#bloggingquestions — Public Fediverse posts

Nine Questions That Got My Readers Talking — Which One Would You Answer? https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2026/08/31/nine-questions-that-got-my-readers-talking-which-one-would-you-answer/ #BloggerHighlights, #Blogging, #BloggingCommunity, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingRoundup, #BloggingTips, #CommunitySpotlight, #MonthlyRoundup, #Q&A, #ReaderQuestions

Nine Questions That Got My Readers Talking — Which One Would You Answer?

The best conversations I’ve ever had on this blog didn’t start with me talking — they started with me asking.

• Do you believe in ghosts or the unexplained? I shared a piece of flash fiction that still gives me chills — and some of the readers’ comments made it even more unsettling.
• What’s the one thing you can do to help other bloggers? It’s simpler than you think, costs nothing, and most of us forget to do it.
• Is it time to get rid of the WordPress ‘Like’ button? I made the case that it might be doing more harm than good — not everyone agreed, and the debate got interesting.
• Are you a serial blog liker? You know the type. You might even be one. I certainly had to take a hard look at myself.
• Do you have any silly signs you’d like to share with us? Fish, chips, beaches, and some truly baffling public signage — this one was just fun.
• Are there any such things as blogging myths? I tackled some of the beliefs that new (and not-so-new) bloggers swear by — and a few of them don’t hold up.
• When was the last time somebody left you a robotic praise comment? We’ve all had them. But are they harmless or quietly killing your community?
• Does loneliness really exist? A piece of flash fiction that seemed to touch a nerve — more readers connected with this one than I expected.
• QR codes and blogging. Do they work together? I tried it during my August blog housekeeping. Here’s what I found out.

Which of the questions would you most like to answer? Drop it in the comments.

Each of the questions above links to a recent post I’ve published – ones you might have missed or may want to revisit. Either way, this is my latest roundup from Hugh’s Views and News, all gathered in one place for you.

Did I have a favourite post? Yes. The post about loneliness, although a piece of flash fiction, made me think about how my circle of family and friends seems to have gotten smaller as I have gotten older, prompting me to reach out.

Feel free to leave feedback on this new way I’m highlighting recent blog posts. It’s always great to hear from you.

What’s the one blogging question you’d love to see me tackle next? Drop it in the comments and it might just become my next post.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to leave a comment here. If you’re responding to one of the featured posts, leave your comment on that post instead so other readers can easily find and join the conversation there.

The featured image in this post was created using the WordPress image generator. AI was used to check for grammar and spelling mistakes and to help with the layout of the post.

You can follow me at the following sites.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Please feel free to share this post.

Blogging Questions and Highlights: What's on your Mind? https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2026/06/15/blogging-questions-and-highlights-whats-on-your-mind/ #BlogEngagement, #BlogRoundup, #Blogging, #BloggingCommunity, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTips, #HughsViewsAndNews, #MonthlyRoundup, #WordPressBlogging by @HughWRoberts

Blogging Questions and Highlights: What’s on your Mind?

The longer I’ve been blogging, the more I’ve realised it’s the questions that shape the journey just as much as the posts themselves. I often find myself reflecting on engagement, design, community, and the small decisions that quietly influence how this blog evolves. In this post, I’m revisiting some of those questions — not because I have all the answers, but because they continue to make me think.

• Do you know what pingbacks are and how they function?
• How many blog posts should you publish each week to keep your blog alive?
• Have you had any recent blogging snapshots you’d like to share with the world?
• What blogging wins and achievements have you recently been awarded?
• What will happen to your blog when you are no longer around?

And one final question:

• Will you help me by signing a petition on a subject that is very close to my heart?

Each of the questions above links to a recent post I’ve published – ones you might have missed or may want to revisit. Either way, this is my latest roundup from Hugh’s Views and News, all gathered in one place for you.

Feel free to leave feedback on the new way I’m highlighting recent blog posts. It’s always great to hear from you.

Join the Conversation

I’d love to hear from you, so please feel free to leave a comment here. If you’re responding to one of the featured posts, leave your comment on that post instead so other readers can easily find and join the conversation there.

The featured image in this post was created using the WordPress image generator. AI was used to check for grammar and spelling mistakes and to help with the layout of the post.

You can follow me at the following sites.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Blogging – Is It All That You Want It To Be?

On February 12th 2026, I passed a blogging milestone. WordPress informed me that I’d been blogging for 12 years! But that notification made me ask myself questions as I looked back on those 12 years.

I know bloggers who have been blogging longer than I and who continue to write and publish posts full of interesting, high-quality content. Not only do they care deeply about what they write, but also about what they publish. That makes all the difference.

I’ve seen thousands of bloggers come and go in those 12 years. Some disappeared without a trace, while others hung up their blogging gloves and announced their departure. The ones I felt the sorriest for were those who stopped blogging because they couldn’t get the engagement, hits, or followers they craved. Many went about it the wrong way.

Some came here solely to make money, while others came more for collecting numbers than for engagement. They don’t last long and end up cluttering the World Wide Web with abandoned blogs in the blog graveyard. It’s a sad sight. I hope you never end up there.

From the beginning

I can count on one hand the number of bloggers who have been with me since that first year. I often ask myself why they’re still reading my posts and leaving comments, but I won’t dwell on that lack of confidence here. All I will say is that I must be doing something right.

Unfollowing blogs

Unfollowing blogs is something I see many shy away from discussing. It’s as if it’s a ‘hush-hush’ subject. Something that gets swept under the carpet. But not me, no. I’ve written about it and had great discussions about it in the comments section of posts, but hardly ever on other blogs. Perhaps I’m looking in the wrong places?

I’ll be honest: I’ve unfollowed many blogs over the years. Why do some bloggers not like talking about unfollowing blogs?

Why do I unfollow blogs?

For many reasons, but mainly when I lose interest in the content.

One of the biggest mysteries is why I stop hearing from many of the bloggers I unfollow. I probably stopped following them because I was no longer interested in their content. But why do they go silent? Surely not for the same reason? Or was it a coincidence that we simultaneously lost interest in each other’s content?

The different faces of bloggers

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting some bloggers face-to-face. For me, that’s been one of the highs of blogging. However, I know that some bloggers like to remain anonymous. And they’ve every right to remain anonymous. Being behind a screen can feel safe, but it isn’t always. I won’t talk about the trolls here because trolls like being talked about.

Ups and downs

I’ve had my ups and I had my downs with blogging. It’s like being on a rollercoaster that some bloggers can’t get off. I’ve alighted from the blogging rollercoaster a few times during blogging breaks.

Some of those breaks lasted months, while others lasted a few weeks. But they all had something in common. They helped me step back, take a look at what I was doing and how I was doing it, and, most importantly, change the way I blogged. I always came back refreshed, and, despite what some say, readers do not stop following you when you take a break.

Like everything else in life, blogging changes. It would be a very dull place if it didn’t change. Can you imagine what life would be like if it never changed?

Changes

Since I first started blogging, things have changed massively. I’m talking about the WordPress platform here. I was never a fan of change, but I’m confident that the changes I’ve seen here on WordPress have made blogging much more fun. Blogging has moved into the 21st century.

Those changes helped propel my blog to an even wider audience. Unfortunately, some bloggers got left behind, but I never wanted to be one of them. There’s too much at stake when remaining stagnant.

At first, the changes looked like they would cause problems, but rather than complain about what I believed were problems, I adjusted to them and saw vast improvements for me, other bloggers, and readers. It’s like climbing a ladder. The higher you get, the more you see and learn, and the more you can make a difference.

Change can make some problems frustrating, but you become stale by taking no action or hoping others will tackle your issues. Don’t allow your sparkle to dim by not adapting to change. I’ve seen too many blogs fade away because they refused to change. I miss many of those blogs.

The two biggest blogging traps to look out for

Most of the people I have encountered in the blogging world are friendly. However, not all help themselves. By this, I mean that some bloggers seem to believe they have to be everywhere at all times. It’s one of the biggest blogging traps bloggers fall into, one that can turn their blogging world upside down and inside out, and leave them feeling stressed or guilty. It’s a horrible place, yet it is easy to escape – if you allow it.

Spreading yourself too thin doesn’t make you more popular. It only makes you less interesting.

Some bloggers apologise for dealing with life outside of the blogging world. Some apologise for not visiting your blog. I recently witnessed a blogger apologising for being late in leaving a comment. The post had only been published the day before she left the comment. I don’t know why they believe they need to apologise. Nobody needs to apologise for dealing with life outside of blogging or for not visiting a blog. And if the comments section of a post is open, you are not too late in commenting.

That’s my quick look at the last 12 years. But, before I end this post, I want to thank everyone who visits my blog, reads my posts, and, most of all, engages with me in a way that sparks discussion.

How long have you been blogging? Is blogging all that you want it to be? Let me know in the comments section.

You can follow me at the following sites.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Blogrolls: What Happens When Adding One To Your Blog

A blogroll is a curated list of links to other blogs or websites that a blogger recommends, follows, or finds interesting, which they can display on their blog. Usually shown in a blog or website’s sidebar, footer, menu bar, or dedicated page, it helps foster community, share resources, and help readers find related content. Essentially, it is a “roll” of recommended blogs. 

Unfortunately, WordPress deprecated the Links/Blogroll widget several years ago. However, users of the Block Editor can now access the ‘Blogroll’ block to display a list of recommended or followed blogs.

If, like me, your blog has a widget bar, you can show the blogroll there. If you don’t have a widget bar, you can display a blogroll on a page, post, or in the menubar of your blog.

In this post, I will show you how to create a blogroll in a widget bar and on a blog post or page. I’m using an iMac desktop computer for this.

How to add a blogroll to a widget bar.

• On your blog’s dashboard, navigate to Appearance – Widgets and click the ‘+‘ symbol in the top right corner.

• Find the Blogroll block by typing ‘Blogroll’ in the search bar. Click on the Blogroll block to add it to your widget bar.

For some reason, when you add a Blogroll block, it automatically populates with several blogs, some of which you may not recognise. I found this quite odd, but it’s simple to remove any unwanted ones.

• To delete a blog, select the blog you wish to remove, then click the three vertical dots (kebab menu) and choose Delete.

• To add blogs, click on the ‘+‘ symbol and select from the list that appears or use the search bar to find the blogs you wish to add.

• To change the name of your blogroll, click next to ‘Blogroll‘ and add your own description.

• Click the Update button in the top right corner to publish the Blogroll in the widget bar.

• Check your blog to ensure the Blogroll widget is visible. You can see the blogroll I created towards the bottom of the widget bar on the right side of my blog.

How to add a blog roll to a page or post.

• Add the Blogroll block anywhere on a page or post.

• To add or remove blogs from your blogroll list, follow the instructions above.

Remember that you can change the name of your blogroll. However, be aware that if your blogroll contains many blogs, it will take up a lot of space on the post or page.

You can also convert your blogroll into a reusable block, now called a Pattern, by clicking on the block, then selecting the three dots (kebab menu) and choosing ‘Create Pattern.’

A reusable block on WordPress, now often called a Synced Pattern, is a feature that allows you to save a specific block or group of blocks for use across multiple posts or pages. This is particularly helpful for those selling items on their blog, such as books. For example, if a link to your books needs updating or the price changes, the updates are automatically reflected everywhere the block appears. Clever stuff!

To answer the question I raised in the title of this post, what happens when you add a blog roll to your site? Well, that’s straightforward. It means you promote the blogs you enjoy reading most. In doing so, you help foster a community and bring its members closer together. In turn, you’ll be supporting them in developing their blogs and community. What better way to say ‘thank you’ to those special people?

I’m looking forward to seeing your blogrolls as I’m looking for some new blogs to follow. If you have a blogroll on your blog, let me know.

Have you ever created a blogroll on your own blog? Which blogs or websites did you include? How do you think a blogroll can improve the reader’s experience on a blog? How often do you update your blogroll or the blogs you follow? Have you come across any new blogs from fellow bloggers’ blogrolls? If so, which ones?

The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

You can follow me at the following sites.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

#BlockEditor #Blogging #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #Blogroll #CommunityBuilding #HowTo #Widgets #WordPress

Celebrating 2025: 12 Most Inspiring Posts That Defined the Year!

If you happen to be reading this in January, then it’s officially ‘Happy New Year!’ If it’s any other month, well, ‘Happy New Year’ anyway—because let’s face it, every day is just a chance to start fresh, much like your New Year’s resolution to stop binge-watching shows… which you’ve probably already forgotten by now!

I’m diving headfirst into 2026 with a parade of my 12 most beloved posts from 2025, all crafted by yours truly. Maybe they slipped under your radar, or perhaps you’re just itching to relive them—feel free to leave a fresh comment, even if you’ve already showered them with praise before. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a little comment déjà vu?

Click the links to view the posts.

January

Navigating the Social Media Landscape: My Journey with Five Platforms

I kicked the year off talking ‘Social Media,’ a subject that became a hot topic during 2025, sometimes for the wrong reasons.

Not only can social media be a ravenous beast in eating up a lot of your time, but it’s also a fantastic way to promote your blog posts, the posts of other bloggers (a great way to support other bloggers), and, best of all, it’s free to use unless you decide to pay for a subscription.

I not only shouted out the three social media platforms I’m still romancing, but I also gave a little eulogy for the ones I’ve ghosted. After all, as someone hilariously pointed out, ‘spreading yourself too thinly on social media is like trying to butter a piece of toast with a frozen brick of butter—good luck with that!’

