This is my annual post about blogging in December, and it’s also my eleventh December in the blogging world. As I’ve discovered previously, December in the blogging world differs from any other time of the year. Why? Read on for more details.
I see a familiar path. As December arrives and the days tick by, the blogging world grows quieter.
I’ve already had the pleasure of witnessing bloggers saying farewell to their blogs and followers for Christmas, joyfully extending warm wishes to their readers for a Merry Christmas while eagerly expressing their intention to return promptly in the New Year. Some have published their final posts of 2024, while others have happily shared their anticipated dates for a well-earned blogging break.
And who can blame them? Blogging is enjoyable, but all bloggers need a break from the blogging world.
However, just because the blogging world gets quiet, it doesn’t mean you have to stop blogging. Instead, it’s the perfect time of year to focus on the behind-the-scenes blogging tasks you may have meant to do throughout the year but never quite got around to.
Embrace this opportunity to make progress on all that behind-the-scenes work and watch your efforts flourish in the New Year.
1. Fix broken links.
It can be daunting if you’ve never checked for and fixed broken links on your blog, but don’t be put off doing it.
I use the free version of Brokenlink.com to check and fix broken links on my blog.
Fixing broken links helps improve your blog’s SEO score and reduces spam.
Your readers will also be happier once those broken links are fixed because they won’t be taken to pages and posts that no longer exist. No more ‘404-page not found’ errors!
Top Tip: Don’t try to tackle your list of broken links in one go. Do a few each day. Before you know it, you’ll have smashed it.
2. Update your ‘About’ page.
Every blogger should definitely have an ‘About’ page on their blog! Why? Well, not only do most readers enjoy getting to know the person behind the blog before deciding to follow, but it also happens to be one of the most visited sections of any blog. Therefore, it’s a win-win situation for bloggers and their readers alike!
It’s just as essential to keep your ‘About’ page updated. When did you last update the ‘About’ page of your blog? I updated mine a few days ago.
Not sure what to put on the ‘About’ page? ‘How to Write the Perfect About Me Page For Your WordPress Blog‘ by blogger and writer James Lane has excellent recommendations.
Top Tip: Tell visitors when you last updated your ‘About’ page by inserting the month and year you updated it. For example, mine reads, Meet Hugh – updated November 2024.
3. Do some blog housekeeping.
December is perfect for performing behind-the-scene blog housekeeping.
From sorting out the tags and categories on your blog to updating the menu bar, maintaining your blog is vital to keeping it fit and healthy for the New Year.
Blogs where little or no housekeeping is performed lose more followers and readers than well-maintained blogs. Why would anyone want to follow a poorly maintained blog or website full of broken links? They can also appear spammy and unsafe to visit.
Prepare your blog for the New Year by performing some housekeeping during December.
Top Tip: Blog housekeeping may seem daunting, but doing a little each day will significantly improve your blog.
4. Explore the WordPress Editor.
Are you still terrified of the WordPress (Block) Editor? As the number of bloggers using the WordPress Editor continues to skyrocket, now is the perfect time to explore the WordPress Editor and join all those already using it.
The WordPress editor isn’t complex to use; it’s just different!
WordPress has excellent tutorials on how the editor works and how to use it. Check out Using the WordPress Editor: Video Tutorials and more.
Remember that you can use the Classic editor via the ‘Classic’ Block. Soon, this may be the only option available to gain access to the Classic editor, so start using it today rather than panicking when the old Classic editor is removed.
Top Tip: Create a free WordPress blog to test the WordPress editor. That is what I’ve done, and it has helped me greatly.
5. Declutter the blogs you follow.
Following too many blogs is not good for your mental health. It can cause some bloggers stress and guilt from being overwhelmed by too many posts they feel obliged to read and comment on. Why follow a blog if you feel compelled to read and leave uninspiring comments?
Take control of your time rather than lose it on blogs you are not interested in.
Check which blogs you are following by clicking on the ‘spectacle (glasses)’ icon at the top of your blog. Click on ‘Manage’ (next to ‘Subscriptions’). You will be presented with a list of blogs you are following. Go through them and unfollow the blogs you are no longer interested in.
Top Tip: Set yourself a limit on how many blogs you follow. When this limit is reached, do not follow any more blogs unless you unsubscribe from some first.
6. Choose a new theme for your blog.
December is the perfect time to change the theme of your blog.
If the WordPress theme you are using has been retired, you are likely (or soon will be) having problems with your blog. This can result in being unable to leave comments on other blogs and not being able to draft and publish posts without encountering issues.
Once WordPress retires a theme, it removes support for it. Don’t waste your time trying to find workarounds. I have witnessed many bloggers give up blogging because they are trying to work around problems with their retired themes.
To choose a new theme, go to your blog’s dashboard and click Appearance—Themes. You’ll be presented with a selection of current themes. As soon as you find one you like, select it.
Many of the themes on offer are Full Site Editing themes. However, Classic themes are also available that still come with full support from WordPress.
The current theme I’m using is Toujours. It’s a Classic theme and is still fully supported by WordPress.
Top Tip: To find fully supported Classic themes, type ‘Classic’ in the search box of the themes page and click on ‘Classic theme.’ A complete list of Classic themes will appear.
7. Delete old blog posts.
Did you know that keeping old, out-of-date posts can damage the health of your blog? These outdated posts are often the source of many broken links and errors that attract spammers.
Not convinced? My post, ‘Are Your Old Blog Posts Damaging Your Blog? How To Stop It From Happening,’ gives full details.
Top Tip: Deleting old blog posts will also free up storage space in your media library (if they contain images or photos). However, you must manually delete photos and images from your media library to free up space.
Conclusion:
Although all the above tips can be performed at any time of the year, make the most of December by undertaking these tasks.
Remember, doing a little daily goes a long way, rather than doing nothing to look after your blog.
December is often a busy time outside blogging, with holidays and festivities. Taking a break from blogging allows you to recharge, relax, and fully immerse yourself in the holiday spirit. It enables you to step away from the computer and focus on spending quality time with family and friends, as well as doing other fun things.
For those who do not celebrate Christmas, taking a break from blogging while other bloggers do the same will help improve their well-being. Whenever I have returned from a blogging break, I have come back refreshed and full of new ideas for blog posts.
While taking a blogging break in December is a personal choice, finding a balance that suits your needs and goals is essential. Whether you decide to take a break or continue blogging, ensure to prioritise your well-being and enjoy the holiday season.
Am I planning a blogging break?
Yes, I’m taking a blogging break in December. This year, I’ll recycle some Christmas-themed posts and publish a Wordless Wednesday post on December 4th, 11th, and 18th. I also have a book promotion post planned, which may happen in the new year.
My monthly round-up post will go live on December 31st.
I won’t be reading and commenting on blog posts during the Christmas period. However, I will respond to comments left on my blog posts.
What will you be doing with your blog during December? Are you planning a blogging break, or will you continue to blog?
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