#wordpressthemes — Public Fediverse posts

Acadia v3.1.0 is here with a BIG update!

Create a stunning online education platform with 150+ pre-built templates, powerful LMS integrations, and Elementor.

Tutor LMS, LearnPress & MasterStudy
Elementor Ready
100% Responsive
Multilingual & RTL Ready
Fast Performance
Lifetime Free Updates

https://themepure.net/product/education-wordpress-theme-acadia/

#Acadia #WordPressTheme #OnlineEducation #eLearning #Elementor #TutorLMS #LearnPress #WordPressThemes #ThemePure

Showcase Your Creativity with Bfolio!

Bfolio – Creative Portfolio WordPress Theme.

✨ Why Choose Bfolio?
✅ 16+ Ready-to-Use Demos
✅ Modern & On-Trend Design
✅ Unique Animations & Smooth Experience
✅ Elementor Page Builder Support
✅ WooCommerce Compatible
✅ RTL Ready
✅ Figma Files Included

https://themepure.net/product/bfolio-personal-portfolio-wordpress-theme/

#WordPress #PortfolioTheme #Figma #ThemePure #WordPressThemes

I want to upgrade my custom 22-year-old, non-responsive WordPress theme for my vintage computing blog, Byte Cellar, with a modern, simple theme.

I see the official WordPress theme directory but ... there are 15,000 themes listed, or so.

Any tips?

#WordPress #themes #WordPressThemes #blog #retrocomputing #help

10 Best Travel Agency WordPress Themes for 2026

Planning to build a stunning travel website? Discover the top travel agency WordPress themes.

✨ Featured Highlights:
✅ Modern & professional designs
✅ Fully responsive for all devices
✅ Easy customization with powerful builders
✅ Fast performance & user-friendly layouts

https://themepure.net/10-best-travel-agency-wordpress-themes/

#WordPress #TravelAgency #TravelWordPressTheme #TourBooking #WebsiteDesign #WordPressThemes #ThemePure #2026Trends

WordPress starter theme Air-light v10.2.0 released: https://github.com/digitoimistodude/air-light/releases/tag/10.2.0

#AirLight #OpenSource #WordPress #WordPressThemes #WordPressStarterTheme #WebDev #WPFI

Search Engine Journal: New WordPress Initiative Will Secure Plugins And Themes. “WordPress announced a new security initiative called Protect The Shire that aims to secure plugins and themes. The announcement also said a temporary 24-hour delay will be imposed before plugin and theme updates are distributed through auto-updates.”

UPDATE: Looks like this might be easier than I thought – going to give it a go with a couple of candidate themes.

Request for help: WordPress theme font customisation (perhaps through child theme?) – possibly other minor brand-related tweaks (e.g. colours).

Potentially paid gig (let’s talk!) helping me utilise a webfont pack in a theme.

I’m yet to settle on the theme (can be part of the scope to advise/suggest), but I know the fonts I want to use (appropriate web use licenses purchased).

Mostly pages at start (likely <5, with a form or two), not blog posts, but I might want to post down the track (so set up but not in navigation menus for now).

This is for my own sole trader small business I’m setting up – aiming for simple self-support, not rampant business growth.

I have a *strict* “No AI” policy in all facets of the business, including any design/coding work (I will not undertake, accept, or condone theft from other workers, let alone all the other issues).

If paid gig, Aussies with an ABN preferred, but neither is a deal breaker for the right person.

Voluntary help from anywhere gratefully accepted 😀 (Cheeky, I know, but I’m between gigs right now!)

Please boost for reach.

#FediHelp #SmallBusiness #SelfHosted #SelfHosting #WordPress #WordPressAdmin #WordPressAdmins #WordPressThemes #NoAI #WebDesign #Website #WebDevelopment #WordPressHelp

WordPress: A New Theme for Short-Form Blogging on WordPress.com. “At WordPress.com, we believe short thoughts deserve a real home. Today we’re introducing a new theme built for quick posts, replies, and reblogs: the kind of writing that lives somewhere between a tweet and a blog post, on a site that’s entirely yours.”