February

Why Every Blogger Needs an Engaging ‘About’ Page: Key Elements and Tips

Do you know who you are? I hope most of you chimed in with a confident ‘Yes!’ But how well do you know the owners of the blogs you follow? I mean, do you really know them, or are they just mysterious internet wizards pulling strings from their lairs?

I’m still somewhat bemused by the number of bloggers who have an ‘About’ page that says, ‘This is the template for telling your audience a little about yourself and what you blog about,’ – well, something along those lines.

It’s truly wonderful to share a bit about yourself on your blog! You don’t need to provide a lot of information—a first name and a little insight into your location can go a long way. Plus, letting visitors know what your blog is about will help create a friendly connection and encourage them to explore your unique perspective!

As you’ll see in the comments section of the post, many bloggers won’t engage, let alone follow a blog that has no information about its host(s).

March

The Ultimate Guide to Engaging on Bluesky: Tips, Features, and Strategies for Success

Although published 10 months ago, this post from March 2025 is still attracting attention, making it my top pick of the month! If you’re a BlueSky user, this post is an absolute gem, offering you the fantastic opportunity to not just get your blog posts read but also to inspire meaningful engagement from your readers.

Even if you don’t have a Bluesky account yet, it’s worth a read, as the information contained within the post can apply to other social media platforms.

April

Astonishing! Some Bloggers Kill Off Comments On Their Blogs. Why?

Talking of engagement, imagine my shock when, in April, there was a lot of talk amongst bloggers about killing off commenting on their blogs.

Most of the talk was on social media, but I also noticed that some bloggers had decided to disable commenting on their posts, citing the amount of time it took to respond.

But isn’t that what blogging is all about? Being able to engage, discuss and ask questions? Check the comments for the answers.

May

The Best Ultimate Guide To Why Alt-Text Is Important

It’s a sad fact that not everyone who visits your blog can see images or photos. Fortunately, WordPress allows users to add Alt-Text to all images in blog posts. This helps visitors who use screen readers and other software that describe images to know what’s in them. Sadly, many bloggers don’t help these visitors by not adding Alt-Text to their pictures.

Don’t know what Alt-Text is? Check out the post for details. And once you read it, make it a mission to welcome everyone to your blog.

June

This Is The One Thing You Can Do To Help Bloggers

What’s the one thing you could do to help other bloggers?

I’m sure there are many different answers to that question, but the answer I give in my post is one that I’m positive the majority of bloggers want! Yes, there will be exceptions, and I’m sure one or two will tell me, but if you’re somebody who gives excuse after excuse as to why you can’t do this, then you’ve allowed the problem to beat you.

July

Flash Fiction – Crossroads Of Desire

I didn’t write as much flash fiction during 2025 as I had intended, but this piece of flash fiction was my favourite of the year. It involves two people you’d probably pass in the street most days. Meet Bill and his wife, both in the autumn years of their lives. Are they a normal couple who you wouldn’t give a second look at, or are they two people who come with a twist? Only you can decide, but only if you read the piece of flash fiction that gives you a glimpse into their lives.

This 4-minute read packs a punch.

I’ll be making amends and writing more flash fiction during 2026, so you better watch out!

August

5 Reasons Why Every Blogger Should Have a Contact Page and How to Build One

August was the flattest month for me, blogging-wise, in 2025. It felt like I was on a plateau with no way up or down. There was little to choose from in terms of blog posts because I didn’t publish much, but thankfully, this post got a lot of engagement, proving it wasn’t as quiet out there as I thought.

Ask yourself these questions. Why would anybody want to contact you? But more importantly, how easy is it to contact you via your blog other than by leaving you a comment? Remember that leaving a comment isn’t always the right way to contact someone. After all, anyone visiting your blog can read comments. Are you missing out on any golden opportunities? Check the post for full details. You may be surprised.

September

This New WordPress Feature Helps Promote The Blogs You Love

I had to take an unexpected blogging break in September, but thankfully, this post had already been published before I departed. And I wasn’t disappointed with the reaction in the comments section to something the majority of WordPress users had no idea existed.

Short but sweet, this blog post from September 20-25 packed as much of a punch as Bill and his wife did in July.

October

Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts

The latter quarter of 2025 saw me focusing very much on copyright issues, with many bloggers believing that their blogs are so small and private, nobody will care if they use images, photographs, or any material, including song lyrics, that are copyrighted. How wrong they are.

If you can not guarantee that the material or images you are using in your blog posts is free to use, then are you breaking the law? And, even worse, could you be fined?

November

The Latest Blogging and Publishing Scams You Need to Be Aware Of Now

How many of you believe that you’d never get scammed online?

With the advent of AI, the perpetration of scams has become significantly more sophisticated, leading to an alarming increase in the number of individuals who are susceptible to such deceit.

Different scams are emerging continuously, yet it appears increasingly challenging to identify them. Are you equipped to recognize a scam?

December

5 ‘Questionable’ Photos That Give You The Chance To Say Who You Are

In November, I shared my exciting decision to dive back into my passion for photography blogging, but this time with a fresh perspective. Although I had paused my photography posts in the past due to engagement challenges, I’m now thrilled to explore new ways to connect and inspire my audience.

This post not only showcased more of my own photography but also offered readers a wonderful opportunity to share a bit about themselves. Success! Engagement flourished, and I ended the year just as I hoped, fostering genuine connections rather than mere visits masked by guilt.

Finally, a glimpse into the inside of 2025 for my blog.

• 43 posts published
• 32,600 words written
• 2,700 clicked the ‘like’ button on my posts
• 2,100 comments left

A busy blogging year full of creativity and engagement.

What was your favourite blog post of 2025 on your blog? Why did it resonate with you? What’s the most significant lesson you learned about blogging and engaging with your audience in 2025?

You can follow me at the following sites.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky

The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

#BestPosts #Blogging #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #Engagement #photography #SocialMedia #WordPress #WordPressHelp

9 Important Options on Your WordPress Blog to Check Now!

I’m surprised by how many bloggers miss the opportunity of having their posts shared for free by not displaying sharing buttons on their blog posts.

Of course, some bloggers don’t want any of their posts shared, but they tend to be in the minority.

In today’s digital age, having social sharing buttons on your blog is crucial for expanding your reach and boosting engagement. This post will guide you through the steps to add sharing buttons to your WordPress blog and emphasise the benefits of including them.

For the purpose of this guide, I’m using an iMac desktop computer.

To add and edit sharing buttons on your WordPress.com blog, follow these steps:

• Log in to your WordPress.com account.
• From your dashboard, navigate to ‘Settings‘ and select ‘Sharing.’

You’ll be taken to the ‘Sharing Options‘ page of your blog, where you will see a variety of options that include –

• Available services
• Enabled services
• Live preview
• Button style
• Sharing label
• Show buttons on
• WordPress.com Likes are
• WordPress.com Reblog button
• Comment Likes are

Let’s have a look at each of these options and what they mean.

Available services – This displays any sharing buttons not currently visible on your blog. To add an available sharing button, drag it to the ‘Enabled services‘ box and click the ‘Save‘ button at the bottom of the page.

There is also an ‘Add a new service‘ link that, when clicked, allows a user to add new sharing services that are not currently available on WordPress.

Enabled Services – This section shows all the sharing buttons currently on display on your blog. Here’s an image of the sharing buttons available on my blog posts and pages.

Notice the ‘Customise buttons‘ link under the buttons. Click this to be taken straight to the ‘Sharing options‘ page of your blog.

You may also have noticed the ‘More‘ sharing button. This is where you can group certain sharing buttons under one button. To do this, simply drag the buttons you want to hide to the ‘Services dragged here will be hidden behind a share button‘ box. On my blog, the ‘More‘ button includes sharing buttons for ‘X’, ‘Email’ and ‘Print.’

• To rearrange the order of how sharing buttons display on your blog, simply drag the buttons to the order you want them in. Remember to save any changes.

• To remove a sharing button from your blog, drag the button to the ‘Available services‘ section and click the ‘Save‘ button at the bottom of the page.

Live preview – This section shows how the sharing buttons display on your blog.

Button style – There are four options to choose from.

• Icon + Text
• Icon only
• Text only
• Official buttons

On my blog, I have chosen sharing buttons to show ‘Icon + Text’ as this helps those using speech software know which sharing button is which. If you use ‘Icon only,’ speech software won’t know what each sharing button is.

Sharing label – This section allows users to change and display their own message above their sharing buttons. Simply add the text you want and click the save button.

Show buttons on – Choose where on your blog you want sharing buttons to appear. Place a tick next to the options and click the save button.

WordPress.com Likes are – This is where you can turn off (or on) the ‘Like’ button on blog posts and pages.

WordPress.com Reblog button – This is where you can turn off (or on) the reblog button on blog posts and pages.

Comment Likes are – This is where you can turn off (or on) the availability of a ‘like’ button on comments on your blog.

• Once you’ve added sharing buttons to your blog, remember to always test them. The best way to do this is to visit one of your blog posts to ensure the sharing buttons appear as intended. Click on each button to check that it links correctly to the respective social media platforms.

Top tip: If you have an account on a social media platform, remember to ensure that there is a sharing button for that platform on your blog. You don’t need to remove share buttons where you don’t have an account, as other bloggers and readers may want to share your posts and pages to their own social media accounts. For example, I don’t have a Facebook account, but I allow visitors to my blog to share my posts and pages on their Facebook accounts.

But, at the end of the day, it’s your decision as to how many sharing buttons you want to display on your blog.

Advantages of Having Sharing Buttons on Your Blog

1. Increased Visibility: Sharing buttons allow visitors to easily share your content with their networks, leading to greater visibility and new readers.
2. Enhanced Engagement: When users share your posts, it engages their followers, creating conversations and interactions around your content.
3. Improved SEO: Social shares can boost your search engine rankings. Search engines often view shared content as more credible and relevant.
4. Brand/Blog Awareness: Every share increases exposure for your brand/blog, helping you capture a larger audience over time.
5. Traffic Boost: Each share potentially drives more traffic back to your blog, increasing your overall reach and influence in your niche.
6. User-Friendly: A streamlined sharing process enhances the user experience, encouraging visitors to interact more with your content.

By integrating sharing buttons into your WordPress blog, you not only make it easier for readers to share your posts but also create new opportunities for engagement and growth.

Summary:

• Many bloggers miss out on free content-sharing opportunities by not displaying sharing buttons. These buttons are crucial for expanding reach and boosting engagement.
• It’s easy to add and display sharing buttons on your WordPress blog. Follow the guide in this post.
• Ensure you deal with each option available to you on the ‘Sharing options‘ page of your blog.
• There are many advantages of displaying sharing buttons on your blog, including increased visibility, enhanced engagement and improved SEO ratings.
• If you have a social media account, ensure you display a sharing button for that account on your blog.
• Add as many sharing buttons as you like, even for those social media platforms where you don’t have an account.
• Test that the sharing buttons are working correctly at least once every few months.
• Make the most of the other options available on the ‘Sharing options’ page of your blog, such as switching on/off the like button and whether or not you want a ‘Reblog’ button to show.

I want to open up the conversation and hear from you. What social media platforms do you find most effective for sharing your blog content? Have you noticed an increase in your blog traffic after adding sharing buttons? How much of a difference has it made? Have you experimented with the different button styles? Which one do you think looks best on your blog? If you could add one feature to the sharing buttons on your blog, what would it be and why?

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky

The featured image on this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes. Images, which were taken from screenshots of my blog, were created by me.

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

#Blogging #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HowTo #SharingButtons #SocialMedia #WordPress #WordPressHelp #WordPressTips

Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts

The majority of bloggers understand the importance of visual content. Posts that include images receive up to 70% more traffic than those that contain no images. However, there is one major pitfall associated with using images in blog posts, which I will address shortly.

Images not only enhance the appeal of our posts but also help us communicate our messages more effectively. However, a key question remains: where do you source your images and photographs for your blog posts?

Are you breaking the law by using images that are not your own?

I’ve become concerned by the increasing number of bloggers using images or photos without giving credit to the owner or specifying the source of the image. Many of these images have been obtained from the internet; some are copyrighted and not freely available for use. Bloggers using these images and photos are breaking the law.

Some bloggers believe they will never be caught using copyrighted images and photos. They argue that their blog is too small for anyone to care. Nobody will come after them. However, I am aware of a few bloggers who have been prosecuted and fined for downloading and using copyrighted images and photos on their blogs.

It may also not have crossed the minds of some bloggers that there are serious consequences for using images and photos to which they do not have the rights in their posts. Hence, this post.

Where do bloggers get their images from?

Some bloggers, including myself, use stock photo websites that provide images and photos for free. However, even some of these can incur costs if the images are only free to use for a limited time or require the user to give full credit to the owner, along with a link to where the image was sourced. Always read the small print before using any images or photos that are not your own.

Here’s an example. The following image is from Pixabay, a website that offers a wide range of free-to-use images and photos.

Notice that I have given credit to the person who created the image and where I obtained it from. The image is free to use, and although the content licence summary states ‘Use Content without having to attribute the author (although giving credit is always appreciated by our community!).’ I always include an attribute along with links to the source of the image.

Always check the content licence summary before downloading an image or photo from the internet and using it in a blog post. Ensure you follow any rules around the use of the image.

The perils of using copyrighted images

While it might be tempting to use appealing images from the internet, downloading and using copyrighted images and photos can result in serious legal trouble. Here are some risks to bear in mind:

Legal Consequences

Using copyrighted images without permission can lead to copyright infringement, which may result in potential legal action against you. This may result in hefty fines, the removal of your post, or even the closure of your blog, not to mention damage to your reputation.

