapped for quoting that!)

So I googled the first part of the comment and it sure looks like someone’s been a pretty busy little spammer! On the bright side, if the fake comments are going to be that obvious, it shouldn’t be long before this guy goes out of business.

]]> By: lucia http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4197 lucia Sun, 15 Jul 2007 17:20:17 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4197 My thoughts are I should write a plugin that will helps me sift through the comments for the past week, identify the "symptoms" of human spam, put checks in boxes to either a) delete the link, b) delete the comment c) or report as spam to Akismet and then let me click "submit". I've been mulling over what I think are "the symptoms", so I could display these along side the comment. (But one of my readers laughed at me and we both concluded I think too much.) My thoughts are I should write a plugin that will helps me sift through the comments for the past week, identify the “symptoms” of human spam, put checks in boxes to either a) delete the link, b) delete the comment c) or report as spam to Akismet and then let me click “submit”.

I’ve been mulling over what I think are “the symptoms”, so I could display these along side the comment. (But one of my readers laughed at me and we both concluded I think too much.)

]]> By: cooliojones http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4173 cooliojones Fri, 13 Jul 2007 21:22:16 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4173 I'm glad you decided to keep doing do-follow. I think some bloggers do comment for the link love, but they also may have legitimate comments to place on a post or two. You can best gauge it over time, if they keep coming back or not. (i.e. yeah, like the terminator, I'll be back! lol) I’m glad you decided to keep doing do-follow. I think some bloggers do comment for the link love, but they also may have legitimate comments to place on a post or two. You can best gauge it over time, if they keep coming back or not. (i.e. yeah, like the terminator, I’ll be back! lol)

]]> By: Chuck http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4126 Chuck Wed, 11 Jul 2007 21:56:01 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4126 I strongly agree that this is an important issue and that we not let the infidels win. Our issue is not whether or not to respect readers/contributors to our blogs...but simply how to keep out the spammers. Akismet does the vast amount of that work. There are supposed to be other good tools as well. But that's where our efforts need to go...toward better protection. And, of course, manual moderation is the final key in the process for most of us. I also personally feel that it's critical to LET PEOPLE KNOW that you are using Do-Follow. I would recommend using a logo somewhere on your blog...something that clearly indicates that you respect and appreciate the contributions of your readers. I know Randa has a logo, and I also recently made one available on my site. Randa's are available thru the No NoFollow community on Bumpzee (bumpzee.com/no-nofollow/), and you can find my offering here: http://chuckbrown.com/no-nofollow-logo.html Congrats on making the RIGHT decision, Chris. ;-) I strongly agree that this is an important issue and that we not let the infidels win. Our issue is not whether or not to respect readers/contributors to our blogs…but simply how to keep out the spammers. Akismet does the vast amount of that work. There are supposed to be other good tools as well. But that’s where our efforts need to go…toward better protection. And, of course, manual moderation is the final key in the process for most of us.

I also personally feel that it’s critical to LET PEOPLE KNOW that you are using Do-Follow. I would recommend using a logo somewhere on your blog…something that clearly indicates that you respect and appreciate the contributions of your readers.

I know Randa has a logo, and I also recently made one available on my site. Randa’s are available thru the No NoFollow community on Bumpzee (bumpzee.com/no-nofollow/), and you can find my offering here:

http://chuckbrown.com/no-nofollow-logo.html

Congrats on making the RIGHT decision, Chris. ;-)

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4122 Chris Garrett Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:25:45 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4122 Thanks Liz, somehow I thought that would be the case :) Thanks Liz, somehow I thought that would be the case :)

]]> By: Liz Strauss http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4119 Liz Strauss Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:16:10 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4119 Chris, You are right. I am totally in alignment with you. My blog happens in the comment box. It's where we meet and where we learn what we think. :) Chris,
You are right. I am totally in alignment with you. My blog happens in the comment box. It’s where we meet and where we learn what we think. :)

