If you think this post only applies to Blogger Bloggers, scroll down to the "No-Reply" section if you frequently comment on Blogger posts using your Blogger profile.
Blogger Word Verification/Captcha
There's been so much stink on Twitter lately about the new Blogger Word Verification or Captcha that when I mentioned possibly writing a post about it I received a resounding "DO IT!" Bottom line is it's incredibly difficult to read and many bloggers have become so discouraged that they've stopped commenting on blogs that use verification. This is a bit drastic, I think, but there have been several times when it's taken me at least five times (yes counting) to get the captcha correct.
Blogger has decided that its Word Verification is not quite tough enough so they've added a second bit--these numbers. And I admit that I was so caught up in trying to find hard to read captchas that I didn't focus as much on the numerals but these are much clearer than many out there.
So two things.
First, you may find that you don't really need captcha. Sure occasionally I get a bit of spam (occasionally equals a few times a month), but instead of using captcha I approve comments on posts older than 14 days as spammers seem to target the older posts. And lets be honest--if you have captcha and comment approval you probably are just causing yourself unnecessary work.
Second, you may not even realize that you have word verification on. When Blogger switched to the new version, captcha became default. To check your blog to see if you have Word Verification, go to SETTINGS and then to POSTS AND COMMENTS and scroll down to "SHOW WORD VERIFICATION."
And now for the No-Reply part.
How to NOT be a No-Reply Comment Blogger.
[note: Janssen has a great tutorial with step by step on no-reply comments]
So, you know that I'm no longer responding to comments via the comment form on the blog. Let me tell you this has been tough as every instinct is for me to get on and respond. So far the responding by email has been great EXCEPT for the No-Reply comments. When I get an email notifying me of your comment, I can hit reply and either send you a quick email (which is awesome) or it shows that you are a "noreply-comment@blogger.com" (which is not awesome).
If you comment using a Blogger profile (even if you don't use Blogger for your blog), please consider adding your email address to your profile. On the screen below you can see where to enter in your email address. This does not need to be the same email address that you use to sign in and it does not actually show your email address in your Blogger Profile--it is just a hyperlink.
And don't worry--only the person you are leaving a comment for will be able to see your email address--even if someone else is subscribed to comments and they receive an email of your comment, it won't publish your address. Nifty, huh?
Of course I don't want to tell you how to blog but I did want you to be aware that you can control these settings as many people don't know. I hope you find something helpful here.
Happy Blogging!
This new post is fantastic Trish :) I've kept word verification off forever…I've just never used it..but the freaking spambots have been out in hoards lately and driving me NUTS!!! I'm doing the moderation thing now, but I still get like 10 spam comments a day at least…so I can understand people putting the word verification on even though it is annoying as hell, I agree…I've had to try like 5 times too to leave a comment :p I don't even GET the point of some of the spam that comes my way. Like the "great article!" when there isn't even a link and it's just left anonymously…is it just anonymous positive reinforcement? I'll shut up now :p
ReplyDeleteI tried to look at my profile and can't figure out if I'm a no-reply blogger or not. :/
ReplyDeleteWord verification = boo! It just makes me wanna reach for a bottle of Jack. Hmmmm....I wonder if I got drunk enough the words would look clearer???
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Trish. I wasn't even aware I was a "no reply", but I have fixed that now. Such a helpful post.
ReplyDeleteoh, alright. I clicked the SHOW EMAIL ADDY box but I don't like it. It BETTER NOT show to the world! I don't need email spam.
ReplyDeleteAnother public service idea (and request a change to blogger, ahem) is when I do have to go to Blogger's profile and I click on their WEBPAGE link, it actually goes to current blog. I really wish that when I click on a Blogger's comment on another blog that it would go directly to THEIR blog and not their profile. An annoying step, imo.
ReplyDelete:)
Care--absolutely. I really wish that Blogger's commenting was more like Wordpress's--drives me crazy to hit someone's profile instead of actual blog.
DeleteTHANK YOU!!!!!!!!!! I'm going to link to this post on my blog.
ReplyDeletethanks Trish, I'm going to check my settings.
ReplyDeleteOkay, I think my profile should be fixed. :) (Tell me if it's not.)
ReplyDeleteI checked my settings and know I'm not a word verification blog, I often find blogs that make you jump through hoops to comment, so I just don't. Too bad we all like to hear what others think.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the information. I've checked my settings and updated.
ReplyDeleteThanks Trish. I was one of those bloggers that didn’t know I had word verification - just turned it off. I agree word verification is the worst – it sometimes takes me 5 times to get it right. If Blogger wants word verification they could at least make the letters legible.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! Now if only someone would do one for Wordpress, I recently switched over and have questions! :-)
ReplyDeleteGreat explanation, Trish. I don't see a lot of bloggers using Blogger captcha, but the few that do... let's say that it is indeed challenging to try and read the blurb ;)
ReplyDeleteI've been getting frustrated with this a lot lately, too, so your timely post has prompted me to take mine off. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI don't use captcha at all. It...bothers me. I will still post comments if a blog uses them, though. I found out last night the hard way of the new blogger system commenting when I tried to comment on someones site, kept not seeing the number for a weird reason, and it kept marking it wrong!
ReplyDeleteI was pretty sure I had all of this right but I definitely had to go double check!
ReplyDeleteJust today I had to enter word verif three freakin' times on someone's blog before I got it right. I shoulda quit after the first attempt because it was making me all snarly.
ReplyDeleteExcellent public service post Trish.
ReplyDeleteI use the pain in the ass Intense Debate, but it seems to work well enough. and shhh no spam!
Thanks, Trish! Until I read your posting I had no idea that the damn thing had been turned on. That word verification process is a serious pain-in-the-#$$. Appreciate the tip to go check the settings! Cheers! Chris
ReplyDeleteThanks, Trish. I had the word verification off for my book blog, but not the cooking blog. I figure with comment moderation, I don't need the word verification, too. I only get a few spam comments a day, so it's no big deal to click and delete 'em! Thanks for all the helpful screen shots!
ReplyDeleteYay! I corrected the verification to nil!!! Thanks for the post, Trish!!
ReplyDeleteI have a similar system. I turned off word verification a long time ago. I just approve comments on posts older than 10 days. It keeps the spam down, but doesn't drive my readers nuts. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering why some blogs that I could have sworn didn't have word verification before have them now and the owner didn't realize it. I can't stand them. The numbers isn't bad, it's the letters that always get me. It takes me 2-3 tries to comment often and sometimes if I'm in a rush I just give up.
ReplyDeleteYou've obviously hit a chord! just searched for "blogger verification too difficult" or some such and you're one of the top hits already. it drives me mad. I turned mine off a while ago and like you approve comments older than 14 days and don't get much spam at all. Definitely the way to go.
ReplyDeleteThank you, this was SUPER helpful!
ReplyDeletexx
Kelly
Sparkles and Shoes