Image Attribution Challenges

Even when images are shared with the intention of being used by others, understanding the precise attribution requirements can be confusing. Each source may have different rules, and failing to follow them can put you at risk.

Quality Concerns

Some free or low-cost images can often be of lower quality, which can damage the professionalism of your blog. Conversely, high-quality images usually come at a price, highlighting the importance of responsible sourcing. However, they can eat into your media space unless you reduce the size, which may then affect the quality.

The Perils of Reblogging

If you reblog a post of another blogger that contains images and photos, don’t think you are safe from prosecution if any of those images or pictures are copyrighted. You, too, could be fined for resharing images or photos that are not free to use, even though all you did was reblog the post. If you are not absolutely certain where those images and photos originated and whether they are free to use, don’t reblog the post.

Availability of Alternatives

Fortunately, there are many alternatives to using copyrighted images. Consider the following options:

• Stock Photo Websites: Sites like Unsplash, Pexels, and Pixabay offer free images that are often licensed for commercial use.
• Creative Commons: Use images that offer a Creative Commons license, ensuring you follow any stipulations regarding attribution or modification.
• Original Content: Creating your own images can be the most reliable way to ensure your visuals are unique and free of legal concerns.
• AI: Make use of the AI image creator on WordPress. It’s easy to use, although it doesn’t always come up with something relevant, especially if you don’t provide a clear enough description of what you want it to create, but I’ve found it very useful.

Summary:

In conclusion, sourcing images for your blog posts is an essential aspect of content creation that warrants careful consideration. However, be aware and always check if images and photos that do not belong to you are free to use!

The simplest way to avoid copyright issues with images and photos is to always use your own.

Please read this important yet alarming post by Jacqueline Lambert, ‘Bloggers Beware The Copyright Trolls – Even If You Use Royalty-Free Images,’ about a scam targeted at bloggers who use royalty-free images.

I want to open up the conversation and hear from you. What resources do you rely on for images? Do you have any favourite stock photo sites, or do you prefer to create your own visuals? Have you tried the WordPress AI image creator? What did you think of the images it created? Let’s discuss the various avenues we can explore to source images, and perhaps you’ll discover new options along the way.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

#ai #aiInBlogging #blogging #bloggingAdvice #bloggingHelp #bloggingQuestions #bloggingTools #copyright #helpWithBlogging #images #questionsAboutBlogging

5 Reasons Why Every Blogger Should Have a Contact Page and How to Build One

What do you do to make it easy for your readers to contact you?

Most bloggers aim to connect with their audience. This is mainly achieved through the comments section of blog posts, but sometimes someone may wish to contact you privately, which may not be suitable for public view. For example, I receive messages asking for help with WordPress or requests to buy a signed copy of one of my books. Nobody wants to share their address, email, or contact number in the comments section.

A ‘Contact’ page is an important point of contact between a blogger and their readers, offering a convenient way to get in touch privately. If you look at the menubar of my blog, you’ll see a ‘Contact Hugh‘ link. That’s where any visitor to my blog can contact me privately.

Here’s why you should prioritise having a Contact page on your blog and how to easily set one up.

Benefits of Having a Contact Page

1. Establishes Credibility

Having a dedicated Contact page gives your blog a welcoming and friendly impression. It demonstrates that you’re open to communication and approachable, increasing your credibility with readers and new visitors.

2. Facilitates Communication

A Contact page offers a clear and straightforward way for visitors to get in touch with you. Whether they have questions, feedback, or collaboration ideas, this page acts as a direct link to you, preventing confusion about how to contact you.

3. Encourages Engagement

By encouraging readers to contact you, you’re promoting engagement with your audience. This can lead to meaningful discussions, valuable feedback, and even new content ideas, further enhancing your blog.

4. Supports Networking Opportunities

For most bloggers, networking is essential. A Contact page makes it easy for other bloggers to reach out for collaborations, sponsorships, or guest posting opportunities, contributing to your blog’s growth and visibility.

5. Keeps Your Private Details Private

Having a contact form means you don’t need to share your personal details, such as your email address, on your blog. After all, do you know everyone who visits your blog? Even if you provide an email address solely for your blog, advertising it will attract spam, spammers, and trolls.

Some bloggers might prefer not to engage with their audience, so a Contact page may not be essential. However, if you choose not to engage, ensure you turn comments off.

How to Install a Contact Page

Creating a Contact page is a simple process. Here’s how you can set one up on your blog. For this purpose, I’m using an Apple iMac.

• Go to the dashboard of your blog, click Pages and then Add Page.

• Title your page ‘Contact’ or ‘Get in Touch’ or choose a title you prefer.

• Add a Contact template. WordPress offers several ‘Contact’ templates. To find them, click the ‘+‘ symbol in the top-left corner of the page, then select Patterns and Contact.

• Choose the template you want to use and make any edits to it. For the contact form on my blog, I used Template Number One.

• Preview your contact form before publishing it. Once you’re happy, click the publish button so it appears on your blog.

Tip: Yes, you’ll likely receive spam or spam bots trying to contact you. To quickly sort out those messages, add a line to your Contact form giving instructions on what to do. I added the following details to my Contact form –

Please complete and submit the form below to contact me securely. To verify that you are not a bot or spam, please start your message with ‘Dear Hugh.’ I will then get back to you as quickly as possible.

Messages that do not start ‘Dear Hugh’ will be marked as spam.

And guess what, it works!

You can also find additional Contact forms under Jetpack – Forms (select the ‘About‘ tab) on the dashboard of your blog.

• Next, to make it easy for readers to contact you, add your contact form to the menubar of your blog.

• On the dashboard of your blog, go to Appearance – Menus.

• Search for your Contact form by clicking View All, tick the box next to it, and click the ‘Add To Menu’ Button.

• Click the Save Menu button at the bottom of the page.

• To reposition the Contact form on the menubar, on the Menus page, click on it and drag it to the desired location. Remember to click the Save Menu button after any changes.

• Check the menubar of your blog to ensure the Contact form is visible and in the correct place.

WordPress also offers Contact forms plugins.

• Contact Form 7:
  1. Install and activate the plugin.
  2. Go to Contact – Add New in the dashboard.
  3. Customise your form fields as needed, then save.
  4. Copy the shortcode provided and paste it into your Contact page.
  5. Add the Contact form to your menubar.
• WPForms:
  1. Install and activate the plugin.
  2. Create a new form using their drag-and-drop builder.
  3. Save your form and copy the shortcode.
  4. Paste the shortcode into your Contact page content.
  5. Add the Contact form to your menubar.

How do I know when somebody has contacted me via my Contact form?

WordPress sends you an email whenever someone contacts you via the Contact form (unless they mark it as spam). Users will also see a notification under Jetpack – Forms on their blog dashboard.

Anything WordPress considers spam goes straight to the spam folder. Spam is deleted automatically after 30 days, so there’s no need to worry about it.

Conclusion

Having a Contact page is essential for fostering communication and building relationships with your audience. By following these simple steps, you can easily set up a Contact page on your blog and start engaging with your visitors today!

Do you have a way that visitors to your blog can contact you directly? Any questions? Leave them in the comments section or contact me directly.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

The Ultimate Guide to Updating, Deleting, or Republishing Old Blog Posts

Should You Delete, Update, or Republish Your Old Blog Posts?

As a blogger, you likely know that maintaining high-quality content is crucial for your blog’s success. One of the key aspects is dealing with old blog posts. What should we do with them? Give them a new lease of life? Delete them? Should we allow them to rot away in our archives, where nobody sees them anymore?

Many blogging experts agree that outdated articles can harm your blog, especially its SEO (search engine optimisation) rating. Even if you are regularly publishing fresh content, any remaining outdated information can diminish your efforts and lower the rankings of your new posts.

Search engines favour accurate, up-to-date information and often direct readers to sites that provide it. That’s one reason I recommend updating your ‘About Me‘ page every six to nine months (I update mine every three months). This also applies to all posts on your blog—outdated content is pointless and can deter readers. Imagine you’re an author and have new visitors to your blog reading out-of-date information. Are they likely to buy any of your books?

I make it a point to clear out old blog posts at least once a year, usually in December, when the blogging scene tends to slow down.

Before you hit delete: Things to consider

Before deleting old posts, take a moment to assess each one. Should bloggers update, rewrite, or simply delete older posts?

If a post remains relevant, provides valuable information, and includes evergreen content, it is advisable to update it. This is especially true if it contains valid pingbacks to other live posts on your blog, other blogs, or reputable external sites.

If a post continues to receive traffic, it may be worth updating. Did you know that you can check how much recent traffic every one of your blog posts has had? On the ‘Posts’ page of your blog’s dashboard, look for the ‘Stats’ column, and check the numbers.

Also, check for incoming pingbacks from other blogs that are still valid; you’ll find them in the comments section of your posts. For example, I recently had to remove several pingbacks to one of my posts because the original content on other blogs was deleted. Broken links can harm your SEO—too many of them, and readers are likely not to return to your site because links don’t work or lead to a ‘404 Content Not Found’ page.

When is it time to rewrite?

If you have an old post with outdated or low-quality content (including low-resolution images) that you believe still holds value, then it’s time for a rewrite. Just remember to delete the older version before publishing the new one.

While rewriting, consider creating a new title that encourages your readers to learn more. A captivating title can significantly boost your click-through rates.

If a post is irrelevant and can only be salvaged through a thorough rewrite, do it! Your audience will value fresh and engaging content, and many of them will never have read the original post.

This post is a rewrite of a popular post from 2022.

Checking for broken links

After deleting any old posts, take a moment to check your blog for broken links. Using a free broken link checker, such as Brokenlinkcheck.com, can assist you with this. However, if it’s your first time, the initial results may seem overwhelming. I recommend pausing the report after identifying about 20 broken links, fixing them, and then running another check.

WordPress also offers a broken link plugin, available depending on your plan or if you’re self-hosted.

Once you’ve finished a broken link check, I recommend doing it at least monthly or whenever old posts are deleted. Also, remember to remove any pingbacks on posts you’re about to delete, as well as delete any images or photos from your media library that are on the post. This helps free up library space.

Is it worth reading old blog posts?

It depends, but if you hear someone celebrating their 5000th blog post, it’s hard to ignore that many of those posts are likely outdated and probably never received any traffic a few days after publication. They may be keeping them for a reason, but don’t hold your breath for any real engagement on them. Many of the comments will also be outdated and probably from readers who no longer have profiles.

If you have posts you want to keep, consider moving them from your blog to a secure location (such as a memory stick).

Can rewritten blog posts be successful?

Absolutely!

I’ve rewritten and republished several of my earlier blog post tips. Initially, these posts had low views and lacked depth, but I revitalised them with improved procedures and high-quality images. I also added links to some of my most successful posts for context.

Many of these revamped pieces have since become top performers on my blog.

Are there any blogs that don’t require regular updating?

No! Every blog needs to be updated. Although some blogs, such as photography blogs, may not require frequent updates to posts, and some blog owners may not prioritise SEO rankings, the ‘About’ page will always need to be updated and links checked to ensure they still work.

Conclusion:

• Delete any old blog posts that contain outdated information that cannot be salvaged.
• Before deleting, deactivate any incoming and outgoing pingbacks associated with the post.
• Delete images from your blog’s media library from posts you are about to delete to free up space.
• Conduct a broken link report on your blog at least once a month or following the deletion of old posts.
• SEO benefits rely on your blog’s capacity to provide updated information; lack of it can hurt your new posts.
• If a post remains relevant and useful with evergreen content, be sure to update it, especially if it contains valid links to other relevant content and continues to receive traffic.
• Rewrite posts that feature outdated or poor-quality content but still hold some relevance and give them a fresh title.
• Always remove older versions of rewritten posts before going live with the new content.
• Every blog needs regular updates, especially the ‘About’ page and a check for broken links.

What criteria do you use when deciding whether to update or delete an old blog post? Have you ever resurrected an old post? What changes did you make to breathe new life into it? How often do you check your blog for broken links, and what tools do you find most effective? Have you ever regretted deleting a post? What would you have done differently?

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Simple Blogging Tips And Insights Every Blogger Needs To Know

Occasionally, I receive questions or comments about blogging and social media that inspire me to share key insights with my readers. Here are three recent examples of those topics. Hopefully, you’ll learn something from them.

How to get less spam!

In my recent post, “Astonishing! Some Bloggers Disable Comments on Their Blogs. Why?” many readers mentioned that they turn off comments due to the overwhelming number of spam comments that often come through. This is a valid concern! However, it’s worth noting that WordPress offers a setting that can help prevent you from seeing most spam comments. Activating this feature is simple.

• On your blog’s dashboard, go to Jetpack – Akismet Anti-spam.

• On the page that opens, look for the Settings box. Under Spam Filtering, ensure ‘Silently discard the worst and most pervasive spam so I never see it‘ is selected.

• Click the ‘Save changes‘ button.

You’ll now see much less spam in your blog’s spam folder. On average, I’m seeing no more than a few spam comments every week.

For more details, check out my post, ‘Turn This Setting On To Stop Seeing Too Much Spam On Your WordPress Blog.’

How do you find the people you want to follow?

Author Liz Gauffreau recently left a comment on my post, ‘The Ultimate Guide to Engaging on Bluesky: Tips, Features, and Strategies for Success,’ saying she was struggling to find other users on Bluesky who read or write literary fiction.

