I received an avid commenter on my blog today that found me by searching for "PT denver" (you know what that means) and was commenting all he could, using "denver" as his name to anchor to HIS Denver real estate site.

He is ----, a PT member and testimonial member. Not just stupid comments but also blasting REW on irrelevant posts. I gave my typical voiced response after letting a couple in and removed his links and made his "name" his real name, then put the rest to akismet.

Just a heads up - bloggers may want to be aware that the marching orders may include blog spamming. Kinda thinkin' I want my own PT suppression list...

----
editing
----

I don't see anyone wanting to become a target of frivolous spam reporting but feel free to PM me any similar behavior on your wordpress blogs.

__________________
Knox • Help Marc

Thanks For the heads up

That is a bunch of crap. I would ban him.

__________________
Ryan A. Martin - Windermere Real Estate / Whatcom Inc.

Your Bellingham real estate professional specializing in the listing and sales of Bellingham condos. Also check out my Anacortes real estate website for information about Fidalgo Island and Anacortes, WA

Hey Knox...

It is becoming more common. And like you it is an annoyance of mine as well. The funny part is, if people are willing to use their own name and be civil, they might actually build authority and make friends the RIGHT way...and that includes competitors.

I went off on it in early November on my blog.

I do think that it is fair to note though that I have had a lot of pleasant comment conversations with folks from PT as well on blogs that I frequent and contribute to as well. I am not anti-"them". I am anti-SPAM. There is a difference there...If that is what they teach, they need to clean up their act.

I don't try to figure out whether or not someone comments on my blog for links. All I ask is that they use their REAL name and add something of conversational value. That tends to separate things pretty nicely. Lots of folks have done that on my blog and I am happy to pass them juice...including PT customers...I am OK with that.

But looking for quick linkage from a direct competitors site and not providing your real name is pretty lame. Thanks for the heads up...

Another annoyance of mine is when a shill for a company gets on my blog trying to defend this or that (usually something I have offered an opinion on) and they claim to be a "broker" when they are a "shill". They NEVER leave a website or other way to verify their claims...

In one case a rep (allegedly a broker) from R.com kept at it for a few days...fun to nail 'em to the floor, but VERY annoying.

It funny how things never seem to change.

Best

Eric

__________________
Eric Blackwell
Technologist, SEO Specialist and Consultant

Louisville Real Estate My Home Real Estate Site

Search Engine Marketing, Coaching & Custom WP Blogs Learn how to get the MOST out of your already awesome REW site.

Real Estate Industry Watch - Real Estate Industry News Blog Get up to date info on the Real Estate Industry

Splogmenting has a pretty short shelf life, thanks to akismet. I check my akismet spam folder fairly often (out of curiosity,) and it always surprises me how many real estate commentators are pretty much banned by akismet. If the comment pisses you off, just flag it - it's the least stressful & easiest way to fight the spam.

__________________
Eric Bramlett

Take your blogging to the next level. PM Me For a Free Self-Hosted Wordpress Blog on YOUR URL!!!

Austin Real Estate | Austin Texas Real Estate | Austin Condos

I was looking at my akismet filter recently as well and there were lots of banned commenter's in it. I almost wonder if their would be any value in having the akismet filter on our contact forms for our main websites as well.

A few days ago I got a huge ball of spam though my contact form from one of Morgans favorite people, basically trying to say how wrong I was for thinking he may be beating the drums for the REW haters. Even saying "I've also never mad any attempt whatsoever to solicit REW client. In fact, I'd even say we go out of our way to turn away most inquiries who have ties to REW in any way. And that includes a few of the Morgan haters you think are buddies of mine." Then I look at his company website and a big testimonial from a former REW forum member, website owner, and now REW hater.

What am I left to think of the comments left for me after looking at that???

Oh, and the person who gave the testimonial mentioned above, called me back in July basically telling me that if I did not shut up and keep my opinions to my self he would own my name on the internet, and make my name unusable on the internet. then I get a call this week from this same person wondering why I would think he would be threatening me further. Hello, I took it as a threat on July 4th when I logged the call, the phone number it came from, and I took it as a threat again this week when I logged the call and the phone number it came from as well. I watch my name closely on the internet and can assure that I would take quick action against anyone who tried to pull such a stunt.

