Q. Do You know what the “Comment Policy” is? What it is for?
Of course, you know if you’re a blogger.
Q. Does your blog has a Comment Policy?
If you’ve just started your blog and getting lots of spam comments everyday, but you don’t know how to stop it than keep reading.
Lots of ways are live yet, which are used to get rid of SPAM, here I’m going to share one of them, which myself using. It’s Growmap Anti Spambot Plugin, which adds a Check box below the comment box asking (CONFIRM you are not a SPAMMER) and comment cannot be posted without checking it.
I’ve never seen a responsible blogger, who’d tolerate SPAMMERS ever. Therefore, if you’re a Good Blogger, you’ll have to control comments on your blog. Which I do, basically by the plugin above and with the help of comment policy. Actually, Spammers are just bots/people what who spam my, your and others blogs frequently.
Don’t Miss: 5 Things I did to increase my blog comments
Their main aim is to spread their own dirty links and to build backlinks by commenting their links at popular and even at small blogs.
Here in this post, I’ll be sharing what the comment policy is and a descriptive guide to write a comment policy for your blog, we’ll also discuss why you must have a comment policy?
Let’s read what is the comment policy first,
Comment Policy?
Same like a privacy policy, there’s also a policy for commenting at specific blogs, this also can be called as commenting rules and comment terms and conditions etc, Got it?
This contains all the rules of commenting on a given blog, e.g. links are not allowed, gravatar is a must and other essential rules.
I strongly recommend you to create a Comment Policy page, if you’re serious about others comments at your blog.
This will not reduce only SPAM in the best way, and will also help you to increase the number valuable comments, and the comments you love to have on your blog. You’ll be concerned as a responsible blogger, who cares about his blog all the time.
This will be an effective way to let your readers know what do you allow on your blog and what you hate!
Why You Must have Comment Policy?
A comment policy, I’ve already told you that is a list of rules of commenting on a particular blog. This makes a blog look more professional with the addition of policies.
A blogger must be serious about blogging and about his blog, and never should expose it to spammers. Here are few questions, I’d like to hear their answers from you.
- Don’t you hate Spam?
- Don’t you want Valuable comments at your blog?
- Don’t you want to get rid of Spam?
Ok, You can answer those question in comments section. Comments are free, you know!
If you want valuable comments on your blog, then you’ll need a comment policy always to make it possible. Otherwise, spammers are so genius that they comment in a tone so you never can caught spam in the comment. So, be Alert! never approve a comment without checking it very well. OK?
Here are few types of Spam Comments, I always get.
- Comments really short less than a line! just saying ‘Great Post’, ‘I will try tips you’ve mentioned’, ‘Thanks for Sharing’. Most people even newbie bloggers also do this very common mistake.
Just never accept such really short comments, and notify the commentator that his comment was not approved either by using a plugin or manually - Valuable comments containing links
- Comments with dull names like ‘Antivirus’, Smart Iphone etc. Some include their site name with the Author name
Write a Comment Policy page
Firstly, we can never work without being logged out of our social networks, I mean Facebook, Twitter and others. Log out first! Then get to work, also do all other useless tabs close.
Go to your WordPress Dashboard and add a new page. Name it in this format: [YOUR SITE Comment Policy], or you can enter directly [Comment Policy] too, if you like.
First introduce the page, like why it is created? How it is useful? etc.
Note: Write introduction in paragraphs, with headings. Make it easy to navigate and read.
Start writing your comment rules after adding heading [Comment Policy].
Most Important Rules You must add
Here are some rules a comment policy, must always have. Don’t just copy from here, or from anywhere else. But try to write in your own words, own tune with your own writing style.
1. Don’t allow links
Yes, never allow links in the comments. Don’t forget to write this wonderful rule in your comment policy, that ’Comments, containing any link are moved to Spam, add link to comment when it is required or useful’. Don’t Copy it! but write in your own tune.
2. Valuable and Descriptive
Never approve comments that are too short, like contains only two lines.. I just hate them. This rule must be at the top and all comments must be always moderated according to it. Move them to SPAM, whenever you got such comments. Add it to the policy too, so that your readers may be informed about it. Always, ask your readers to be descriptive while commenting, and never to comment just to say ‘Great Post’.
3. Name Policy To Your Comment Policy
We see, always commentators adding their keywords to their name like ‘Car Insurance’ etc. Ask commentators in the policy to enter own, real, full name while commenting, and never to use keywords or their site name. 
4. Comment Language
I think, hopefully most of us are not native English speaker, but are awesome content creator. But, newbies who also don’t know writing content, use their native language to comment. You would have get some comments in different language in the past probably.
