How to Stop Spam Comments Without Blocking Backlinks

Want to stop spam comments on your blog but keep backlinks working? Use this 2025 WordPress fix to block bots without hurting SEO.

Are you getting spam comments on your WordPress blog, but also creating backlinks to your other websites like WhiteBalanceAI.com? If so, you need a solution that blocks bots but still allows legit links and discussions.

When I first launched my wellness blog CalorieMatters.com, the comment section quickly filled up with random links, fake offers, and trashy sales pitches. But I couldn’t just shut it down — I was also using the comment section to build backlinks to my new website, WhiteBalanceAI.com.

So I needed a way to stop spam without breaking backlinks or losing community trust.

This blog shares the exact settings I use now to keep spam out — automatically — while keeping my real SEO strategy intact.

Why Spam Comments Are Dangerous

Even though spam doesn’t publish without your approval, it still:

Crowds your moderation dashboard
Slows down your WordPress backend
Might trick you into approving fake links
Hurts SEO if you accidentally publish one
Feels like digital trash piling up in your inbox

The worst part? It keeps coming.

But don’t worry — there’s a clean, SEO-safe way to stop it.

Your Goal: Block Spam Without Blocking Real Backlinks

You don’t want to:
❌ Turn off comments completely
❌ Block all links in comments
❌ Prevent discussions that help SEO

Instead, you want to:
✅ Filter bots and bad links
✅ Keep real readers and replies
✅ Continue building backlinks between your blogs

Let’s do it — step by step.

Steps To Stop spam comments

Step 1: Enable Smart Comment Moderation

Go to your WordPress dashboard and visit:
Settings → Discussion

Now check these smart options:

✅ Comment must be manually approved – You already have this ON.
✅ Hold a comment if it contains links – Set this to 1. (Most spam has links.)
✅ Comment blacklist – Add words like: viagra, casino, sex, loan, weight loss, etc.

This holds spam comments from publishing automatically — and flags suspicious ones for review.

Step 2: Install “Antispam Bee” (Free, No-Code Plugin)

Forget bulky anti-spam tools. Antispam Bee is lightweight, doesn’t slow down your site, and doesn’t mess with your real backlinks.

How to Install:

Go to Plugins → Add New
Search: Antispam Bee
Click Install → Activate

Recommended Settings for 2025:

Open: Settings → Antispam Bee

✅ Enable these options:

✅ Trust approved commenters
✅ Block comments from non-English languages (if your blog is English-only)
✅ Validate the IP address
✅ Delete existing spam after 2 days
✅ Notify admin by email (optional)
✅ Use local spam database

These settings block bots silently but don’t touch your backlinks between sites like CalorieMatters and WhiteBalanceAI.

Step 3: Keep Comments Open (But Smartly)

You might be tempted to shut off comments on all posts.

Don’t.

If you’re using your own blogs to build backlinks (like I do between CalorieMatters and WhiteBalanceAI), then comments are an SEO goldmine — but only if you manage them well.

Optional Tips:

Disable comments on old posts (bulk edit → uncheck “Allow comments”)
Allow comments only on specific categories (e.g., recipes, guides)
Use Jetpack or WPForms to add reCAPTCHA (if you’re getting bot hits)

Step 4: Clean Up Existing Spam

Even if you install Antispam Bee now, you might already have 100+ spam messages waiting in moderation.

Go to:
Comments → Spam
Then click: ✅ “Empty Spam”

You can also bulk delete pending ones that match spammy patterns.

Bonus Tip: Track Your Backlinks in Comments

If you’re adding backlinks from CalorieMatters to WhiteBalanceAI:

Use the comment box strategically. E.g., “I also explain this in detail here → [link]”
Monitor your Google Search Console for referral links
Don’t overdo exact match anchor text

Keep it natural, contextual, and value-driven.

Final Thoughts: Block Bots, Keep SEO Alive

If you’re a blogger like me — managing multiple websites and trying to build backlinks for SEO — you need to keep your comment section alive, but clean.

With these tools:

✅ You’ll stop spam before it starts
✅ You’ll save hours of moderation
✅ And your SEO strategy stays strong

FAQ of Stop Spam Comments

Will these tools block my own backlinks ?

No. As long as you approve your comment, links between your own blogs are safe.

Can I disable comments on some pages only ?

Yes. Go to Posts → Quick Edit and uncheck “Allow Comments” for any page you want to lock.

Will reCAPTCHA help block spam ?

Absolutely. It stops bots from even submitting the form.

Is it better to use Antispam Bee or Akismet ?

For personal blogs and GDPR-safe solutions, Antispam Bee is faster and doesn’t require Jetpack login.

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