Stop Sneaking Links into Blog Comments

I’ve had an annoying number of spammers sneaking links into blog comments lately. Or trying to at least. They are just wasting their time, as I remove the links before approving the comments.

These comments are different from the typical spam comments, like the ones shown below, which are easily caught by Akismet spam.

Spam Comments on Blog Posts

Akismet catches most of the obvious ones, but the new comments are actually from people who read the post and tailor their response to the article. So, it looks real, but then you’ll notice some highlighted words where they’ve linked to another website.

This isn’t like where a blogger might share a link to an article for reference, but an obvious attempt at sneaking a business link into the comments section using anchor text. I had one battery website try to get their link added in a comment three different times before finally e-mailing me to ask about a guest post or link exchange.

I don’t just delete the entire comment, because it’s usually a valid comment, just with a sneaky link.

Why Are Spammers Sneaking Links?

Spammers are sneaking links into my blog comments because they’re after me lucky charms. I mean, my link juice. Having a link on my blog to their website passes along some of my blog authority to help their website rank higher.

It’s an SEO tactic, as search engines view these backlinks as endorsements, meaning that if a well-respected site links to you, your site is likely considered trustworthy.

Search engines use links to discover new pages. When a search engine crawler visits a page and finds links to other pages, it follows those links to index the new content. This helps ensure that all parts of your site are found and indexed efficiently.

And they are embedding the link using certain keywords as anchor text (the visible, clickable text in a hyperlink) which can help search engines understand what the linked content is about and improve ranking for those keywords.

Binanace and Pomeranian Puppies UK

I got tons of spam comments every day, and the worst two offenders are Binance and Pomeranian Puppies UK. I looked up what Binance was, and their website says, “Binance is the world’s largest crypto exchange with over 350 listed Altcoins. It offers spot, futures, options, and other trading products, as well as NFT, charity, and institutional services.”

With their annoying comment spam, which is a shady SEO tactic, I wouldn’t ever use their website even if I did want to get into crypto currency.

And I don’t know what they are doing with Pomeranians in the UK, but the Pomeranian puppy website has desperately been spamming me with links in the comments for the last couple years! I guess their SEO tactics caught up with them, because I checked their website and it’s been suspended.

Stick to White Hat Linking

White hat linking refers to ethical practices employed in search engine optimization (SEO) to build backlinks to a website. Unlike black hat methods, which involve manipulative tactics to gain higher rankings (such as spamming or using hidden links), white hat techniques focus on providing valuable content and engaging genuinely with audiences.

Common strategies associated with white hat linking:1. Creating High-Quality Content

Producing original, informative, and engaging content that naturally attracts shares and links. This is how I’ve gotten most of my links, by posting informative articles. I often find the best performing posts are the ones where I answer a question I had, because other people are wondering about it as well.

For example, I had a really popular post several years ago that was about a Publix meal that was missing the cooking instructions. Other people wanted those instructions too!

2. Guest Blogging

Writing articles for reputable websites in your niche. This not only helps in building your authority but also provides a backlink to your site, driving traffic and improving your SEO.

This has mostly turned into a paid thing where companies have a writer submit a guest post with their link. I can’t recall the last time I had a real blogger contact me about a guest post.

3. Building Relationships

Networking with other bloggers and website owners can lead to organic linking opportunities. You can also leave thoughtful comments on their blog posts, where you get to have your website added to your comment, but not in a sneaky way.

4. Social Media Sharing

Promoting your content on social media platforms can lead to increased visibility and potentially more backlinks as others share your work.

5. Submitting to Directories

Carefully selecting reputable directories to submit your website can help in gaining legitimate backlinks. There are tons of blog directories out there, and many will add you for free or for a small fee.

You can also try search engine submission sites, although those often lead to a lot of e-mail spam.

6. Participating in Forums and Communities

Engaging in relevant online forums or communities and sharing your expertise can encourage others to link back to your site.

7. Utilizing Influencer Marketing

Partnering with influencers who can vouch for your content and share it with their audience, leading to additional backlinks.

By adhering to white hat linking practices, website owners can enhance their site’s authority, increase its ranking on search engines, and build a trustworthy online presence. Unlike the ones sneaking their links into the comments section!

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