]]> By: Chris Garrett http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4114 Chris Garrett Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:34:34 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4114 Thanks all. I will update the post with my last thoughts - all your advice and perspectives have been a great help :) Thanks all. I will update the post with my last thoughts – all your advice and perspectives have been a great help :)

]]> By: Domonic Mongello http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4109 Domonic Mongello Wed, 11 Jul 2007 05:11:08 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4109 Hello Chris, this is such a touchy subject for many. However to turn off follow is only hurting the essence of what you have taught us in the past. Blogging is an interactive relationship with the readers. In your case, your many subscribers. When a real blogger reads your feeds, post, then reads the comments of the readers, and follows they are using blogging for what it is. One of the above comment-ors "Jack" made a great point about installing the right plug-ins... Plus, if you are not interested in really reading comments before approval why even have then at all? I am a die hard reader/subscriber of your blog, and will always be. Please bend to this new trend... Where would all of you leaders be today if you were not able to benefit form comment linking form other leaders blogs? Power of the bloggers brother... not the spammers... Best/dom Hello Chris, this is such a touchy subject for many. However to turn off follow is only hurting the essence of what you have taught us in the past. Blogging is an interactive relationship with the readers. In your case, your many subscribers. When a real blogger reads your feeds, post, then reads the comments of the readers, and follows they are using blogging for what it is. One of the above comment-ors “Jack” made a great point about installing the right plug-ins… Plus, if you are not interested in really reading comments before approval why even have then at all? I am a die hard reader/subscriber of your blog, and will always be. Please bend to this new trend… Where would all of you leaders be today if you were not able to benefit form comment linking form other leaders blogs?

Power of the bloggers brother… not the spammers…

Best/dom

]]> By: David Culpepper http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4108 David Culpepper Wed, 11 Jul 2007 04:14:16 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4108 I've posted about this as well and share many of the concerns already expressed here. I'll be leaving dofollow installed and enabled for now but that is subject to change. I just can't believe how many people think this is an acceptable practice. Spam is spam... I don't care how you dress it up. I’ve posted about this as well and share many of the concerns already expressed here. I’ll be leaving dofollow installed and enabled for now but that is subject to change.

I just can’t believe how many people think this is an acceptable practice. Spam is spam… I don’t care how you dress it up.

]]> By: Advice Network http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4106 Advice Network Wed, 11 Jul 2007 03:02:09 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4106 Well, I'll give you one thing right away, posting and saying you might change your comment policy to no-follow is sure a good way to get a lot of comments! We might as well get in now before the change! See, I wish I had your problem, to even think about it. I've been blogging for all of a week, and I don't have any comments to worry about just yet. Check in with me on this one when I've got some traffic. <a href="http://www.advicenetwork.com/wordpress/">my lonely blog can be found here.</a> Well, I’ll give you one thing right away, posting and saying you might change your comment policy to no-follow is sure a good way to get a lot of comments! We might as well get in now before the change!

See, I wish I had your problem, to even think about it. I’ve been blogging for all of a week, and I don’t have any comments to worry about just yet. Check in with me on this one when I’ve got some traffic.

my lonely blog can be found here.

]]> By: Medicus Man http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4105 Medicus Man Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:52:04 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4105 geez guys, hate to tell you, but paid blog commenting has been around ever since the inception of blogs. Also - if the posts are written as they say they will, then even the blog owner won't know they're paid because they will be relevant. If that is so, then what is everyone worried about? Someone touching the sacredness (if that is a word) of the blog community? C'mon - as long as they aren't poorly written comments, you all are a bunch of whiners. geez guys, hate to tell you, but paid blog commenting has been around ever since the inception of blogs.

Also – if the posts are written as they say they will, then even the blog owner won’t know they’re paid because they will be relevant.

If that is so, then what is everyone worried about? Someone touching the sacredness (if that is a word) of the blog community?

C’mon – as long as they aren’t poorly written comments, you all are a bunch of whiners.

