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*Click here to read Part 1 of the Series: "Do You Know Who is Cheering on the Sidelines of Your Blog Post?

plastic peopleWhat if the Cheering Section on the Sidelines of your Blog was Really a Fake?  What if the comments posted on your blog were purchased comments written by a Ghost Writer?  What if comments posted in response to your blog article were simply a clever manipulation to gain more exposure and readership for someone else's blog? 

Recently, I was reading an interesting post on Pro Blogger by Darren Rowes entitled Buy Comments - A Sick New Comment Spam Service Launches.  Curious, I visited the Buy Blog Comments site and also read the comment stream on Darren's post.  Apparently, this New Service by Buy Blog Comments has been launched with the primary purpose of buying blog comments to enhance SEO. 

Buy Blog Comments is the lazy bloggers answer to building the reputation of your blog on-line. The idea being that as you comment on other reputable blogs, your authority as a blogger will be enhanced.  Which is true...with one significant caveat...Comments aren't being left by the blogger, but rather by "paid commenter" whose job is pretending to be a commentator.  You can buy a package of comments for as little as $24.99 for 100 comments!

The idea of trying to figure out ways to circumvent the work of true communication is not new. There are services that you can pay to write a blog for you.  However, paying for commenting as a way to increase back linking and the authority and exposure of a blog IS emerging as a new challenge for bloggers.  How is a blog author to know if the comments "coming from the sideline" are really cheering for the content or simply using him/her to build someone else's reputation. Does this matter and should they care? 

According to Buy BlogComments, their service enables bloggers to get backlinks without spamming.  The process in their own words:

    • What BuyBlogComments.Com does is pay people to write quality blog comments on quality blogs. They are hand written by excellent english speaking people in America and Canada. We have a really great system here at Buy Blog Comments. When you order one of our packages, our blog specialists look through the huge database of no nofollow tag blogs and then pick only the blogs in your niche. Then, they go through and comment on the most recent posts. They read the whole blog post so that they can leave a valid comment on the bloggers blog, so that your blog post wont get deleted. This way you save time and money.

Some might argue that this is a valid niche.  After all, don't we all blog and comment in order to enhance our exposure?  If the comment is on target and furthers the discussion, who cares if someone paid for the comment in the first place?  In the real estate community, we often deal with leads that we purchase which are absolutely bogus.  We buy packages from lead generation services such as homegain or housevalues or lending tree without any assurance that the lead we are paying for is a real person. The real estate industry trades on "wishful thinking" all the time. So, why is this a problem?

Well, this is why I think it is a problem.  First of all, it seems inherently dishonest.  If my audience were paid to listen or read my blog, it would be difficult for me to be convinced that I was making a genuine connection. Trust is a huge issue in a real estate transaction. When I make a comment on a blog, it is a small step in building a relationship and validating the work of another human being.  If it became widely understood that the "conversation" on a blog post was largely manufactured, it would destroy the authenticity which makes blogging so powerful.

Lastly, I wonder how this really works.  Buy Blog Comments claims that it's workers are hired from Canada or America, so they must pay at least minimum wage.  If these workers are actually reading these blogs prior to making a relevant comment, they must be speed readers extraordinare!  And if they are so brilliant...why are they not employed in real jobs, not faking and pretending to be someone else?

*Photo of "plastic people" courtesy of automicjeep on flickr.

*Copyright 2007  Audu Real Estate  All Rights Reserved

 

Lola Audu, CRS, GRI e-Pro ~ Audu Real Estate

Lola Audu, is the Designated Broker & Owner of Audu Real Estate.  Our company specializes in helping people buy and sell homes in the greater Grand Rapids, West Michigan area.  We've had the privilege of helping hundreds of clients succeed in their goals of purchasing and selling property including demonstrated success in the negotiation of Short Sale Transactions. You can contact us via e-mail @ info@auduhomes.com or by phone at 616-791-0511. 

Twitter feed for Lola Audu     Auduhomes on Facebook     Lola Audu's photostream on Flickr 

 

79 Comments on Do You Know Who's Cheering on The Sidelines for Your Blog Post? (Part 2) What if They're a Fake?

JUL
21
2007
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
On Active Rain, we have excellent monitoring and Spam Filters.  I have received a very small amount of obvious comment spam.  However, I wonder how one would police this type of a situation which was using the handwritten comments of a human being?
2:26pm • #1
848,742 Points 153 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola, what in the world ? Seriously that is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. How authentic is that ? So much for transparency.

