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?

Banner for the blog post 'Is Reblogging Dead? Why I Have Removed The Reblog Button From My Blog
Are you still reblogging?

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.

Image showing how to disable the reblog button on WordPress
How to disable the reblog button on WordPress

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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93 responses to “Is Reblogging Dead? Why I Have Removed The Reblog Button From My Blog”

  1. BookerTalk avatar

    I’ve reblogged only one time and that was one of your earlier posts Hugh. It should have been simple but there is a glitch in my blog site that made it impossible (WP still hasn’t resolved it) so I had to do it from the Reader. The whole experience put me off so I’ve never been tempted again.

    Deborah’s experience is a scary story!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      There are much safer ways to share posts you’ve enjoyed reading, Karen. So I’m glad that reblogging experience stopped tempting you from ever trying it again.

      1. BookerTalk avatar

        The case study you shared was enough to scare me off re-blogging forever!

  2. Norah avatar

    Intersting, Hugh. Like you, I haven’t observed much use of the reblog button lately.
    Sadly, WP is doing other funny things to me at the moment.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Sorry to hear about the problems you’re having, Norah. Hopefully, nothing to do with the theme you’re using on your blog. When I had some issues with my blog, WordPress had retired the theme I was using and no longer fixed bugs, etc. I didn’t mind changing the theme. I found it fun, interesting and refreshing to pick a new one. No doubt the theme I’m now using will be retired one day. I just wish they’d let those of us using retired themes know.

      1. Norah avatar

        Maybe that is the issue, Hugh. I’m not sure. I’ve been using the same theme since I started blogging way back when. Hopefully the issues will settle down. We’ll see. So far I’ve found a work around. 🤞

  3. Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader) avatar

    I think I have only reblogged one or two posts in my time blogging. If I see a post I really like that I think will appeal to my readers, I add it to my monthly roundup post and share it on social media instead.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’m guessing you use a link to that post in your monthly roundup, Michelle?

      1. Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader) avatar

        Yes, I share why I loved the post, and a notable quote, along with a link to the post.

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          That’s a much safer way to do it than pressing the reblog button, Michelle.

  4. TanGental avatar

    There are days, Mr Roberts, when you seem to be the adult amongst us. I’ve not given much thought to reblogs, tbh though I don’t myself. I share very few via Press This (you again, methinks) and the last would have been my brother. If he threatens to sue me… I’ll remove the reblog, for the reasons you indicate. Can I recommend you for a gong fro services to blogging? I think you’d look good in ermine…
    PS, while I’m with the Fount of All Wisdom, is it me, or am I experiencing insane amounts of spam, over 350 a day? Am I missing a trick oh Wise Owl?

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      ‘Press This’ is much safer than the reblog button, Geoff. When using ‘Press This,’ none of the images or photos of the post you’re sharing are downloaded into your media library. So you don’t risk the possibility of being fined for downloading copyright images. When you use the reblog button (like Deborah did), images and photos from that post are downloaded into your media library.

      Ermine? Isn’t that some kind of stoat? I enjoy sharing all the blogging knowledge with you all. It’s my way of thanking you all for following and reading my posts. Without an audience, there would be no point. All nominations are welcome.

      Did you read my recent post about spam? If not, here it is.

      https://hughsviewsandnews.com/2022/06/06/how-to-deal-with-spam-without-closing-comments-on-your-blog-posts/

      It contains some ideas on how to beat spam. However, I think every blogger will suffer from periods of getting lots of spam from time to time. Depending on which WordPress view you are using when looking at your comments section, it can be bulk deleted or deleted in one go. There are various reasons why specific posts attract lots of spam. There are also some crazy reasons some bloggers give for spam – such as one recently saying that removing the ‘Press This’ sharing button from her blog posts helped reduce spam.

      Hope that all helps? But feel free to ask any further questions. I’m all ears.

  5. Dan Antion avatar

    I’ve reblogged posts by people who have interviewed me or were supporting my blog/book. Otherwise, I’ve reblogged posts about subjects I thought should get some attention, but not often.

    Your frustration with WordPress over the fact that removing the button isn’t n iron clad way to go is interesting. It works (or doesn’t) like that for other things. A lot of bloggers limit the levels of comments to 2 or 3, but you can exceed that in the apps for phone and tablets. Sometimes, even by reading comments on the notification pane in a web browser.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’ve never limited how many comments I leave on a post, Dan. If the discussion flows, then I’ll carry on talking. However, I know when it’s time to shut up. And I loathe comments that are nothing but emojies.

