How often do you click on the reblog sharing button?
Are you somebody who reblogs every day or, like me, no longer uses the reblog button?
When I first started blogging in 2014, I was amazed by how many bloggers used the reblog button. Fast forward to today, and I see little use for it.
It’s one of the reasons why I removed the reblog button from my blog. Not only have I seen a sharp decline in the reblogging of my posts, but I’ve seen the same in the reblogging of the posts of other bloggers.
Looking Back
I remember the first time one of my blog posts got reblogged. It was one of the highlights of my blogging journey. Funnily, it marked the beginning of my believing I’d become a successful blogger.
For years, my blog posts got reblogged almost weekly. It helped put me and my blog in front of new readers and did wonders for the number of followers my blog gained.
When Followers Are Not Followers
Of course, not all followers are followers.
I soon learned that people followed my blog but never returned to it.
I knew that some unfollowed my blog as soon as I followed them back.
I couldn’t figure out why anyone would unfollow my blog as soon as I followed them, but a couple of years into my blogging journey, I discovered that some bloggers are more interested in numbers than content. They don’t hang around in the blogging world for long.
What’s The Most Significant Risk In Reblogging?
When I first heard of bloggers receiving fines for reblogging material that included copyrighted material, my love of reblogging began to dwindle. Seriously? Are bloggers fined for reblogging? Yes, it’s true, and that may be one of many reasons why many bloggers no longer use the reblog button.
When author and blogger Deborah Jay wrote a guest post for me, she shared her story of how a simple reblog ended up with her being threatened with legal action and a fine. Click here to read the post.
But it’s not only Deborah who has faced legal action and a fine for reblogging another blogger’s blog post. Several bloggers have been fined for reblogging blog posts that included copyrighted photos or images.
Don’t think it can’t happen to you. It can happen to anyone who shares copyrighted material on their blog.
Removed The Reblog Button From Your Blog? Your Posts Can Still Be Reblogged!
Did you know that just because I have removed the reblog button from my blog posts doesn’t mean nobody can no longer reblog them?
One of the few flaws of WordPress that annoys me is that readers can still reblog any of my posts from the WordPress Reader. That doesn’t make sense to me when I’ve removed the reblog button from my blog.
Fortunately, it hasn’t happened to any of my blog posts since I removed the reblog button.
However, I am still delighted when somebody shares my blog posts via a ‘pingback‘ the ‘Press This‘ marketing (not sharing) button or on social media.
Feel free to share this post via one of those methods.
How Do I Remove The Reblog Button From My Blog?
If you decide you would rather not offer the option to reblog your posts, you can disable the button by navigating to My Sites → Tools → Marketing. Then click on the Sharing Buttons tab. Disable ‘Show reblog button’ under Reblog & Like, and the Reblog button will no longer appear on your blog posts.
Did You Know This?
Blogs that are full of reblogged posts are known as ‘Reblogging Farms.’ Is your blog a reblogging farm?
Do you still use the reblog button? If so, what do you reblog?
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What an amazing post❤️
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Talking about rebloging, I don’t see it as a bad thing.
But personally, I don’t like rebloging but I love my post to be rebloged.
I believe when someone loves your post that he wants others to see it, he have to reblog.
Thank you.
There are other safer ways to share the blog posts of other bloggers than to reblog them, so reblogging is not the only option. Pingbacks or ‘Press This’ are much safer methods if you want to avoid copyright issues. I’d recommend them.
Alright,
Thanks for the information.
Am just like new in Blogging and I don’t know all that alternatives.
Thanks once again.
I enjoy your blog.
You’re welcome. If you check my Blogging Tips posts, you’ll find lots more information about ‘Press This’ and pingbacks.
Don’t hesitate to ask any further questions. I’m always happy to help.
I will surely do.
Thanks so much for your kind words 👍
Hi Hugh, it’s hard to believe bloggers would get fined for this. I mean I believe you it’s just strange.
Please don’t think I’m dense Hugh. I have probably asked you this before. I don’t have a blog (I want to someday.) What is the difference between a reblog and a pingback? If I had a blog and told my readers about this very post with a link to this post is that a pingback? Is this a good thing? Does blog etiquette say that I should contact you first to ask permission? Or at least let you know that I’ve done this? Is reblogging when I copy what someone wrote and put it in my blog? I would think bloggers would like if I had a link to one of their good blog posts but what do I know? Thanks for your patience Hugh. And thanks for answering my silly questions. I haven’t read all of the comments. Be well.
Did you read Deborah’s post, Lea? Most bloggers believe they won’t get fined if they download or share copyrighted material, but Deborah’s story proves them wrong. I also know of a few other bloggers who have been fined for sharing or downloading copyrighted material on their blogs.
With regards to your question about pingbacks and reblogging. A pingback is a link inserted into a blog post that takes a reader to another website when clicked. It’s perfectly safe to do. A reblog is when a blogger shares a blog post of another blogger on their blog. When reblogging, any images and photos in the post being reblogged are downloaded to your blog. Hence, any copyrighted material is downloaded. That’s why reblogging is not always a safe option.