It will be interesting to see what others here on AR think.

2:29pm • #2
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Missy, I found it equally amazing.  It does threaten in a significant way the core of what makes Blogging so powerful and valuable.  It is a New service, so there is understandably a lot of angst.  It will be interesting to see how or if it impacts the blogosphere.
2:33pm • #3
184,337 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lola,

Thanks for the post. Well that didn't take long. I am not surprised by the antics of bottom feeders. It is always just a matter of time before someone creates a scheme to scam the system.

 

3:34pm • #4
937,108 Points 361 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Lola, That is very interesting and I agree not very honest. BUT I will beat their price. 100 coments for $19.95. Please send cask or money order.
3:44pm • #5
1,480,497 Points 275 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

What will they think up next?  

I think one important role that my personal blog (not the AR one) has played is giving me someplace to send prospective clients so they sort of get a feel for who I am.  It's helped me to connect with a much younger demographic, which got to be important with old clients' children growing up and needing their first places.  And it's gotten me a lot of exposure in the local press. 

Thanks. 

4:29pm • #6
Hit Router

that is so ridiculous!  I can't believe you now have to pay someone to write up comments and opinions on other people's comments and opinions!

 

4:34pm • #7
153,771 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog
That is crazy!  Comments are not even necessary in order for a person to post.  Why would someone pay for them?  People that pay for comments dont know how the internet actually works. 
4:35pm • #8
566,349 Points 79 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola~

 Now all we have to do is watch to see what AR members SUDDENLY begin to get tons of comments when they have had few in the past (I'm grinning)...I sure wouldn't want to have THAT happen in THIS forum! REALTORS know how hard we work and what are referrals are worth to us...so a person using such a devious method to attract attention is one with whom I would choose not to do business...the word for this comment seems just right. . .

4:39pm • #9
403,594 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Hit Router Called Shot Master
That's cold and crazy!  What will they think up next?  Is there nothing that is honest and holdsome left?
4:44pm • #10
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi William, I wonder what it is about subversive behavior which propels individuals to invent new ways of creating chaos and distorting that which is staightforward?? It's like the weeds in my garden...they always seem to be healthy and grow much faster than regular plants!
4:53pm • #11
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Bryant, with the quality of posts that you write, I might just be tempted to have you write my comments!  It would save me a lot of time and energy!!  :)
4:54pm • #12
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Patricia, A blog should be about connecting...real people writing and connecting with real people reading.  What makes this an interesting issue, is that the readers are real people, but they're commenting in disguise to earn search engine ranking for bloggers who cannot be bothered to read other people's blogs themselves.  I'm not sure who is the biggest Fake in this scenario.
4:57pm • #13
142,145 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog
WOW, what overnight thing won't someone think of and start?!?!?  All I can do is shake my head. 
4:59pm • #14
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Jennifer...well stated.  Oh, the tangled web we weave!

Hi David, Thanks for your comment.  Apparently there is no shortage of methods to make fools part with their money.

Hi janeAnne, I don't know how this would work on a forum like Active Rain.  The Network has put in place a lot of safeguards to protect against Spam and they seem to be pretty effective from my experience. What makes this interesting, is I wonder how you would detect this type of insincere effort particularly if it looks like a normal comment with a valid e-mail/IP address.  I do think however, it is more of an issue for those who maintain blogs outside of AR which support platforms that allow backlinks.

5:03pm • #15
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Rosemary, There is much that's wholesome left!  That's why it is important that stuff like this is brought into the light. The Internet has spawned an exponential increase in everything both good and bad.  Transparency on-line if one of the most powerful influences for good on-line.
5:06pm • #16
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Cynthia, Thanks for your comment.  Perhaps, the most telling issue is...WILL THEY SUCCEED?  How many of us will be willing to "take shortcuts" if we think we can get away with it?
5:08pm • #17
103,216 Points 13 Featured Posts

Good Lord people.  Can't we just do things the right way?   Why do we have to develop "short cuts" non-stop. 

