H is for Helping Hand

Occasionally, during the A-Z Challenge, I encounter the voice of distress and frustration in the form of a blogger who is unsure of what to do about spam; how to handle comments and change a password.

Many of you seasoned bloggers know all about this stuff, so please bear with me. 

Today, I’m lending a helping hand; Linda, I hope this helps!

SPAM AND COMMENTS

When you first sign into your blog you arrive at the page which shows your Blogs and your Reading List.

Click on your blog’s name, this will take you to the Overview Page of that blog.

In the Overview Page, on the left side is a vertical menu bar - Click on Settings (#1 in my screen shot). Next, Click on Post and Comments (#2).

Now you are on the page where I took this screenshot. Click on photo to enlarge.

Look at #3 - Who can comment.

Anonymous lets anyone comment which is often where spam comes into play. 

Registered User, including OpenID is definitely a preferred option as bloggers leaving comments are identified. (I have linked you to Blogger’s Help page for Comments - worth looking at)

The last two options for who can comment are self-explanatory.

Next up is #4 Comment Moderation 

 Always  means that every comment will require your approval before going public on your blog.

I use Always when blogging sporadically to have control over comments when I'm not around.

Sometimes can be a useful tool. You can moderate comments on older posts while allowing some freedom with current posts. 

During the A-Z Challenge I have it set for 2 days; if someone is leaving a comment on a post older than that I will have the chance to see it first before it goes to my blog. 

If you use Always or Sometimes for Comment Moderation - then you must provide an email address (#4a) for those comments to go to. I do recommend having an email address designated for blogging comments - it's easier that way. 

If you chose Never then all comments will go directly to your blog.

You will still see them in your email Inbox but they will not be moderated. If there is a comment you don’t like you will need to manually delete it in the Comment area (circled in green), on the vertical menu bar. 

Remember to report spam to Blogger - they do try and block as much as they can but they need our help to keep on top of it.

A note about Word Verification - it does cut spam down - but it also deters commenting. It is a frustrating step and many visitors will move on rather than jump through the hoop. So try the other options listed above first. If all else fails with cutting down spam then try word verification. 

Also...a fun fact - did you know you only need to type the WV letters not the numbers. I found this out some time ago and when I come across WV I now just put in the letters - works like a charm. (not that WV is charming - I still dislike it)

Last, #5 Comment Form Message - if there is something specific, or just a simple salutation, you want to leave for your visitors that are commenting this is where you do it, they will see it when leaving a comment.  

CHANGING YOUR BLOG PASSWORD

Click on the little arrow on the right side of your avatar which is located in the upper right hand corner of your Dashboard.

Once open Click on Account Settings... the rest should be straight forward.

Anytime you see a little ? next to something it means there’s an explanation for that item you're looking at. 

Note: within each of the Dashboard pages there is a Send feedback button on the bottom right-hand corner - I use this often when I am having a problem. Although Blogger does not respond directly to them they do take feedback seriously. So don't be afraid to give them what for if you're having a problem.

That's it!

I hope this has been helpful - I remember what it was like as a new blogger; it can be very frustrating and lonely out there when you're trying to figure things out behind the scene.


I'm far from being an expert but I like sharing what I do know and what seems to work.

Good luck!

Cheers, Jenny

To those with a few more blogging miles under your belts:

How many of you remember those early days?

Do you miss the old Blogger Dashboard? Or are you liking the current setup?