__________________
James Boyer
RE/MAX Properties Unlimited
Morristown, NJ 07960
973-647-0253
Serving the Real Estate markets of Morristown, Morris Township, Madison NJ Real Estate, Chatham NJ , Summit, Short Hills, Millburn, Maplewood, South Orange, & West Orange Referals happily given and accepted. For information on home sales in New Jersey please contact. Morristown NJ Real Estate Madison NJ Real Estate Chatham NJ Real Estate

Hey everyone.....I think I am about to learn something new today

What is "akismet"

Thanks
Sean

Hi EBA,

Question, did you happen to warn Larry not to make any dissenting comments on your blog before deciding to make this whole thing public because he is a PT customer? I dont even know what the comments said as you have closed the comment box. I don't know Larry or you but if you did not tell him to stop commenting on your blog, bloggers start to just report each other to akismet because someone vehemantly dissents you on your own blog, is there gonna be an end to this? I personally would be scared to comment on your blog if that is the case.

This whole thing looks to me as wrong as the link condom (nofollow tag). I don't like your opinion so you are spam. None of my business I guess but still the whole trend is worrysome. There will be no middle ground on any kind of a debate. Blogs were meant to create a freedom of discussion and opinion not just reporting other realtors as spammers.

3BlindMice;

I think you may be missing Knox's point. Whether he dissents or not was not the issue. Sure he disagreed with him about REW...(as I posted, I have had many nice conversations with PT customers who'd disagree with me about REW--it's their free speech -and mine),but blithely slapping comments on solely for the purpose of link building AND with using on DENVER as a name (for the purpose of getting anchor text) IS the issue. That is SPAM.

It is pretty common practice on the web to disagree but it is also pretty common practice for most bloggers (who are pleased to share the link love with those who comment--even when they disagree- I know I am) to get PO'd when people repeatedly SPAM their blogs.

I will be happy to provide plenty of A-list SEO's and bloggers alike who truly dislike the "stuff your keyword in your name, fire off a comment and get a link" approach. Aaron Wall comes to mind. He wrote about it quite a while back. As I said in my blog post in November, I thought he was right and that still has not changed. Scroll down to #80 on the post.

By the way...for those reading Aaron's stuff for the first time. This post of his also has some really GOOD things to do to get links besides SPAM a competitor's blog. I recommend them.

Just my opinion.

Eric

__________________
Eric Blackwell
Technologist, SEO Specialist and Consultant

Louisville Real Estate My Home Real Estate Site

Search Engine Marketing, Coaching & Custom WP Blogs Learn how to get the MOST out of your already awesome REW site.

Real Estate Industry Watch - Real Estate Industry News Blog Get up to date info on the Real Estate Industry

@Sean-
Sorry about not helping you about Akismet...

It is a plugin used by MANY Wordpress bloggers that collects people reported as spammers into a centralized database...much like spam email is stopped by centralized block lists.

As Eric Bramlett reported on his blog --even though I can't find it right now...as more people are getting caught in the databases, even low volume spammers can get their sites blocked and have a HARD time getting them out.

Basically, if you do a lot of commenting, it pays to a) be yourself and b) add something of value to the conversation. and c) write more than a one sentence "nice post" or "you suck" sort of comment. I will try to find Bramlett's post, but think that was the gist of it.

EDIT: I added Akismet to the glossary at the top...it will likely be there Monday. Thanks for asking! I am sure others were unaware as well.

Best

Eric

__________________
Eric Blackwell
Technologist, SEO Specialist and Consultant

Louisville Real Estate My Home Real Estate Site

Search Engine Marketing, Coaching & Custom WP Blogs Learn how to get the MOST out of your already awesome REW site.

Real Estate Industry Watch - Real Estate Industry News Blog Get up to date info on the Real Estate Industry