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Fake Forum Posts?

by keyon
32 replies
In some of the small niche forums I visit regularly, I've noticed a slew of new "members" coming on board. Something that really sets these newcomers apart (from the regulars) is that their posts are better written, have more humor, and are usually longer than other posts in the thread. It's hard to knock them for contributing what seems to be decent editorial content, but something
smells fishy about the whole thing...and the regulars are smelling it too. Strange thing is that none have created a signature (at least not yet). Anyone know what's going on?
#fake #forum #posts
  • Profile picture of the author dadhere
    I wouldn't worry about it much. If the posting has good content, that's what matters. Usually the spammers who are looking to linkbuild just leave dumb posts that have been spun and are easily seen for what they are, junk.
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    • Profile picture of the author ashwin77
      Banned
      Originally Posted by dadhere View Post

      I wouldn't worry about it much. If the posting has good content, that's what matters. Usually the spammers who are looking to linkbuild just leave dumb posts that have been spun and are easily seen for what they are, junk.
      Yup! you are rite!
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  • Profile picture of the author Gail_Curran
    They are either paid forum posters (paid for by the forum owner) or copying and pasting content from other sources (spammers). The signature or spam is coming, if it hasn't appeared yet.
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    • Profile picture of the author keyon
      Originally Posted by Gail_Curran View Post

      They are either paid forum posters...
      Well, this was my first thought. The posts are a little too polished, which makes them seem somewhat out of place. I've tried finding duplicates online, but the posts seem to be unique.

      These are old, established forum sites, so it's not a matter of the forum owners trying to build something new.

      My gut feeling is that what I'm seeing is a product of some step-by-step course in internet marketing that tells you to build online authority by paying someone to write funny, engaging forum posts. Or maybe it's a strategy to build a mass collection of forum signatures that you can later sell?
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      • Profile picture of the author DianaHeuser
        Originally Posted by keyon View Post

        Well, this was my first thought. The posts are a little too polished, which makes them seem somewhat out of place. I've tried finding duplicates online, but the posts seem to be unique.
        I had to giggle at this. I am really sorry Keyon, but most times people are complaining that they get low quality posters or spammers, and now you suspect good quality posters. There are a few decent people out there that really do want to contribute and be part of a community.

        I would be grateful if I had a forum of quality posters adding value. I am not sure that I would be looking for the conspiracy theory behind that

        Di
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      • Profile picture of the author Robert M Gouge
        Originally Posted by keyon View Post

        Well, this was my first thought. The posts are a little too polished, which makes them seem somewhat out of place. I've tried finding duplicates online, but the posts seem to be unique.

        These are old, established forum sites, so it's not a matter of the forum owners trying to build something new.

        My gut feeling is that what I'm seeing is a product of some step-by-step course in internet marketing that tells you to build online authority by paying someone to write funny, engaging forum posts. Or maybe it's a strategy to build a mass collection of forum signatures that you can later sell?

        I do a little paid forum posting as part of my daily routine and you would be absolutely amazed at some of the sites who pay for posts. Some have been around for years, yet they still purchase to "get the juices flowing".
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        • Profile picture of the author keyon
          Originally Posted by Robert M Gouge View Post

          I do a little paid forum posting as part of my daily routine and you would be absolutely amazed at some of the sites who pay for posts. Some have been around for years, yet they still purchase to "get the juices flowing".
          Thanks for shedding some light on the topic.
          I'm just trying to understand what's happening behind the scenes -- good or bad.
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  • Profile picture of the author MaryPabelate
    Banned
    Well, any new forum requires content, activities. For these, forum administrators hire paid forum posters to develop content in the forum and forum would look active, over the time, the forum starts getting visitors from search engines slowly and this is how a new forum works.

    But, for a good forum, a reputed forum, the content should be informative and valuable to the society from the starting so that other free members would join then they would also post with quality as they would think that if I provided less quality posts then my account would be banned.
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  • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
    Why does it matter? If the posts are well written and informative, that's a good thing, right? Am I missing something here?
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    • Profile picture of the author Chris Silvey
      It has to be Aliens..
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    • Profile picture of the author keyon
      Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

      Why does it matter? If the posts are well written and informative, that's a good thing, right? Am I missing something here?
      Well, yeah...I think you are missing something here. In my opinion, just because a post is "well written and informative" doesn't necessarily mean it's good for a forum. I can go to Wikipedia for that.