April 2026 Blogging Highlights: WordPress Block Themes, Old Cameras & New Beginnings

After a short unplanned break, the monthly roundups are finally back! Life got busy, the posts got away from me for a bit, but I’m picking things up again, and I’m excited to share what you may have missed.

Why These Roundups Are Back

I asked myself whether monthly roundup posts were beneficial.

After receiving readers’ thanks, it seems clear that these posts are a great way to help people catch up on what they’ve missed. After all, life is busy for many of us, so polite reminders help.

What do you think—do these kinds of posts help you?

Here are the posts I published this month:

This Month’s Featured Posts

1. How I Finally Switched My Blog to a Block Theme

How I Finally Switched My Blog to a Block Theme – Challenges, Wins, and Must-Know Tips for WordPress Bloggers.

After ten years of hesitation, I finally switched my blog to a block theme. This post covers what went wrong, what surprised me, and the tips I wish I’d known.

2. From Box Cameras to iPhone Cameras

From Box Cameras to iPhone Cameras: Why Photography Plays an Important Part in Blogging

From box cameras to iPhone cameras, discover how old family photos continue to shape our memories, stories, and identities in today’s digital blogging world. If you enjoy taking a trip back to the past, when black‑and‑white photos were king, this post will bring back many happy memories.

3. You’re Not Stuck: Changing Your Blog Theme

You’re Not Stuck: The Surprising Power Of Finally Changing Your Blog Theme.

Is your blog looking like it’s stuck in the 20th century? Are you spending more time neglecting it than looking after it? This post explores how fear can quietly keep us “busy but stuck” — and how small, imperfect changes can move you forward again.

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.

BORROWED STORIES

https://ridiculousbharath.wordpress.com/2026/04/22/borrowed-stories/

How I Finally Switched My Blog to a Block Theme – Challenges, Wins, and Must-Know Tips for WordPress Bloggers

Switching My Blog From a Classic to a Block Theme

Hello. Thank you for joining me on the other side. If you are unsure what I am talking about, check out my last post, ‘Why Now Is The Time To Pull Up My ‘Big Boy’ Trousers’ About My Blog‘ for the answers.

I did it! All those months of worry and “what-ifs” are now a thing of the past. I’ve launched my blog into the 21st century, joining many of you who have already done the same thing.

Ten years ago, when I first changed the theme of my blog, only Classic themes were available. It took me a whole weekend to change themes.

Over the years, and since the introduction of Block themes, WordPress has made it easier to change a blog’s theme. And I have to say that I am thankful to them for making it an easy process. If I can do it, anyone can.

The Challenges I Faced

How long did it take me to change from a Classic to a Block theme?

Two years! But all of that was my fault because I was too scared to face the change! I kept giving myself excuses as to why I shouldn’t do it. Given that there is a lot of information and many tutorials on how to make the switch, all those excuses were just me telling myself I lacked confidence. That’s something I regret.

When I checked out all the Block themes and sat down to make the switch, I had a new theme up and running within an hour. Sure, I had to make some changes along the way, but I was shocked by how easy it was to make the switch. A whole weekend to change the theme of a blog turned into an hour!

Were there any challenges in making the change?

• Yes! But everything we do comes with its challenges, and blogging is no different. The first challenge was the time I wasted checking out all the Block themes. I spent far too long trying lots of them out, when what I should have done was stick with the first one I liked and knew would work for me.
• Another challenge was the persistence with which I told myself this was going to be difficult and turn out badly. It wasn’t! I also stopped listening to people telling me I didn’t need to make the change, and those who were negative about it. I was surprised by how quickly I made the switch, though watching tutorials and reading advice on how to do it certainly helped.
• My biggest challenge was being unpredictable and not following the correct instructions when making some changes. For example, while adding blocks to the sidebar of my new-look blog, WordPress prompted me several times with the message, “Are you sure you do not want to save the changes?” and I still answered “Yes!” What was I thinking? Who knows?

The Positives of Making the Change

What were the positives about making the change?

