Do-Follow Blog Commenting: Watch Yourself - Because Akismet Is
Posted Dec 19, 2007 @ 7:41 pm, Viewed by 860 Visitors, Read 881 Times.Sounds good, right? It is.
The problem is that many overzealous commentators, oftentimes with SEO Tunnel Vision, will leave crap, one-liner comments that add nothing to the conversation. So my blog is now pretty well known as a do-follow blog, and I happily moderate at least 3-4 comments per day. When I first started, I had TONS of crap one-liners. Lately, it's really tapered off, and I began to wonder why.
Here's why:
Akismet is a super-powerful spam blocking plug-in for Wordpress. I love Akismet (and it loves me back.) It operates by using a central database that records every time a comment is marked "spam" by an akismet user. It looks for common IP addresses, websites, comments, etc... Basically it looks at everything, and looks for patterns.
Here's where it sucks for the one-line commentators. When I (or any other do-follow blog owner) see a crappy comment, it p*sses us off. I used to spare the commentator, but lately, I hit the spam button - hard. When someone does that, it tags that commentator as a spammer, and it means that their future comments go in the spambox (just like your email spam folder.) So...I looked at my akismet spam folder today, and I noticed that there were at least 5 (out of 31) comments that legitimately read my post (I could tell b/c their comment identified it as such) but they were already thrown in the spambox!
So...a lot of people get SEO tunnel vision early in their online careers, only to change their ways later. What sucks for the crap commentators is that they're now tagged as spammers. When or if they ever choose to actually participate, they're going in the akismet spam folder. I don't know about reinclusion requests with akismet, and I plan on never finding out. So...a few pointers for blog commenting:
- Read the blog before commenting.
- Type at least two sentences. Unless your one sentence is very poignant.
- Make sure your comment adds to the conversation.
- Don't link to anything in your comment unless it is very relevant.
Here's a list of do-follow real estate blogs.
Eric Bramlett is the broker & co-owner of One Source Realty, an Westlake real estate brokerage. Eric has been an active Lake Travis real estate agent since 2003, and an active broker since 2005. Eric specializes in central, west, & downtown Austin, including central Austin condos. Eric considers himself somewhat of an online marketer wannabe, and writes an SEM blog.
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Thanks for posting this Eric. I think we will be hearing more and more about do follow blog commenting in the future, and the "comment spammer lists" will become a hot topic. I looked at Akismet's site and I couldn't find any mention of how someone could request to be removed from the spammer list, so let that be a warning for everyone to take time with their comments and avoid getting hit with the spam button!
Thanks guys. I agree that the do-follows are going to become a hot topic. I think that akismet will probably have to put together some kind of reinclusion process for the repentant spammers (or for someone who was mistakenly labeled.)
Sounds like an awesome plugin, Eric. The amount of comment spam I receive on my personal blog is ridiculous. I'll be sure to get Askimet.
Thanks Nick! And hey guys, if you like the post - don't be afraid to rate it! (if you don't like it, you can move on 
)
Hey Bramlett! You know I am totally with you on this one...and Akismet is a great plugin...been using it a long time with great results...Nice post. And yes, I rated it. (grin) Merry Christmas to you and Ali, my friend.. Eric
When you say Akismet is watching it makes me think of Asimo (the robot) watching me. Kinda creepy.
Every time someone mentions the Asimo, I think about the South Park episode with the Awesome-O 3000. http://www.comedycentral.com/press/images/southpark/802Awesome-O2.jpg
The one liners are such a waste of space. If you can't add to the conversation there is no need for a comment. Personally I read at least 5-10 posts for everyone that I comment on based on the topic of the blogs. BTW, Merry Christmas!
I use Akismet on my Wordpress blog and love it. I;m curious about repentance and becoming a reformed spammer. Keep us posted! As requested adding some post love today. Personally, 'd rather have a W-NC or E-TN referral but post love is a good second choice.
Great post Eric! I haven't done much commenting, however, your post makes me consider carefully how and what I post. 
Very informative. Especially for me, as I am a very, very new blogger. I pinch myself sometimes when I read these things and thank my lucky stars that I have some good information before doing something inadvertantly silly. I wouldn't go the "spam" route personally, but I could see where leaving a quick one-liner could get me into trouble. Your post is great for the experienced and inexperienced alike!
Thanks! I think you'll do fine commenting on any blog - just use common sense. If you think you're posting a spam comment, you probably are.
Eric interesting post. I have not used that style of blog.Maybe once I get my feet under me( maybe fingers and brain coordinated on the keyboard) and do some more blogs that seem to make sense I'll try the do -follow blog. At this point I would expect comments that would reveal my commensurate skill at blogging, therefore to lessen the pain to my ego ; } I will wait a little. I do like the idea of a symantec like blocker for spammers.Have a safe and healthy new year!
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I am an Austin Real Estate broker & Realtor. I am co-owner of One Source Realty, an Austin Texas real estate company, and manage our web marketing.
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Nice post Eric, It's unfortunate that you even have to right about this. It's precisely why I love the option on our blog to apply a Do follow or No follow option that was set up by REW for our blog.