      The purpose of a forum is to provide an environment where ideas are shared, scrutinized, and debated in real time. That makes them a unique, dynamic place on the Web where real people can interact with each other.

      The kind of threads I'm talking about don't really interact with anyone. They're kind of like "micro" articles -- with a lame attempt at the end to make the post appear to be a question.

      The thing that upsets me is that this kind of exploitation of forums is going to ruin it for us all. Once the forum administrators wise up to what's going on (in my niches they've been slow, but catching on fast), they'll probably disable links in signatures, switch to no-follow links (if they've haven't already), or follow their own knee-jerk reactions and start banning anyone who they think might be a spammer (which I've been a victim of more than once).

      For anyone who is following an IM coaching program that encourages this kind of thing, let me tell you that your posts are more transparent than you think. Forum admins and long-standing forum members aren't buying it. It's pissing them off royally.
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      • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
        Originally Posted by keyon View Post

        Well, yeah...I think you are missing something here. In my opinion, just because a post is "well written and informative" doesn't necessarily mean it's good for a forum. I can go to Wikipedia for that.

        The purpose of a forum is to provide an environment where ideas are shared, scrutinized, and debated in real time. That makes them a unique, dynamic place on the Web where real people can interact with each other.

        The kind of threads I'm talking about don't really interact with anyone. They're kind of like "micro" articles -- with a lame attempt at the end to make the post appear to be a question.

        The thing that upsets me is that this kind of exploitation of forums is going to ruin it for us all. Once the forum administrators wise up to what's going on (in my niches they've been slow, but catching on fast), they'll probably disable links in signatures, switch to no-follow links (if they've haven't already), or follow their own knee-jerk reactions and start banning anyone who they think might be a spammer (which I've been a victim of more than once).

        For anyone who is following an IM coaching program that encourages this kind of thing, let me tell you that your posts are more transparent than you think. Forum admins and long-standing forum members aren't buying it. It's pissing them off royally.
        Well, gee whiz. Now that you put it that way. With the blatant exploitation of forums and transparency of the posts and everything. I hadn't considered the seriousness of this matter. :rolleyes:
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        • Profile picture of the author keyon
          Originally Posted by travlinguy View Post

          Well, gee whiz. Now that you put it that way. With the blatant exploitation of forums and transparency of the posts and everything. I hadn't considered the seriousness of this matter. :rolleyes:
          Hmm. Maybe I'm the only one who wants forums to be unique from all the other rubbish I have to weed through on the Web. Maybe I'm dreaming.

          Maybe my next post on WF will read something like this:

          I'm a newbie here. Thinking about getting into internet marketing. I was just reading about how internet marketing, also known as web marketing, online marketing, webvertising, is considered to be broad in scope because it not only refers to marketing on the Internet, but also includes marketing done via e-mail and wireless media. Not only that, but I also found out that digital customer data and electronic customer relationship management (ECRM) systems are also often grouped together under that same crazy internet marketing title. Is it just me, or am I biting off more bits than I can chew?

          Good, well-written, informative post.
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          • Profile picture of the author Robert M Gouge
            Originally Posted by keyon View Post

            Hmm. Maybe I'm the only one who wants forums to be unique from all the other rubbish I have to weed through on the Web. Maybe I'm dreaming.

            Maybe my next post on WF will read something like this:

            I'm a newbie here. Thinking about getting into internet marketing. I was just reading about how internet marketing, also known as web marketing, online marketing, webvertising, is considered to be broad in scope because it not only refers to marketing on the Internet, but also includes marketing done via e-mail and wireless media. Not only that, but I also found out that digital customer data and electronic customer relationship management (ECRM) systems are also often grouped together under that same crazy internet marketing title. Is it just me, or am I biting off more bits than I can chew?

            Good, well-written, informative post.
            If it's that big of a deal, why not call them out on the forum. Be the hero. Go to any well-written, informative post and just tear right into the original poster.

            Do this to each and every one you see.

            One of two things will happen:

            1. The forum owners and veterans who are "royally pissed" will applaud and congratulate you and usher you on to victory, while giving you Admin rights.