• The excitement about changing the theme of my blog was the feeling I had when I was a kid in a sweet shop, with so much choice, although that was a time-wasting trap I fell into. But the feeling kept me positive throughout the process.
• Another positive was all the wonderful support and tutorials out there on how to change your blog’s theme from Classic to Block. Sure, you need some time to watch and learn, but we make time for learning something new throughout our whole lives, so why not this?
• But the biggest positive was the feeling I got when I saw my blog and its new theme for the first time. I felt I had taken a massive step forward on my blogging journey. The old theme I’ve been using for the last five years now seems so outdated, even though it’s still one of the few Classic themes WordPress has not retired…yet.
  

My Recommendations for Changing Blog Themes

What recommendations do I make when changing blog themes?

• Don’t put it off. If it’s something you want (and know) you have to do, stop making excuses for not doing it. Not having enough time to make the change is probably the king of all the excuses, but time should never be a problem or an excuse.
• Consider taking your blog offline while you make the change. Although I did not do this, there is an option to do so. On the dashboard of your blog, go to Settings – Reading, and scroll down to Site Visibility. Click the ‘Coming Soon‘ option before clicking the Save button at the bottom of the page. Doing this will remove any ‘panic’ about visitors to your blog seeing errors while you are working on the switch.
• I opted for informing my readers in a post that I was making changes. I’d recommend you do the same unless you take your blog offline.
• Take some time to watch tutorials and read information on how to make the switch from a Classic to a Block theme. WordPress has a post titled “Switch from a classic theme to a block theme” that explains everything you need to know.
• Do not listen to anyone who dislikes or hates change and who will try to put you off from making the change. Believe in yourself and leave those negative people behind.
• Don’t spend too much time checking out all the different themes. I wasted almost two weeks doing that and should have stuck to the first theme (this one) I liked.
• Take the chance to do some blog housekeeping while switching themes. I updated my social media blocks, book links, audited categories and tags, and updated my ‘About‘ page.

Closing Thoughts and Thank You

Thank you to everyone who has already been in touch, saying how much they like my new-look blog and to everyone who has given me feedback to help make further improvements.

If you have questions about switching from a Classic to a Block theme, don’t be afraid to reach out. I’m always happy to help.

In the meantime, I’d love your feedback on the new theme for my blog. Let me know if there is anything you like or don’t like. I’m happy for any suggestions to make my blog as welcoming and engaging as possible.

Oh! And most importantly, for those wanting to know, the new theme I chose is called “Nook.”

Have you changed the theme of your WordPress blog from Classic to Block? Did you encounter any problems? What were they, and how did you resolve them?

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.

Tired of putting things off until tomorrow?

Join me on my journey of transformation as I finally take the plunge on an important change for my blog.

Ready to see what’s next?

#WordPress #MondayBlogs #Blogging #BlockEditor #WordPressThemes

http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2026/03/23/why-now-is-the-time-to-pull-up-my-big-boy-trousers-about-my-blog/?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=jetpack_social

Why Now Is The Time To Pull Up My ‘Big Boy’ Trousers’ About My Blog

Have you heard of the saying, ‘Don’t put off today what can be done tomorrow’? I should tell myself that more often because tomorrow becomes tomorrow, and that tomorrow becomes another tomorrow. Before you know it, weeks, months or even years have passed you by, and you still haven’t done what you were putting off until tomorrow.

Last week, after visiting some blogs, I asked myself, ‘Why haven’t I done what they have done yet?’ And the simple and truthful answer was ‘Because of me.’ But what am I referring to?

‘What if?’ moments. Do you ever have them?

A ‘What if’ moment is those moments in life when you believe something is holding you back from doing something you know needs to be done, but you have doubts about it. The problem is that it isn’t the doubts that are holding you back.

The ‘What if’ moment I’ve been having has lasted for the best part of two years.

‘What if changing the theme of my blog from Classic to Block causes problems?’

Given that thousands of other bloggers have done it, I know that, while problems may occur, they can be resolved!

When WordPress introduced the Block Editor, which now seems like many years ago, I disliked it and did everything I could to avoid giving it a chance. I fought myself, declaring I’ll never use it and that I hated the change. And there was my downfall – ‘change.’ I wasn’t willing to accept it.

Then another blogger said in one of her posts, ‘The Block Editor isn’t hard to use; it’s just different.’ That got me thinking, and it was not long before I realised that the reason I didn’t like the change was that I hadn’t set aside any time to read tutorials and watch them, and to give the Block editor a try.

