A simple secret which can reduce Wordpress spam comments by 90%
It’s no secret that ROCKFUSE is a dofollow blog. Thought I don’t use the traditional dofollow badges used by all the other blogs that have taken the time to remove the ‘nofollow’ tag, I’ve created my own and I think it’s pretty visible in the sidebar.
Now, why did I exactly made this blog dofollow? Or in that case, why does any blogger make his/her blog dofollow? The obvious reason to do this is to influence comments. If you are in need of developing backlinks to your blog, you’d find that blog commenting is one of the easiest methods to do this - and dofollow blogs stand a higher chance of getting quality comments because of this.
But, there’s a claim that when you remove the nofollow tags, it will lure a lot of spam comments. This is true. Spammers will use software like CommentKahuna to mass-spam their website links all over your articles. Most of them will be free junk food to your Akismet plugin if you’re using Wordpress, but some will actually get through. To combat the ones that get through, like it or not, I moderate every comment that comes by.
But sometimes, it’s easy to just stop spam from entering at all. So I will reveal a method that did wonders for me, and hopefully, it does the same for you. However, I hold no guarantees that it will work for all of you, though it had certainly worked for me. In case you wee wondering, it’s not having a CAPTCHA. CAPTCHA can reduce your spam comments but some will actually get through and you’re putting an unnecessary weight on your loyal followers by making them enter some codes.
The secret is having an Ajax driven comment form. Too simple? Allow me to explain. Normal WordPress blogs have non-Javascript driven forms, which would be converted into plain HTML. Spam bots can play around with simple HTML easily. But when JavaScript kicks in, it makes it harder for spam bots to come out with their fireworks. True, it’s a form. But, inner components of the form are built with JavaScript (utilizing Ajax)., which, simply put, behaves differently than the comment forms used in 98% of the Wodpress blogs in use - or, make it 99%.
The easiest way to get this done is having a plugin - that is, Ajaxed Wordpress for me. If you don’t like all the attractions of the plugin as explained here, you can simply enable the “Comment Form” module, which will be sufficient for this purpose.
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Hmm interesting.. I’ll probably gonna give this a go. I hate putting a CAPTCHA system on my blog.
But I guess with this, the commentators have to have JavaScript enabled, yes? (which hopefully everyone does)
Yes, that’s the downside of it. Though I’m sure most, if not all, have it enabled.
If you use Google Analytics, it will tell you the proportion of your viewers that have Java support in their browsers. Mine runs at about 94% with Java.
great tips. but someday i am sure spam will be able to commented on javascript.
Someday.. Yes.. But, not today!
hah! That is simple. Honestly that never crossed my mind. I knew all about the bots not being able to read Javascript that easily, but really… this is simple. The only drawback I can see is that some people/companies don’t allow javascript–although, that number is small.
I hate CAPTCHA with a passion. At first, CAPTCHA was pretty simple. Usually just enter in what 1 + 2 is or write a simple word. Now, bots are getting smarter and smarter. So what happens? The CAPTCHA gets harder and harder. In fact, I can’t actually read half the CAPTCHAs out there and must enter it in 2 or 3 times before I get it correct–if ever.
Yes, that’s a drawback as Michael pointed out earlier. But as you’ve just stated, it’s better than inserting captcha + getting annoying comments.
It does make sense moderating every comment that gets through any automated spam filters - even though it can be a painful process if you get 100s of comments per day.
Have you not thought about making a ‘permission system’ where you could grant unmoderated commenting to specific people and at the same time moderate the remaining comments that make it through?
Yes! Moderating every comment - That’s what I do.
Yes, I’ve thought of the permission plan. But the heart of the matter is that is that I still will have to moderate everyone else’s - which at the end of the day doesn’t make that much of a difference.
I still don’t get idea of nofollow and dofollow blogs.. But, google encourage us to us nofollow comments.
Atniz, maybe this will help - http://linkbuildingbible.com/2008/03/15/what-is-dofollow-what-is-nofollow-follow-along-and-see/
I agree with you. I would rather spend a little extra time to moderate each post and reward people a little for commenting on my blog than just to keep no follow tags.
Thanks. True - that’s another way to put it.
Akimset already help^^ Through my tracking Javascript Enabled 46833 - 98.54% eheh so Ur tips is really nice to me ^^ I got more than 50k spam msg for a year I’m blogging
Thank you.
So that’s 135 comment per day? Wow. You really should do something about that.
love the blog, what a great post about preventing spam. I have never read about this tactic before. I will have to try it. I subscribed to u from a blog catalog group we are both part of. Hope u can give me some return love at
http://www.wizeguyztees.com/blog
Thank you. Yes, this is a method I discovered on my own - quite by accident. Hope it does good to you. I’ll take a look at your blog, indeed.
I am thinking of making my blog dofollow and am worried baout the spam. Cheers for the article… I may just have to look into this plugin.
Cheers,
Forest.
I use a different java based comment but have to agree, they work great
Captcha is a good way to take care of this and regularly moderating new comments also helps. You don’t have to read the whole comment (but I usually do since I pride myself in getting comments) but you can quickly scan to see if it’s spam or not.
I post comments often on do follow blogs and I also make it relevant. There is no use in wasting an house pasting the same comment on tons of blogs when most bloggers who’ve actually taken the time to make their blog do follow, also moderate comments.
Also, when you put your all in a comment, it’s more likely the blogger him/herself will visit your blog regularly and friendships can grow and ideas can be shared. That’s what blogging is supposed to promote anyway, right?
Right now i have math question put. but i got some emails from my blog readers that it is buggy. let me try using ajax comment module and try it.
Thanks for the info…