As mentioned in the previous post, Google Blogger defines Spam blogs as “Blogs engaged in link spamming are called spam blogs, and can be recognized by their irrelevant, repetitive, or nonsensical text, along with a large number of links, usually all pointing to a single site.”
Since virtually all blogs closed and reviewed (98.8%) are defined by Google as Spam blogs, it is important to understand exactly what a Spam blog is.
“irrelevant, repetitive, or nonsensical text” does not mean that a subjective review of a blog’s content is done and someone critiques the posts? NO, this refers to a specific type of posting style. We know this because in the Blogger Content Policy, it clearly states, “Blogger is a free service for communication, self-expression and freedom of speech.” If the contents of a blog were subject to someone critiquing and judging on subjective merit or worthiness, than that would clearly be censorship, and Blogger is quite clear on this – “We respect our users' ownership of and responsibility for the content they choose to share. It is our belief that censoring this content is contrary to a service that bases itself on freedom of expression.”
“along with a large number of links, usually all pointing to a single site.” What does that mean? What constitutes a large number? “USUALLY”…. but not always? Is this where the subjective part of their review process comes into play? NO, because they link to the Wikpedia definition of “Link Spamming” which provides details about what kind of links this refers to.
Further down in the Content Policy;
”Spam: Spam takes several forms in Blogger, all of which can result in deletion of your account or blog. Some examples include creating blogs designed to drive traffic to your site or to move it up in search listings, posting comments on other people's blogs simply to promote your site or product, and scraping existing content from other sources for the primary purpose of generating revenue or other personal gains.”
So it seems pretty straight forward and clear right? It should be pretty easy to spot a Spam blog once they are uncovered. Any normal person should be able to view a splog and say with certainty – Yes, that is definitely a spam blog!
But for some reason it is NOT that straight forward and clear.
I have yet to see ONE Monster Truck blog that has been defined as a Splog have the characteristics outlined above. There must be another criteria that we don’t know about. It can’t be because we are Monster Truck blogs, there is just no way that would be tolerated – so what is the hidden criteria?
It seems pretty simple to me, if most of the blogs being shut down do not display the above characteristics but they are all breaking another Spam rule, maybe they didn’t know they weren’t supposed to be doing that. MAYBE YOU SHOULD ADD IT TO YOUR LIST OF WHAT NOT TO DO!! … so people would stop doing it… and we could get back to our Monster Truck blogging!
Next post… Link Spamming – A Closer Look
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