If your blog is in English language than why would you accept comments on other languages?
Also Add a language policy to your comment policy, states that Comments are always approved which are written in English Otherwise we’ll never approve them, instead they’ll be moved to Trash.
5. Comment must be relevant
This rule is what, is most important perhaps. Are you getting comments are indeed not relevant to your post, where comment was posted? then it’s the time to add this useful policy, which informs the commentator, that ‘Irrelevant comments are not accepted, post comments which are related to the post/topic.’
6. Add Warning!
Spammers are what, who never understand the quality of our content, and our efforts we make to produce content. And they really don’t care anyone, but are Egoistic. So, here’ in your comment policy you’ll have to add a Warning! Message to the Spammer too.
That what results in action of regular spamming on your blog, in other words what the owner will take action, if spammer will continue spamming, even after comment policy. You may warn him/her that you’ll ban his/her Ip, it’s a good Idea really. I do the same.. Kindly, add it to your rules too.
What do you think?
So, I have shared what I promised now it’s your turn! What do you think? Isn’t comment policy essential? Does your blog have Comment Policy?
If you need any type of help in creating a comment policy page, don’t forget! I’m here always for you.
About author: I’m Mairaj! full name Mairaj Pirzada, a young blogger from Pakistan. I’m presently an Author of Guide Please! and an Extremely Affectionate towards Blogging, Surfing Web and Activities related to Internet. I enjoy my life reading Awesome blogs on the web, and blogging frequently at Guide Please!.
Spammers are a real pain. I had my blog messed up by spammers. I had to spend hours to clean it up and genuine commentators are affected by the restrictions
Well I don’t think it can combat spam by bots.Its just a checkbox, any bot can be coded to do that.But yeah it does helps blocking certain amount of spam comments.
Hey bro,
No blogger ever wants spam for any reason so far. While comment policy is good, I’m still hesitant about it because I don’t see any direct value. Don’t get me wrong. It’s good to let your visitors know what you want keyed in the comment form fields. What I’m saying is that it might not just be an immediate requirement for a new blog. While that isn’t yet implemented on my blog, I’ll work towards it.
Kudos for a very resourceful article
I also don’t like the Comment Policy too Enstine and If a blogger wants to tell their readers what you want in comments than you can mention that in privacy Policy page. Actually It was a guest post from Mairaj and I thought that it would be useful for some bloggers getting lots of spam comments, so I accepted it
I have been at your blog since the last one hour now!
I never accept one line comments like ‘Gr8 post’, ‘well done’, ‘Keep up the good work’.
What the hell…
I know it is a good post. That’s why I’m putting it up in the first place. LOLZ
Most such commentors do it for getting quick and easy links which is what I abhor. What I want to encourage is a healthy discussion, and not spam comments.
I dont want bloggers to come to my blog and put up such one line comments without having taken the trouble to go through the write up!
SORRY is all I have to say to such hopelessly pathetic link seekers!!
Excellent guide on comment policy. Well, yes it’s good to have a comment policy and to make the guidelines clear for the commenters. All the listed guidelines are very clear, mostly not to accept too short comments and links in the comment body. Thanks Mairaj for this excellent post
I am using Commentluv+, like on this site. It comes with GASP and works great in terms of stopping spams.
Got it Meena,
It’s nice to know you’re using CommentLuv premium. A great plugin which worth every penny!
Why do we need a comment policy? Are we going to attack on commenter’s?
I believe if one can not handle 10 to 20 spam comments a day, he/she should leave web mastering and go out to adopt something new. One should be prepared to get lot of spam on its posts, and blog. Actually, sometime spam helps us in bring some numbers to our websites, and tells us that our posts are well ranked in the system.
Agreed with you Hamza,
I don’t know why I accepted this guest post from that kid. This is first time my readers are disagreeing with a post in my blog and this is the biggest mistake which I did by accepting this guest post on my blog.
I personally don’t think blogs should need a comment policy. Readers should be able to use their own judgement to leave an appropriate comment, and if the blog owner doesn’t find it appropriate, they can either edit the comment or contact the commenter and let them know why you rejected it.
Maybe you’re right Ian, but I’ve seen many big bloggers are using comment policy on their blog. When I received this guest post I thought it is necessary to add comment policy but now I also think that comment policy isn’t very important and that is why I don’t have comment policy here at Guide And News!
Very soon this site will be famous amid all blogging users, due to it’s pleasant content
Yeah, having a comment policy is a good way to stay away from scammers. Thanks for sharing this post Mairaj.