  6. Phil Strawn avatar

    I have never reblogged from any of the ones I follow. It doesn’t seem right to steal another’s words. I will use quotes from an article but I credit those with the author that wrote them. People are always looking for a way to screw you out of money, or freedom. Why would blogging be different?

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Sounds like you’re doing it the right way, Phil. I know of many bloggers who feel reblogging is nothing more than stealing somebody else’s words and hard work, but it can also help put bloggers in front of a new audience (providing it’s done correctly).

  7. WebbBlogs avatar

    I don’t do it very often but the funny thing is I just so happened to re-blog a post today 😅.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Hopefully, no copyrighted images or photos were included in the post you reblogged.

      1. WebbBlogs avatar

        Now that you mentioned it I went back and checked. 😁 In the last year it looks like I only reblogged 2 posts, both look good 👍

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          If you’re happy that any images and photos in those posts are not copyrighted, then you’ve nothing to worry about. Always best to check, though. It took seven years after the reblog Deborah did before she got an email threatening her with legal action and a fine for reblogging a post that contained copyrighted images.

      2. WebbBlogs avatar

        I have a question, if I ever decide to do another re-blog it is ok to delete the photos the original blogger used right? Or am I suppose to leave their post exactly how they had it? Sorry for such a silly question I just don’t know a whole lot about re-blogs.

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          You can delete the images and photos from your media library, but there may still be ways for the authorities to find out that you downloaded them when you reblogged the post. I recommend you use a pingback to the post or share it via the Press This marketing button I mentioned. They are much safer options than reblogging.

          1. WebbBlogs avatar

            Thank you Hugh 😊

  8. Erika avatar

    I appreciate it a lot when my posts are reblogged. Maybe because I only reblog when I really, really, really think a post is of importance or great information. So, I still keep my reblog button.
    I agree, I saw some of those reblog farms. I don’t understand why someone only reblogs instead of shares own content. I think that there is a big misunderstanding of what blogging means. There are other social media platforms to constantly share…

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Reblogging farms are a big mystery, Erika. Plus, they help SEOs such as Google rank the blog they are reblogging lower. SEOs dislike duplicated content.

      1. Erika avatar

        So, that truely is a reason to remove the reblog button… I will think about it. You always come up with such important background information, Hugh.

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          SEOs dislike duplicated information of any kind, Erika. They also dislike duplicated blog post titles and will rank blogs lower. That’s why I always change the heading of a post I share.
          Pingbacks and sharing via Press This has no effect on the ratings of blogs (provided a different title is being used).

          1. Erika avatar

            Hmm, that would mean, I needed to change my series’ names every day which doesn’t make it a series anymore. I could only use adds… which made it all a bit more complicated. But who said, life would be easy, right? Thank you, Hugh!

            1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

              Exactly, Erika. I don’t know if you categorise them as well, but that helps. Putting everything under ‘uncategorised’ doesn’t help the SEOs or readers.

            2. Erika avatar

              Yes, I do categorise them as well.

  9. JT Twissel avatar

    I’m always very cautious when reblogging. You just never know.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Exactly. You only have to read what happened to Deborah Jay when she innocently reblogged a blog post of another blogger. Even though it took many years for the authorities to catch up with her for reblogging copyrighted material, it was still a shock.

  10. Gary A Wilson avatar

    Hi Hugh,
    Much of this was new to me.
    I’ve had only a handful of my articles re-blogged and this just made me think that perhaps I’m just not a good enough writer to deserve more.
    I tried to reboot a few myself, but it seemed like the authors were polite but surprised by my doing so. My rebogs also got next to no hits. Thanks for this insight. Now I think my writing is fine and I just arrived in time to see the final days of the era of “reblogging”.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Personally, and in my experience, reblogs don’t do well anymore, Gary.

      I think it is sometimes down to readers seeing the same content on the WordPress Reader or in their email box. I remember when some blog posts could be reblogged up to six or seven times in one day.

      All the duplication must have sent many readers running for the hills. Plus, SEOs such as Google dislike duplication and will rank blogs lower when it happens. That’s another reason I’ve removed the reblog button from my blog. I don’t want it being ranked lower.

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