I asked Liz if she had checked out the Bluesky Starter Pack directory, where users can search for other users with similar interests. I included a link to the directory. This is how Liz replied.

If you’re a Bluesky user, I recommend checking out the information about Starter Packs. They are an excellent way to discover other bloggers, writers, authors, photographers, and more. Starter Packs are also great for getting noticed and connecting with other users. Click the following link.

What are Bluesky Starter Packs?

And click the following link to check the Bluesky Starter Pack directory I sent to Liz.

Bluesky Starter Pack Directory.

I recently passed a milestone on Bluesky: getting over 5,000 followers. Given that I’ve only been on Bluesky since November 2024 and it took me nearly 12 years to reach 9,000 followers on X, I can’t emphasise enough how every blogger and writer should consider using Bluesky.

If you haven’t already, give Bluesky a go.

How to stop the theme you’re using from crashing your blog.

Amanda, who blogs at ForestWood, recently published a post titled ‘It’s Time For A Change Of Theme.’ She was referring to a change of blog theme. I’d recently published a post about WordPress themes, so I was interested in what Amanda had to say. Needless to say, Amanda’s post inspired me (and many others) to leave a comment.

You’ll have to read Amanda’s post to find out what she and I had to say, but it contained an important lesson some readers may have forgotten or may not know about regarding WordPress themes. Do not attempt to change your WordPress blog’s theme unless you’re using a theme still supported by WordPress.

If, like Amanda, you are using a retired theme and click ‘activate’ on any of the current themes WordPress offers, you won’t be able to return to your retired theme!

If you are using a retired WordPress theme that isn’t causing you any issues, you can continue using it. However, be cautious, as there are drawbacks to using a retired theme, including those related to online security. For more information, check out my recent post, “WordPress Themes: Something Exciting Is Happening,” which provides further details.

Let’s wrap it up!

• Use WordPress’s Jetpack – Akismet Anti-spam feature to significantly reduce spam comments. By enabling the option to “silently discard the worst and most pervasive spam,” users can keep their spam folder manageable.

• Use the Bluesky Starter Pack Directory to connect with other users with similar interests. This resource helps you discover other bloggers, writers, authors and photographers and gain visibility.

• If you are thinking of changing the theme of your WordPress blog, be aware that if the current theme you are using is retired and no longer supported by WordPress, you won’t be able to return to it.

Do you have any questions about blogging or social media? Leave them in the comments section.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

I’m getting tough with non-engaging comments. Comments such as ‘Nice post’ are marked as spam.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

#Blogging #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingProblems #BloggingQuestions #BlueSky #HowTo #SocialMedia #SocialMediaTips #WordPress #WordPressThemes

Harnessing AI in Blogging: Benefits, Challenges, and Personal Insights

In today’s digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a progressively popular tool across various domains, including blogging.

WordPress integrated AI into its platform a few years ago, joining numerous other sites that now offer AI as an option.

I have witnessed many bloggers who are afraid of what AI can do, but I have also seen many bloggers embrace AI and utilise it for the benefits it can offer.

However, like any tool, there are pros and cons to consider.

What are your thoughts about using AI to blog?

This post examines the advantages and disadvantages of integrating AI into your blogging process.

Pros of Using AI in Blogging

1. Improved Efficiency

AI tools can streamline the writing process. From generating topic ideas to creating content drafts, AI can save bloggers considerable time, allowing them to focus on refining their unique voice and style.

This may prove beneficial to bloggers who publish daily, but those bloggers who publish less often may not see any benefit.

2. Enhanced Creativity

AI can assist in brainstorming and generating creative content ideas. With access to vast databases and algorithms that identify trends, AI can offer fresh perspectives and innovative suggestions.

However, some consider this to be plagiarism, a term that specifically refers to taking another person’s work—words, ideas, and so forth—and presenting it as one’s own without proper attribution.

Did you know that WordPress users can choose to stop their blog’s content from being shared with a WordPress-licensed network of content and research partners, including those that train AI models? To achieve this, navigate to your blog’s dashboard, select Settings—Reading, and tick the box next to ‘Prevent third-party sharing...’.

3. SEO Optimization

Numerous AI-based tools can analyse keywords and optimise content for search engines. They offer insights into the types of content that rank well, assisting bloggers in enhancing their visibility and reach.

I utilise AI to generate titles for blog posts when I struggle to think of a captivating title that will entice readers to read and engage further. Consequently, I have observed a significant increase in engagement and visitors to my blog.

4. Data-Driven Decisions

AI can analyse reader behaviour and feedback to inform content strategy. By understanding what resonates with the audience, bloggers can create more targeted and engaging content.

However, your WordPress statistics can also provide this information by analysing the stats of posts that receive higher engagement. Typically, you’ll observe a correlation between those posts that engage readers more and those that attract less engagement.

5. Consistency

AI can assist in maintaining a consistent posting schedule by automating aspects of the content creation process. This guarantees that the blog stays active and engaging for readers.

It is widely known that blogs which publish on a schedule tend to retain readers; however, it is unwise to publish content merely for the sake of it. There is nothing wrong with occasionally missing the publication of a blog post or taking a break from blogging. Nevertheless, if you choose to take the latter route, ensure that you inform your readers.

Cons of Using AI in Blogging

1. Lack of Personal Touch

AI-generated content often lacks the emotional depth and personal touch that human writers naturally provide. Readers tend to connect more readily with personal stories and unique experiences that AI is unable to replicate.

If you let AI compose all your posts, you’ll soon notice a decline in visitors and engagement.

2. Quality Control

While AI can generate content rapidly, the quality does not always meet high standards. Bloggers must review and edit AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with their voice and is factually accurate. Remember, it is your blog, not that of AI. Your voice matters.

3. Dependence on Technology

Over-reliance on AI can hinder writing skills. Bloggers may grow overly dependent on tools, stifling creative development and originality. This is particularly evident in the fiction world, where I have observed AI produce stories that lack emotion or feeling, thus making them dull and unappealing.

My advice is that if you are going to AI, mix it with your written content.

4. Ethical Concerns

The use of AI raises ethical questions, such as plagiarism (which I discussed earlier) and authenticity. Bloggers must ensure that their use of AI does not compromise their integrity or mislead their audience. Always check (and check again) what AI produces.

5. Costs

Although some AI tools are free, many come with a cost. For bloggers on a tight budget, investing in AI technology might not be practical. However, this won’t affect those who choose not to use AI.

Do I use AI in blogging?

Yes, I utilise AI to assist with spelling and grammar corrections. I have also used AI to verify if I have omitted anything essential from a post, as well as for generating titles for blog posts.

The featured images I use in my blog posts (including this one) are primarily created using the WordPress AI image tool. However, I have found that the tool is not always particularly effective at generating images, especially when more than a few words are included. More work is needed to improve it.

Conclusion

Utilising AI in blogging offers both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. While it can enhance efficiency, creativity, and data-driven decisions, it is crucial to maintain a balance and preserve the unique voice that attracts readers. By carefully weighing the pros and cons, bloggers can make informed choices about incorporating AI into their writing process.

If you wish to utilise AI, do so with your own writing rather than generating posts entirely composed by AI.

Finally, we must never forget that we all have a choice regarding AI. We can either use it or leave it be. What we must never do is persuade other users to use it or not. It’s a personal decision. Never criticise those who choose to use AI if you are against any use of AI in writing. Likewise, don’t criticise anyone who refuses to use AI if you use it.

Recommended reading about AI in blogging from other bloggers.

If you want a guide on AI on WordPress, check out this excellent article from Fedora, ‘A Guide To WordPress.Com’s AI Assistant.’

This post from Debbie at Deb’s World, “Reinventing Blogging: A Look into the Future,” dives into the controversial realm of AI in blogging, and trust me, it’s a must-read that has ignited plenty of debate. Are you ready to jump into the fray and add your voice to the discussion?

Are you hopping on the AI train in your blogging adventure? If so, what tools are you using, and what benefits has AI brought you and your blog? Does the use of AI in the blogging world concern you? Are you against using AI in Blogging? If so, what are your reasons? We want to hear your thoughts if you’re for or against AI. Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s chat!

I’m getting tough with non-engaging comments. Any non-engaging comments such as ‘Nice post’ are marked as spam.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

#AI #AIInBlogging #ArtificialIntelligence #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTips #BloggingTools #HowTo #WordPress

Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Please Read This Post. Let's Keep Blogging Fun https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/10/16/stressed-or-feeling-guilty-about-blogging-please-read-this-post-lets-keep-blogging-fun/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingProblems, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingStress, #BloggingTips, #HelpWithBlogging, #MentalHealth, #Stress

How Easy Is It To Follow Your Blog? How To Add A Subscribe Button To All Your WordPress Posts https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/09/23/how-easy-is-it-to-follow-your-blog-how-to-add-a-subscribe-button-to-all-your-wordpress-posts/ #BlockEditor, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #HowTo, #Subscribe, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp, #WordPressSupport

Sometimes, I struggle to find a subscribe or follow button on blogs. I came across one recently where there wasn’t one. I spent ages looking and even left a comment asking how to subscribe to receive more posts, but the host didn’t reply to my comment!

But I’m delighted that WordPress now makes adding a subscribe (to my blog) button to all your posts (past and future) even more effortless. And the best part is that once you switch on this setting, you won’t have to do it again.

Where and how to switch on the Subscribe Block button.

• On the dashboard of your blog, go to Settings – Newsletter.

• On the Newsletter settings page, look for ‘Add the Subscribe block at the end of each post,’ and slide the button to the ‘on’ position.

• Click the ‘Save Settings’ button.

That’s it! The ‘Subscribe’ block will appear on all of your posts (past and future), making it easy for anyone visiting your blog to follow you.

This is what the block looks like if you’re already subscribed to the blog or have just signed up.

How easy is it for a new visitor to follow or subscribe to your blog?

Did you enjoy reading this post? Then you may also like…

The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One

Pingbacks are a vital tool in the blogging world, fostering connections and increasing site traffic. Are you making the most of pingbacks or missing out on their benefits? This post details their benefits, creation, and anti-spam measures.

Keep reading

WordPress: How To Close Comments: What You Need To Know

WordPress has relocated the ‘Discussion’ setting to a more visible and accessible position, simplifying the control of comments and pingbacks.

My post outlines where to find the ‘discussion setting’ and when you should consider turning comments off on specific posts.

Keep reading

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader? This Is Why You Should Use It.

The WordPress Reader is great for reading the posts of the blogs you follow. But did you know it can do much more?

This is what I found out.

Why do you use the WordPress Reader?

Keep reading

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/09/23/how-easy-is-it-to-follow-your-blog-how-to-add-a-subscribe-button-to-all-your-wordpress-posts/

#BlockEditor #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HowTo #Subscribe #WordPress #WordPressHelp #WordPressSupport

I don’t use the WordPress Reader nearly as much as I should.

I get email notifications when new blog posts are published by the bloggers I follow. This makes sense as I only follow around 55 blogs, most of which publish no more than a few times a week.

Am I missing out on not using the WordPress Reader? I think so, yes! But why?

One of the reasons I stopped using the WP Reader was that when I was following over 500 blogs, I felt like a hamster constantly running around a wheel in my endless battle to reach the top of the reader. I never reached the top, so I thought I was missing out!

However, I occasionally use the WordPress Reader to search for posts on subjects I enjoy reading. In my opinion, this is where the WordPress Reader is at its best!

For example, I recently entered the word ‘WordPress’ into the reader search bar and was presented with a long list of blog posts in which ‘WordPress’ had been used as a category or tag (this shows how important categorising and tagging your posts is).

But before I discuss some of the search results, let me first say that, unlike some bloggers who seem to think WordPress has deleted the ‘Reader,’ the WP Reader has moved.

Where is the WordPress Reader?

If you’re using a desktop computer, the WP Reader is now located in the top right corner of your blog. Look for the pair of spectacles icon.

Click on it, and you’ll be taken to the WordPress Reader.

On mobile phones and tablets (using the Jetpack app), the WP Reader icon (spectacles) is located at the bottom of the screen.

What I found in the search results!

I was delighted to see some of my posts appear in the search results. However, I was more interested in the posts from blogs I don’t currently follow.

One of those posts that grabbed my attention was from Mitch, who blogs at The Power Of Story. Mitch’s post, ‘What’s Up WordPress?‘, was about the sudden ups and downs of his blog’s number of subscribers/followers. Indeed, I’ve noticed the same thing happening with my blog.

My subscriber/follower stats have become like a fairground rollercoaster ride. Some days, I lose a lot of subscribers/followers, and then the numbers suddenly return, although not the same subscribers.

I did some digging and found that WordPress are now actively deleting spam blogs and blogs run by spambots. That’s a good thing, especially since I’ve been manually unsubscribing them for many months. WordPress is unsubscribing these blogs for me, although I will unsubscribe any I find myself.

Have you noticed your subscriber/follower numbers going on a rollercoaster ride recently?

Another post that grabbed my attention from the results page was from Kevin, who blogs at Chef Kevin Ashton. Kevin’s post, titled ‘The Thorny Issue Of WordPress Likes.’ touched on a subject I’ve often written about – the ‘like’ button!

Love it or hate it, the ‘like’ button is something just about every WordPress user and visitor will use. However, Kevin touched on the subject of ‘guilt’ by not using it, especially when he doesn’t have enough time to visit and read blogs.