 

5:10pm • #18
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Chris,..It seems for some people, that would make life too boring!  The sad truth is that short cuts often turn out to be less than they're advertised to be.  I've taken enough wrong turns when trying to drive with a supposed short cut to know that sometimes the longest way between two points is trying to take the easy way out.
5:13pm • #19
14 Featured Posts

The people that are paying for blog comments are missing the point entirely.  This is about SEO, but more importantly it's about community, and networking and keeping a finger on the pulse of what's happening in our rapidly changing business. 

And what if we actually called one of these "fake comment bloggers" to give them a referral.  Would it be obvious that they had no clue what we were talking about when they didn't get our references to specific blogs?  I think it's pretty lame.

The quality of the comments can't be that great if they're writing 100 for only $25!  That's 25 cents each.  If you do it really fast, It takes about three minutes to read a blog and the comments and then write your own comment.  Do the math, that's about $5.00 an hour....even if you could do it in two minutes that's only $7.50 an hour.  Who are these people and what sort of comments are they writing?  Plus do they even have enough expertise in RE to write an intelligent comment?

Yikes!  Great post by the way and I'm not a paid commenter.  =)

 

5:18pm • #20
1,545,555 Points 416 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Interesting post Lola.  

I have a contrary view.  Web sites from template company come with an extensive offering of "off the shelf" content al a carte.  Web site owners have used copywriters who specialize in good content for SEO.  That seems to be acceptable.  In fact, I know some web sites that would benefit greatly from professionally written content. 

Is it really any different with blogs?  From the perspective of social networking, I don't know if it would work because these comments are supposed to be two way conversations between the writer and the reader.  However, for Google food, does it really make any difference whether the blog owner wrote the content or if they purchased the content?  If the blog is used for advertising real estate services, does it matter who wrote the content?? 

I have no interest in buying content for anything.  However, if given the choice of reading canned or professionally written content on web sites or blogs, I'd prefer that to web site or blog owners stealing content from other web sites or blogs. 

 

5:20pm • #21
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Tracey, Your comment is so on target AND it made me laugh...ALL from a REAL Person! :) You make an interesting point, what would these "fake comment bloggers" do if they were offered a REAL Referal. 

This was one of the issues that truly gave me pause, because in reading through the post I referred to, the comments and visiting the site, it seems that the fakes would presumably be hired by true professionals.  So, if you did call to give a referral, you might NOT be aware of the fact that they had paid for those great comments. :)  Interesting & Scary food for thought...

5:24pm • #22
597,261 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog
What goes around, comes around - look at the situation of the CEO of Whole Foods, now that he has been exposed.
5:27pm • #23
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Lenn, Thanks for your comment.  Your thoughts on this issue, as always, provide insight.  We do need to look at our industry as a whole.  As I mentioned in my post, many of us are already paying for what we KNOW are FAKE leads from many companies. We decide to take a chance that if even a fraction of them are real, then parting from our hard earned dollars is OK. 

So, I think as an industry, we may be far more predisposed to this than we would like to think.  I think the greatest loss would be in the area of social networking.  If this became pervasive, it would negatively impact a site which promotes interaction such as Active Rain. It is important for a social network to have as much sincerity in interaction as possible. 

With reference to your thoughts regarding stealing content vs faking comments...yes, we are looking, in this case at determining the lesser of two evils!

5:31pm • #24

Hmm...this entire blog post seems like an ad for their services.  We are all replying to Lola's ghost writer  ;)

 I wonder what would happen if they held viewpoints different to your own.  Or are they just shallow  "Good post!  Interesting!" comments?

5:31pm • #25
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Sharon, I must have missed that news cycle...What happened to the CEO of Whole Foods?  Inquiring minds want to know! :)
5:32pm • #26
121,551 Points 18 Featured Posts
Lola~ I had no idea! I'll gladly take money to spend the day putting in comments...anyone...anyone?
5:35pm • #27
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Mike, Thanks for your comment.  This was certainly an issue that I considered when writing this post. (It's a part of a series I'm currently doing)  However, I did think that there was more value to the issue being exposed and addressed publicly as opposed to bloggers getting comments and thinking they were genuine. 

Now with regard to different viewpoints...yes, they think of this very differently as stated on their blogsite.  Blogging is increasingly becoming big business and money often colors the lens through which we make judgments doesn't it?

