#hughs-views-and-news — Public Fediverse posts on home.social

2026-06-15

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

#wordpressblogging #monthlyroundup #hughsviewsandnews #bloggingtips #bloggingquestions #bloggingcommunity

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2026-06-15

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.

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.

#BlogEngagement #BlogRoundup #Blogging #BloggingCommunity #BloggingQuestions #BloggingTips #HughSViewsAndNews #monthlyRoundup #WordPressBlogging

#blogengagement #blogroundup #blogging #bloggingcommunity #bloggingquestions #bloggingtips

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2026-02-16

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.

Where I blog from

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.

#BloggingBreak #BloggingJourney #BloggingMilestones #BloggingQuestions #Engagement #HughSViewsAndNews #HughsViewsNews #PersonalReflection #QuestionsAboutBlogging #UnfollowingBlogs #WordPress

#bloggingbreak #bloggingjourney #bloggingmilestones #bloggingquestions #engagement #hughsviewsandnews

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2025-12-22

A Heartfelt Thank You and Warm Wishes for the Festive Season

As we celebrate this festive season, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to all my wonderful readers. Your support throughout this year has been invaluable, and it means the world to me.

A special shoutout to the following top five commentators on Hugh’s News and Views this year. Click the links to view their latest posts at the time of publication of this post.

Terri – Second Wind Leisure Perspectives

Erika – Share Your Light

Liesbet – Roaming About

Marsha – Marsha Ingrao Always Write

Esther – Esther Chilton

These bloggers always leave me genuine, thought-out comments that inspire discussion, and you know how much I enjoy engagement and discussion on any blog.

But a big thank you to all of you for being a part of Hugh’s Views and News. Whether you have left one comment, only read a few of my posts, read them all without commenting, or read them all and commented, know that I appreciate you taking your valuable time to read them.

Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season filled with warmth and happiness, no matter how you choose to celebrate. Here’s to a prosperous and inspiring New Year ahead!

Warm wishes,
Hugh

I’m taking a little blogging break and will be back on Monday, January 5th, with my first post of 2026.

You can follow me at the following sites.

The featured image in this post was created using the free version of Canva. WordPress AI was used for checking spelling and grammar mistakes.

#BloggingCommunity #Christmas #Engagement #Greetings #HughSViewsAndNews #HughsViewsNews #Inspiration #MerryChristmas #NewYear #PersonalReflections #ThankYou

#bloggingcommunity #christmas #engagement #greetings #hughsviewsandnews #hughsviewsnews

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2025-11-30

November 2025 – This is a first! But I Have Good Reasons

The past three months have been busy outside the world of blogging, so much so that I didn’t get the chance to write and publish monthly round-up posts for September or October.

Did I feel bad? Did I apologise? No. Sometimes life gets in the way of schedules, and my blogging routine was thrown off course, but it happens to everyone, and nobody needs to apologise. From what I saw, my posts from September, October and November continued to receive engagement, and for me, it’s all about interacting with other bloggers, writers, and readers.

Better late than never. Without further ado, here is the monthly round-up for the past three months on Hugh’s Views and News.

WordPress has introduced a new blog recommendation feature that displays recommended blogs on your Gravatar profile, improving visibility. My post details how to add the blogs you love the most.

This New WordPress Feature Helps Promote The Blogs You Love

Here’s a fresh writing challenge that everyone is encouraged to try. Can you write a story using only 101 words (no more, no less) based on a featured image?

Bloggers/Authors: Are You Ready For A Writing Challenge?

Where do the images and photos in your blog posts originate? Are you certain you’re not infringing the law by using copyrighted images?

Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts

How easy do you make it for visitors to share your blog posts and boost the visibility of your blog? Take action: These nine options are easy to find and activate.

9 Important Options on Your WordPress Blog to Check Now!

This is why you should never forget to put the clocks back before going to bed.

When The Clocks Go Back

Springtime in Paris! Sounds romantic, doesn’t it? Think again!

Experience the Magic of Spring in Paris! But not as you know it!

Are photography blog posts worth commenting on? Why I Decided to Stop Publishing My Photography.

4 Never Before Seen Photos And Why You Need To See Them

This post outlines various scams affecting bloggers, including voicemail scams and email phishing claims that appear to come from WordPress. Don’t become a victim of a scam or fined for downloading copyrighted material.

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

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

Follow Hugh On Social Media.

#blogPosts #bloggingAdvice #bloggingHelp #bloggingScams #bloggingTips #flashFiction #hughsViewsAndNews #hughsViewsNews #photography #wordpressHelp #wordpressThemes

#blogposts #bloggingadvice #blogginghelp #bloggingscams #bloggingtips #flashfiction

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2025-08-31

August 2025 – Something strange happened on my blog!

Something strange happened this month. For the first time since I’ve been blogging, one of my blog posts received more engagement on social media (Mastodon) than on the actual post. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but could it be that claims of real engagement in the world of blogging are on the decline?

However, August turned out to be a bumper month for me. Although I only published three blog posts, four if you include this one, my stats soared. August 2025 was the highest month for views of any August since I started blogging in 2014. And to top it all off, engagement remained high.