]]> By: shaners http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4104 shaners Wed, 11 Jul 2007 02:09:31 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4104 I may be off the beaten track here, But one would think that managing comments is a crucial task of a blogger, its part of the job, not something to be delegated to a plug-in or what not. Its part of the job aint it? Im not advocating that you just post to steal PR but if I visit and comment on a regular basis then Im adding value and I would like something in return , know what I mean? Maybe for the bigger bloggers with active commenting, they will have to outsource the comment screening. (im available :-P 500 bux a month and I'll screen your commenst for viagra and paxil spamming :-P) Cheers and beers from Canada Shane I may be off the beaten track here, But one would think that managing comments is a crucial task of a blogger, its part of the job, not something to be delegated to a plug-in or what not. Its part of the job aint it? Im not advocating that you just post to steal PR but if I visit and comment on a regular basis then Im adding value and I would like something in return , know what I mean? Maybe for the bigger bloggers with active commenting, they will have to outsource the comment screening. (im available :-P 500 bux a month and I’ll screen your commenst for viagra and paxil spamming :-P )
Cheers and beers from Canada
Shane

]]> By: Nathania Johnson http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4102 Nathania Johnson Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:56:46 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4102 I leave comments when I have something to say. If I go for link juice, it's only once and it's on blogs that I comment on more than once because I'm interested in them. On nofollow blogs, I'll leave my site more often in the hopes of traffic, but with dofollow blogs, I don't want too many links coming in from the same site anyway. Plus, I want relevant links. So it makes little sense for me to leave a comment with a link to my classic movie blog on a blog about personal finance or blogging or whatever. I leave comments when I have something to say. If I go for link juice, it’s only once and it’s on blogs that I comment on more than once because I’m interested in them. On nofollow blogs, I’ll leave my site more often in the hopes of traffic, but with dofollow blogs, I don’t want too many links coming in from the same site anyway.

Plus, I want relevant links. So it makes little sense for me to leave a comment with a link to my classic movie blog on a blog about personal finance or blogging or whatever.

]]> By: Guilherme Zuhlke O'Connor http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4101 Guilherme Zuhlke O'Connor Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:43:01 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4101 @daniel - such a plugin exists, it is called <a href="http://www.allpassionmarketing.com/software.html#linklove">linklove</a>. It removes no-follow of commenters after a certain number of comments, default is 10. As I often say, I like to see the blogosphere as a huge conversation among many people. I truly admire the way Seth Godin has set his blog so feedback comes only by trackback. I interpret this like: "do you want to follow the discussion? Don't spend a minute on a comment, spend twenty on a post. That is worthy feedback, and is a very horizontal way of talking, blogger to blogger instead of blogger to visitor, but certainly doesn't work form most blogs (it won't work to mine, for sure). I like the naive view that what counts on comments, like in any conversation, is good impression you make, human to human, and I would like to believe that google should follow and not the other way around. I think every commenter deserves a link and I would like to open do-follow comments on my blog soon. Enough of philosophy! Some practical stuff. I am using Akismet, but it hasn't been necessary since <a href="http://www.z-oc.com/blog/2007/06/testdriving-comment-policy-wordpress-plugin/">I started using Comment Policy plugin</a>. Not a single spam comment appeared since then, I am very happy with it. The linklove plugin I commented above seems also nice. I heard about some blogs that do-follow the commenter web site, but no-follow any link within the comment. Seems practical. Nevertheless, I think that a good commenter should be awarded a link and not a recurrent one. A last thing that I haven't tested, but seems a good path to go: Spam is always automatic, because man-hour to handcrafted spam would be too expensive and is shortsightened, so "What about changing the name o the file that handles comments (comments.php in wordpress) to some customized name. All the full-of-links spam I got, never even reached my tracking systems and I assume this is because the page was never loaded, a bot probably just connected direclty to comments.php. I want to concept-proof this idea, but I really didn't had the time yet :-( And for the last, I won't stop commenting if you turn to no-follow, because I comment for humans (even though I dream of the day search bots will be able to follow us on this) [OMG, another huge comment, I hope anyone will read it :-) ] @daniel – such a plugin exists, it is called linklove. It removes no-follow of commenters after a certain number of comments, default is 10.