Hey Mairaj….
your article is rocking here bro….
lots of comment and interaction…..I like such interactive blog….
Congr8s to Ehsan as well
Thanks for the appreciation Sandeep.
You are also going well!
Oh! Mr. Sandeep Bro.
I really wasn’t knowing that people like my guest post. And got really happy to see such valuable comment from a blogging expert!
That really makes me happy, when I see guys appreciating my posts/efforts..
Thank you very Much you both friends!
i never thought of having a comment policy. and even if i do have where should i post it.. isnt it abit rude for those who really post comments to have guidelines for comments.
anyway ofcourse this is a good and crisp ides and way of thinking and i am still trying to figure it our in means of how to implement it. not being to rude but non the less making my point.
good pointers
Sha
Hey Shaa,
As a blogger, I don’t think you never thought of creating a comment policy and it isn’t rude because there are a lot of newbies just trying to get some link juice by leaving a useless and unwanted comments on others blogs.
I have never considered having a comment policy but now that you have mentioned it, seems the correct thing to do. Many people do leave a link in the comment box despite having commentluv which is rather strange. So I might draw a comment policy, its seems like a good idea.
Thanks for stopping by here! Am happy to see that the knowledge I shared is being used! Too Happy.
I have a really strange question, I don’t mean to be offensive. Is SPAM commenting in anyway related to the quality of English on a blog? I mean look at copyblogger, problogger, DBT etc. every, I mean every comment adds to the conversation of the post. Look at this
“Every Blog Should Have A Comment Policy
.Great Post” Does this add value to your post?
or this
“HI Mairaj,
I agree with you at Everyone should have a comment policy.
great post ever.
I love your blog. Great insights, content and inspiration.
thanks”
To thank the author, there is social media, liking or tweeting it would suffice.
So my question is – Does the quality of commenting depend on the quality of English? Are your commentators experienced enough to drop comments on your blog?
Please don’t take my comment as an offense I always follow a methodical approach and so I was pondering on this.
Hey Aditya, am absolutely not a Problogger! And think, that without Quality English, a comment cannot be Valuable, as it can make us Happy that our reader tried to add Value. But it may also make our other commentators (including me) annoy too, due to such comments that are broken with English.
Saad, and Bhushan, are for me SPAMMERS always they just comment just for the sake of Backlinks, and am too sad that Ehsan never took any action yet against them.
I like your way to appreciate a post, to thank the author tweeting, giving +1 is Great way, not such bullshit comments
.
We shouldn’t accept comments with low quality English, and should add this extra rule to the policy. That comments without proper English are not accepted…
Well, am too glad you asked what you wanted to.. Thanks for the question, it was not that hard.
CopyBlogger, Problogger etc have High Quality readers, with high ranking Bloggers (commentators) reading it.
Ah good that you think they are spammers, I was so pissed to see their comments.
HI Mairaj,
I agree with you at Everyone should have a comment policy.
great post ever.
I love your blog. Great insights, content and inspiration.
thanks
you are right about short comments
i find the “great post thanks” is among the very popular ones
the best thing is to not approve comments before you review them
Farouk, I don’t want ti annoy my readers that is why sometime I approve short comments by adding few more lines on it and I think the commentator would be more happy with this:D:D:D
Yes Farouk, short comments also lose interest of other commentators I think.
Such comments are too DUST and DIRTNESS for my blog.
Reviewing always before approving is what you never should Give up.!
Farouk, thank you for commenting on My second Guest post!
Hi Mairaj…
I do agree with @Chris point here….
Comment policy is for blog owner….you can delete or not approved anybody comments which is not as per your policy…..and if that person come to you and asked why you have deleted his/her comments then you can cleary say that his/her comments was not according to your policy that’s why you have deleted that.
but yest you can put a link for your comment policy in your comment area so that people san read that before they go for comment….but spammer will never read it…….
Sandeep bro,
I also don’t have a comment privacy page on my blog yet, but I do think that comment privacy page is necessary because I’ve seen most of my blogger friends I using it.
As you said we can delete someone’s comment and when he/she asked we can say that his/her comment wasn’t according to our comment privacy, but if he/she asked where’s your comment privacy I want to read it! than?
That is why comment policy page is necessary!
Yeah I know! Spammers will never read the comment policy page, there’s another way to stop spammers.
Thanks for joining the conversation.
Hi Ehsan,
I understand blogger who has comment policy.
But…
) isn’t very happy with that…
-Let’s suppose you have such policy on your blog.