It wasn’t long before I was telling myself that trying out the Block Editor was like switching up from black-and-white to colour television.

Why then has it taken me so long to begin the switch from a Classic to a Block theme? The answer to that question is ‘Me.’ What if something goes wrong? What if I break my blog? What if all my posts disappear? What if my blog disappears without a trace?’ Why if, what if, what if?

The problem with all those questions is that they are not problems. They are excuses. Excuses to stop myself from making changes. And I have found in life that change opens new doors and brings new opportunities. And that’s what switching to using the Block editor did.

But why fix what’s not broken?

I hear people say, ‘Why fix what’s not broken?’ But nobody is fixing anything. All websites have to keep up with technological changes; they would lose many paying customers if they didn’t adapt. It’s paying customers who keep companies alive by buying their products or services, allowing some users to use the site for free.

Now, replace the question ”Why fix what’s not broken?’ with, ‘Why update what is not broken?’ You now have your answer.

Not all WordPress users are lucky enough to have had a choice between a Classic and a Block editor. Many have never known anything but the Block Editor, and they all seem to be doing a great job. However, did you know that the Block editor includes a Classic block that allows users to use the Classic editor?

What’s about to happen on my blog?

Over the next few weeks, you may notice a few changes with my blog as I switch from a Classic to a Block theme. If you notice anything wrong, please let me know, so I can resolve it. There’s plenty of support available on WordPress when you take the time to find it. Part of the excitement for me is choosing a new theme, but another reason I am making the switch is that I gain access to many more blogging tools and options, many of which help users save time.

Finally, I’m pleased to say I’ve changed concerns into excitement. I’m no longer allowing change to stop me from moving ahead on my blogging journey. I want my blog to become part of today’s technology, rather than remain stuck in yesterday’s.

This is my final post using a Classic theme on my blog. Bear with me while I make the changes to a Block theme. Hopefully, it won’t be long before I see you on the other side.

Have you changed the theme of your WordPress blog from Classic to Block? Did you encounter any problems? What were they, and how did you resolve them?

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

You can follow me at the following sites.

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

Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

🚀 17K+ Sales Achieved! 🎉

ThemePure has officially crossed 17,000+ sales on Envato — a huge milestone made possible by your trust and support! 💙

This achievement reflects our team’s hard work, dedication, and passion for delivering quality products. 🔥

Here’s to innovation, growth, and many more successes ahead! 🚀

#ThemePure #Envato #17KSales #Milestone #TeamWork #WordPressThemes #WebDesign

12 Top WordPress Themes People Actually Use in 2026 (Tested & Ranked) #wordPressThemes

https://wordpress.com/blog/2026/01/26/best-wordpress-themes/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub

Posted into POST-ENSHITTIFICATION BLOGGING @post-enshittification-blogging-mobileatom

Efficiency matters when managing multiple web projects.

Theme Bundle provides access to a range of premium WordPress themes, helping agencies and developers deploy professional websites faster while maintaining quality and consistency.

Discount code: PATHHAN5

Affiliate link:
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#WordPressThemes #AgencyTools #WebDevelopment #DigitalSolutions #WebsiteStrategy

A professional website sets the tone for your brand.

Avantex is a premium WordPress theme designed for business, corporate, and professional websites. It offers a clean layout, responsive design, and structured sections that help present services, teams, and company information clearly.

A strong option for companies, startups, and agencies.

Use coupon code PATHHAN5
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#WordPressThemes #BusinessWebsites #CorporateBranding #WPDesign #WebsiteBuilders

🌊 Oceanly News WordPress Theme

Oceanly News is a perfect #WordPress theme for blogs, magazines, newspapers, and story writers. 📰

✨ Elegant & minimalistic design
🎯 Featured posts section
🛠️ Easy customization
⚡ Lightweight theme

🔗 Get the theme:
https://scriptstown.com/wordpress-themes/oceanly-news/

#WordPressTheme #Blogging #WordPressThemes #Blog #Marketing

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.

