Would you consider this spam?

[StripesAndFins]

Well, as most of you know I own a blog and recently I have been getting a few comments that are borderline spam, and I am wondering if I should keep them or mark them as spam?

Here are some: http://fictionlovers.org/blog/?p=32#comments (last comment), http://fictionlovers.org/blog/?p=19#comments (last 3 comments), http://fictionlovers.org/blog/?p=38#comments (last comment), http://fictionlovers.org/blog/?p=42#comments (last comment).

Most of these are obviously only there to advertise, but they do partially comment on the post and are useful. Should I keep them?

 

[Jonathan]

They are automated, are advertising their own sites and make your blog look bad. Simple answer: no.

 

[AquaTeen]

They put the link in their name instead of in the post and submit auto generated posts. It's garbage for the most part. I would just remove the link and change the name to something that looks more realistic... no one will know but you 😛

 

[AnAccount]

Well, if they're constructive criticism and they seem to be, and assuming that you don't have a section just for general comments about your posts, which leads me to believe that they probably didn't know where else to put their comments about your work, then I'd probably leave them. However, in the future, I'd probably create a General Comments page where people can leave general comments, whether good or bad, about your posting and your reviews. But, assuming that you don't have a general comments section, I'd probably just leave them as they are. As long as they don't get too out of hand like posting porn or crap like that, then it's probably okay.<br /><br />-- Sat Oct 02, 2010 11:45 am --<br /><br />

They are automated, are advertising their own sites and make your blog look bad. Simple answer: no.

Where did you see that they're advertising their own sites, Jonathan? I just read the comments on how people liked his work and stuff like that. I didn't see any links to forums or anything... :shrugs:

 

[Mr. Duck]

Well they are just ot so yes 🙂

 

[Jonathan]

They are automated, are advertising their own sites and make your blog look bad. Simple answer: no.

Where did you see that they're advertising their own sites, Jonathan? I just read the comments on how people liked his work and stuff like that. I didn't see any links to forums or anything... :shrugs:

Click on their names, e.g. "China wholesale earring" takes you to a website about just that. It's automated advertising, not constructive feedback.

 

[AnAccount]

They are automated, are advertising their own sites and make your blog look bad. Simple answer: no.

Where did you see that they're advertising their own sites, Jonathan? I just read the comments on how people liked his work and stuff like that. I didn't see any links to forums or anything... :shrugs:

Click on their names, e.g. "China wholesale earring" takes you to a website about just that. It's automated advertising, not constructive feedback.

Okay, I see where you're getting at. Then yeah, that would definetly be considered spam. But I thought when you leave a comment on most blogs, there's an option to do your own Website as well? Or have I missed something here?

 

[StripesAndFins]

Ashley, there is a section to add there website and it makes your name a hyperlink to the site, which is what they used.

So it seems like they are spam, but I might try that thing where I just change their name and remove the link. 🙂

 

[Mr.Paine]

Well i wouldn't that's just me tho

 

[David]

It's spam; do you have Akismet installed? The more you fiddle around with Akisment, the more it learns to treat certain posts as spam. You can also grab the IP and block it.

 

[Benjay]

I think I may be reading them wrong, but they don't seem that bad to me.

 

[agentmanningctu]

If David's suggestion does not help, try disallowing a URL field.

 

[David]

I think I may be reading them wrong, but they don't seem that bad to me.

They are generic spammers which their comments can apply to any niche. A comment like "Great post and great ideas" can work with any blog, so that's something to look out for.

Once they get passed Akisment or other spam blockers, they will then add the link to their post, freely, because they've passed the first round of "are they a spammer or not?". Once their in, their IP is deemed to be ok, so they just spam with their links and generic comments.

 

[Kaynil]

Just to get things okay. Outside the generic response, would you guys mind if someone added their advertise url while commenting the blog? because well, the option to add it is there.

I guess advertisement aside, seek for the post itself, do you feel the person even bothered reading at all? If the answer is not, then I'll suggest you to hide or delete them. If they don't sound genuine to you, to your readers it will probably put them down as well.

Though, it is up to you. Unless it is blatant click my name kind of advertising, then I wouldn't mind much. XD I guess I contradict myself a lot, so I'll stop talking now.