5:37pm • #28
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hey, Laura, Check out Broker Bryants comment...He may be hiring!  :) LOL

5:38pm • #29
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Mike, I'm not sure who made a response to that last comment...perhaps, the "Ghost Writers" have struck already!  :) LOL  NOw, the real "me" is off to watch a movie...
5:47pm • #30
1,545,555 Points 416 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Actually, I have gotten comments that I knew were posted to other members' blog posts.  The content is identical down to the punctuation.  Since I work from home, I spend a lot of time reading Active Rain posts and comment.  I see patterns.  I see fake comments.  I see fake posts.  They aren't to difficult to identify.  I see commentators who try to advertise in comments. 

I see a lot of stuff that dilutes the value of the network.  However, overall I believe the posts and comments reflect genuine opinions and information.  

I do flag posts that I know to be spam, copied works, duplicate content, advertising, etc.  The mangement of Active Rain can't keep up.

 

5:50pm • #31
880,152 Points 210 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Wow...that's pretty wacked out don't you think?  Paying for comments...does anyone do that here? :)
5:57pm • #32
482,745 Points 1 Featured Post Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Lola, And thanks for this intriguing take on our AR community.  I can't think of how a mod could detect such manipulation !  Amazing, just amazing.
6:16pm • #33
9 Featured Posts
This is amazing - who knew you could buy comments??  I guess that is not all that surprising - but honestly, what comes next?
6:17pm • #34

Lenn - how do you identify "fake" posts?  I haven't been on AR long enough or written enough blogs to really notice a pattern...

6:20pm • #35

Paying for someone to write MY thoughts...hmmmmmmmm.....Soon, I'll be able to pay for someone to think for me too..........

then, I can go into politics. :)

Julia

6:48pm • #36
242,160 Points 13 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp
Sounds like the people who write term papers for college students for a fee..what a scam!
6:58pm • #37
873,562 Points 35 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Incredible, someone thought up a new way to make money and the sad thing is, it's probably going to work.  I am glad you brought this to light, I never would have thought of it and wouldn't know it existed.  Maybe someone will come up with a way to stop this (I KNOW it's not ethical of course but is it legal??).
7:28pm • #38
548,980 Points 110 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Lola...

This is wild. I know it's not supposed to be funny but maybe I'm in a goofy mood.

I think it's hilarious that someone would actually pay someone else to comment.

To me that is just downright funny.

I'll do it for 2 cents a comment. As long as no one minds that I say "Just my .02 cents". LOL.

TLW...ROAR!

7:49pm • #39
787,385 Points 20 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master
Lola - It was only a matter of time before someone found a way to make money by providing a service to give the appearance of being "In with the In Crowd".  Disappointing? Yes.  Surprising? No.
8:12pm • #40
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Very interesting Lenn.  I suppose if all that you did was say something generic like" Great post, I enjoyed it keep up the good work," one could "copy and paste" comments here on Acitve Rain. It has occurred to me that the mindset which allows an individual to do (copy & repeat a post of a comment for points) this probably quite similar to the mind set that will sell a comment for 25 cents!  Hopefully, this is limited to their OWN comments...Now, if they were copying someone else's comments, that would take this to a totally new level. 
9:28pm • #41
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Sally, Who knows....  :)

Bill, I agree that this would be very hard to detect....but nothing stays hidden forever.

Beth, I continue to be amazed at the "Services" that are being invented daily on-line.  Before blogging, there was no "need" for this.  Blogging is apparently creating all kinds of New Industries!

9:32pm • #42
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Mike...Rich Jacobson & Lenn Harley have both have written some excellent pieces on plagiarism.  Check out their archives and topic sections.

Julie, you are too funny!

Eric...That's a very good analogy. 

Hi Carole, the legal issue is quite interesting, and there is nothing definitive in this area yet that I know of. It is far more likely that this will be addressed first as a SPAM issue and if that is what this type of service is ultimately defined to be. 