            2. You'll get banned and realize that the only person who is really worried about this "problem" is you.
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            • Profile picture of the author keyon
              Originally Posted by Robert M Gouge View Post

              If it's that big of a deal, why not call them out on the forum. Be the hero.
              For the time being, I'm just observing. Not sure what their strategy is exactly. Like I say, I haven't seen any sigs yet, and I suppose it's possible the forum owners are buying and planting the posts themselves (like others have suggested). Otherwise, bringing all this to the attention of the admins and/or members would only encourage them to disallow links in sigs or switch to no-follow. Oh well.
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          • Profile picture of the author travlinguy
            Originally Posted by keyon View Post

            Hmm. Maybe I'm the only one who wants forums to be unique from all the other rubbish I have to weed through on the Web. Maybe I'm dreaming.

            Maybe my next post on WF will read something like this:

            I'm a newbie here. Thinking about getting into internet marketing. I was just reading about how internet marketing, also known as web marketing, online marketing, webvertising, is considered to be broad in scope because it not only refers to marketing on the Internet, but also includes marketing done via e-mail and wireless media. Not only that, but I also found out that digital customer data and electronic customer relationship management (ECRM) systems are also often grouped together under that same crazy internet marketing title. Is it just me, or am I biting off more bits than I can chew?

            Good, well-written, informative post.
            Dude (apologies if you're not a boy),

            I think I understand where you're coming from. But forums are forums. To some people they're the dregs of the Internet. Most are completely free. Most people are completely anonymous. Many are completely unmoderated. Most of the stuff you see on most forums is utter bullsh*t.

            Unless you have the powers of all the super heroes in all the comic books you ain't gonna change any of that, so why fret over it?

            Good luck.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bruce NewMedia
    Just my opinion, but I think I'd rather read a fake, well-written, informed post than a real, but useless post.
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  • Profile picture of the author Edwin Torres
    Their trying to get traffic by leaving random, small fake posts, but they should know, the way to get traffic is to provide value not spam. Tsk tsk
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    So now we're going to worry about good posts that actually contribute value to the forum? Really?

    My next WSO: Discover How You Can Write Mediocre Forum Posts That Do NOT Arouse Suspicion Because They Are Too Good! :rolleyes:
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    Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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    • Profile picture of the author keyon
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      So now we're going to worry about good posts that actually contribute value to the forum? Really?
      If the "good" post you're talking about is nothing more than a micro-article that was chopped up, spun, and then distributed to 100 different forums, then no --- I don't think that's contributing value to a forum. Sorry.

      I guess I don't mind the tricks we perform with SEO ---Google is just a dumb machine that doesn't know any better. But I do think forums are unique, with real people asking real questions and offering real advice (hopefully). The IM's can jerk me around all they want in the SERPs, I don't care, because that's the nature of organic search results. I just don't like being messed with in the middle of a thread.
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      • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
        Originally Posted by keyon View Post

        If the "good" post you're talking about is nothing more than a micro-article that was chopped up, spun, and then distributed to 100 different forums, then no --- I don't think that's contributing value to a forum. Sorry.
        Me neither, but that's not what you said in your original post. Here's what you said to begin with, and this is what I responded to:

        Originally Posted by keyon View Post

        In some of the small niche forums I visit regularly, I've noticed a slew of new "members" coming on board. Something that really sets these newcomers apart (from the regulars) is that their posts are better written, have more humor, and are usually longer than other posts in the thread. It's hard to knock them for contributing what seems to be decent editorial content, but something
        smells fishy about the whole thing...and the regulars are smelling it too. Strange thing is that none have created a signature (at least not yet). Anyone know what's going on?
        Originally Posted by keyon View Post

        The posts are a little too polished, which makes them seem somewhat out of place. I've tried finding duplicates online, but the posts seem to be unique.
        It seems you've completely changed what you were talking about in your direct reply to me.
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        Just when you think you've got it all figured out, someone changes the rules.

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        • Profile picture of the author keyon
          Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

          It seems you've completely changed what you were talking about in your direct reply to me. So which is it ... better written posts that have more humor and decent editorial content; or chopped up, spun articles that are mass distributed?
          Maybe I'm not making myself clear. Sorry about that.

          If what I'm seeing in a forum is spun content, or content written by a professional copy writer, or content that in one way or another is not really coming from a forum member who joined the forum because he/she is genuinely interested in the subject, then it doesn't make any difference to me how well the post is written, how much humor it has, or how decent the editorial content is. The fact is, the content exists for the sole purpose of supporting a marketing campaign, and not the forum community itself.

