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.
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Thanks as always for another informing post Hugh. So important to know that about not being able to go back to a retired theme. :)
Exactly, Debby. Although it was something WordPress did announce, I think many bloggers will have forgotten about it.
No doubts! :)
Excellent tips, Hugh! So good to know about the blog post on dealing with themes. I’ll be checking that out!
It’s something many WordPress bloggers don’t seem to know or recall, Terri. I can understand how we can all forget given that WordPress announced it a few years ago. They don’t mention it anymore because they are trying to get as many bloggers off outdated, retired themes as they can.
Thank goodness for Askimet keeping the spammers at bay. Congrats on your number of followers on Bluesky. I need to get over there more often, as I enjoy the site. Also, thank you for the link for the Bluesky starter pack.
I hope it all helps, Eugi. You do need to give Bluesky some of your time to make it work, but that goes for all social media platforms (as I’m sure you know).
I agree, Hugh.
So you said using Bluesky that WordPress to get more followers? Not get more new followers through WordPress?
I was referring to followers on Bluesky, although I do get people with Bluesky accounts also following me on WordPress.
5,000 followers you have gotten since 2024. That’s pretty fast and a lot.
This WordPress is one of reasons I joined for I learn to get more followers for free instead of paying Ad
I’ve been very lucky in that I’ve been added to quite a few starter packs by other bloggers and writers.
I’ve never paid to get followers. There are many better ways to get followers. Engagement is one such way which helps get you noticed in the blogging and social media world.
I didn’t know about the starter pack directory, Hugh. Thanks so much for the sharing the link! You are a STAR! ⭐️
I love the Bluesky Starter Packs, Colleen. And the directory makes it so easy to find the right ones. I’m sure you’ll find lots of poets and poetry starter packs in that directory.
I did, and thank you once again! This was a brilliant find.
Interesting about your success on Bluesky. I’ve been there for 4 months wondering where everyone is. It seems like a ghost town for personal bloggers. Would like to follow you but I am blocked. I know not why.
I’ve connected with many bloggers, writers and authors over on Bluesky. The Starter Packs are a great way of connecting with them. I also have a Bloggers Starter Pack of my own which includes over 40 bloggers (mostly on WordPress).
What’s your Bluesky username? I can check why it’s been blocked.
I’m @thespectacledbean.bsky.social
Same name as my blog’s name. I’ve used some starter packs and found lots of former bloggers on Bluesky but few current ones. I’ve been blogging since 2004 so I know many names at this point.
I’ve had a quick check, and it seems you blocked me on 21st February. I’ve attached a screenshot with the notification.
I tend to block anyone who blocks me. Maybe it was a mistake, but I’m happy to unblock you, Ally.
Thanks for figuring that out. I did not intentionally block you, of course. What this proves to me is that I should not try to do anything on Bluesky using my phone. It’s too small and my eyesight is too bad!
Likewise, I try not to use my phone for blogging and social media, preferring the big screen of my desktop computer. It keeps me safe for 99% of the time.
Will be following your lead!
Thank you, Hugh. One of these months, I’m planning on updating my theme, and I will come back here and reread this when the time comes.
I’ll be updating my theme too, Pete. However, I’m waiting for WordPress to announce that AI can help with it. It’s already doing it for new accounts, but not for those of us who already have a WordPress blog yet.
Based on my experience, tread carefully. It is not completely irretrievable if the worst case scenario happens, it is just time to find and redo the blocks. Good luck, Pete.
Congrats on conquering Blue Sky, Hugh! I’m still in the beginner status. Been too busy with house repair issues. I think I’m ready to go live in a tent!
I’ve invested quite a bit of time to get Bluesky to work, Jan. I enjoy the engagement it brings, which like everything else helps make it to work.
We’re just coming to the end of having a new bathroom installed. I’ll be glad when it’s finally finished (early next week).
You persisted which makes all the difference! Hope that bathroom turns out well! I would love to see pics if you feel like showing them!
Thanks for the starter pack suggestion Hugh! It’s a great idea and I need all the help I can get with Bluesky. I think being active is advantageous, I need to invest more time!
Thank you for including me in your first Starter Pack, Wayne, I followed those on your list I was not already following. Starter packs are a great way of connecting with like-minded people.
You do need to invest time to make any social media account work, but limiting how many social media accounts you have helps with that. I used to be on all of them and found out that spreading myself too thinly was not helpful. Bluesky is now my number one social media account.
Great to hear Hugh, thank you!
I don’t want to imagine how it would be like if all my spam went into the regular comments. Thanks for the tips about BlueSky and changing the theme. I saw people using that starter pack. Since I am on BlueSky I have it on my list to check it out but did not have the nerve yet to turn to it. However… it’s on my list and thanks for the reminder, Hugh!
I’ve been included on quite a few Starter packs, Erika. They bring in many more connections and followers and are a great way to find other users with the same interests. Of course, I also have my own Starter Pack, which I need to promote more.
Thanks a lot for the input, Hugh!
Excellent advice! Thanks, Hugh. Askimet has saved me a lot of unwelcome spam comments.
I agree about Askimet, Jan. I’m glad WordPress uses it as apart of their platform.
Cheers Hugh, I already had the anti-spam instruction on my site but just looking now I’m astonished to see how many they have blocked in the last six months alone. Goodness knows how many you have had blocked!
Just coming up to 310,000 spam comments blocked, Paul. However, whereas I used to see all of those comments in my spam folder, since switching on the setting I mentioned in this post, I now only see on average two spam comments a week.
That’s incredible, I don’t know how you managed to reply to any comments at all.
It’s the first thing I do in the morning when logging on, Paul. I try and get to comments within 24 hours. Sometimes it can take me longer depending on the number of comments that come in. The non-engaging comments are easy to deal with.