 

9:39pm • #43
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi TLW, In a sense this is really funny.  When you go to the website, there are so many spelling errors, it's laughable that anyone would WANT these people to type in comments for them!  Hey, You're driving prices down too fast....Next thing you know, people will be doing this for FREE!  Anyways, your 02. cents worth is far more valuable than ANY Fake comment!  :) 
9:48pm • #44
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Tony, Sad...but true.  Thanks for your comment.
9:49pm • #45
211,928 Points 4 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Bizarre. Totally bizarre.  What in the world would possess someone to even contemplate establishing this kind of business, let alone promoting it?!  Grrrrrr
9:54pm • #46
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Carol, It is bizarre.  I prefer not to go into the minds of those who think of these things.  I'm sure they have their own set of reasons. Now, perhaps there will an be an opportunity provided for some other entrepreneur to figure out how to stop this. 
10:05pm • #47
JUL
22
2007
615,509 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Paying to post comments. Wow ... perhaps we should all go into that business .. ha ha.
1:00am • #49
187,781 Points 31 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Now this is a new one and a bit over the edge too.  Where the heck do people come up with these ideas?  They will probably get a lot of business if they master how to comment on high ranked sites.  The backlinks are invaluable to today's SEO.  People will buy the comments because it is cheaper than buying the links or spending the incredible amount of time it takes to actually read a post and write an intelligent comment.  What will they think of next?  Lola, this one is a Lulu!
2:09am • #50
Excellent post...never heard of this...but it makes sense...if you give anything enough time, someone will figure out how to exploit it.  Sounds like a get rich quick scam for the company. Part of me wants to not comment on it to avoid giving them additional exposure because you know there's someone somewhere that's thinkin', hey, if I can get one lead out of this, then it was worth it and doesn't care about the ethics of it. This trend will be short lived like all the other scams and the true people that are playing by the rules will still be around plugging away waiting for the next scam we're going to endure to show it's ugly face.
2:26am • #51
187,781 Points 31 Featured Posts Outside Blog
I found a few PR8 sites I wanted to comment on, for the backlinks.  Went in and guess what?  You basically have to apply to comment.  Yep they have a screening process.  I was surprised for about a minute.  When I thought about it I really couldn't say I blamed them, can you even imagine the kind of spam they get looking for backlinks?  It is just these kind of people who would descend upon them.  
4:13am • #52
511,758 Points 41 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master
Truly amazing. What's next...
5:33am • #53
106,185 Points 23 Featured Posts

We all get paid to comment.  AR pays us 25 points per comment.  But we can only earn on 10 comments a day like that.  $2.50 doesn't go very far these days.

I wonder...of the nearly 40,000 members on AR, how many are these "ghost commenters"  It seems to me that they would have a load of points for commenting, but none for actual blogging.

But seriously.  There are some things I would pay for and somethings I would not.  I would not pay for someone to make comments as though they were me.  I would become liable for any misrepresentations or libelous comments they made.  Not worth the risk.  If I were desparate (and I am not)  I might pay to have someone drive traffic to my website or blog, but only if it was done with full disclosure.  I think the code of ethics would require that.  Keep in mind that a blog, and even a comment, can be interpreted as marketing.  There are rules in every state that require certain things be included in every advertising piece that a licensee makes public.  I think that a service like the one you described is a violation waiting to happen.

It was only a matter of time before something like this came up, though.  In my blog about the power of comments to drive traffic to a blog (The Hidden Value of Comments: "You Spilled Google Juice all over my Blog!" ) I pointed out that google results can point to your blog because of comments. 

 I think a better service might be something like this:  Provide them (the service) with a list of topics you would like to comment on.  They then (for a fee) provide you with a daily list of links to new blogs on those topics, sorted by topic, industry, and geographic region.  Then you can follow those links, and comment however you feel appropriate.  That might be worth something.  It would certainly same me some time, anyway.  Paying someone to do google searches, essentially, and organizing the results.  It might save me 3 hours a week, but create 2 hours of additional time needed to be spent reading and commenting, so an hour net savings per week.  That might be worth $20 per month or so.  I would have to pay a live assistant more, that is for certain.

I would love to hear comments from some of the Virtual Assistants out there...

6:18am • #54
419,612 Points 71 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

The following comment is endorsed by Buy BlogComments....

Seriously though:

Wow, this is the first I've heard of this Lola.  This, in my mind, is definately a problem!  I agree with you there Lola.  It's kind of like bloggers on steroids, which is another post entirely.  Personally, I wouldn't pay anybody a dime to comment for me or on me, or on you for that matter.  Good post and thanks for the first new thing I learned today Lola!