I’ve been there, Kevin. Many bloggers feel guilty or stressed about not clicking ‘like’, visiting blogs that follow them, or leaving comments. Yet, in my opinion, nobody really cares that you can’t always visit their blog. I’ve discovered that leaving one engaging comment occasionally that shows you read the post is much more appreciated than leaving short, non-engaging comments just to prove you visited. However, you may not have read their post.

I’ve written many posts about blogging guilt and stress. In my last post on the subject, ‘Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Please Read This Post. Let’s Keep Blogging Fun,’ many readers spoke up about how bad they feel when they don’t have the time to read blogs, click ‘like,’ and leave comments, often resulting in blogging feeling like a chore rather than something that should be enjoyed.

Nobody should ever feel obliged to read posts, click the ‘like’ button or leave comments. Keep blogging fun.

How do you deal with blogging stress or guilt?

The happy and sad sides of blogging!

It was also lovely to see blog posts celebrating milestones on WordPress in the results. From celebrating 15 years of blogging on WordPress to publishing their 100th post and some folks being notified that their blogs had achieved half a million visits, these posts brought a smile to my face.

Of course, posts complaining about how bad WordPress is and the problems bloggers are having also appeared in the results. Although I only read a few, most of the reported issues were related to WordPress’s changes, and the author often confirmed in the comments section that the issue(s) had now been resolved.

Personally, I’m pleased that WordPress does make changes. If they left things alone, the platform would quickly become outdated and dull, as would all our blogs. WordPress would lose many paying customers, and we’d all lose our blogs if they went out of business. I used to hate change but learned that adapting to it is much less stressful than fighting it

Are you encountering any issues with WordPress? My recent post, ‘WordPress Problems: Don’t Panic! How To Solve Issues Quickly,’ may be of some help.

Are your blog posts appearing on the WordPress Reader?

I always check that my blog posts appear in the WordPress reader. To do this, I follow my blog and check the reader immediately after publishing a post. If it’s not there, I know there’s a problem.

There are several reasons why your posts may not appear in the WordPress Reader. The main reason is that you add too many categories and tags to a post. WordPress allows up to 15 categories and tags combined. Your post could be marked as spam and won’t appear if you add more, so ensure you do not add more than 15 tags and categories (combined).

There may also be technical reasons why your posts don’t show in the reader. If you don’t see your posts, contact WordPress. They’ll be able to help.

That’s it for today. I’ll share other interesting posts when I do more searches on the WordPress Reader.

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader?

Did you enjoy reading this post? Then you may also like…

Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have

Are you doing everything you can to protect your blog?

This is one security feature I recommend every blogger have. And it’s easy to set up.

Keep reading

The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One

Pingbacks are a vital tool in the blogging world, fostering connections and increasing site traffic. Are you making the most of pingbacks or missing out on their benefits? This post details their benefits, creation, and anti-spam measures.

Keep reading

WordPress: How To Close Comments: What You Need To Know

WordPress has relocated the ‘Discussion’ setting to a more visible and accessible position, simplifying the control of comments and pingbacks.

My post outlines where to find the ‘discussion setting’ and when you should consider turning comments off on specific posts.

Keep reading

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/09/16/why-do-you-use-the-wordpress-reader-this-is-why-you-should-use-it/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HowTo #WordPress #WordPressHelp #WordPressProblems #WordPressReader #WordPressSupport

Blogging Simplified: Adding Images From Your Phone To A WordPress Post https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/07/15/blogging-simplified-adding-images-from-your-phone-to-a-wordpress-post/ #AddingImages, #Blocks, #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #Jetpack, #JetpackApp

WordPress: How To Close Comments: What You Need To Know https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/07/08/wordpress-how-to-close-comments-what-you-need-to-know/ #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #Comments, #HowTo, #Pingbacks, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp, #WordPressSupport

Blogging Simplified: Engagement. Am I Doing It Right? https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/06/17/blogging-simplified-engagement-am-i-doing-it-right/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #Comments, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #RespondingToComments, #Spam, #Spammers

How To Make Categorising And Tagging Blog Posts Powerful https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/06/03/how-to-make-categorising-and-tagging-blog-posts-powerful/ #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #Bloggingadvice, #Categories, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #Tags, #WordPress

How To Use This New Easy Feature For Your Blog's Settings On WordPress. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/04/15/how-to-use-this-new-easy-feature-for-your-blogs-settings-on-wordpress/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #HowTo, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp, #WordPressSupport

Have you noticed the new feature WordPress has added to your blog’s dashboard? It’s located on the ‘My Home‘ page in the top right corner.

But what does this new feature do?

For this post, I’m using an Apple iMac desktop computer and the ‘Default‘ view setting of my blog’s dashboard.

Let’s get started

• Click on the meatball menu (three horizontal dots) to open a new menu.

The menu contains two options – Settings and Manage Domains.

Let’s take a look at the two options

1. Settings – this option takes you to the General Settings page of your blog.

You can make many changes to your blog on this page, including your blog’s icon (photo or image), name, and tagline.

• Click the ‘Save Settings‘ button if you make any changes.

On the same page, you can also create a logo for your blog via Fiverr logo maker (note that there is a charge for this) and set/change your blog’s primary language and timezone. Remember to save any changes you make.

Another option includes setting privacy settings for your blog.

Privacy – This is where you can set your blog to public viewing (anyone can view it) or private viewing (only visible to you and logged-in members you have approved to view it). There is also a ‘Coming Soon‘ option, so your blog is hidden from view until it’s ready for viewing.

Two other options are also available.

If ticked, the ‘Discourage search engines from indexing this site‘ option will prevent search engines from indexing your blog, but note that it is up to search engines to honour your request.

The ‘Prevent third-party sharing‘ option should be ticked if you want to restrict your blog’s content from AI training and third-party use. It will exclude your blog’s public content from WordPress’s network of third-party content and research partners. It also adds known AI bots to the ‘disallow’ list in your blog’s robots.txt file to stop them from crawling your site, though it is up to AI platforms to honour this request.

Click the ‘Save Settings‘ button if you make any changes.

Other settings include –

Accept a gift subscription – turn this setting on to accept gift subscriptions from visitors to your blog.

Footer credit: Here, you can choose or edit a footer credit that appears at the bottom of your blog’s pages and posts.

Site tools – this section allows you to do the following.

• Register a new domain or change your blog’s URL address.
• Transfer your blog to another blogging provider.
• You can reset your blog and start afresh while keeping the same domain/blog name. (If you choose this option, all your posts, pages, and media will be deleted).
• Delete your blog and give up your blog’s domain/address.

2. Manage Domains — This option takes you to the part of your blog where you can manage your blog’s domains.

It’s worth checking this page to see what domains you have and to see offers for other domains you may be interested in purchasing for your blog.

While you may not visit your blog’s settings page regularly, it’s worth knowing that there is now an even quicker way to find these settings.

Any questions? Leave them in the comments section.

Did you enjoy this post? Then you may also like –

The Amazing New WordPress Comments Box: What It Does

Read more

WordPress: ‘Open In New Tab’ Box – Where Is It?

Read more

Exploring Multiple Avenues: How to Contact WordPress for Support: 6 Best Ways

Read more

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Don’t miss out!

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Subscribe

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/04/15/how-to-use-this-new-easy-feature-for-your-blogs-settings-on-wordpress/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HowTo #WordPress #WordPressHelp #WordPressSupport

WordPress constantly changes; some things keep changing and return to where they were before. That’s why I’ve updated and am republishing this post from July 2023.

If, like me, when you create a pingback, you prefer links to open in a new window rather than in the same window you’re viewing (thus losing the page), it’s vital that you tick the ‘open in new tab‘ box when adding links or pingbacks to a blog post.

The ‘open in new tab‘ box used to be visible when creating a pingback but has reverted to being hidden again. I don’t know why, but I wanted to show you where to find it.

If you’re unsure what a pingback is or how to create one, my post, ‘The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One,’ has all the details.

• Highlight the word(s) to which you want to add your pingback.
• Click the pingback icon in the open toolbar, and add or search the URL address of the page, post or site you want to link to.
• Click the ‘edit‘ button.

• In the new window that opens, tick the ‘Open in new tab‘ box.
• Click the ‘Save‘ button.

• When a reader clicks the pingback in the post, the link will now open in a new window (not on the same page they’re reading).
• Want to test it? Click the following link – Meet Hugh. It should open in a new tab on your device.

Let’s hope that WordPress leaves the ‘open in new tab‘ box where it is.

If you have any inquiries about pingbacks or the ‘Open in new tab’ option, please feel free to ask in the comments section.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Subscribe

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/03/04/wordpress-open-in-new-tab-box-where-is-it/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HowTo #Pingback #Pingbacks #QuestionsAboutBlogging #WordPress #WordPressHelp

The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/02/19/the-power-of-pingbacks-how-to-create-one/ #BloggingTips, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #WordPress, #HowTo, #Pingbacks, #BloggingTools, #HelpWithBlogging, #BloggingQuestions, #Trackbacks

I came across some comments recently where somebody asked how to create a pingback to the post they were leaving their comment on. The blog host didn’t know. It got me thinking that I should do an updated post on what pingbacks are and how to create them.

What are pingbacks?

A pingback is a type of notification that allows you to inform another blogger that you have linked to a post or article on their blog or website. This notification is typically automated and serves as a way to establish connections between different blogs or websites. Sometimes, pingbacks are also referred to as trackbacks.

If the other blogger has a pingback-enabled website or blog, then they can see a notification that you have linked to their article. They can then choose to allow your link to appear in the comments section of their blog post.

This may drive traffic to your blog when readers click on the pingback notification link.

Pingbacks work well on blog challenge posts such as Thursday Doors or Sunday Stills (to name but a few).

Today, I’m going to show you how to create a pingback.

Let’s get started.

In the screenshots below, I’ve numbered key points and am creating a pingback to my recent blog post, ‘The Power of Feedback: A Writer’s Brief Journey Through Editing and Story Chat.‘

1. Highlight the word or words you’ve picked.
2. Click the pingback link that pops up in the toolbar.
3. In the URL box, enter the URL address of the blog post you’re linking to, or if it’s one of your own posts, search for the post.
4. Choose the post you’re linking to.

Finally, and most importantly, tick the box next to the ‘open in new tab‘ box.

Ticking the ‘open in new tab’ option guarantees that when users click the pingback link, the linked post will open in a new tab or page. This feature effectively retains users on the current page, allowing them to easily return to your post to leave a comment or engage with the content.

Not selecting the “open in new tab” option could result in missed opportunities for comments and likes.

• Your pingback has been created and will be highlighted in the post.

Tip – You can also highlight the pingback by making the text bold. To do this, highlight the text and click ‘B‘ (bold button in the toolbar).

• Before publishing your post, preview it first and make sure the pingback works. Does it go to the right location? If not, delete the URL and insert the correct one.

• Once you are happy that your pingback is working, publish the post.

Pingbacks should be exclusively directed toward blog posts and websites relevant to the subject of the post you are sharing or where you have been specifically invited to link.

Never create a pingback to a post that has no connection with the subject of your post.

Should I ask first before creating a pingback to another blogger’s post?

It’s always nice to ask first, but you’re good to go if the blogger has enabled pingbacks. And if you know the blogger well, there is no need to ask. But it’s best to ask if it’s your first time linking to one of their posts.

However, there’s no guarantee that your pingback requests will get the thumbs up. I receive pingback approval requests every day, and I won’t approve any that seem spammy or are completely unrelated to the post they’re trying to link to.

Are there any advantages of having pingbacks on your blog posts?

Yes. Here are a few advantages.

• Creates traffic to your blog.
• SEO-friendly.
• Search engine optimizations (SEOs) such as Google and Bing rank blog posts that include pingbacks higher.
• Bloggers may link back to one of your blog posts.
• Great for promoting older blog posts you have published that some of your followers may not have read.

Caution—It is crucial to refrain from creating a pingback to a blog or website’s home page. This practice is discouraged because it fails to notify the blogger whose post you are referencing.

Do pingbacks attract spam?

Some experts recommend not allowing any pingbacks or trackbacks to a blog because they attract spam. However, by moderating all pingback notifications, you can prevent any spam pingbacks from appearing in the comments section of your blog posts.

Good news from WordPress about spam comments

After an update in 2023, the WordPress anti-spam software has dramatically strengthened its ability to intercept spam. Consequently, there has been a significant decrease in the volume of visible spam comments reaching blogs. Previously, hundreds of spam comments inundated my blog on a daily basis. However, following the update, I only encounter one or two weekly.

Where possible, try and include at least one pingback in every blog post you publish.

You can use a mixture of pingbacks to your posts and those of other bloggers.

Are there any problems with allowing pingbacks on your blog?

None that I am aware of.

An invitation to create a pingback

If you’ve never created a pingback before, try creating one for this post. I’ll be happy to let you know if it works and include it in the comments section.

If you encounter any problems creating a pingback, don’t hesitate to ask me for some help.

Summary: The Power of Pingbacks and How to Create Them

• This guide explains pingbacks, how to create them, and the best practices to follow.
• This guide covers everything from creating a pingback to the benefits, staying safe from spam comments, and recent anti-spam updates from WordPress.
• This post also encourages readers to use pingbacks and shares my positive experience. It’s helpful for new and experienced bloggers, giving them the knowledge and confidence to use pingbacks effectively.
• In the busy blogging world, pingbacks are important for connecting and getting more site visitors.
• Pingbacks, sometimes also known as trackbacks, are useful tools for bloggers that let other bloggers know when you link to their posts.
• It’s polite to ask first before creating a pingback to another blog unless you know the blogger well or have been invited to link to a post.
• Always tick the ‘open in a new tab’ box so that readers do not lose the page they are reading.
• Pingbacks do not attract spam.
• WordPress anti-spam software now eliminates the majority of visible spam, saving you time in checking for comments that may have been marked as spam by mistake.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

I actively utilise pingbacks as part of my content strategy. My experience with using them has been positive, as they help me foster connections with other blogs and websites and enhance engagement. If you have any questions about pingbacks, please leave them in the comments section below, and I’ll be happy to address them.