As I often say, I like to see the blogosphere as a huge conversation among many people. I truly admire the way Seth Godin has set his blog so feedback comes only by trackback. I interpret this like: “do you want to follow the discussion? Don’t spend a minute on a comment, spend twenty on a post.

That is worthy feedback, and is a very horizontal way of talking, blogger to blogger instead of blogger to visitor, but certainly doesn’t work form most blogs (it won’t work to mine, for sure).

I like the naive view that what counts on comments, like in any conversation, is good impression you make, human to human, and I would like to believe that google should follow and not the other way around.

I think every commenter deserves a link and I would like to open do-follow comments on my blog soon.

Enough of philosophy! Some practical stuff.

I am using Akismet, but it hasn’t been necessary since I started using Comment Policy plugin. Not a single spam comment appeared since then, I am very happy with it.

The linklove plugin I commented above seems also nice.

I heard about some blogs that do-follow the commenter web site, but no-follow any link within the comment. Seems practical. Nevertheless, I think that a good commenter should be awarded a link and not a recurrent one.

A last thing that I haven’t tested, but seems a good path to go:

Spam is always automatic, because man-hour to handcrafted spam would be too expensive and is shortsightened, so “What about changing the name o the file that handles comments (comments.php in wordpress) to some customized name.

All the full-of-links spam I got, never even reached my tracking systems and I assume this is because the page was never loaded, a bot probably just connected direclty to comments.php.

I want to concept-proof this idea, but I really didn’t had the time yet :-(

And for the last, I won’t stop commenting if you turn to no-follow, because I comment for humans (even though I dream of the day search bots will be able to follow us on this)

[OMG, another huge comment, I hope anyone will read it :-) ]

]]> By: George http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4100 George Tue, 10 Jul 2007 23:13:54 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4100 My quick comment. Not turning it off, I am leaving my do-follow plug-in in place. I don't think no-follow is the solution. I think better Search Engine algorithms is the answer. I expect at some point a much better alternative to the Search Engines will appear on the scene, it's just a matter of time... My quick comment. Not turning it off, I am leaving my do-follow plug-in in place. I don’t think no-follow is the solution. I think better Search Engine algorithms is the answer. I expect at some point a much better alternative to the Search Engines will appear on the scene, it’s just a matter of time…

]]> By: Charity http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4099 Charity Tue, 10 Jul 2007 22:32:03 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4099 Yep, gonna have to leave dofollow intact for now as well. I don't think readers who add sincere/helpful contributions to a discussion should be penalized because spammers suck. As for comment motives - I don't leave comments in the hope of getting some fanfare out of it, although I do view that as a perk. Rather, I comment because I've identified with something a blogger said, or because I've found their post helpful and I want them to know that. Occasionally I'll comment just because I can't stand not to put my two cents in, or have a mini-rant (like this one)! :) Yep, gonna have to leave dofollow intact for now as well. I don’t think readers who add sincere/helpful contributions to a discussion should be penalized because spammers suck.

As for comment motives – I don’t leave comments in the hope of getting some fanfare out of it, although I do view that as a perk. Rather, I comment because I’ve identified with something a blogger said, or because I’ve found their post helpful and I want them to know that. Occasionally I’ll comment just because I can’t stand not to put my two cents in, or have a mini-rant (like this one)! :)

