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Comment Link Spam: Bad SEO

November 15, 2013 //  by Alyson Harrold//  8 Comments

Updated March 1, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

If you’ve got a blog, then you’re probably getting comment link spam. Matt Cutts released a video this week talking about this very issue. I’ll explain what it is and how to make sure you’re not using this bad SEO strategy. Lastly, and for a few laughs, I’ll share a few of our favorite spammiest comments that we’ve received over the years.

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What Is Comment Link Spam?

Comment link spam is also know as comment spam and blog spam. Comment link spam is the “art” of leaving a mention on someone else’s blog. The purpose of the comment is not to generate legitimate engagement, but to lure traffic to a website regardless of lead quality. If you manage your website you’re probably acutely aware of these crazy comments that somehow don’t get caught in an Akismet filter.

In an entertaining article published on Moz, one blogger categorized comment link spam into 5 types. Personally, I would add a sixth type: the I’m-selling-something-may-be-you-won’t-notice or I-think-you’re-gullible-click-here comment.

Why It’s Bad SEO

Anything that is trying to manipulate a person isn’t a strong SEO strategy. In online marketing circles, this is called Grey Hat SEO. If you want to build sustainable online visibility, stay away from it. Search engines like Google will eventually find out and you risk a manual spam action.

SEO aside, leaving irrelevant comments on blogs says a lot about your brand. And not in a good way. Proper SEO link building, in our opinion, is about establishing a relationship with other websites that’s based upon good business. For example, let’s say you have a carpet cleaning business in Cupertino. On your blog you have a post about tips for spring cleaning. A local professional organizer who frequently refers business to you links to your post. See how that’s relevant and has the ability to drive qualified leads?

The Walk of Shame

It’s Friday, so perhaps you’re in need of a chuckle. At the very least you’ll probably scratch your head as to why anyone would leave such nonsense (even if it’s bot generated). Here are a few of our worst comment link spam examples. I’ve purposely left off their links as I don’t want to encourage/reward bad behavior.

  • For most up-to-date information you have to go to see world wide web and on world-wide-web I found this web site as a finest site for hottest updates.
  • I really like how a lot fine detail you put straight into every stage. Preserve up the really fantastic function.
  • Definitely believe that which you said. Your favorite justification seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of.
  • Thank you a lot for sharing this with all of us you actually recognize what you’re talking about! Bookmarked. Kindly also talk over with my website =). We may have a link alternate contract among us.
  • If not, after that these tips below will always prove useful.. Avoid black or white. The castle is closed to the public during wedding ceremonies

Our Buddy, Matt

Got 2 minutes? Then hear Matt’s take on comment link spam. It’ll give an inkling on how Google views blog spam.

Anybody else notice that Matt Cutts is wearing a Firefox t-shirt?

Category: Links// Author: Alyson Harrold

About Alyson Harrold

Alyson is Co-CEO and Chief Storyteller. Prior to forming the agency, her career spanned media (NBC-TV affiliates and city magazine, international ad agency) and positions like C-Suite financial services marketer and digital marketing consultant. Alyson learned how the right medium with the right message can attract the right audience. With her team, Alyson helps brands have meaningful customer interactions. Now she teaches those lessons—among others—as a UC Berkeley Extension instructor in her SEO and Digital Marketing courses since 2014. Alyson shares her knowledge as a speaker at preeminent digital marketing conferences around the country like Digital Growth Unleashed and more.

Previous Post: « Creating a Successful Blog: 5 Tips
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Natilya James

    January 26, 2014 at 7:56 pm

    It is really written well about the bad SEO . I am glad to visit here and got nice information to my work . Such this kind of bad links can raise your web site’s bounce rate .

    Reply
    • Alyson Harrold

      February 7, 2014 at 11:10 am

      Comment spam is truly dead. Google frowns upon SEO agencies (or anyone for that matter) that do it. Bad links don’t raise bounce… bad links sends the message that you’re a spammer. If you continue to use comment spam as a tactic, prepare for an SEO ranking roller coaster ride.

      Reply
  2. Mike Nielson

    January 27, 2014 at 10:42 pm

    Thanks for sharing this useful information! Hope that you will continue sharing this useful information! Hope that you will continue with Post is nicely written and it contains many good things for me. I am glad to find your impressive way of writing the post. Now it becomes easy for me to understand and implement the concept.

    Reply
    • Alyson Harrold

      February 7, 2014 at 11:04 am

      Thanks, Mike. Comment Link Spam is definitely dead.

      Reply
  3. Isobel Murello

    December 27, 2022 at 11:09 pm

    Can you write more about it? Your articles are always helpful to me. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Maine Demot

      January 30, 2023 at 3:32 am

      Hi Isobel. Here’s a link to more articles about handling online spam.

      Reply
  4. Dario Ralph

    December 28, 2022 at 3:49 am

    Thank you for writing such an excellent article. It helped me a lot and I love the topic.

    Reply
    • Maine Demot

      January 30, 2023 at 3:28 am

      Hi Dario. Thank you for your kind words. We’re glad you found it helpful.

      Reply

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