‘Does blog etiquette say that I should contact you first to ask permission?’ – not when it’s a pingback, but if you are reblogging the post of a blogger for the first time, I’d recommend you ask their permission first. While most bloggers would be delighted that you reblogged their post, there are some bloggers who don’t like it.
I hope that all helps. But feel free to ask more questions. I’m always happy to help.
Thank you for the explanation Hugh, I appreciate it. It does help me to understand better. I would just stick with a pingback. It’s much easier and safer apparently. Now I’m going to go find Deborah’s post, haven’t read it yet. You always have the most interesting and educational blogging information Hugh. Thanks for that.
Pingbacks are much safer, Lea.
There is a pingback to Deborah’s guest post in this post. It makes worrying reading.
I don’t use the reblogging button at all. The first time someone reblogged one of my posts, I thought it was a little odd. Usually when a post has been reblogged and I checked it out, it has been on a reblogging farm–someone who doesn’t write original content but just reblogs other people’s. I don’t know what their motivation is unless they have ads and are trying to attract readers with other people’s content.
I’m honored if someone refers to one of my posts with a pingback. I post a weekly list of the best blog posts I’ve seen that week, with a line or two from their post and a pingback. That way, traffic is driven to their site.
Barbara, pingbacks are the best way to share another blogger’s post because, as you say, it’ll drive traffic to their blog. I’ve never understood why many who do reblog never close off comments on the reblog. It’s much better to have comments in one place rather than scattered between two posts.
Reblog farms are a big mystery. I’ve no idea why somebody thinks running one is a good idea.
Hi Hugh, Thanks for another insightful post on Reblogging. I just wanted to add that not all Sharing options are equal. Sharing a post from the Reader Sharing icon or PressThis have their own issues, which I covered in my “Sharing is for Pizza” post. However, the Reblog button itself continues to slurp images into a reblogger’s Media Library even today. Unfortunately, as I noted in the comments on that post, in spite of starting to work on the problem, WPcom closed the open ticket as they felt the current Reblog complies with the ToS requirements, so there is nothing to fix. So, yes, I heartily agree with you that folks should remove the Reblog button from their sites if they haven’t already done so.
You’re welcome, Jen.
It’s a shame that the ‘Press This’ sharing button is still broken. It’s one of the reasons I added the ‘Press This’ marketing button to the toolbar of my computer, so I can click it and share the link it produces in a new blog post.
And thank you for your endorsement of removing the reblog button from blogs. Given what WordPress has done (or not done) with copyright issues, bloggers are walking blindly into the potential of being fined for downloading images and photos they had no idea were copyrighted when reblogging. I hope WordPress have a change of mind on this serious issue.
This is an interesting perspective. I do reblog on occasion, but only the bloggers I follow.
I think that’s what many of us do, Jennie. Only reblog the posts of those we already follow. Be careful about copyright images and photos, though. Deborah thought she was safe reblogging the post of somebody she followed.
Thanks, Hugh!
I wasn’t ever sure about the reblog button but did use it after reading about it in one of your posts Hugh. I hardly ever get reblogged either so wonder why I keep the button there! Might be time to remove it :). Thanks again for sharing your thoughts like this Hugh :)
I’ve written a few posts about how to reblog a post correctly, so I’m glad they helped, Debbie. But since those posts, I’ve seen a decline in the number of bloggers using the reblog button. It’s become redundant for many of us, especially when ‘Press This’ is a much better and safer option.
Worth repeating Hugh. As you know, I too was caught like Deb Jay, years ago and learned my lesson and blogged about it. I’ve written a few posts over the years on using the ‘press this’ button, and I use it to capture info off any web page. It is so handy to have. It just shoots over the title and a link in the post to draft. Once it’s in my draft post folder, I work with the post however I want – never taking images unless I know the author, and know they too use their own or legal images. I do find complete blogs reblogged very boring. If people don’t add their own spin to it and it’s just copied from somewhere else I just move on. And most likely, I’ve already read the original post. :) x
I remember your post informing your readers that you had been fined for reblogging a post that contained copyrighted images, Debby. It just proves to those who have said to me that it’ll never happen to them how wrong they are. It can happen to any of us if we reblog.
‘Press This’ is my favourite method of sharing other bloggers’ posts. So easy to do, and I love how you can edit the post and add categories and tags before publishing it. That’s something you can not do when reblogging.
Reblogging farms are a nuisance. I don’t get what bloggers get from anything but reblogging other bloggers’ posts. It comes over as lazy and uninspiring. I unfollow any blog where the majority of posts are reblogs.
I agree. And that copyright blooper happened in my first year of blogging. I learned quickly, lol :)
Great stuff Hugh. As for me its the first time I hear of a “Reblog”, I never did such since I started blogging. I think WordPress no longer has a reblog button, we have drafts, publish, bin and share buttons only, I’m afraid. Anyways, nice post
The reblog button is still very much there. I’ve seen it on hundreds of blogs. It may be that you have already disabled it on your blog.