My thanks to Sylvain Richard for his recent blog post about pingbacks.

Don’t miss out!

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Subscribe

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/02/19/the-power-of-pingbacks-how-to-create-one/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTips #BloggingTools #HelpWithBlogging #HowTo #Pingbacks #Trackbacks #WordPress

Are You Getting 'Anonymous' Blog Comments? How To Stop Them. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/01/29/are-you-getting-anonymous-blog-comments-how-to-stop-them/ #AnonymousComments, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingProblems, #BloggingQuestions, #Commenting, #Comments, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #WordPressHelp

Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/01/15/is-your-blog-safe-one-security-feature-you-must-have/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #WordPress, #HowTo, #BloggingTools, #HelpWithBlogging, #OnlineSecurity, #BloggingQuestions, #WordPressHelp, #TwoStepAuthentication <- Very good advice!

2024: Exciting And Positive Things Happening On Hugh's Views And News https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/01/04/2024-exciting-and-positive-things-happening-on-hughs-views-and-news/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTips, #CarrotRanch, #HelpWithBlogging, #HughsViews&News, #WordlessWednesday, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp, #WordPressSupport

December Can Be Quiet In The Blogging World. 7 Essential, Easy Ways to Help Your Blog Through It https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/12/11/december-can-be-quiet-in-the-blogging-world-7-essential-easy-ways-to-help-your-blog-through-it/ #BlockEditor, #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #December, #HelpWithBlogging, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress

Exploring Multiple Avenues: How to Contact WordPress for Support: 6 Best Ways https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/11/27/exploring-multiple-avenues-how-to-contact-wordpress-for-support-6-best-ways/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingProblems, #BloggingQuestions, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp, #WordPressSupport <- Hugh, always helpful.

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice blogger, there might come a time when you need assistance or have questions about your WordPress site.

Have you ever had to contact WordPress? What’s your preferred method and experience of contacting them?

During the ten years I’ve been blogging, I’ve contacted WordPress many times for support with my blog. I’ve always received good support from them.

From reporting bugs to getting answers to my questions and getting deals on renewing my WordPress plan, they’ve always been helpful and friendly.

But does the level of support vary depending on which WordPress plan you have?

Fortunately, WordPress offers various channels for users to seek help and find solutions to their queries. In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can contact WordPress for support.

WordPress Support Forums

The forums cover various topics, from general troubleshooting to specific plugins or theme-related queries.

This is my preferred way of contacting WordPress as their staff (Happiness Engineers) get involved in your query, as do other blogging community members.

Users worldwide share their knowledge and assist each other in the forums. You can post your questions, describe your issues, and receive helpful responses from experienced WordPress users, moderators, and WordPress staff.

I’ve helped bloggers out with their queries and questions on the forums.

Next time you have a question or a problem with your blog, give the Forums a go. I’ve had great success with them. And who knows? It may be me who responds to your question or query.

Click the following link to go to the WordPress.Com Forums.

Official WordPress How-To Documentation

Before reaching out for help, the official WordPress how-to documentation is worth checking out.

These comprehensive resources provide detailed information about WordPress features, settings, and troubleshooting tips.

Many common issues have step-by-step solutions outlined in these guides, making it an excellent self-help option.

Click the following link to go to the Official WordPress How-To Documents.

WordPress Support via Email

For more personalised assistance, you can contact WordPress support via email. The official WordPress support email address can only be accessed by completing a form – Contact Us.

When reaching out through email, be sure to provide detailed information about your issue, including the name of your blog, which WordPress plan you are on, which WordPress theme you use, which device you are using, and details of the device’s operating system.

The more details you provide, the easier it is for the support team to understand and address your problem.

Social Media Channels

WordPress is active on various social media platforms, including X and Facebook.

You can follow official WordPress accounts and use these platforms to ask questions or seek assistance. Community members and WordPress developers often actively monitor these channels and may respond to your queries.

I’ve spoken with WordPress staff on X and have found them professional, helpful and friendly. After talking to them on X, I even got a discount code for renewing my WordPress plan.

WordPress on X.

WordPress on Facebook.

Live Chat Support

This can be a quick way to get real-time assistance.

If you’re lucky enough to have a WordPress plan that offers Live Chat, it’s an instant way of getting help from a staff member at WordPress, although I have found that Live Chat isn’t always available.

Although I’ve always had much success with Live Chat, it can sometimes be time-consuming.

As well as having details of your blogging problem or question, give details of which device and operating system you are using. Screenshots of errors or bugs are also helpful and help resolve issues quickly.

To find out if your WordPress plan has Live Chat, click the question mark icon in the top right of your screen and click the ‘Still need help‘ button, and you’ll see a list of options available to you.

Users with a free or starter WordPress plan or those on a monthly subscription cannot access Live Chat.

Hire a WordPress Developer

Hiring a WordPress developer might be the best solution for complex issues or customisation requirements. However, this could be an expensive option.

If you do go down the route of this option, I’d recommend you ask around first to find out if anybody can recommend a computer savvy who knows their way around the WordPress platform. Asking the blogging community is always a good option.

If you want to hire a member of the WordPress staff to sort out problems with your blog, contact them via email at [email protected].

WordPress isn’t always at fault, but sometimes they are.

You only have to look at the WordPress Forums to see that some problems are caused by users rather than WordPress. They’re usually not following the correct procedures or do not understand how something works.

I recently saw a user blame WordPress because they could not add images to their posts. It turned out that they’d never reduced the size of the images they were downloading into their media library; hence, they’d run out of media space.

Some bloggers also give out incorrect information to other bloggers. I had to step in when one blogger said everyone had to be logged into WordPress to leave comments on any WordPress blog. That is not true, and I corrected them explaining that all bloggers can choose via their blog settings whether or not readers had to be logged into WordPress to be able to leave a comment.

So, WordPress are not always at fault.

Of course, the WordPress platform will have bugs like any online site and platform, but WordPress will only know about them if you report them. Don’t sit back and hope that somebody else will do the job.

Sometimes, problems can be related to just one blog.

I recently had a problem with my blog, which only seemed to be affecting me. I stopped getting email notifications of new comments being left on my blog posts.

From the moment I reported the problem, the WordPress staff I spoke with on the Forums were not only accommodating and kept me updated, but they finally got to the bottom of what was causing the problem and fixed it.

My blogging friend Colleen Chesebro also reported problems around some Full Site Editoring themes. WordPress has since withdrawn some of the themes without any notice to users. They’d launched these themes too soon without proper testing, so sometimes, WordPress can be at fault.

However, I hear that current changes to the FSE Themes make them easier to use and install. I think the very least WordPress could have done was give notice first to those using the FSE themes they were going to withdraw.

For now, I’m sticking with my Classic theme, which WordPress still supports (along with over 50 other Classic themes).

Finally, whenever contacting WordPress, please be friendly. Treat them how you expect them to treat you. Being angry, impatient or nasty does nobody any good.

Conclusion:

WordPress has built a robust and supportive community that caters to users of all skill levels. Whether you prefer community-driven forums, official documentation, or personalised support via email, various channels are available to help you navigate any WordPress-related challenges.

By exploring these options, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience as you build and manage your WordPress blog.

What’s your experience with reporting problems to WordPress? What methods do you use to report problems? Are you currently experiencing any issues with WordPress? If so, what are they and have you reported them to WordPress? Share your experiences in the comments section.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Don’t miss out!

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Subscribe

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/11/27/exploring-multiple-avenues-how-to-contact-wordpress-for-support-6-best-ways/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingProblems #BloggingQuestions #HelpWithBlogging #HowTo #QuestionsAboutBlogging #WordPress #WordPressHelp #WordPressSupport

Have You Discovered These Two New Excellent WordPress Features? And Where Have Reusable Blocks Gone? https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/11/06/have-you-discovered-these-two-new-excellent-wordpress-features-and-where-have-reusable-blocks-gone/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #HelpWithBlogging, #Patterns, #ReusableBlocks, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp, #WordPressProblems

Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Please Read This Post. Let's Keep Blogging Fun https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/10/16/stressed-or-feeling-guilty-about-blogging-please-read-this-post-lets-keep-blogging-fun/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingProblems, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingStress, #BloggingTips, #HelpWithBlogging, #MentalHealth, #Stress <- Every blogger should read this.

Experiencing Problems With Leaving Comments On WordPress? This Is What I Found. Read This Post Now https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/10/10/experiencing-problems-with-leaving-comments-on-wordpress-this-is-what-i-found-read-this-post-now/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTips, #BloggingTools, #Comments, #HelpWithBlogging, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #RespondingToComments, #WordPress, #WordPressProblems

How To Find Free Photos And Images On WordPress: Why You Should Use Them. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/09/25/how-to-find-free-photos-and-images-on-wordpress-why-you-should-use-them/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #MediaLibrary, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp <- Very good advice

What Kind Of Comments Are The Best To Leave On Blog Posts? https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/09/04/what-kind-of-comments-are-the-best-to-leave-on-blog-posts/ #Bloggers, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTips, #Blogs, #Comments, #Commeting, #Engaging, #HelpWithBlogging, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #RespondingToComments

How friendly do you think your blog is?

Is Your Blog A Friendly Welcoming Place? This Is How Not To Run A Blog

#Blogging #Blogginghelp #Bloggingtips #Helpwithblogging #Bloggingquestions #blogs #Bloggingadvice

http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/08/28/is-your-blog-a-friendly-welcoming-place-this-is-how-not-to-run-a-blog/

Is It Possible To Add Images And Photos To Comments On WordPress? Yes! Here's How. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/08/21/is-it-possible-to-add-images-and-photos-to-comments-on-wordpress-yes-heres-how/ #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #HowTo, #Images, #Photos, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp

Is It Possible To Add Images And Photos To Comments On WordPress? Yes! Here's How.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/08/21/is-it-possible-to-add-images-and-photos-to-comments-on-wordpress-yes-heres-how/ #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #HowTo, #Images, #Photos, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp

Is It Possible To Add Images And Photos To Comments On WordPress? Yes! Here’s How.

Have you seen images and photos in the comments section of blog posts and wondered how they were left there? It’s something I’ve written about before and, given the many changes at WordPress since I last wrote about it, deserves an update.

When adding images and photos to comments, we have to be careful about what we include. We should always ensure the photo or image is connected to the subject of the post we’re commenting on. And not only that.

If a blogger invites readers to submit photos or images (such as in a photography challenge), go ahead and submit them.

However, leaving an image or photo just for the sake of it is frowned upon by many bloggers, who will mark it as spam. And given that blogs are attacked by spammers daily, I don’t blame bloggers for marking uninvited images and photos as spam.

I’ve added images and photos to the comment sections of my blog posts and to the comments I have left on other bloggers’ blogs. However, unless I’ve been invited to leave an image or photo, I won’t leave them.

While many bloggers will be happy for you to leave images and photos, it’s always polite to ask first.

How to add images and photos to your comments

• Add the image or photo to your WordPress media library.

• Once the image has been added, click it and click the edit button to open it.

• On the righthand side of the screen, you’ll see a window where you can add details about your image. It’s important to complete these details (see the image below).
• Click the ‘Copy‘ button in the URL box.

• Paste the URL address into your comment.
• Do not, at this stage, submit your comment as you need to edit one part of the text within the link.
• Carefully delete the ‘s‘ from the ‘https‘ at the beginning of the link address, so it reads ‘http‘. (If you do not delete the ‘s‘ the image will not show in the comment).
• Ensure your link ends with ‘.png’ or ‘.jpg’. If it doesn’t, delete any text after ‘.png’ or ‘.jpg’.
• You can now submit your comment.

The image will now show in the comment. However, remember that if you are leaving an image in a comment on another blogger’s blog, they may need to approve it (and may even remove the link to the image) before it appears.

I’ve only found this to work on WordPress.Com blogs. On self-hosted blogs, only the image link is visible, not the image itself. However, those clicking on the link will see the image.

Note: Not all images and photos will appear if the security settings in your web browser are set to high. However, this does not affect the photos or pictures you leave in the comments of your own blog posts. I recommend that you not change the security settings on your web browser.

Let’s wrap it up.

• Yes, it is possible to insert images and photos into comments on WordPress.
• After inserting the URL address of the image, ensure you remove the ‘s‘ from the beginning of the URL so that ‘https’ becomes ‘http.’
• Only leave images and photos in comments if invited to do so or if you have asked for permission to do so first.
• If the security settings on your web browser are set high, images and photos may not show. However, this does not affect the photos or pictures you leave in the comments of your own blog posts.

Want to give inserting an image or photo into a comment a go?

Leave me a comment with the link to your image. Perhaps it can be a photo of your latest book cover or of a family pet. I’ll leave it up to you, but only family-friendly images and photos, please.