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

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

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

Pixora WordPress Theme Review: Is This the Perfect Toolkit for Creative Agencies and Portfolio Websites? https://weandthecolor.com/pixora-wordpress-theme-review-is-this-the-perfect-toolkit-for-creative-agencies-and-portfolio-websites/206945

#wordpress #wp #wordpressthemes #webdesign #website #websitedesign

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.

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

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

Copyright @ 2025 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

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

📰 PressBook Premium is a content-focused #WordPress theme for blogs, magazines, and news websites.

✨ Great for content-rich sites like blogs, schools, news portals, and educational institutions.

🎨️ Custom colors to match your brand
🌗 Dark and light color schemes, presets
📌 Sticky-floating single, double sidebars
🎡️ Featured post carousels with autoplay
🧱 Post grid with multiple layout options

🔗 Learn more:
https://scriptstown.com/wordpress-themes/pressbook-premium/

#WordPressTheme #Blogging #WordPressThemes #WP #Blog #Marketing

🔧 BuddyX Pro Theme v4.8.3 is here!
Packed with UI improvements, WooCommerce enhancements, and better compatibility with BuddyBoss & BuddyPress.
🎯 Smoother styling, smarter layouts, and an even better user experience.

📋 For the full changelog, visit: https://wbcomdesigns.com/changelog/buddyx-pro-theme-v4-8-3/

#BuddyXPro #BuddyPress #BuddyBoss #WordPressThemes #CommunityTheme #WooCommerce #Community #UI #Update

📰 PressBook Premium is a content-focused #WordPress theme for blogs, magazines, and news websites.

✨ Great for content-rich sites like blogs, schools, news portals, and educational institutions.

🎨️ Custom colors to match your brand
🌗 Dark and light color schemes, presets
📌 Sticky-floating single, double sidebars
🎡️ Featured post carousels with autoplay
🧱 Post grid with multiple layout options

🔗 Learn more:
https://scriptstown.com/wordpress-themes/pressbook-premium/

#WordPressTheme #Blogging #WordPressThemes #WP #Blog #Marketing

📰 PressBook Premium is a content-focused #WordPress theme for blogs, magazines, and news websites.

✨ Great for content-rich sites like blogs, schools, news portals, and educational institutions.

🎨️ Custom colors to match your brand
🌗 Dark and light color schemes, presets
📌 Sticky-floating single, double sidebars
🎡️ Featured post carousels with autoplay
🧱 Post grid with multiple layout options

🔗 Learn more:
https://scriptstown.com/wordpress-themes/pressbook-premium/

#WordPressTheme #Blogging #WordPressThemes #WP #Blog #Marketing

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

✨ PressBook Masonry Blogs is a clean, fast #WordPress theme with a beautiful masonry layout for your blog posts, educational content, or portfolios.

🧱️ Show posts in a masonry grid
🎨 Multiple layout control options
🖥️ Create a professional site easily
⚡ Lightweight and easy to customize
🎛️ Adjustable columns and spacing

🔗 Learn more:
https://scriptstown.com/wordpress-themes/pressbook-masonry-blogs/

#WordPressTheme #Blogging #WordPressThemes #Blog #Marketing

We just released air-light WordPress starter theme v9.5.0 here at @dude
https://github.com/digitoimistodude/air-light/releases/tag/9.5.0

#WordPress #WordPressStarterTheme #WordPressThemes #OpenSource

Within the WordPress admin, you can keep your CSS customizations in Customizer. CSS and JS can be stored in a code plugin. If you customize the child theme directly, do your future self a favor and put it in version control. If you are unfamiliar with command line, GitHub has a lovely visual app at https://buff.ly/4gsYocw #WordPress #WordPressThemes #ChildThemes 2/2

If you are using or planning to use a child theme made by the parent theme maker, plan for the maker’s updates. While it is technically possible to make a grandchild theme, it is not recommended. There are options... https://buff.ly/4gsYocw #WordPress #WordPressThemes #ChildThemes 1/2

Looking to create a job listing or freelance services marketplace? Check out KofeJob, a WordPress theme tailored for modern, responsive, and feature-rich platforms. With easy customization, user-friendly tools, and a sleek design, it's perfect for connecting employers and freelancers.

