Recommending the former option, I would like to share with you 7 of the amazing techniques that can be used for reducing WordPress comment spam. So, let’s get started with these methods.
Although WordPress has given us plenty of features to enjoy, there are some aspects which often turn to be the most annoying thing with this content management system.
One such thing that has been bothering globally-located WordPress users is the spam commenting on their blogs.
Every time you login to your WordPress admin dashboard, you come across a whole lot of spam comments waiting to get deleted.
For such spam comments, you can either choose to delete them manually or let them die in the spam queue itself.
Recommending the former option, I would like to share with you 7 of the amazing techniques that can be used for reducing WordPress comment spam.
So, let’s get started with these methods.
1. Switch off commenting for older blog posts
Usually spammers target posts published many days/weeks/months ago.
By choosing to close the commenting for your older posts, you can easily refrain spammers from posting unwanted comments on your published write-ups.
For closing comments on older posts, all you need to do is simply login to your blog’s admin area, go to Settings-> Discussion and select the checkbox named “Automatically close comments on article older than”.
Within the textbox, you need to enter the number of days.
This would ascertain that blog readers won’t be able to post their comments on an article which is older than the count of days specified within the textbox.
2. Restrict comments on pages
A WordPress powered blog comprises of many pages that need not contain a comments section at all.
Hence, you need to edit each such page via the WordPress admin dashboard and uncheck the “Allow Comments” box.
Doing this will eliminate any spam comments and trackbacks on these pages.
3. Keep Comments containing links on hold
A majority of spam comments comprise of links.
An effective way of eliminating such comments is simply sending them to the moderation queue.
You can use your site’s “Comment Moderation” section for doing this.
By sending link-loaded comments to the moderation queue, you’ll be able to reduce the spam commenting for your posts.
4. Limit the count of links allowed in Comments
The Discussion settings in your WordPress dashboard allows you to send comments with more than a specific count of links in them directly to the moderation queue.
Comment spammers often include multiple links in their comments.
This approach of restricting the link count will serve as a good idea.
5. Use the Comment Blacklist feature
Comment Blacklist is one of the most underused features of WordPress.
With Comment Blacklist, you can easily blacklist the IP addresses of spammers who’re attacking you frequently.
Other options of blacklisting comment spammers is via the URL, email address, name and/or content.
6. Opt for installing Anti-Spam Plugins
Under situations where spam comments get out of hand, it is an anti-spam plugin that comes to the rescue.
One of the most popular WordPress anti-spam plugins is Akismet.
Created by the makers of WordPress, Akismet is an automated spam protection plugin which once installed and activated for your blog will filter spam comments into the spam folder.
It will learn from what comments you’ve marked as spam and which ones you’ve marked as legitimate.
Some of the finest anti-spam plugins used and recommended by WordPress users include: Growmap Anti Spambot plugin, WP Anti Spam, NO CAPTCHA Anti-Spam plugin, Spam Free WordPress and many more.
Prior to installing a particular anti-spam plugin onto your website, make sure that the same doesn’t hurt the overall commenting experience for the genuine commenters.
7. Opt for using a comment tool such as Disqus and Livefyre
Disqus and Livefyre are two popular commenting tools that require people to log into a separate account such as Disqus account, Facebook account, Twitter account etc.
in order to be able to submit a comment on the blog posts.
Such tools aid in reduction of spam comments as spammers won’t choose to invest their time in logging into an entirely new account.
Wrapping Up
Well, protecting WordPress blogs from spam comments is an ongoing battle faced by regular WordPress users.
I’m sure paying due heed to the aforementioned steps would allow you to discourage spam commenting for your blog and ascertain a better readership. Also find perfect article writing service will encourage real readers to comment.
Please do share your views/opinions on the above post using the comments box below.
