Site Update: Top Commentators list, Weekly Linklove

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The Top Commentator’s list is commonplace now. Most blogs get extra comments. However, of late, Top Commentators list is abused. The blogger is forced to deal with hundreds of near-spam comments. Many blogs have taken out the Top Commentator’s widget owing to this.

While this blog is new, with fewer comments, I still feel that the top commentator’s list is not worth it. So, to prevent PR leaks and other problems, I have changed some things around this blog:

  • Hacked Top Commentator’s list: I have hacked the list to include two new attributes in the links - target="_blank and rel="nofollow". They force open a new window, and removes SEO benefits respectively. I have taken this drastic step because I find many drive-by commentors who leave 2-3 comments, and find a place in the list for a few days. (PS: I will feature a HowTo on hacking Top Commentator’s widget and plugin)
  • Made weekly linklove a permanent feature: In order to reward my regular commentors and keep them happy, I will select good posts from the blogs of Top Commentators regularly(no time-clause, so that I can dodge spammers).

So, I will be able to prevent spam/near-spam comments getting credit, without compromising regular commentators. Now, you get exposure on sidebar and some click-throughs plus weekly links!

Do tell me your opinion about this move - do you love it or hate it?

September 21st, 2007 Leave a comment

2 Comments

  1. Linu said on September 22nd, 2007

    Comment Spamming is a Problem I struggle. Everyday Morning I see almost 30 to 50 Spam Comments. I have noticed that most of the comments were post on some popular posts of the blogs. Stopping comment on that particular post has helped to some extent…

  2. Post authorSumesh said on September 22nd, 2007

    @Linu: Don’t you use Akismet? It helps a lot, now I don’t have any spam. However, it is a bit ironic that your comments were flagged spam by Akismet ;) And yes, stop comments after x days, they’re not useful anymore.

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