Getting too much email spam from your website?

Use a CAPTCHA to Stop Bots

Bots are the main culprits behind spam. Adding a CAPTCHA to your contact forms—like Google reCAPTCHA—makes bots prove they’re human before submitting. It’s a quick setup with plugins like Contact Form 7 or WPForms, and it stops most automated spam in its tracks. Hip Bip’s tip: Pick a user-friendly CAPTCHA to avoid frustrating real customers.

Skip the mailto: Links

Don’t put your email in “mailto:” links or list it openly on your site. Bots scrape these like candy. Instead, use a contact form to collect messages securely. Forms let you control the input and keep your email hidden. If you’re a plumber or coffee shop owner, a form saying “Get a Quote” or “Book a Table” works better anyway.

Add a Honeypot Field

A honeypot is a hidden form field that bots fill out but humans don’t see. When a bot submits the form, the honeypot catches it, and the message gets blocked. Plugins like WP Armour or Anti-Spam by CleanTalk make this easy to set up. It’s like setting a trap for pests—simple and effective.

Enable Akismet for Comments

If your site allows comments, spam bots will target them. Akismet, a plugin that often comes with WordPress, filters out spammy comments automatically. Set it up, activate it, and let it do the heavy lifting. This keeps your blog or review section clean without extra work.

Limit Form Submissions

Bots love to hammer forms with repeated submissions. Use a plugin to limit how often someone can submit a form from the same IP address. Tools like WPForms or Formidable Forms have settings to block rapid-fire submissions. It’s like locking the door after the first knock.

Keep Plugins Updated

Outdated plugins are a spammer’s playground. They can exploit old code to sneak spam through your site. Regularly update your WordPress core, themes, and plugins to patch vulnerabilities. Hip Bip’s advice: Set a monthly reminder to check for updates—it takes five minutes and saves headaches.

Use a Reputable Hosting Provider

Cheap hosting can mean weak security, letting spam bots slip through cracks. Choose a trusted host with built-in spam protection, like SiteGround or WP Engine. They often include firewalls and malware scanning, which act like a bouncer for your site.

Wrap-Up: Keep It Simple, Keep It Safe

Reducing spam doesn’t need to be complicated. Start with a CAPTCHA, ditch mailto: links, and add a honeypot. Keep Akismet running, limit submissions, update plugins, and pick a solid host. These steps will cut spam down to a trickle, letting you focus on running your business. You’ve got this—Hip Bip’s here to help.