-Let’s suppose you are USA blogger
-Let’s suppose someone from USA made a great comment (very long and informative – he spent about two hours on it) below your post (very nice)
-Let’s suppose it’s consistent with your comment policy – he/she read it because he/she did’t want to work on something which may be deleted (great)
-Let’s suppose you forgot about something important in your policy and unfortunately great comment isn’t consistant with it
-Let’s suppose that you deleted this comment and the commentator (he is working as a lawyer
Okey, I was joking second time today and it’s not so funny, so I’m going to play with my children (weekend started in Poland) ;P
BR and have a nice weekend with a lot of great comments
Chris
whenever my readers add deep links or keywords . ican just remove the links but do not remove the comment as it add value. what is your idea on thos idea ?
Hey Rakesh,
Welcome to my blog firstly,
I do same as you. Whenever someone leaves a comment which is related to the topic of the post and adds keywords and links, I remove those links but I always approve the comment, no matter if the comment is disagreeing the post because I always enjoy to solve someone’s problem when he/she disagree me.
Stick around bro.
Rakesh,
That was a wonderful tip, through which we get comments without links.. But, I never do approve even by editing comments.. I thought this is Cheating.. And I hate to do Cheat.
Thanks for the comment, the idea was Awesome.. I didn’t know about it before, and now noted it, will share it with my FB friends, who want to get PURE Comments.!
Hi Mairaj,
I don’t agree with you that every blog should have a comment policy – it’s only a plus for a blog.
How do you think – spammers read it?
Do you have any data that after implementing spamming policy on your blog amount of spam drop?
Of course I’m joking (a little
) but spamming policy is mostly for blog owner, not for commentators or spammers
BTW – I don’t have comment policy – and how about you
?
Thanks for sharing,
Chris
Hey Chris and Sandeep, Your comments are too tough, and the points you highlighted are important to be discussed. So, don’t worry! I’ll try my best to satisfy you.
Here are the answers:
Q. I don’t agree with you that every blog should have a comment policy – it’s only a plus for a blog.
I cannot find, and remember when did I say those words. Oh, may be you got them from Heading “Why you must have a comment policy”. If so, its essential for a responsive and active community.
You should have, if you want to get always Valuable and Satisfying Comments.
Q. How do you think – spammers read it?
First let me explain you clear that a Spammer is not only a bot that spams but a spammer can also be a person and a person can READ Policy!
Most People do post too short comments, and don’t know themselves that they SPAM in this way. Many of them, read comment policy but don’t act upon it.
Thus, I call them SPAMMERS!
Final: A person, who spams is called SPAMMER!, and a Person can read.
Such spammers post comment always faster, shorter and without adding value to it. For me they just come, post comment (without reading) and do it just for the sake of backlinks and traffic.
Most of common examples of such commentators are that they have not enough to say. And post just bullshit comments like “Great Post, thanks for sharing the post”. Huh! And here’s an example of it, directly on this post, see Saad Asad! He’s spamming, in a way that he even himself don’t know that he’s spamming, by posting a short comment!
See it here, what he says:
“Every Blog Should Have A Comment Policy .Great Post”
Probably, he even didn’t read the post. I know, to get traffic and backlink.
This spam type is immensely, common and I think, most of us accept such Bullshit comments always. I’ve already mentioned in this post that a very short comment should never be accepted, while sadly it was not cared here, even after publishing a post on the same topic/issue.
Q. Do you have any data that after implementing spamming policy on your blog amount of spam drop?
The comment policy, cannot be read by Spambots, and is not written for them too. But it is written, just as to let readers know what you don’t allow.
Now, whenever a commentator posts a comment that is against the policy. You’d already have a reason to disapprove the comment, but don’t forget to notify the commentator, that his/her comment was disapproved.
Ask him/her to read your Comment Policy carefully, and do must implement what comment policy says.
Ask them to always be Descriptive, and to post always Valuable comment.
You can do this using a plugin, and also manually. I do it manually, when a commentator, post against my comment policy.
See the email, I send usually to notify commentator that his/her comment was not approved.
“Hi there,
You just posted a comment at Guide Please! but it was not published, as it was opposing our comment policy. So, we were unable to approve it. Please always try to leave a valuable and descriptive comment at Guide Please! You posted really a short comment. Kindly improve it.
Read our Comment Policy here: http://www.guideplease.com/comment-policy/
———————————————————–
You Posted the following comment:
———————————————————–
[The Comment Author Posted will be placed here]
———————————————————–
Best Regards,
Mairaj Pirzada, Author of Guide Please!”
Got it Now?
Main Point: Through this way, I do get valuable comments always, and do never approve comments that opposes our comment policy. This way/system of getting valuable comments looks Professional too!
