Is following (I don't mean "being followed") in any way a marketing ploy?

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  philsheehan · Member · May 23, 2013 at 2:06 pm

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  I don’t mind followers, though it was only recently that I realized such creatures existed, and am pleased at some of those I now have. However — there’s always a “however” — quite a few of mine seem, well, odd is the first word which comes to mind. For example: dozens from unexpected parts of the world, from people whose own blogs are in a language I cannot begin to read; then there are those, in whatever language, which seem completely commercial, as if there were some marketing or advertising benefit attached to following my quiet little out-of-the-way rants. I don’t want — necessarily — to dis or disown any followers, but neither do I want unknowingly to help promote an idea or person or enterprise about which I know nothing and probably care less. Can you assure me that such is not going to happen?

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  amightywp · Member · May 23, 2013 at 5:58 pm

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  Hi there,

  The kinds of followers which you seem to be referring to are called “Spam followers.” They will follow people that they do not necessarily know in an attempt to get their own blog, site, or email address listed in additional locations, which they hope in return will help their Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

  While what they are doing is not harmful to you in any way, at present we do not have a way to prevent it (though we are working on means to do so), as WordPress.com is free and they are welcome to follow anyone’s blog that they like. We recommend that you do not interact with any follower that you do not know or who seems illegitimate. We can of course remove any follower for you that you would like us to, but please note that they can refollow you again immediately and so this will not have any real effect.