This would be the one and only time I have publically opposed the WordPress team. Matt announced their new anti-spam solution, Akismat, which filters all blog spam through a centralized spam filter. Sort of like TypeKey.
From the Akismart website:
When a new comment, trackback, or pingback comes to your blog it is submitted to the Akismet web service which runs hundreds of tests on the comment and returns a thumbs up or thumbs down.
Of course, the concept is not new but I applaud the product.
The issue I have with the promotion of Akismet, is the deception in which it is being marketed. If you have a WordPress.com hosted blog, you may have noticed the recent addition of a new mystery, the API Key. The secret to this key was a tightly held secret until today when Akismet was launched. To use Akismet, a user needs to have an API key which is provided with WordPress.com blogs and can be purchased for $5/month or $55/year for use on WordPress self-hosted blogs or other platforms.
Still, no issue. WordPress makes very little money, from my understanding. Any way for them to generate revenue to support the ongoing development and enhancement of the mostly widely used blogging software is cool by me. Hell, I’d PAY for a WordPress license if they decided to put it up for sale, as MoveableType did.
What bothers me is that they are dressing this gimmick up as a nice, freebie “gift” for WordPress.com users while hiding the fact that the goal is to get other bloggers to pay for it. Ask me to pay for it and there is no issue. Pretend like you’re not, and it’s a huge issue.
I left a comment on Matt’s entry and, although I respect him and expect he would not remove my comment, it might be seen as negative press. For the sake of preserving my statements, I post my comment here.
I get it but I don’t. A free account is only for WordPress.com, but you say:
“Of course if you’re only blogging on WordPress.com you don’t have to worry about this, we’re already handling all your spam problems for you.”
How do you reconcile that? It seems to be an obvious drive for cash dressed up as if it was a free gift and good for the community. Matt, I don’t mind you and the WordPress team making money. In fact, I think you should. What I resent, as a loyal WordPress follower, is being decieved.
Am I missing something here?
Matt, please clarify what is happening here. You owe it to us.
Update: Matt has clarified that bloggers who make under $500/mo can get it free. Dialogue on his entry.
Update #2: Per Matt, if you have a WordPress.com blog, you can use the API key found in the control panel on any blog making under $500/mo. Thanks, Matt!
Update #3: I have downloaded Akismet and plugged in my API key. Here’s a screenshot of the spam caught (mostly stuff I’ve marked as spam previous to it being installed). As you can see, it gives the opportunity for you to teach it. If an item is not spam, check it and remove it from the spam database. Click on screenshot for full size.
Stumble it!
About the Author: Aaron Brazell is the lead editor of Technosailor.com and a social media expert. His passion is to see companies and individuals use the internet and web technologies wisely and effectively to promote their brands and companies. He served as Director of Technology at b5media from 2005-2008 and is currently an independent consultant.
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Akismet is free for personal use. You need a wordpress.com account (and API key) to use Akismet. However, wordpress.com blogs are already protected by Akismet. So you only need to install Akismet and use the API key on your own personal blogs.
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I'm never thrilled with these exclusive sign up things and tend to stay away from them when possible, but the gimmick of "invites" and "exclusive" continues to work. Hype and being "one of the first" motivates people to try just about anything. I feel like an old fuddy duddy, but I like waiting until everyone else has suffered the bugs before I plunge in.
But hype sells. And like they say, if it works, don't fix it.
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I, of course, concur.