Spam is the bane of any website owner‘s existence. As an experienced WordPress webmaster, I‘ve seen my fair share of spam over the past 15 years. In this beginner‘s guide, I‘ll explain what spam is, why it‘s a problem, and most importantly – how to prevent it on your WordPress site.
Contents
What is Spam?
Spam refers to any unsolicited, unwanted bulk messages or content. Also called "junk mail," spam wastes people‘s time and attention.
On WordPress sites, spam usually takes the form of:
- Comment spam – Irrelevant or repetitive comments posted to blogs and forums.
- Contact form spam – Mass submissions to online contact forms.
- Registration spam – Fake user accounts created to post more spam.
- Malware spam – Malicious links or attachments intended to spread viruses.
Spam comments make up over 90% of all WordPress comment spam. The WordPress.org software sees over 60 million spam comments per day – that‘s over 700 comments per second!
Why You Should Block Spam
Spam harms your site‘s user experience, security, and search engine rankings.
Specifically, spam can:
- Damage site reputation and lose visitor trust
- Spread dangerous malware and viruses
- Waste hours of staff time on moderation
- Bury real user comments and discussions
- Trigger search engine penalties for duplicative content
Left unchecked, spam creates a big headache for any WordPress site owner. Next I‘ll share my top tips for blocking spam.
Enable Akismet
Akismet is the #1 most powerful anti-spam tool for WordPress. Developed by Automattic, it blocks over 90% of incoming spam comments.
Over 200,000 WordPress sites rely on Akismet, from personal blogs to the biggest enterprise sites. I enable it on every WordPress site I work on.
Akismet is included free with all new WordPress installations. To activate it:
- Go to Plugins > Add New
- Search for "Akismet"
- Install and activate the plugin
- Enter an Akismet API key to start filtering spam comments
Free API keys allow up to 100,000 spam checks per day. For larger sites, paid plans start at $5/month for up to 15 million checks.
I recommend Akismet to all my clients – it‘s by far the most effective spam blocking tool for WordPress.
Carefully Moderate Comments
Even with Akismet enabled, some spam will inevitably slip through. Manual moderation serves as an essential second line of defense.
When reviewing comments, look for telltale signs of spam:
- Generic content unrelated to your post
- Repeated comments or gibberish
- Excessive links, especially to commercial sites
- Odd email addresses from random domains
Establish a routine process to check pending comments daily. For larger teams, divide moderation duties across multiple staff members.
With experience, you‘ll learn to identify and trash spam comments quickly. Moderating collaboratively lightens the load while keeping spam under control.
Limit Comments on Older Posts
Spammers often target older blog posts assuming you don‘t monitor them as closely.
I recommend disabling comments on posts older than ~6 months. This concentrates moderation on more recent, relevant discussions.
In your WordPress dashboard, go to Settings > Discussion to set a maximum age for comments.
Use CAPTCHAs
CAPTCHAs help prevent automated spam bots by requiring users prove they are human. Display CAPTCHAs on:
- Comment submission forms
- User registration pages
- Contact and other high risk forms
Popular CAPTCHA plugins include Google reCAPTCHA, Really Simple CAPTCHA, and WP reCAPTCHA. Each has pros and cons to evaluate.
While not foolproof, CAPTCHAs add an extra layer of protection from bots. Use them in combination with other spam prevention measures.
Empower Your Users
Your site‘s visitors can also help identify spam. Let commenters report inappropriate comments for review by mods.
Educate users on how to recognize spam tactics. Describe warning signs like irrelevant links so they know when and how to report. Spammers constantly evolve, so staying vigilant is a community effort.
The Ongoing Fight Against Spam
The battle against spam is never fully "won" – new spammers and tactics emerge daily. But with the right blend of tools, vigilance, and user education, you can keep spam under control.
Protect your WordPress site and community by implementing spam prevention best practices from day one. If you do receive spam, act quickly to block it before major problems develop.
With a comprehensive anti-spam plan in place, you can focus on building an engaged community and producing great content vs constantly playing defense.
I hope these tips from my 15 years of experience help you eradicate spam on your WordPress site. Let me know if you have any other questions!