If you have any further questions about inserting images or photos into the comments, leave them in the comments section.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Mastodon
• Link
• Bluesky
• YouTube

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, enter your email address and click ‘Subscribe’ to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

9 Hidden Useful Tools You May Not Know About On The Posts Page Of A WordPress Blog

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/08/07/9-hidden-useful-tools-you-may-not-know-about-on-the-posts-page-of-a-wordpress-blog/ #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #Comments, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress

9 Hidden Useful Tools You May Not Know About On The Posts Page Of A WordPress Blog https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/08/07/9-hidden-useful-tools-you-may-not-know-about-on-the-posts-page-of-a-wordpress-blog/ #Blogging, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #BloggingTools, #Comments, #HelpWithBlogging, #HowTo, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #WordPress

WordPress Changes: This Is Now How To Find The 'Open In New Tab' Box. https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/07/24/wordpress-changes-this-is-now-how-to-find-the-open-in-new-tab-box/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #WordPress, #HowTo, #Pingbacks, #BloggingTools, #BloggingQuestions, #WordPressHelp, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #Pingback <- Hugh provides a lot of help to WordPress bloggers

Reblogging Has Changed On WordPress. But It Still Has Its Problems. What's Changed? https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/07/06/reblogging-has-changed-on-wordpress-but-it-still-has-its-problems-whats-changed/ #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #HelpWithBlogging, #PressThis, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #Reblogging, #Updates, #WordPress, #WordPressHelp

Reblogging has changed on WordPress. What's changed and is it still safe to reblog?

#WordPress #reblogging #bloggingtips #blogginghelp #helpwithblogging #bloggingquestions

http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/07/06/reblogging-has-changed-on-wordpress-but-it-still-has-its-problems-whats-changed/

Auto-Sharing For Mastodon Is Now Active On WordPress. How To Connect It.
https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/06/19/auto-sharing-for-mastodon-is-now-active-on-wordpress-how-to-connect-it/

#AutoSharing, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #BloggingQuestions, #HowTo, #Mastodon, #SharingButtons, #SocialMediaTips, #WordPress

Blog posts containing images and photos get up to 70% more traffic than posts without visuals. So why wouldn’t you use them in your posts?

Visual content is an essential component of any successful blog. Adding images, videos, and infographics to your blog posts can make your content more engaging and memorable.

If you plan to include images or photos in your blog posts, there are four essential things to remember. These steps will help ensure your content is engaging and visually appealing while avoiding copyright issues.

1. Use High-Quality Images And Photos.

Always use high-quality images that are relevant to your post. Blurry or low-resolution images can detract from your message and make your blog appear unprofessional.

Additionally, using images that are not directly related to your topic can confuse readers and reduce the effectiveness of your post.

2. Ensure Images And Photos Are Not Copyrighted

Ensure you have permission to use any images and photos you include in your posts. This means sourcing images from websites offering free, non-copyrighted images (such as Pixabay) or purchasing the rights to use images from a stock photo website.

Not all images are free to use. And some that are free may only be free for a limited time. Always check the small print.

Don’t think you’ll ever get fined for using copyrighted images or photos. There are copyright bots continually looking for copyrighted images that have been illegally used and downloaded all over the web.

I know of two bloggers who have been fined for using images/photos on their blog posts that were not free to use.

To avoid copyright issues, use your own images and photos and watermark them before adding them to your blog posts. I use a free app called Photobulk to do this. Seeing a watermark is a great deterrent in persuading some thieves not to copy and use them.

Of course, if you’re not concerned about your photos and images being used by anybody else, you don’t need to watermark them.

3. Ensure Images And Photos Are The Correct Sizes.

Optimize your images for web use by compressing them to reduce file size.

Large images can slow down your website’s loading speed, negatively impacting your blog’s search engine rankings and overall user experience.

If you have limited space in your media library, not reducing the size of your images and photos will soon take up all your media space. When that happens, you won’t be allowed to download additional images to your blog unless you free up space or move to a plan that gives you more storage space.

I recommend reducing image and photo sizes to 900 x 675 pixels.

There are several ways you can reduce the size of images and photos. You can reduce them using photo editing software or your device’s software.

The WordPress media library also has editing software, but please note that if you reduce the size of an image or photo using this tool, the original image is kept in your media library when you reduce the size of the image- thus, you won’t save any storage space.

The newly edited image with the reduced size is added as a new file in your media library. You can always revert back to the original image by clicking on the image in the media library, selecting Edit, and then choosing the “Restore Original” button. If you’ve inserted an edited image into other published posts, reverting an image may break this image on those posts.

I use an Apple iMac and can change the size of photos and images by clicking on Tools – Adjust Size on the menubar of my desktop computer. I do this before adding them to my WordPress media library.

On a Windows computer, you can use Microsoft Paint. Open your image with that program, then click on Resize. You can find this option on the middle-right side of the “Image” section at the top of the Paint window.

However, as I mentioned earlier, you can also reduce the size of images and photos on WordPress. But only do this if your WordPress plan has a large storage space allowance.

• To do this, ensure you view your media library in Classic view.

• Click the edit image button on the image you want to edit.

• Add the new dimensions in the Scale Image box and click the Scale button.

• Click the save or update button to save the changes.

Your photos and images will be reduced in size, but remember that a copy of the original is also kept, so you won’t save any storage space.

If posting to your site using the Jetpack App, the app can optimise images.

In the Jetpack app for iPhone, you can set the Max Image Upload Size so the original file is resized automatically when you upload it. This option can be found by going to My Site and clicking the profile icon in the top right, then choosing App Settings.

In the Jetpack app for Android, click on your profile icon in the top right corner and choose App Settings. There, enable Optimise Images to resize and compress images on upload.

4. Add information to your images and photos.

Don’t forget to include alt text and captions for your images.

Alt text is a description of the image that allows visually-impaired readers to understand what the image is conveying. At the same time, captions can add context and help readers engage with your content. This is especially important when participating in blog challenges such as Wordless Wednesday and Silent Sunday.

Adding a description of the image or photo also helps with SEO searches.

• Click the save or update button to save all the changes.

Following these four essential steps, you can create visually stunning and engaging blog content with images that stand out.

Let’s wrap it up.

• Always use high-quality images and photos on your blog.
• Never use images and photos that are copyrighted. You may be fined for doing so.
• Use your own images and photos. That way, you won’t encounter any copyright issues.
• Reduce the size of images and photos before loading them to your blog.
• Alternatively, reduce the size of images and photos with WordPress’s tools in the media library, but only if you have a WordPress plan that offers a large amount of storage.
• Always add information about images and photos before adding them to blog posts, as this allows visually-impaired readers to understand what the image conveys.
• Adding a description of the image or photo also helps with SEO searches.

What do you use to resize images and photos for your blog posts? Do you always complete the details of images and photos in the Alt Text box? If you have any questions about adding images and photos to your blog, please leave them in the comments section.

To follow Hugh on social media, click the links below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, click the ‘Subscribe’ button to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Subscribe

Copyright @ 2023 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/06/12/adding-images-or-photos-to-your-blog-posts-4-essential-things-to-do/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HelpWithBlogging #Images #MediaLibrary #Photos #QuestionsAboutBlogging #WordPress

Are You Making The Most Of The Powerful Sharing Buttons On Your Blog?

Are you looking to get more visitors to your blog?

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/05/22/are-you-making-the-most-of-the-powerful-sharing-buttons-on-your-blog/

#WordPress #blogging #Bloggingtips #socialmedia #Blockeditor #Gutenberg #MondayBlogs #blogginghelp #bloggingquestions

Are you looking for more visitors to your blog?

One of the best ways to promote your blog for free is by sharing your blog posts on social media. 

Social media has helped bring my blog thousands of visitors, with Twitter bringing the most.

WordPress offers sharing buttons so visitors can share your posts on social media.

These buttons are the best-placed option to encourage visitors to share your content on social media.

Where can sharing buttons be found on WordPress?

It depends on the WordPress theme you use, but most show sharing buttons at the end of blog posts which are the best-placed place for them. I have these sharing buttons on all my blog posts and pages.

What sharing buttons are available on WordPress?

All of the above. Some of them are already available on your blog posts when you create your WordPress blog.

How do I add more sharing buttons to my blog posts?

I’m using WordPress’s ‘default’ view in the images and instructions for this demonstration.

• Just under the sharing buttons, click on ‘Customize buttons.’ You can reach them via your blog’s dashboard if you cannot do this. Go to Tools – Marketing, and click on the Sharing buttons tab. 

• Click on Edit Sharing Buttons.

• Click on any of the sharing buttons to add or remove them. Ghosted-out sharing buttons are inactive and not displayed on your blog. 

• Click the Reorder button to move the sharing buttons to the order you want them to display on your blog and pages. 

• Click the Save button at the bottom of the page to save any changes you have made. 

• Click the Close button to close the Edit visible buttons window. 

• The Edit More button allows you to place sharing buttons behind the More sharing button. I’ve put the Email and Print sharing buttons behind the More button. 

• The Edit label text button lets users put their preferred text above the sharing buttons. Click on the button to open the text box. Mine reads, ‘ Please feel free to share this post.’

Button styles – why you should not use the icon-only option.

WordPress offers users several styles for sharing buttons.

I recommend you use an option that offers text. Readers who use speech software on their devices will then know which social media platform each button is for. 

Reminder

Remember that visitors can still share your blog posts on any social media platform, even if you don’t have a specific sharing button for it on your blog. However, if you want to discourage readers from sharing your posts on social media, you can remove the sharing buttons from your blog.

Let’s wrap it up

• Sharing buttons are a powerful tool for sharing your posts for free and bringing traffic to your blog.
• Sharing buttons can be edited on your blog. Choose which ones you want to appear on your blog posts and pages.
• Ghosted-out sharing buttons mean that they are inactive on your blog.
• Make sure you choose a sharing button style that contains text, as this helps visitors who use speech software identify the sharing buttons on your blog.
• You can discourage visitors from sharing your posts by removing your blog’s sharing buttons. However, your posts can still be shared on social media.

If you have questions about sharing buttons or want to share which ones you have on your blog, please leave them in the comments section.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

If you enjoyed this post and want more like it, enter your email address and click ‘Subscribe’ to stay up-to-date with my latest content.

Subscribe

Copyright @ 2023 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/05/22/are-you-making-the-most-of-the-powerful-sharing-buttons-on-your-blog/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HelpWithBlogging #QuestionsAboutBlogging #SharingButtons #SocialMedia #WordPress #WordPressHelp

Is Blogging Causing You Stress Or Making You Feel Guilty? How To Fix It

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2022/11/10/is-blogging-causing-you-stress-or-making-you-feel-guilty-how-to-fix-it/

#BloggingTips, #BloggingAdvice, #BloggingHelp, #HowTo, #HelpWithBlogging, #BloggingQuestions, #QuestionsAboutBlogging, #MentalHealth, #BloggingStress #WordPress

WordPress recently announced that the auto-sharing of blog posts to Twitter ended on the 1st of May, 2023. You can read their announcement by clicking the following link – Why Twitter Auto-Sharing Is Coming to an End.

Does This Mean That Twitter Is Dead?

No. Despite many users deleting their Twitter accounts when Elon Musk took over (and some continuing to do so), Twitter is very much alive.

Although I’ve lost over one-hundred followers on Twitter, I still see traffic to my blog coming from it. As you’ll see from the following image, Twitter outperforms any other social media platform in the number of shares my blog gets.

Only the WordPress Reader and search engines outperform Twitter in the number of shares they bring to my blog. I am curious why so many people have shared my blog posts via Skype, though.

Has Twitter Become Worse Since Elon Musk Took It Over?

Many users feared that Twitter would become more hate-related. I’ve not seen any increase in hate-related content. That may be because I always avoid it. And like on other social media sites and WordPress, I block users who publish hate-related content or who leave nasty comments.

I’ve had a Twitter account since 2010. Four more years than my WordPress blog, and I’ve had more trolls visit my blog than have visited me on Twitter.

What’s The Best Way To Deal With Trolls Or Nasty Comments, Tweets or Blog Posts?

Never engage with them. Trolls move on when they don’t get any kind of reaction. Ignoring, blocking and marking their comments as spam is the best form of action.

If I don’t like something on television or the radio, I switch off or switch channels. Likewise, if I see anything I do not like on any social media platform, I move on. Any spam or hateful comments directed at me get reported, and I block the user.

While I have not liked all the changes that have occurred on Twitter, nothing has made me delete my account yet.

Am I Sad That WordPress Is Ending Auto-Share To Twitter?

You may be surprised by my answer, but no. While WordPress did its best to get a good deal for users, I’m glad it decided to walk away from negotiations. WordPress put its users first. Had it agreed to the inflated rates Twitter wanted, users would have been hit with price increases.

Will The Twitter Sharing Buttons On Blog Posts Still Work?

Yes. WordPress has confirmed that the Twitter sharing button will still work. No need to delete it. Users can still tweet your posts even if you do not have a Twitter account.

And although auto-sharing to Twitter is ending, you can still copy links to your blog posts and paste them into new tweets.

Is Auto-Sharing On WordPress Now Dead?

No. Users can still auto-share their posts to the following social media platforms.

• Facebook
• LinkedIn
• Tumblr

In their announcement, WordPress also mentioned that auto-sharing was coming to Instagram and Mastodon (due mid-June 2023). However, I have heard that only those with an Instagram business account will have the ability to auto-share their blog posts. That may not be true, but more information will follow.

On May 3rd, I published a Wordless Wednesday post and was surprised to find that auto-sharing to Twitter was still working.

On May 5th, I published my Flash Fiction Friday post, and auto-sharing to Twitter was still working. By the time this post goes live, it may have stopped working, but I mentioned it to WordPress, and they came back with this response.

