Would you approve this blog comment?
-
I just got an unusual comment on one of my blog posts on our real estate site. The article was about a particular street that is getting renamed after a historical figure. The comment is seven paragraphs of information about this person.
The comment is an obvious attempt to get a backlink in my opinion. The site that it is linking back to is an architect's site. So, this is probably the work of an SEO.
I've searched and can't find duplicate content online. I thought perhaps it was from wikipedia but there is no entry on this person and I've searched several phrases from the comment and it doesn't appear to be duplicated.
So, would you approve it? My gut instinct is "yes" because it would add to the content on my site...but there's this little thing in the back of my head that is saying "Don't do it!!!!"
EDIT: I just checked and the architect's site has 3 backlinks, none of which are blog comments. So, perhaps it is legit. Maybe someone is just fanatical about this historical figure.
EDIT AGAIN: Very cool. I just checked their about page and the owner of the business has the same last name as the historical figure. OK. I'll stop being super paranoid now. LOL!
-
Unless it's spun content
-
Sounds like a link weasel to me.
If it is really good content, relevant to your site, of interest to your visitors, that will stand without the link then I would include it but omit the link.
Keep in mind that link weasels often drop links pointed to bad bad neighborhoods.... also this comment might have been dropped by a linkbuilder who has about 100 other architect clients and you will get hit with a landslide of crap next week if you approve this one.
-
Looks like I was just been paranoid.
I looked at the About Me page and the owner of the architect's business has the same last name as the historical figure.
I'll definitely publish the comment!
I definitely think that too many blog spammers have made me insanely paranoid! Thanks for the responses guys!
-
If you cannot find duplicate content anywhere, then it sounds like great content. Allow the comment.
-
If you cannot find duplicate content anywhere, then it sounds like great content. Allow the comment.
-
It's possible your site would be considered the original.
-
My thoughts exactly!
If I do find duplicate content a few weeks later though, I wonder if my site would be considered the original?
-
Thanks Phoenix...that really makes sense. I think that little part in my head that says "don't do it" is the part that has been scammed a few times.
Do you remember when you got your first blog comment and it was something like, "I really enjoy your blogging! Keep writing more!" I was so freaking excited that someone wrote this on my blog. And then I found about about comment spam. LOL!
-
If I am unsure about the site being linked to, I approve the comment and nofollow or remove the link.
Your situation sounds very intriguing. I, like you, would suspect that content had been copied from somewhere. But maybe not, if you can't find it anywhere online. Or maybe they copied it from a print book or ebook or something...
I would probably approve it, then check back in a week and see if you can find duplicate content then.
-
If you are going to be allowing comments on the blog, why not allow it? Sure, it might be a move by an SEO, but if they are writing exceptional content that really does increase the worth of the page, what do you have to lose? I say approve it. The little part in your head that is saying "Don't do it" is the little thing in all of us that are greedy about our link juice. But, if it adds value to the page, that little bit of lost link juice--if any--is going to more than make up for it in creating conversation and ranking for other keywords in Google perhaps. That's my opinion, at least...
Got a burning SEO question?
Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.
Browse Questions
Explore more categories
-
Moz Tools
Chat with the community about the Moz tools.
-
SEO Tactics
Discuss the SEO process with fellow marketers
-
Community
Discuss industry events, jobs, and news!
-
Digital Marketing
Chat about tactics outside of SEO
-
Research & Trends
Dive into research and trends in the search industry.
-
Support
Connect on product support and feature requests.
Related Questions
-
Getting links on old blog posts
There's 100 of blogs with posts that link to my competitors, but don't link to my site.They are mostly lists. Eg: "The best Sites to get blue widgets" I was thinking about getting in touch with these blogs, and asking them to take a look at my site, to see if perhaps they would add it to the list. In fact, I started doing it and I got some links already. Now I am starting to worry that Google could consider these links as unnatural, because, you know, the algos are not exactly perfect. Anyway, the links are important for the exposure anyway. I've two questions: 1. Is there any chance I'll be penalized? 2. May I get a SEO benefit from this links?
Link Building | | elefantes0 -
Poor Blog and Website DA and links
Hi There We have a mature website and a mature blog with over 500 genuine blogs written on it over 4 years. In terms of actual "people" value it has to be high. We used to get 1000 visitors per day, we now get 300. We still have 850 subscribers so its of a certain size. However we have been hit by the Penguin/Panda updates and our DA has dropped to what everyone is telling us is too low for a site like this and we still have a google backlink problem, unyet we only have 190 external links that we think are all OK now. The problem we have is that we seem to have too many links from the blog to the main website with the same anchor text. This has occurred with a blogroll style link to the home page which appears on every post/page of the blog, also I think we have too many anchor same anchor text links to product pages (Motorola ES400) and category pages (Tablet PC). We're going through changing these now so that we have the right mix but the specific questions I wanted to ask were: 1. Will loads of links with the same anchor text affect us if the blog is counted as internal links. Its on the same "blog" sub-domain as the main website. 2. Will this affect the DA of both sites? 3. Is Wordpress capable of damaging us with all the extra pages it creates automatically. We've done nothing but genuine content posting here and i'm sure we can get it back but it kind of really demotivates you when 2/3rds of your traffic goes overnight. Many thanks for any help.
Link Building | | Raptor-crew0 -
Can you duplicate on site Blog Posts to Google Plus
I have read from an authorative source that you can duplicate your blog posts on your google plus account without issues as google knows that this is your 'property'. is this correct and what would be the value in doing so? until we have need sign posting new blog posts with a link. Ash
Link Building | | AshShep10 -
Why aren't my blog links counting?
In our blog posts, we frequently include links to our product pages on our official site. However, the blog root domain is not showing up on Open Site Explorer for any of these product pages. In other words, why isn't Google counting our blog as a unique root domain? If it helps, here is the link to the blog: http://jampaper.wordpress.com/ Thanks for your help!
Link Building | | jampaper0 -
Getting a link from a blog on every page querying what OSE is suggesting
Hi Guys My client has been offered a link from someone within their industry on their blog. The blog has 20 categories and multiple (hundreds if not more pages within each category). The owner of the website has said that would be happy to give my client a link on each of their pages (including their homepage). They have done this for another couple of people who they like before, so I typed these domains into OSE and noticed that for each page it shows a link and also the page authority. Domain Authority of this blog giving the link is 71 Home Page PA - 76 About us PA - 60 it goes on.........the least PA being shown is 52 so lets for arguements sake say the other 18 or say categories are PA of 52 too. My question is surely the OSE is not accurate to imply that my client could be passed page authority from 18 categories at 52 each + home page of 76 + about me page of 60? Hopefully you understand the point I'm trying to make
Link Building | | RankStealer0 -
SEO Submission Service or Ads on Blogs?
1. Can anyone recommend a good SEO Submission Service? Or do you not recommend using them? 2. What do you think is a better way to build links? Directory listings or place ads on blog sites? Each post a blogger post would have the ad link. Thoughts?
Link Building | | mof3kz0 -
What's the best way to find some guest blogging opportunities?
In the forum's experience, what have you found the best way to find guest blogging opportunities? e.g. google search syntax that has worked well and other more diverse methods would be appreciated! Thanks
Link Building | | PeterAlexLeigh0 -
Linkbuilding TO Your Guest Blog Post?
Hypothetical situation: You write a guest blog post for a popular blog about your niche topic. The post is a hit and sends you visitors, leads, and social media followers. Would you consider running a linkbuilding campaign to the blog post in order to help it rank better for its target keyword(s), given that the post has proven to convert successfully, despite the fact that the post is on a domain other than your own?
Link Building | | AnthonyMangia0