#KofeJob #JobListing #FreelanceMarketplace #WordPressThemes #WebDesign #ResponsiveThemes

Discover more:https://shorturl.at/zvydO

#WordPress theme folks: Is there a theme with this layout or a builder where I can create something close to my dirty mockup here?

Basically a landing page with large images, probably two column, shoulder to shoulder, with buttons overlaid at the bottom of the image. Or maybe just below the image. Not sure, want to play with it. #WordPressThemes

🤩💻 The world of WordPress themes is a big one, and there can be a lot of choices.

It can become so overwhelming, especially if you need special theme options.

Fortunately, there are amazing...

#WordPressThemes

🔗 https://social.talkbitz.com/nt9u2

@rolle Got to do a test drive on these themes, particularly air-light. I'm a sucker for lightweight starters.

#wordpress #wordpressdevelopment #wordpressthemes

Released Air-light WordPress theme v9.4.6 https://github.com/digitoimistodude/air-light

Demo: https://airwptheme.com/demo/

#WordPress #WordPressThemes #wordpressDevelopment #WordPressStarterTheme #OpenSource

Ich bin auf der Suche nach #Wordpress #Theme s, die komplett kostenlos und ohne Pro-Version sind.

Idealerweise lassen sich Schriften und Farben anpassen, aber in erster Linie suche ich etwas, das ist wie es ist, ohne Werbung für irgendein Kaufprodukt oder Abomodell.

Kann mir da jemand helfen?

#hilfe #wordpressthemes

Dear Mastodonians,

I am planning to build myself a humble little #website in #WordPress: Are there any #themes you might like to recommend?

Should be clear and organized but with a bit of warmth, somewhat sensual.

Boosts and comments are much appreciated. Thank you!

🤗

#wordpressthemes #webdesign

Just released v9.4.5 of Air-light, WordPress starter theme https://github.com/digitoimistodude/air-light

Demo: https://airwptheme.com/demo/

#WordPress #WordPressStarterTheme #WordPressThemes #WordPressTheming #WP #wpfi #OpenSource

Core concepts to understand in WordPress theme development. https://kinsta.com/blog/wordpress-theme-core-concepts/ #WordPressDev #WordPressThemes

What would you like to see in the next default WordPress theme? https://make.wordpress.org/core/2024/07/08/what-would-you-like-to-see-in-the-next-default-wordpress-theme/ #WordPressThemes

When you tell your developer you didn't use WBCOM Designs themes... 😲😂
"Upgrade to WBCOM Designs and see the difference! Your website (and visitors) will thank you! 🌟"
https://wbcomdesigns.com/themes/
#WBCOMDesigns #WebsiteUpgrade #WordPressThemes #WebDesign #Memes #WebDeveloperLife

Modern WordPress - Yikes! – David Bushell – Freelance Web Design (UK)
https://dbushell.com/2024/05/07/modern-wordpress-themes-yikes/ #WordPressThemes #WordPressDev

Adding some colors to a WrodPress Block Theme. https://kau-boys.com/3609/wordpress/adding-some-colors-to-the-block-theme #WordPressThemes #WordPressDev

Ich habe sie gefunden! Die #WordPress-Pflanze! Aus dem Theme Twentyseventeen 😂
#sukkulente #wordpressthemes

There is some juicy goodness for developers in WordPress 6.4. Check out the new block hooks. https://make.wordpress.org/core/2023/10/15/introducing-block-hooks-for-dynamic-blocks/ #WordPress #WordPressDev #WordPressThemes

This is an incredibly common #accessibility failure in WordPress themes and plugins. If your website has smooth scroll, do this quick 10-second check to ensure it's not breaking the accessibility of your skip and anchor links.

https://youtu.be/Po1cfpKJSaw

#AccessibilityTesting #AccessibilityTip #WordPressThemes #PracticalA11y #SmoothScroll

Juicy changes coming up for developers in WordPress 6.4. Check it out. https://buff.ly/3sXq1He #WordPress #WordPressPlugins #WordPressThemes

Air-light WordPress starter theme v9.3.4 released! :neon_skull:

This release is brought to you by 3 awesome contributors and financed by @dude. :bunhdheart:

Changelog:

* Fix focus to item when pressing back to top indicator
* Fix Gutenberg admin to use the correct variable font
* Update devpackages to 2.5.4
* Exclude WordPress.DB.SlowDBQuery.slow_db_query_meta_query
* Do not show skip link when focused via mouse from back to top
* Fix external link aria-label getting replaced #193 (kudos to @EliasKau!)
* Improvements and fixes to top scroll button #191 (kudos to @raikasdev!)