How was your August blogging-wise?

Here’s your opportunity to catch up on my three blog posts from August 2025.

Did you know that keeping old, outdated blog posts can damage your blog? What do you do with your old blog posts? Join the discussion.

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

Warning: If you spot a small pod similar to this, do not go near it.

Flash Fiction – A Small Invasion

How easy do you make it for visitors to your blog to contact you without attracting the spammers and spambots?

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

Follow Hugh On Social Media.

Don’t forget to add a BlueSky sharing button to your blog.

#BlogPosts #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingTips #Contact #FlashFiction #HughSViewsAndNews #HughsViewsNews #WordPressHelp #WordPressThemes

#blogposts #bloggingadvice #blogginghelp #bloggingtips #contact #flashfiction

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2025-03-31

Did You Miss Any Of These? Monthly Round-Up – March 2025

I only published four posts (including this one) this month, compared to eleven in March 2024. Yet, compared to March 2024, my blog only got around 100 fewer views.

SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) continues to play a big part in bringing new visitors to my blog, so don’t allow those who say that SEO doesn’t matter to tell you otherwise. SEO is important if you want more visitors and potentially new followers to your blog.

If you have any questions about SEO, leave them in the comments section.

Here is your opportunity to catch up on my three blog posts published in March 2025.

Bluesky is an engaging social media platform for bloggers and creators. It fosters community despite challenges from bots and scammers. My ultimate guide to Bluesky includes details on engaging with other users and dealing with bots and scammers.

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

Engaging blog post titles are crucial for attracting visitors; they significantly influence click-through rates and post engagement. My post details how to create the best titles for your blog posts.

11 Tips to Craft Irresistible Blog Post Titles That Attract New Visitors

AI enhances blogging by improving efficiency, creativity, and SEO, but it also presents risks, such as a reduced personal touch and potential dependency. This post explores the benefits and drawbacks of using AI in blogging. Do you support using AI for blogging, or do you oppose it? Share your thoughts by joining the discussion.

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

Don’t forget to add a BlueSky sharing button to your blog.

Follow Hugh On Social Media.

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingTips #BlueSky #HughSViewsAndNews #HughsViewsNews #SocialMedia #SocialMediaHelp #WordPressHelp

#ai #artificialintelligence #bloggingadvice #blogginghelp #bloggingtips #bluesky

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2024-09-30

Here’s your chance to catch up on the nine blog posts published in September 2024. Hugh’s Views and News is at the heart of great conversations, discussions and engagement. Did you join the debates and conversations? If not, why not jump in and let us know what you think!

What memories do you have of television? Perhaps you share the same memories of these classic television shows as me?

Nostalgic Memories: The Miracle Of The Television Set Before Video

Question: Have you ever gone foraging? What did you find?

Do You Forage? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

When will you be calling the transport helpline? They’re waiting for your call.

Flash Fiction – Time To Leave, Time To Arrive

Question: Have you witnessed any early signs of autumn or spring where you live?

Autumn Mists #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Where do you think this door leads? Maybe into the sandcastle?

Do Sandcastles Have Doors? #ThursdayDoors #Photography

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?

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

Question: Can you help this guy find his shoe?

Has Anyone Seen My Shoe? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

WordPress simplifies adding a subscribe button to your blog posts making it easier for visitors to subscribe or follow your blog. Here’s how to activate it.

How Easy Is It To Follow Your Blog? How To Add A Subscribe Button To All Your WordPress Posts

Question: You never quite know what’s in the dark. What can you see in this nighttime photo?

Can You See In The Dark? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Comments are closed here. Please leave any new comments on the original posts.

Monthly Round-Up – September 2024

Follow Hugh On Social Media.

https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2024/09/30/did-you-miss-any-of-these-monthly-round-up-september-2024/

#BloggingAdvice #BloggingHelp #BloggingTips #FlashFiction #HughSViewsAndNews #HughsViewsNews #photography #ThursdayDoors #WordlessWednesday #Wordlesswednesday

#bloggingadvice #blogginghelp #bloggingtips #flashfiction #hughsviewsandnews #hughsviewsnews

Hugh's Views & News @[email protected]

2023-12-31

Did you catch these 6 blog posts that got everyone talking, discussing, and wondering? Maybe you were part of the conversation, but if not, jump in and share your thoughts!

Do you like this tree as much as I do? Share some photos with me of some of your favourite festive trees.

Have You Seen A Festive Tree As Cool As This? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Performing these 7 jobs on your blog now will bring you and your blog excellent results in the New Year. Plus, are you planning to take a blogging break during December?

December Can Be Quiet In The Blogging World. 7 Essential, Easy Ways to Help Your Blog Through It

What, in your opinion, are the best festive colour combinations? Let me know in the comments section. Share a picture of your favourite festive colour combination.

What Are The Best Festive Colour Combinations? #WordlessWednesday #Photography

Poetry is the hardest form of writing for me. Yet, this short Christmas poem is one of the first things I published on my blog. Why have I never written and published more poetry? What do you find the most difficult thing to write?

Footprints In The Snow – A Poem For Christmas