Comments on: Google Gives Comment Spam Zero Credit http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/ by Steve Matthews Thu, 29 Jul 2010 15:11:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Law Firm Web Strategy : More Lawyer Comment Spam http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-1051 Law Firm Web Strategy : More Lawyer Comment Spam Thu, 26 Feb 2009 22:10:46 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-1051 [...] here’s the rub, and something I’ve blogged about before: almost every blog software out there has a ‘no-follow’ attribute on comments - as [...] [...] here’s the rub, and something I’ve blogged about before: almost every blog software out there has a ‘no-follow’ attribute on comments – as [...]

]]> By: Steve Matthews http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-493 Steve Matthews Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:20:19 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-493 <p>Not sure I buy into a lawyer's areas of practice dictating ethics. </p> <p>My experience with criminal lawyers is actually quite the opposite. You need to implicitly believe that every person deserves a competent defense; and that without it, the justice system simply doesn't work.</p> <p>And, believe it or not, there are different classes of accused criminals, and areas of criminal practice that are more lucrative. Ethics do count when you want your practice to evolve in those directions.</p> Not sure I buy into a lawyer’s areas of practice dictating ethics.

My experience with criminal lawyers is actually quite the opposite. You need to implicitly believe that every person deserves a competent defense; and that without it, the justice system simply doesn’t work.

And, believe it or not, there are different classes of accused criminals, and areas of criminal practice that are more lucrative. Ethics do count when you want your practice to evolve in those directions.

]]> By: Nick Holmes http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-490 Nick Holmes Wed, 13 Aug 2008 06:27:29 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-490 Why would these guys need to worry about ethics? Types of Cases handled by Miami criminal lawyer Robert E. Abreu: * Marijuana Grow-House Operations * Mortgage Fraud * Insurance Fraud * Cocaine Trafficking * MDMA Trafficking * Organized Fraud * Prescription Drug Fraud * DUI * BUI * Grand Theft * Money Laundering * Medicare/Healthcare Fraud * Credit Card Fraud * RICO * Alien Smuggling Why would these guys need to worry about ethics?

Types of Cases handled by Miami criminal lawyer Robert E. Abreu:

* Marijuana Grow-House Operations
* Mortgage Fraud
* Insurance Fraud
* Cocaine Trafficking
* MDMA Trafficking
* Organized Fraud
* Prescription Drug Fraud
* DUI
* BUI
* Grand Theft
* Money Laundering
* Medicare/Healthcare Fraud
* Credit Card Fraud
* RICO
* Alien Smuggling

]]> By: Ryan Weal http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-489 Ryan Weal Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:29:57 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-489 I should have caught the error in my post, I was referring to Scott's example which Kevin had quoted. My apologies! I should have caught the error in my post, I was referring to Scott’s example which Kevin had quoted. My apologies!

]]> By: Ryan Weal http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-488 Ryan Weal Wed, 13 Aug 2008 00:27:08 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-488 Comment spam is a real pain to deal with. I remember the days when website "guest books" were all the rage and the same problem was occurring back then. Regardless of whether it is a blog or a guest book someone still has to go in there and remove the posting. For the good comments - the useful ones - I really enjoy the links provided. More than a few blogs I have on my blogroll were discovered this way. These links *can* have an impact on SEO if visitors keep coming back but it is a different approach than the "Miami Lawyer" example that Kevin provides. In his example the user is not trying to develop contacts but rather trying to cheat the "link reciprocity" algorithm in Google. Different approaches, different outcomes. It is no surprise the spam tactic is discouraged by search engines and it is worth repeating so others do not fall into the same trap. Comment spam is a real pain to deal with. I remember the days when website “guest books” were all the rage and the same problem was occurring back then. Regardless of whether it is a blog or a guest book someone still has to go in there and remove the posting.

For the good comments – the useful ones – I really enjoy the links provided. More than a few blogs I have on my blogroll were discovered this way. These links *can* have an impact on SEO if visitors keep coming back but it is a different approach than the “Miami Lawyer” example that Kevin provides. In his example the user is not trying to develop contacts but rather trying to cheat the “link reciprocity” algorithm in Google.

Different approaches, different outcomes. It is no surprise the spam tactic is discouraged by search engines and it is worth repeating so others do not fall into the same trap.