WordPress theme directory: https://wordpress.org/themes/air-light/

Source code: https://github.com/digitoimistodude/air-light/releases/tag/9.3.4

Demo: https://airwptheme.com/demo/

#WordPress #wpfi #DigitoimistoDude #WordPressThemes #WordPressStarterTheme #WebDev #CSS #PHP #WordPressFinland #WordPressTheme #AirLight #OpenSource

Twenty Twenty-Four, the new default theme for WordPress, has a beautiful minimalist design. I love the inclusion patterns too. Will we end up seeing more sites with mismatched designs with the variety of patterns included? https://make.wordpress.org/core/2023/08/24/introducing-twenty-twenty-four/ #WordPress #WordPressThemes

WordPress Themes: Who Do You Blame For Your Blog Not Working Correctly?

Who do you blame when something goes wrong with your blog?

Most of us will probably blame WordPress, yet have you ever thought that the problem could be that the theme of your blog is to blame because you’ve never changed it, and it’s been retired?

Many problems can arise on blogs when a theme has been retired.

How Do I Find Out If The Theme I’m Using Has Been Retired?

You’ll see the following image on the themes page of your blog.

Go to your blog’s dashboard and click Appearance – Themes to determine if your chosen theme has been retired.

Can I Still Use My Retired Theme?

Yes, you can. WordPress won’t remove it from your site. However, when a theme is retired, it no longer appears in the list of themes available on WordPress.

Your retired theme may remain available for the lifetime of your site or blog, but it will no longer be fully supported by WordPress. It won’t receive any updates with new features; hence, WordPress won’t guarantee it will always function correctly with their ever-evolving software. If anything goes wrong, it may not be possible to fix it.

You can still contact WordPress support so the Happiness Engineers can take a look, but support will be limited, and they’ll probably recommend switching to a newer theme. In addition, they won’t provide any CSS support for the retired theme.

Why Do Themes Get Retired?

Web technology updates make the visibility and functionality of some themes outdated.

Web design is an area that is continually evolving, thanks to trends, tastes, and new technologies. WordPress has to keep up to date with these changes and is at the forefront of wanting blogs to look fresh and modern.

Retired themes can make blogs look outdated, stale, and uninviting to visitors, especially if you’ve never changed your theme since starting to blog.

Themes may also be retired if their design has become old-fashioned or uses certain features that are no longer supported.

What Should I Do If The Theme I Am Using Is Retired?

You can continue to use it, but it may no longer be possible for WordPress to fix any issues you encounter.

Some of the issues I have found with blogs that are still using retired themes are –

• I can no longer leave comments.
• Pingback to the blog no longer work.
• Pingbacks from the blog no longer work.
• The Gravatar image is no longer displayed.
• The ‘Notify me of new comments via email’ box is missing.
• Pressing the ‘like’ button no longer works.
• New blog posts do not appear on the WordPress Reader.
• Blog posts are no longer mobile or tablet-friendly.
• Comments do not display correctly.
• Images, photos and paragraphs do not display correctly.
• Sharing buttons no longer work correctly.

In all cases, when I’ve checked the blog’s theme when these problems have happened, it’s an old, retired theme.

Some bloggers find workarounds when problems occur, but all this does is put off the inevitable that one day they will have to change the theme. Many bloggers who stick with retired themes gradually disappear because they do not want to change the theme.

My recommended advice is to consider switching to a new theme to ensure your blog has a modern look and feel to its design.

If you’re not bothered about parts of your blog being broken, you may wish to continue using it until you are forced to change the theme. However, that’s not something I recommend.

Not only can finding a new theme be fun, but it can also boost your blog’s ranking.

How Do I Find A New Theme?

On the dashboard of your blog, go to Appearance – Themes. You’ll see all the WordPress themes available. For free themes, click the ‘Free‘ button in the top-right of the page.

