This is a blogging question and one I can't figure out on my own and Paula and I have talked about it and can't decide what to do so I'm bringing it to you for your input.
I (like I am sure most of you) hate having to do the word verification thing to leave a comment on a blog. I know to some it doesn't seem like it takes very long but it just gets annoying and it has affected me leaving a comment from time to time.
We have had the word verification thing on our comments for a while now. We were getting spam comments in the past and this cut them off quickly so we had it and it helped.
We recently got a comment from a wonderful reader reminding us that people are more likely to leave a comment if you don't have word verification so I thought to myself "it's been a while since we didn't have it, maybe things have gotten better with the spam" so I took it off again.
Sadly since taking it off we have gotten at least 1 (and sometimes more than that) spam comment a day, which is as you can imagine ANNOYING.
So we're left with 2 options and we'd like to know what you think. Which option would you prefer and what do you yourself do on your blog.
Option 1 is to turn the word verification back on. This allows anonymous comments but seems to eliminate the spam comments.
Option 2 is to not allow anonymous comments at all. From what I understand this means you have to be logged in to comment but if you're logged in (like most of us are I think) you don't have to do the word verification. The only spam comments we've gotten have been anonymous so I know this would also help with the spam issue...
I am not sure which is the best option. I'm hoping you'll all weigh in and let us know your thoughts.
Thanks so much for your help!!!
~Jenn
If you can do no anonymous & I don't have to verify b/c I am logged in, that would be great! Spam sucks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for voting Amber. I'm going to try changing it over tonight and see if it helps.
Delete~Jenn
I think if you turn off anonymous, you can still leave comments with just a name and URL so you don't necessarily have to have a Google account. Not quite sure, but it has cut down on spam comments for me without having to have word verification.
ReplyDeleteThanks Meg. I am getting ready to switch it over right now. Fingers crossed it works.
Delete~Jenn
Hi, I have almost no spam now after only allowing registered users - it just means they need some sort of profile Google, Blogger, Disqus etc etc to be able to leave a comment. When I did it I put a note in that said if they were having trouble commenting after the change to email me - and absolutely no one did. I am firmly in the camp of turning off word verification. Cheers
ReplyDeleteCarole, that is what I'm going to do right now. Hopefully it works well for everyone. Thanks!
Delete~Jenn
I am ALL for turning off word verifications. I hate them. I can't read them half of the time. Is comment moderation a choice? I know some of my friends do that...they are only "published" after they have been previewed by the author.
ReplyDeleteReba, I totally agree! I can't read them 1/2 the time also. I'm going to try to turn off anonymous comments and see if that helps, if not I guess we'll go to comment moderation.
DeleteThanks for weighing in for us!
~Jenn