It’s an appealing thought…
Build hundreds, even thousands of targeted backlinks to your web site in minutes by using software that “searches out” blogs targeted to your niche, and automatically submits your comments (and your link). Some of these software services claim to be able to randomize your material, thus submitting numerous, but all entirely viable versions of your comments to the various resources.
Riiiiiiight.
If you think this is a viable way of building links, let me provide you with a real life example. As you know, I run a successful online business in the sports/weight loss supplement niche (with UltimateFatBurner.com & Real-Customer-Comments.com). Both of these sites make use of the WordPress platform to some extent – as a content management system, and to leverage the power of visitor comments to build fresh and relevant content. And yes, we have a honest-to-goodness blog which is updated daily.
So not only am I a passionate internet marketer, the fact that I manage several successful web sites allows me to comment on certain promotional strategies from a different perspective – from the other side of the coin, so to speak. In other words, not only do I get to investigate automated comment software, I see the end results directly.
And it ain’t pretty.
This morning, whilst perusing the previous evening’s comments, I came across a real gem. It was submitted by some genius named “Sam” in an obvious (but ridiculous) attempt to build links to the “Master Cleanse Diet” web site (the post in question thoroughly debunks the entire detox/cleanse fad that’s “in vogue” at the moment).
Of course, Sam himself (herself?) did not actually write this, but instead is using some automated software service which is scraping text from already approved and posted comments and serving them up in garbled mess. Here’s the comment…
“LOL – surface, flatbottom if it did “work” (at both aim) before, it sounds rattling much equal the lard crept stake on again. If that’s the containerful, such a programme is no fitter than your characteristic, “yo-yo” diet syndrome. What’s there to crow virtually?
I’ll response my own converse here: it has nada to do with the results. It has everything to do with making sure everyone knows how “disciplined” he is.”
Uh-huh. Can you tell me what that means exactly? Yeah, me neither.
If you check the post it “scraped”, you can see the resemblance, but you’ll notice the difference – Elissa’s comment makes sense in the context it is offered. This, on the other hand is garbled crap. The software has pulled some material from the post, and then apparently, inserted some randomized text to do what, exactly? Fool the moderator?
Which really makes me question why people invest in this stuff. Consider…
- How many really good, quality blogs do you know of that are not moderated? Uh-huh. And how many moderators are going to allow a post like the aforementioned to go live?
- If blog/comment posting software is only useful for posting links on “un-moderated” blogs, how much value are such links likely to deliver, anyway?
The reason why software like this sells is the same reason fat burners and weight loss supplements sell. They both offer a quick, easy, and appealing solution to a task people perceive to be tedious. In this case, the software automates the link building process. For the weight loss supplements, they promise to eliminate the hard work and smart decisions that lie at the foundation of any successful weight loss programs.
In either case, there is NO easy solution. Obtaining quality links that will actually help the link reputation of your web site is a “hands on” process. I’ve written about the value of posting quality material on theme-related web sites and blogs. It’s a worthwhile endeavor to be sure, it just ain’t a quick one.
And while there might exist “scraping” and “comment posting” software that actually compiles bits and pieces of approved posts into something that better resembles the King’s English, there’s one thing I can guarantee you…
Such a post will never, EVER see the light of day on any blog of value. The question then becomes…
What’s the point at all?
I have a weight loss page also, among others, but, as for auto blog commenting. I have a program that seemed to work for awhile, I could make relevant posts and it was ok, but now my IP is banned and that seems to be the end of it. The people I bought the software from don’t respond so I’m out of luck. So much for short cuts.
Great post..
You know, I came here from google. I was searching for an auto commenting software. But your right nothing good ever came easy or without hard work! Good Job
Phil
I love getting posts on my blog that say ” nice post ” or “you’re an expert, I bookmarked your site.” These posts are the posts that you mention above. I think anyone building back links to their site should know that you have to have a post that is unique to the article that couldn’t be used on more than one article.
Paul’s comments: Yeah, I get zillions of those. And I delete every one.
Experienced webmasters realize that the only key to success is relevant, high quality backlinks. Thousands of backlinks. Unfortunately, backlinks building is not only boring, but also very time-consuming task. It takes months searching for relevant sites and submitting links there. Can you afford wasting so much time? I don’t think so.
Thanks for the post. I have just been looking into such automated software as I am so bored with writing forum posts to build back links but you article has persuaded me otherwise. Thanks again
Yea. Using an automated commenting software not only makes you look unprofessional, it also doesn’t give you the opportunity to get traffic to your site. I definitely will not want to visit the site from the guy that posted that crab comment because I may get disappointed to find that same type of garbage post on his blog.
If you want to really establish yourself as an expert, do the commenting yourself and add value to the post. People love to learn more both through the blog post and comments. That’s what the comment section is for. You can use others comment section to create credibility and get traffic and back-links in the end. Don’t waste your money on a commenting automation software please.
Thanks for this post. But I still don’t know if I should buy G-Lock Blog Finder or not…