          Am I missing something here?
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          • Profile picture of the author fluffythewondercat
            No, you're not missing anything, and most of the responses you've gotten have been a bit cruel so far.

            Not only are you right on the money, but the WF has a rule about these kinds of "article" posts. They're forbidden here for the very reasons you describe. Forums exist for the purpose of nurturing a community. If you come in, post a long manifesto and leave, that doesn't do much to start a conversation.

            If forum owners are commissioning articles, they should be more careful about their instructions to the writers. But it almost sounds as though the article poster is trying to stuff keywords, if the sample you gave is any indication.

            Unless you have the powers of all the super heroes in all the comic books you ain't gonna change any of that, so why fret over it?

            Keyon is trying to learn. Isn't that what people come here for?

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          • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
            Originally Posted by keyon View Post

            Maybe I'm not making myself clear. Sorry about that.

            If what I'm seeing in a forum is spun content, or content written by a professional copy writer, or content that in one way or another is not really coming from a forum member who joined the forum because he/she is genuinely interested in the subject, then it doesn't make any difference to me how well the post is written, how much humor it has, or how decent the editorial content is. The fact is, the content exists for the sole purpose of supporting a marketing campaign, and not the forum community itself.

            Am I missing something here?
            Thanks for the clarification. Having the full explanation helps a great deal.

            No, you're not missing anything, you're entitled to your opinion. I happen to disagree, but that doesn't make me right or you wrong - it just means we see things differently. I can see being concerned about obvious spam, I report enough of that here, but to worry about good content ... I'd just enjoy it. Be careful about looking for devils, you might start seeing them everywhere.

            Have you considered that the forum might just be gaining enough traction to draw a more diverse crowd, including a better caliber of writers and thinkers than you're used to seeing there? Just a thought...
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    • Profile picture of the author Walter Parrish
      Originally Posted by Dennis Gaskill View Post

      So now we're going to worry about good posts that actually contribute value to the forum? Really?

      My next WSO: Discover How You Can Write Mediocre Forum Posts That Do NOT Arouse Suspicion Because They Are Too Good! :rolleyes:
      lol
      In some way I think this falls in with people who think we're crazy, wasting money in IM and later think we are doing something illegal after we make the Big Bucks lol

      we just can't win
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  • Profile picture of the author JerrickYeoh
    Might be post by their own admin which create lot of user and post it to make the forum look like lot of active user. This is their way to attract people come to their forum when it seems like lot of active user in the forum.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Originally Posted by keyon View Post

    In some of the small niche forums I visit regularly, I've noticed a slew of new "members" coming on board. Something that really sets these newcomers apart (from the regulars) is that their posts are better written, have more humor, and are usually longer than other posts in the thread. It's hard to knock them for contributing what seems to be decent editorial content, but something
    smells fishy about the whole thing...and the regulars are smelling it too. Strange thing is that none have created a signature (at least not yet). Anyone know what's going on?
    I find it odd when people create a forum sig. on a new forum profile.

    To each his own...
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  • Profile picture of the author rising_sun
    Banned
    If the posts are quality and topics related no matter ,
    If the problem is complex just complain against them to the admin.
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  • Profile picture of the author vCr8
    IMHO... first of all I think this is actually a great problem lol... I personally think that as long as the posts makes sense, is relevant to the discussion and is informative, then It is fine. Let's face it with or without the intention of gaining anything from the forum as long as they are relevant to the forum you can't even question their presence in the forum or mark them as spam. imagine this "you're posts are too smart, humorous...you don't have a signature now but I think you will put one later on, and I think you're fake" .. Well just because most forum posters adds non sense and less humor on the discussion does not make smart and humorous ones fake...
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  • Profile picture of the author bhushan@rancor
    It is good but can't affect me because if you write good and unique content then you should not worry about it..
    You should focus on your words and not need to worry about it.In this worlds changes are Happened by time.so chill...
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  • Profile picture of the author icoachu
    The most obvious is that they are PAID posters to get people talking. Some Indian and Filipino companies sell them for 2 cents to 25 cents a post.

    They can be promoting a CONCEPT instead of a site. This comes in handy when you buy and sell certain "trend" domains.

    Also, they might be bumping posts with urls made by a "regular"

    They could also be helping in BLOG TROLLING Trolling Your Way to the Top of Google - Idea66 - Internet Tips and Updates

    There are many many reasons why you're seeing what you're seeing. They aren't all OBVIOUS
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