Choosing a Spam Blocker

If you have a website or blog where people can leave comments, or if you have a contact form on your site, you know about spam. It usually comes in the form of robots leaving weird messages about pharmaceuticals or porn sites, although some messages might actually come from a human being. Although the humans might be a bit difficult to weed out, you can install a spam blocker to help keep the robots at bay.

These spam blockers come in all shapes and sizes and it is a bit of a challenge to select the right one. However, there are few things to keep in mind when you are making your decision as to which blocker to use.

The first thing you need to consider is usability. There are plenty of spam blockers out there that offer a jumble of letters and numbers in a distorted font, on a grid or patterned background. These keep the ´bots away, but they can also discourage your human visitors from leaving comments. A lot of people simply get frustrated with these and will not bother giving you feedback, since it is just too difficult to see and type the correct combination.

When you are looking at spam blockers, you should consider using one that has easy to read words or numbers. Most people find it easiest to type in a word accurately, instead of just random letters and numbers. The reason for this is that it is easier to make a mistake when you have to study the order of the different letters. If you already know the word (stick to simple ones like "water" or "dirt"), then you can just type it in without any problems.

Good contrast is another thing to look for. Black lettering on white is a good combination, but anything similar is fine. People with poor eyesight might not be able to distinguish a green on green lettering. Also, there are quite a few color-blind people who might not be able to see certain colors and giving them a high contrast word makes it possible for them to leave comments as well.

Look for a spam blocker that gives you the option to include an audio file. This is very handy for those who just can't make out the code they need to type in. They will be able to listen to it. The audio option is a great alternative for people who prefer to hear and type and it is a good way to boost your feedback.

Choosing a spam filter isn't just about grabbing the first one you come across. Take the time to look at it and test it, preferably on someone else's website and see how user-friendly it is. Even if a highly usable blocker lets through a few more robots than an unreadable one, it is worth it for the boost in traffic and interaction you will see on your blog.