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SPAM and Your Website

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SPAM and Your Website

One of the biggest complaints and comments from new business owners who have just launched their websites is the amount of Spam they receive. Let’s review all the places your website can see Spam, how you can minimize the Spam, and the truth about eliminating website Spam.

The most common places we see Spam on websites is through either online forms or through your blog comment areas.

Online forms are often found on your contact page or other pages on your website where you want to ask your visitors to reach out or leave you a message. To keep these forms from being overrun with Spam many web firms use a feature known as CAPTCHA.

recaptcha-example

A CAPTCHA is a way to test to see if the person entering the data is human by showing words or numbers in an image and having the human type in what they see. Many of us have been frustrated by these fields on websites like Google and LinkedIn. I know I always have a hard time reading the words in the CAPTCHA. Still, this feature is one of the only ways to cut down on Spam for online forms.

If you have a blog on your website, and nowadays most of us do, Spam can enter through the comment fields. Depending upon the platform your blog is built on, a third-party Spam blocker can help cut-down on the amount of the Spam you receive. Our favorite Spam blocker for WordPress is Akismet.

The Truth About SPAM

Completely eliminating Spam is not a reality, though third party applications like Akismet and adding a CAPTCHA to your forms can help cut-down on Spam . The reality is that Spam is on the rise. Here is a great report from Akismet on the Spam report for 2012.

Hackers and bots trying to break your CAPTCHA systems was another rising trend of 2012.

What To Do?

Be sure that your website features both a CAPTCHA for online forms and a Spam filter and blocker application to cut down on the Spam you receive. Pay attention to any increase in your Spam and ask your web developer to check for updates on these tools. Also keep in mind that not all Spam is from bots; some is from real people. Blocking a human will be much more difficult and, truth be told, I’d rather deal with a little Spam in business then alienate my customers.

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Creative Director/Senior Designer

Tom DiGrazia

With over a decade and a half of professional design experience, Tom brings his knowledge of design principles and focus on user experience to every aspect of his contribution to TTG. Paying special attention to each client’s brand, personalized needs and individual interests, he strives to create compelling concepts utilizing intuitive and highly-refined design solutions. In addition to traditional and digital design work and oversight at TTG, Tom also boasts a wide portfolio of web development projects with the company, allowing him to stretch his CSS and HTML skills across multiple platforms and disciplines. He feels that being a designer in the digital landscape of websites, eCommerce solutions, email marketing platforms and social media, it is important to understand the code that goes into these areas as it assists his ability to tailor designs specifically targeted to achieve the best end result and further builds understanding and communication with backend development teams.

In his off hours, Tom is an avid pop culture enthusiast, staying up to date on the latest shows, films, comics and games. He can also typically be found taking part in a whole host of artistic activities that help him further stretch his creative legs. Regardless of the activity, Tom is always accompanied by his dog, Eli, and his cat, Tib.

Specialties:
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Platforms/Tools:
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Courtney Dumont

As Senior Marketing Strategist & Analyst at Technology Therapy Group, Courtney is energized by the ability to flex both her left and right brain daily. Courtney discovered her passion for Marketing at Bryant University, where she spearheaded research on students’ perceptions of Social Media Marketing for her Honors Capstone Project. After graduating Bryant in 2012, she joined the Technology Therapy team, where she’s honed her skills in social media, search and social advertising, email marketing, SEO, and more.

Since joining the team, Courtney has created digital marketing strategies and managed campaigns for clients across the country, ranging from plastic surgery centers, to jewelry stores, to construction companies. With a cohesive, cross-channel approach and a focus on data-driven decision making, she has increased their leads by up to 217%. But Courtney doesn’t leave her zeal for social media at the office; she also runs a local foodie Instagram account with her husband to document their meals across Rhode Island and beyond. Check them out: @hoppilyfed.

Specialties:
Marketing Strategy, Data Analysis, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Social Media

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