You can also use the search field on the themes page to find a replacement theme. Click on the filter options below the search bar or type directly into the search field to filter by specific features or subjects, or by the number of columns the theme natively displays to select a new theme similar to your retired theme.

Block Themes Vs Classic Themes

Block (or Full-Site Editing) themes are the new boys on the block.

WordPress recommends switching to a Block theme, as these are the future and what will be supported in the long term.

I have heard of some bloggers encountering problems switching to Block themes. It’s a long learning curve to get used to them, but WordPress has plenty of advice and help for switching to one.

Some bloggers who have already made the switch have reported that not only do their blogs run faster after switching to a Block theme, but problems they were experiencing with their blogs also disappear.

I recommend watching WordPress tutorial videos and reading their guidance page before switching to a Block theme. For information, click the links below.

Video Tutorials: Customise your Site or Blog

Using The Site Editor

Should you encounter problems switching to a Block theme, help is at hand.

• Go to the WordPress Help Page.

• Ask the WordPress community by going to the forum page.

• Contact the WordPress Happiness Engineers by clicking on the ‘question mark’ icon (next to the ‘bell’ notification icon) in the top right of your blog’s dashboard.

• Ask for help from your followers and other bloggers by writing and publishing a post or contacting a blogger directly.

Important Information: Do not activate a new theme unless you are absolutely sure you like the theme you have chosen, as it’s impossible to go back to a retired theme once you’ve activated a new theme.

Classic themes were created to work with the old Classic editor, but with the large drop in Classic editor users, WordPress has been retiring them, especially when they no longer work with new functionality software or when updates to the WordPress platform have been released.

Unlike Block themes, Classic themes are heavily loaded with CSS code, meaning many things can go wrong. Block themes are only lightly loaded with CSS code, so they are less likely to break.

At the time of publishing this post, WordPress provides 54 Classic themes that are free to use and compatible with the Block editor.

To find current Classic themes, search for them by adding ‘Classic‘ to the search bar on the Themes page, and select ‘Classic Theme‘ from the dropdown menu that appears.

If the theme you’re currently using has been retired, I recommend you switch to one of the Classic themes if you do not want to switch to a Block theme. Doing this will fix some or all of the problems your blog may be experiencing.

If you still experience problems after switching to a current Classic (or Block) theme, report the problems to WordPress. How will WordPress know about a problem unless you report it? Don’t rely on other users reporting the problems you’re having with your blog.

Does WordPress have any plans for new Classic themes?

I asked WordPress the above question. Their response was –

‘No, and we doubt there will be as the industry shifts to the more modern and convenient Full Site Editing (Block) themes that remove most of the need to learn coding to create and customise your theme.’

Is WordPress retiring all Classic themes? If so, when?

Their response –

‘It’s likely, as the focus is shifted to the more modern approach. We do not have specific timelines for each theme or the ones available on our list at this moment.’

So I guess it’s a case of ‘watch this space.’

However, given that the Classic Editor plugin is still available, my guess is that WordPress will retain some of the Classic themes until they stop supporting the Classic Editor plugin. But the choice of Classic themes will become more and more limited as time passes.

I didn’t ask WordPress if there are any plans to stop supporting the Classic Editor plugin.

Let’s wrap it up.

• Problems may affect your blog because your theme has been retired.
• WordPress may be able to fix some issues, but it will advise you to switch to a new theme if the theme you’re using is retired.
• You can continue to use a retired theme you’re using, but it may not work correctly.
• Once you activate a new theme, you won’t be able to go back to the retired theme you’ve been using.
• Upon publication of this post, WordPress offers Full Site Editing (Block) and Classic themes.
• All Classic themes are free to use.
• There are no plans to introduce new Classic themes.
• The number of available Classic themes will continue to diminish.

I’ve seen some bloggers say they will wait until they are forced to switch themes. Given that switching themes can be a complicated and time-consuming project, all that will do is make them panic when the time comes to switch. Don’t be one of them.

If the theme you’re using has been retired, switch now.

WordPress welcomes feedback on the new Block themes and encourages everyone to contact them with suggestions for improving them.

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