I guess it’s a little like WordPress themes that are no longer supported. They may become unreliable with no support, start to cause problems, and eventually stop working.

And a further update from WordPress on Twitter dated 9th May 2023.

Update 18th May 2023 – Auto-sharing to Twitter from WordPress has now been switched off.

Does Social Media Bring Traffic To Blogs?

Yes, but you must give it lots of time to work properly. Spreading yourself too thinly on social media by having too many social media accounts does not work. When I cut the number of social media accounts I had to two, I saw my blog stats take off.

Is It Worth Joining Instagram And Mastodon Now That WordPress Are Introducing Auto-Sharing To Them?

Only if you can give them the time to make them work for you and your blog.

You must engage with other users to gain followers. When I started engaging with other bloggers on WordPress, my stats boomed. When I started engaging with other users on Twitter, my stats boomed.

Don’t expect things to take off if you’re not prepared to give your time engaging with other users.

My recommendation is to stick with two or three social media platforms. Stay with those that work best for you.

What Is Mastodon?

I heard about Mastodon last year but only decided to create an account when I heard that auto-sharing to Twitter was ending.

It’s early days for me, but it has the look and feel of Twitter. I’ve added a Mastodon button to my social media widget. It’s the second button on the following bar.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Clicking on it will take you to my Mastodon account. If you already have a Mastodon account, please consider following me, and I will follow you back.

If you want to join Mastodon, start here on the Mastodon startup page.

If you want information about Mastodon, I found this unofficial guide to Mastodon very helpful.

However, it may take time for Mastoden to take off, so be prepared to wait. New social media platforms are being launched all the time. Remember to stick to just a few. Don’t spread your time too thin.

I will give Mastodon time, but I will delete my account if it does not work for me.

So far, it’s looking good because I am engaging with other users and, in turn, they are engaging with me. Some have been very helpful, although I’ve failed to find many WordPress users. So, if you’ve a Mastodon account, please consider connecting with me.

Instagram was one of the social media accounts I deleted a few years ago. I’ve no plans to rejoin Instagram.

Not Sure What Auto-Sharing Is Or How To Set It Up On WordPress?

This document, Post Automatically to Social Media, gives full details.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

Have you already cut ties with Twitter? Do you have a Mastodon account? Do you have any questions about auto-sharing on WordPress? Leave them in the comments section.

Follow Hugh on social media. Click the buttons below.

• Twitter
• WordPress
• Amazon
• Goodreads
• Link
• Mastodon

Want more posts like this? Enter your email address and click Subscribe.

Subscribe

Copyright @ 2023 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2023/05/08/twitter-auto-share-comes-to-an-end-on-wordpress-dont-panic-what-choices-do-you-have/

#AutoSharing #Blogging #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTools #HelpWithBlogging #Mastodon #QuestionsAboutBlogging #SocialMedia #Twitter

79 Ways To Kill Your Blog

Have you ever killed your blog?

Did you know that a blog can be killed in ways other than just deleting it?

While not all of the items on the following list will kill your blog instantly, some are what some call slow burners, where the killing of your blog will take much longer.

Are you responsible for doing any of these to your blog?

1. Don’t have an ‘about me’ page on your blog.
2. The ‘about me’ page takes visitors more than a minute to find.
3. The ‘about me’ page starts with these words – ‘this is an example of an about me page…’
4. The number of followers is more important to you than what you write and publish.
5. Publishing too many poor-quality posts due to rushing them.
6. Believe you have to publish content several times daily; otherwise, nobody will visit your blog.
7. Have links on your blog that you have no idea are broken or can not be bothered to fix.
8. You do not respond to comments.
9. You do not respond to questions or queries.
10. Don’t allow anyone to leave comments on your blog.
11. Ignore your readers.
12. Do not treat visitors to your blog as guests.
13. Don’t give yourself a name by which you can be addressed in the comments section.
14. Do not read other blogs.
15. Do not leave comments on other blogs.
16. Believe that blogging is going to make you rich.
17. Believe your blog will make money within the first year.
18. Leave links with no relevance (usually to your own posts) on the posts of other bloggers when not invited to do so.
19. Don’t believe you need to promote your blog.
20. Refuse to use social media to boost your blog posts.
21. Refuse to keep up to date with blogging technology and changes.
22. Think readers will find you rather than you find your readers.
23. Do not use enough ‘white space’ between the paragraphs in your blog posts.
24. The paragraphs in your posts are too long and blocky (more than 5 sentences long).
25. Have no way readers can contact you on your blog other than by leaving a comment. (No ‘contact me’ page).
26. Do not thank people for sharing your posts on their blogs.
27. Do not use images and/or photos in any posts.
28. Use images, photos and words (including lyrics) on your blog which are copyrighted and not free to use.
29. Do not ask permission to use photos and/or images owned by other bloggers before using them.
30. Ignore all copyright advice.
31. Respond to constructive, negative comments in an unprofessional and unfriendly manner.
32. Allow other bloggers to spam your blog with links that have nothing to do with the post’s content.
33. Keep begging other bloggers to reblog your posts, visit, or follow your blog.
34. Leave robotic praise comments on other blogs.
35. Leave worthless comments on other blogs which clearly show you’ve not read the post.
36. Do not take time to edit posts before publishing them.
37. Do not preview your posts before publishing them.
38. Inundate followers with too many posts in a short space of time instead of scheduling them out.
39. Respond to comments left by trolls in the comments section of your blog, where all can read them.
40. Allow trolls to leave comments on your blog.
41. Allow trolls to attack other bloggers who have left comments.
42. Personally attack other bloggers in the comments section on your own or different blogs.
43. Steal the ideas of other bloggers and publish them on your blog as if the content is original and has been written by you.
44. Fail to maintain and housekeep your blog regularly.
45. Keep reblogging or rescheduling your own posts which are less than a few months old.
46. Do not have a ‘landing’ page that will keep visitors returning.
47. Ignore advice and feedback from other bloggers.
48. Believe that blogging will only take up a few minutes of your time every week.
49. Wake up dreading opening your blog because of all the comments you need to reply to.
50. Keep telling your readers that you are giving blogging up, and keep coming back.
51. Allow blogging to stress you out.
52. Allow blogging to make you feel guilty.
53. Your blog and/or blog posts are poorly laid out.
54. Choose a font and background combination that makes it hard for visitors to read your posts.
55. Fail to categorise all your blog posts (including reblogs).
56. Fail to add ‘tags’ to your blog posts.
57. Don’t understand ‘pingbacks’ and how to use them.
58. Have no ‘search’ bar on your blog.
59. Have a menu that is too top-heavy, making it overwhelming to readers.
60. Fail to add your blog details to your Gravatar.
61. Fail to connect your social media accounts to your blog.
62. Have pop-up boxes on your blog that can not be removed unless somebody subscribes to your mailing list.
63. Have pop-up boxes on your blog that appear every time someone visits, or until they subscribe to your mailing list.
64. Keep suffering from blog envy when you read a post you’d wish you’d written.
65. Regularly publish posts that tell your readers to buy your book(s) or other products and services you offer rather than allow them to decide if they want to buy them.
66. You believe that blogging is all about the number of blog posts you can publish daily rather than what you are writing about.
67. You think you have the power to read and comment on every new blog post on all the blogs you follow.
68. Fail to update your readers that you are about to take a blogging break and how long it will last.
69. Lose motivation and a desire to continue blogging when your blog stats take a nosedive.
70. Believe that everyone will enjoy reading every post you write and publish.
71. Believe that all your followers will read and comment on all your posts.
72. Get upset when your blog loses followers.
73. Argue with bloggers and readers for failing to read and comment on all your blog posts.
74. Follow other blogs in the hope that they will follow back, then unfollow them again.
75. Believe all your readers will agree with everything you say in your blog posts.
76. Think nobody will dare to disagree with what you have to say by leaving a constructive comment telling you why they disagree.
77. Criticise other bloggers behind their backs (in the comments section of your own blog or on other blogs) for wanting to help other bloggers.
78. Maintain too many blogs, thus spreading yourself too thinly.
79. Fail to take some time away from blogging (knowing that you need to) because you believe the blogging world can not survive without you.

What about you? What would you add to the list? How would you kill your blog other than by deleting it?

This is an updated version of a post I wrote and published in 2017.

You can find the answers to solving many of the above issues by clicking on ‘blogging tips’ in the menu at the top of my blog, but feel free to leave any questions in the comments section. I’m always happy to help.

Whatever you do, keep blogging fun!

Copyright © 2022 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

How Do You Measure The Success Of Your Blog Posts?

How do you measure the success of a blog post?

As we drift into the last few weeks of the year, I find the world of blogging gradually becomes a quieter place. Like thousands of others, I’ll be taking a seasonal blogging break as we head deeper into December. 

However, one of the most popular posts I see appearing every December and early January is the traditional ‘My Top 10 Blog Posts Of The Year’ post. It won’t be long before these annual posts drop into your email inbox and WordPress Reader. 

But how do bloggers measure the success of those top 10 posts? What is it that helps make those posts appear in their ‘top 10’ lists?  

The more hits, the more successful? 

Most bloggers who will publish their ‘Top 10 Blog Posts of 2021’ blog post will base their list on the number of hits each blog post achieved. But that always has me questioning if that is the right way to compile a top 10 list. 

A blog post may have thousands of hits, but how many actually read the content? Does not reading a post make it successful? Should the number of hits count towards success when we’ve no idea how many times the post was read?

Does landing on a blog post by mistake make a post more successful when some of those who land there don’t stay and read the content?

Search engines are essential for finding something in particular on the web. However, how often have I clicked a link, then moved on quickly after realising the page I landed on isn’t what I was looking for? I’ll be honest and say that I’ve lost count!  

It’s made me question whether that click I made should count towards making the post more successful when I haven’t read the content. 

Volume V’s Sales

Let’s have a look at it another way. Take these two identical shops: 

Shop ‘A’ gets hundreds of customers a day because of its location or large advertising budget. However, it gets few sales a day. 

Shop ‘B” gets a much smaller number of customers because of its location or smaller advertising budget but gets a high sales volume. 

Which of the shops is the most successful? A or B?

When should comments count towards success?

If I compiled my ‘Top 10 Posts of 2021’ post based on the number of comments every post got, my top 10 list would look very different from the list I compiled for the number of hits or ‘likes’ a post got.

For example, one of my posts that received the most hits did not get any new comments or ‘likes’ left in the last 12 months. Yet the post that was number 21 on my most hits list got three new comments and six further ‘likes.’ Which one should be considered to have been the most successful in the last 12 months?

Then there are some bloggers (like me) who may not count specific comments. Comments that add value or prove the post was read count. Whereas lazy comments such as ‘Great Post’ or comments that only include a line of emojis may not count. 

When measuring success, should we include all comments or only those that add value or prove the post was read? 

When is a ‘like’ not a ‘like’?

I’ve never been a fan of the ‘like’ button on blogs since I discovered that some bloggers and readers misuse it. However, I see many bloggers basing the success of posts on the number of clicks on the ‘like’ button. 

Should clicking ‘like’ without reading a post count towards making a post successful? How many times have you had the same person press the ‘like’ button on lots of your blog posts within seconds of each other?

How many times has somebody clicked the ‘like’ button within seconds of you publishing a post?

Surely Sandra read my 900-word post if she clicked ‘like’ within ten seconds of me publishing it, didn’t she? Otherwise, why would she have clicked the ‘like’ button?

How do we know if somebody who clicks ‘like’ actually read the post?

Unfortunately, unless somebody clicks ‘like’ a reasonable time after publication, and leaves a genuine comment that proves they’ve read the post, we don’t know.  

Misuse of the ‘like’ button seems widespread in the blogging world, with some readers even pressing it to ease the guilt of not having time to read and comment on a post. Some click ‘like’ as a sign of support but may not read the post. Should those ‘likes’ count towards the success of a post?

Some see the ‘like’ button as nothing more than a free promotional tool for their blog, without even reading a post. Leave a ‘like’ and, fingers crossed, it will bring in some new visitors. 

The only success we should be discussing for these types of ‘likes’ is that the person clicking the ‘like’ button feels the post and blog are successful. All they’re doing is jumping on the success bandwagon of somebody else’s hard work.

If you’re wondering why I still have the ‘like’ button at the bottom of all my posts, allow me to enlighten you. I discovered (and WordPress told me) that it is connected to the ‘reblog’ button. Remove it, and the ‘reblog’ button also disappears from your blog posts.

That’s something I was not willing to allow. 

And removing the ‘like’ button from your blog doesn’t mean it will be removed from posts when they appear on the WordPress Reader. If you’ve removed the ‘like’ button from your blog, are you aware that people can still click on a ‘like’ button when reading your posts on the WP Reader?

How do I measure the success of a blog post?

Simple. If I were motivated or inspired to write and publish a post, then it would be a success. Therefore, you won’t find a ‘Top 10 Blog Posts Of 2021’ post on my blog.  

Winding-up

At the end of the day, I guess it’s entirely up to the blogger concerned about how they measure the success of their blog posts. What I do question, though, is whether bloggers should be publishing results that are not necessarily accurate.

Allow me to run a final thought past you 

Suppose a blog post gets only a few hundred hits but receives over 50 genuine comments and likes. Does it make it more successful than a post with thousands of hits yet very few comments and likes?

What do you think? How would you measure the success of a blog post?

Copyright © 2021 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

#blogPosts #bloggingAdvice #bloggingHelp #bloggingQuestions #bloggingTips #howDoYou #questions #questionsAboutBlogging #success