I think, now people (spammers) don’t do what I’m avoiding them from through emailing them the reason, not approving their comments.
Just try it once, now after doing all these steps, getting lots of Valuable comments.. Not Comments saying “Great Post, Thanks for sharing”.
Thanks for reading this LONG Comment..
Always ask more, to learn more.
Always never hesitate to ask me.
Q. BTW – I don’t have comment policy – and how about you ?
I’ve a much Effective Comment Policy, and I do love making it more effective by improving it with new ideas.
Thanks a lot.
Hey Mairaj,
As you know I have a comment policy, Rahul suggested it to me awhile ago and I implemented it as I did not want the place to become overrun with spammers and it helps people that comment understand how they need to behave if they want to contribute.
You will never have a situation where they can say they never knew because they agree to follow the rules if they want to comment. Not only that, but I remove commentluv from comments that use spammy links.
Great post.
Do you know, I call Rahul and few Pro ones my Guru (teacher). And love reading posts by them, I’ve learnt lot from Rahul’s posts and yet learning.
Rahul, suggested you a really good thing.. Comment rules at your blog looks really nice, and adds extra value to your blog.
Well, thanks for sharing your tips. I liked the thing that you remove Spammy Links.
Spam Comments are posted on every blog which is hosted on WordPress, however, here on Blogger where I have been using free web hosting for last 2 years; nothing bad happens. No spam comments by bots etc on blogger.
Comment policy is additional measure for a blog, while privacy policy is necessary. Anyhow, very nice article by Miraj. I appreciate it.
Yes. Absolutely right!
Abdul Wali Bro, spamming about 80% (my guess) occurs at WordPress Blogs. For me it’s due to the field, that is added by default to wordpress blogs where the Commentator can add a website URL. And can get their link on the blog (if you remove that field, am fully sure that you’d not be getting comments anymore, even from your readers. If you get, then They’ll be really too less and would be from your loyal readers only).
And thus spammer gets traffic and backlinks from WordPress blogs, it may be a Good reason why WordPress bloggers get, thousands of SPAM Comments.
You would have noticed that this field doesn’t exist in Blogger blogs, therefore Blogger Blogs, doesn’t give any backlink, but in case when you choose a option (Name/URL) from dropdown, while selecting your Identity, may give you backlink (too confusing).
It is the reason Blogger users not get too many comments. Take Spice Up Your Blog as an example, it is a well known and established blog with 3300+ of loyal readers. But you know it even not gets 10 comments on a particular post.
I had used Blogger too in my past and have much experience of blogger. And didn’t get any spam comment yet, on my Blogger blog.. But just after moving to WordPress, comments were really increasing like a too faster rain!
And now, comment policy! I was few days back, finding the answer of this Question: Is Privacy Policy Essential?
Probloggers (including Abhi Balani) told me that they are not essential anyway, but bloggers who sell their own product or have Google AdSense add this. Otherwise if you don’t sell any product or don’t have AdSense Ads on your blog, then you may ignore it.
Actually, am not yet sure why it is used? How it is essential? But, I think Abhi is definitely RIGHT!
For me, a comment policy is really essential for an active and responsive community. OK?
Hope you got your answer! Anything more please?
Thanks for that question.
Yes, I got my answer thanks.
I can’t believe that I solved a Problem!
It’s Great for me to know that. Thanks for a Question!
Great work Mairaj!
You gave such a long and useful answer to him. I’m really proud of you my friend and I’m so happy to publish your post.
Every Blog must have comment policy specially those who has blogging niche otherwise you site will fill with spam comments Just to get some backlinks
Blogging niche, which is all filled with numerous blogs.. And are still growing more, so letting newbie bloggers know what they should, would be better for them.
Anyway, commenting just for the sake of Backlinks would be really harmful for every blogger’s Credibility! So, never run after such backlinks. Thanks for the comment Guppu.
Well, here pops up a question – Should the comment policy be on a page and then be linked just from above the comment form?? Or should it be in a box sort of thing just above the comment form?
Hey Raaj,
Question is quite nice, and it’s answer is too useful for many of us. Here’s your answer, first write a comment policy page, make sure that it isn’t being displayed in your Navigation Menu.
Then, add a comment policy box, with short description about commenting on your blog with link to your comment policy page. This idea is much better, and even I’m using it too!
Thanks for your valuable and interesting comment! Hope you got your answer.
Every Blog Should Have A Comment Policy
.Great Post
Yes, Saad a comment policy is one of essentials for a blog. Do you have one? If no, just create it now, otherwise you’ll be losing your reputation.