7:16am • #55

What problem???  Do you think you or the rest of the community won't recognize the $.25 comment?  I think everybody is peeved that people buying these comments get an edge with the search engines, but hey, what ultimately happens to anything built on a house of cards?

As I commented to Jason on his post yesterday about blog criticizers, bless those who make it obvious that I don't want to do business with them.

8:14am • #56
379,109 Points 49 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Lola, Very interesting post. 

To answer your question regarding Sharon's comment about the CEO of Whole Foods. It was on the news that he has been going in chat rooms and news groups under a fake name for more than 8 years pretending he is just an investor pumping up whole foods stock. Whole Foods is trying to buy another company I think Wild Oates and he has been bad mouthing the company he is trying to buy  I suppose to lower the stock and get a better price.

As far as paid comments, i thought I've heard everything, but this a new one..what will they think of next. I received two comments in the last two weeks on my other blog from two different people but both from the same website. It was a nice comment complimenting me on my post and the importance of what I wrote about but then plugs this other site with a link. It turns out the other site competes with me. It is a site that will probably try to sell me leads from people they spammed off my site in the first place.

8:37am • #57
184,337 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Lola,

Posts like this, exposing these subversive tactics will go a long way toward making those weeds "Begone". No one wants to be called on the carpet for lack of originality.

 

8:41am • #58
483,133 Points 53 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Wow Lola! And I thought I had seen everything! Thanks for exposing this...I bet most of us can spot the insincere or can we?! Hmmmm Good post!

8:47am • #59
2 Featured Posts

Hi Lola! I am reading your articles with interest. I was introduced through the web last week to a new blog service for lenders -- a blog that gets new content daily whether you are the author or you are absent. I was wondering how they could accomplish making their words sound like I had written them!

Great topic once again! Where do you get this stuff! (he he)

9:51am • #60
129,002 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog
Thank you for sharing this! I guess we live in the land of opportunity; people will provide any service as long as it's legal...well most folks.
10:09am • #61
128,998 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog
I have probably had a couple of these comments on my blogs. They are almost perfect response, but something just doesn't read write...and there is always a link in the text asking you to check them out. I delete them because they are spam.
6:32pm • #62
1 Featured Post
Lola - I am shocked at this - though I guess I shouldn't be - what some people will do to get an advantage - even if unfair.
7:20pm • #63
214,353 Points 1 Featured Post

Thanks a million for an infomative and thought provoking post!

8:00pm • #65
146,174 Points Called Shot Master

I believe that this type of commenting is dishonest, you are telling me you like, love, agree or disagree with what I am saying but it is not even you who is reading it.  I have learned so much by reading other Realtors blog that I would never think of using that type of service.  The type of person who use this must know everything there is about Real Estate.  Is that possible?

Lola, Thank you for this post.

9:34pm • #66
JUL
23
2007
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Kevin...Agreed!

Hi Bob & Carolin...If we all did it, perhaps, there'd be NO business for them!  It would be impossible to make money. Of course, in the process, we would also have succeeded in destroying the integrity of the blogosphere...but then again would it matter.... ;) (Just kidding)

 

8:05am • #67
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Laurie, It seems that this is already becoming a real issue in some for some of the most popular blogs because of the SEO Value of Backlinks.  It's clear that services like this are trying to subvert the process through distorting the commenting process to move their sites up the totem pole.  I'm intrigued by the fact that some sites are already screening for this!  And...this is cheaper than paying for links so for some who want to win and move up at all costs, it is an option...obviously. Thanks for sharing these insights.
8:14am • #68
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Rhondel, Thanks for your comment.  You're right that eventually scams meet their demise...hopefully, this one will be sooner rather than later.

Hi Joe, I'm not sure I want to know what's next! :)

 

7:29pm • #69
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Rich, you make some interesting points.  With reference to the legalities/ethics issues concerning marketing and misrepresentation...well, I think you're onto something.  Particularly if something that was said as a  "comment' in your name got the real estate agent in trouble.  As there may be limited supervision of this type of service, it would be truly taking a risk to hand one's professional reputation to someone who you don't know and can't really vouch for. 

With regard to your idea of aggregating blogs for people to comment on...well, who knows, that might be something that people would subscribe to.  After all as the blogosphere gets larger, it's becoming increasingly challenging to navigate. Thanks for sharing some interesting insights.