]]> By: Steve Matthews http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-487 Steve Matthews Tue, 12 Aug 2008 04:31:02 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-487 Thanks Susan, I completely agree. It's terrible blogger etiquette to do anything less. I think most bloggers moderate their comments, as do I, for the very same reason. There are two issues in play here. One is the questionable ethics, optics and etiquette - to which you won't get any argument from me - blog comments need to be treated with respect, and unless there's substance, most shouldn't bother even trying to contribute. The second issue is whether there is technically any SEO value to leaving these questionable blog comments. And the answer here is clearly: no. Links in blog comments get no weight in the SERPS; as well as it being a sign of an unsavvy SEO practitioner. Thanks Susan, I completely agree. It’s terrible blogger etiquette to do anything less. I think most bloggers moderate their comments, as do I, for the very same reason.

There are two issues in play here. One is the questionable ethics, optics and etiquette – to which you won’t get any argument from me – blog comments need to be treated with respect, and unless there’s substance, most shouldn’t bother even trying to contribute.

The second issue is whether there is technically any SEO value to leaving these questionable blog comments. And the answer here is clearly: no. Links in blog comments get no weight in the SERPS; as well as it being a sign of an unsavvy SEO practitioner.

]]> By: Susan Cartier Liebel http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-486 Susan Cartier Liebel Tue, 12 Aug 2008 01:15:56 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-486 Steve, I agree with Scott. Please don't use my comment section to advertise. Add to the conversation in a meaningful way. Make it relevant. Maybe that's not good blogger etiquette. I really don't know. But when I write a post on banks failing and I get a comment, 'great post' from someone selling Viagra, you get my point. But I don't want spam so I've enabled moderation. Better no comments than valueless ones. Steve,

I agree with Scott. Please don’t use my comment section to advertise. Add to the conversation in a meaningful way. Make it relevant.

Maybe that’s not good blogger etiquette. I really don’t know. But when I write a post on banks failing and I get a comment, ‘great post’ from someone selling Viagra, you get my point.

But I don’t want spam so I’ve enabled moderation. Better no comments than valueless ones.

]]> By: Steve Matthews http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-484 Steve Matthews Mon, 11 Aug 2008 17:06:52 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-484 Actually, I'm ok with this Google change. Blog owners can turn the no-follow off and give full link credit at their discretion. It's a pretty easy fix with something like Wordpress. But your point is well made that the power should be in the hands of the website owner. If the commenter wants to re-blog the comment? That's a better solution in my mind anyway. As Laurie said above, comments are for relationship building, not link building... Actually, I’m ok with this Google change. Blog owners can turn the no-follow off and give full link credit at their discretion. It’s a pretty easy fix with something like WordPress.

But your point is well made that the power should be in the hands of the website owner. If the commenter wants to re-blog the comment? That’s a better solution in my mind anyway.

As Laurie said above, comments are for relationship building, not link building…

]]> By: Michael Webster http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-483 Michael Webster Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:55:13 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-483 Steve; You are right about the no follow rule. But this is just another example of google's overkill - shouldn't the decision about whether a particular link from a blog comment be left up to the owner of the blog? I can easily re blog the comment with the link, so what is really be achieved by google? Steve; You are right about the no follow rule.

But this is just another example of google’s overkill – shouldn’t the decision about whether a particular link from a blog comment be left up to the owner of the blog?

I can easily re blog the comment with the link, so what is really be achieved by google?

]]> By: Laurie/Halo Secretarial http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/comment-page-1/#comment-481 Laurie/Halo Secretarial Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:32:30 +0000 http://www.stemlegal.com/strategyblog/2008/google-gives-comment-spam-zero-credit/#comment-481 I think I like the term "shyster" best! I actually just finished reading Kevin's blog post and also wrote about it on my blog. I think this is going to be a popular topic today! I read and comment on other blogs semi-regularly but not for any expected return, just because I enjoy the conversations or want to be sure the bloggers know they are reaching someone. If I see 0 comments I want to reach out and let them know I enjoy the work they are doing. It's too bad some shysters are abusing the system, but I guess it's like junk mail - bound to happen. Take care! I think I like the term “shyster” best! I actually just finished reading Kevin’s blog post and also wrote about it on my blog. I think this is going to be a popular topic today! I read and comment on other blogs semi-regularly but not for any expected return, just because I enjoy the conversations or want to be sure the bloggers know they are reaching someone. If I see 0 comments I want to reach out and let them know I enjoy the work they are doing.

It’s too bad some shysters are abusing the system, but I guess it’s like junk mail – bound to happen. Take care!

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