]]> By: Jack http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4098 Jack Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:47:07 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4098 Anne-Marie, You asked if "NoFollow will discourage commenting if there's not that added incentive of Google juice"? The answer is no, here is the reality, To me what Chris is saying is that, comment spam gave birth to rel="nofollow", people realized it did nothing to solve the problem and screwed over posters. So the do-follow movement occurred which has led to people comment spamming, which means we might as well use nofollow again, which did not work in the first place. Sound like a circle of insanity? There's a reason, it is! Also you asked, "how do you know if someone has it turned off or on"? That is simple, download a FireFox extension called Search Status, http://www.comtechnews.net/search-marketing/search-status-extension-for-firefox-users One of the options "highlights" nofollow links. I use if for things like finding forums and blogs that do not nofollow my links. Hey I have limited time, if I am providing content for anyone a full link makes it more worth while. Also if I do link exchanges (3 or 4 way not resi) I can be sure whoever I do them with is not being a link juice jerk and hosing me over by nofollowing my links. One last thing, by having this extension you can find lots of places that don't nofollow links like which bookmarking sites, article sites, etc. don't do it. The key is be informed and educated to what tools are available. And again if anyone wants to comment in my blog just for links knock yourself out so long as the comments are relevant and the links are not to "bad stuff" Jack Anne-Marie,

You asked if “NoFollow will discourage commenting if there’s not that added incentive of Google juice”?

The answer is no, here is the reality,

To me what Chris is saying is that, comment spam gave birth to rel=”nofollow”, people realized it did nothing to solve the problem and screwed over posters. So the do-follow movement occurred which has led to people comment spamming, which means we might as well use nofollow again, which did not work in the first place.

Sound like a circle of insanity? There’s a reason, it is!

Also you asked, “how do you know if someone has it turned off or on”?

That is simple, download a FireFox extension called Search Status,

http://www.comtechnews.net/search-marketing/search-status-extension-for-firefox-users

One of the options “highlights” nofollow links. I use if for things like finding forums and blogs that do not nofollow my links. Hey I have limited time, if I am providing content for anyone a full link makes it more worth while.

Also if I do link exchanges (3 or 4 way not resi) I can be sure whoever I do them with is not being a link juice jerk and hosing me over by nofollowing my links.

One last thing, by having this extension you can find lots of places that don’t nofollow links like which bookmarking sites, article sites, etc. don’t do it.

The key is be informed and educated to what tools are available.

And again if anyone wants to comment in my blog just for links knock yourself out so long as the comments are relevant and the links are not to “bad stuff”

Jack

]]> By: Randa Clay http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4097 Randa Clay Tue, 10 Jul 2007 20:36:35 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4097 I can definitely understand if moderating comments takes several hours a week that one might want to consider at least switching to the Link Love plugin that only turns off nofollow after a certain number of comments have been made. For me, for now, my comments are managable and I have no problem deleting the link if I feel it is warranted. I don't see any reason to turn nofollow back on though, as it does not effectively combat comment spam anyway. I can definitely understand if moderating comments takes several hours a week that one might want to consider at least switching to the Link Love plugin that only turns off nofollow after a certain number of comments have been made. For me, for now, my comments are managable and I have no problem deleting the link if I feel it is warranted. I don’t see any reason to turn nofollow back on though, as it does not effectively combat comment spam anyway.

]]> By: esoos http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4096 esoos Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:47:48 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4096 Just a hunch, but I don't think this service will get enough subscribers to have much of a negative impact. You could always just delete ALL pointless comments written with poor grammar, regardless of whether they're spam or not. Readers would probably appreciate it. Just a hunch, but I don’t think this service will get enough subscribers to have much of a negative impact. You could always just delete ALL pointless comments written with poor grammar, regardless of whether they’re spam or not. Readers would probably appreciate it.

]]> By: K-L Masina | Join the Evolution http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4095 K-L Masina | Join the Evolution Tue, 10 Jul 2007 19:21:15 +0000 http://www.chrisg.com/comment-spammers-the-end-of-do-follow-movement/#comment-4095 Call me naive but I didn't know that commenting did anything to help google rankings. I comment because I like to jump in on the conversation, and because it's like networking. Getting out and about means people might be interested and checking out my blog sometime. Who ARE all these spammers? How does what they do sit comfortably with them? I don't get it. Call me naive but I didn’t know that commenting did anything to help google rankings.

I comment because I like to jump in on the conversation, and because it’s like networking. Getting out and about means people might be interested and checking out my blog sometime.

Who ARE all these spammers? How does what they do sit comfortably with them?

I don’t get it.

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