7:34pm • #70
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Jason, Thanks for bringing the REAL you to my blog to comment! :)  Wouldn't it be funny and tragic if a disclosure like you mentioned became something we actually saw on blogs!

Hi Tracey,  Thanks for taking the time to read and comment.

Hi Mitchell,  Thanks for the update on the Whole Foods news.  I'm intrigued about how you described a competing site using your blogs and backlinks to drive traffic to them.  Or at least that's what is seems like in your comment. Very interesting.  Thanks.

7:40pm • #71
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

William...I believe that your point is definitely true for honest people.  It might be an entirely different thing when with those for whom integrity is not a priority. Thanks for sharing your insights.

Hi Teri, Thanks for your comment.  I don't know...fake can be quite believable sometimes...although ultimately the truth prevails.

Hi Mary,  Blog writing services have been around for a bit.  I did a post awhile ago called "Won't Blog for Food."  There are services which will write a blog for you if you can't find the time or make the effort to do one yourself.  Kinda subverts the purpose of hearing the "voice" of the professional doesn't it?

 

8:27pm • #72
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Hi Al, Thanks for stopping by to read & comment.

Jennifer...they probably are SPAM...comment SPAM!  Do you get these on your AR blog or on another blog you maintain elsewhere?

Hi Jack...You're right...it's sad, but true & unfortunate

Yep, It is pretty amazing isn't it Elizabeth!

Hi Wayne & Lynda, Thanks for stopping by to read and comment.

8:33pm • #73
264,529 Points 23 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

"When I make a comment on a blog, it is a small step in building a relationship and validating the work of another human being.  If it became widely understood that the "conversation" on a blog post was largely manufactured, it would destroy the authenticity which makes blogging so powerful."

You stated this so eloquently Lola.  These sentences say a lot about what your blog is about and if someone wants to "pay" to manufacture comments and gain exposure what kind of person are they in REAL life? Not the kind I want to do business with!

I'm not too worried about this - people do business with other people they like and trust, not machines and SEO's and what ranking you're at on Google - I firmly believe that. I believe that we have not become that desensitized as a society to not see through this and if we have - man are we in trouble!

8:40pm • #74
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Karen, Thanks for the insights you share in your comments.  I would hate to be "exposed" as someone who was paying for comments.  This ONLY works as long as it remains hidden and appears to be what it is not.  You're right on target with this point: "people do business with other people they like and trust, not machines..."
8:44pm • #75
3 Featured Posts

Lola, I had to wade through all the comments, obviously the service works LOL

Where is the NAR and the COE when you need it, first there were posts about ghost bloggers and now ghost commenters. Pretty soon blogs will be considered spam too.

10:25pm • #76
JUL
25
2007
323,528 Points 45 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Lola - As I read your post on this new service, all I could think was 'good grief, what on earth will someone think of next'?  I can't imagine using a service like this, nor can I imagine what it truly gets one in the end who actually stoops to this dishonest level.  How lousy, in my opinion.

What happened to PEOPLE networking with PEOPLE??  I wonder how those who use a service such as this think they'll be building rapport with other people?  Sooner or later, I would think a machine leaving comments will be exposed - and then the person who paid for 'comments for hire' will end up with their name being lower than mud.  It certainly would be in my book, no doubt about it.

Ann

6:13am • #77
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Hi Gary, Can you imagine how much more "fun" your wading through the comments would have been if they were "manufactured"!  LOL  :) Well, seriously, this is a significant issue.  Probably not so much for Active Rain where a strong vibrant community tends to expose intruders quickly, but it is irritating at best and potentially damaging at worst to the best feature of the blogosphere...REAL Communication with REAL Commentators..
8:55pm • #78
354,647 Points 137 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog
Ann, I TOTALLY agree with you!  Thanks for stopping by.
8:56pm • #79

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Lola06 Rainmaker_large

Lola Audu~Real Estate Broker/Owner Grand Rapids, Michigan Real Estate

Grand Rapids, MI

More about me…

Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate

Address: 3659 Alpine NW, Suite 102, Grand Rapids, MI, 49321

Office Phone: (616) 791-0511

Email Me

Grand Rapids, Michigan real estate information including houses for sale, rent and home buyer/seller tips. Also includes wisdom and insights from Lola Audu, CRS Associate Broker.

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