Combating Comment Spam – Contraception for your Blog
Unless you want to completely eliminate comments on your blog there’s no way to completely eliminate comment spam. It’s like sex. Total abstinence is the only 100 percent effective method of birth control.
Fortunately, there are several types of contraception available that will help minimize the threat. And you can stop thinking about sex, now – I’m talking about comment spam.
If you’re using WordPress you have lots of options, starting with your dashboard.
Go to your Settings menu and click on the Discussion link. This is where you can adjust your comment settings.
To eliminate some of your spam, check the box that says the comment author must fill out their name and email. To help with ease you work load you can also check the box to automatically close comments on a post after so many days.
(Most bloggers leave this at the default setting of 28 days, but I’ve seen blogs where comments are closed after 14 days, too. The choice is yours.)
A little further down the page you can require admin approval for all comments or you can allow comments to automatically publish as long as the author as had at least one previously approved comment.
Next, you have two boxes that many bloggers don’t pay any attention to but in my opinion they’re very helpful.
The Comment Moderation box: When a comment contains any of the words you list in this box it will automatically be held for moderation.
The Comment Blacklist: When a comment contains any of the words you list in this box it will automatically be reported as spam.
Both of these boxes will hold an unlimited number of words and they’ll pick up those words when they’re used in any portion of the comment content, the author name, the URL or the IP address. I’ve blocked entire websites and individuals and it works like a charm.
For stronger control you can use a Captcha script and you’ll find several excellent WordPress plug-ins to help control Spam. I like G.A.S.P. but there are new plug-ins appearing every day.
One word of caution: The more difficult you make it for readers to leave comments, the fewer comments you’ll receive.
Of course, the spammers will always find a way through your blockade, but it’s your real, loyal readers who suffer most.
If you’ve done everything you can to control it then maybe it’s time to consider outsourcing your comment moderation.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below!
Source : dukeo[dot]com
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