If you happen to be reading this in January, then it’s officially ‘Happy New Year!’ If it’s any other month, well, ‘Happy New Year’ anyway—because let’s face it, every day is just a chance to start fresh, much like your New Year’s resolution to stop binge-watching shows… which you’ve probably already forgotten by now!
I’m diving headfirst into 2026 with a parade of my 12 most beloved posts from 2025, all crafted by yours truly. Maybe they slipped under your radar, or perhaps you’re just itching to relive them—feel free to leave a fresh comment, even if you’ve already showered them with praise before. Because, let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a little comment déjà vu?
Click the links to view the posts.
January
Navigating the Social Media Landscape: My Journey with Five Platforms
I kicked the year off talking ‘Social Media,’ a subject that became a hot topic during 2025, sometimes for the wrong reasons.
Not only can social media be a ravenous beast in eating up a lot of your time, but it’s also a fantastic way to promote your blog posts, the posts of other bloggers (a great way to support other bloggers), and, best of all, it’s free to use unless you decide to pay for a subscription.
I not only shouted out the three social media platforms I’m still romancing, but I also gave a little eulogy for the ones I’ve ghosted. After all, as someone hilariously pointed out, ‘spreading yourself too thinly on social media is like trying to butter a piece of toast with a frozen brick of butter—good luck with that!’
February
Why Every Blogger Needs an Engaging ‘About’ Page: Key Elements and Tips
Do you know who you are? I hope most of you chimed in with a confident ‘Yes!’ But how well do you know the owners of the blogs you follow? I mean, do you really know them, or are they just mysterious internet wizards pulling strings from their lairs?
I’m still somewhat bemused by the number of bloggers who have an ‘About’ page that says, ‘This is the template for telling your audience a little about yourself and what you blog about,’ – well, something along those lines.
It’s truly wonderful to share a bit about yourself on your blog! You don’t need to provide a lot of information—a first name and a little insight into your location can go a long way. Plus, letting visitors know what your blog is about will help create a friendly connection and encourage them to explore your unique perspective!
As you’ll see in the comments section of the post, many bloggers won’t engage, let alone follow a blog that has no information about its host(s).
March
The Ultimate Guide to Engaging on Bluesky: Tips, Features, and Strategies for Success
Although published 10 months ago, this post from March 2025 is still attracting attention, making it my top pick of the month! If you’re a BlueSky user, this post is an absolute gem, offering you the fantastic opportunity to not just get your blog posts read but also to inspire meaningful engagement from your readers.
Even if you don’t have a Bluesky account yet, it’s worth a read, as the information contained within the post can apply to other social media platforms.
April
Astonishing! Some Bloggers Kill Off Comments On Their Blogs. Why?
Talking of engagement, imagine my shock when, in April, there was a lot of talk amongst bloggers about killing off commenting on their blogs.
Most of the talk was on social media, but I also noticed that some bloggers had decided to disable commenting on their posts, citing the amount of time it took to respond.
But isn’t that what blogging is all about? Being able to engage, discuss and ask questions? Check the comments for the answers.
May
The Best Ultimate Guide To Why Alt-Text Is Important
It’s a sad fact that not everyone who visits your blog can see images or photos. Fortunately, WordPress allows users to add Alt-Text to all images in blog posts. This helps visitors who use screen readers and other software that describe images to know what’s in them. Sadly, many bloggers don’t help these visitors by not adding Alt-Text to their pictures.
Don’t know what Alt-Text is? Check out the post for details. And once you read it, make it a mission to welcome everyone to your blog.
June
This Is The One Thing You Can Do To Help Bloggers
What’s the one thing you could do to help other bloggers?
I’m sure there are many different answers to that question, but the answer I give in my post is one that I’m positive the majority of bloggers want! Yes, there will be exceptions, and I’m sure one or two will tell me, but if you’re somebody who gives excuse after excuse as to why you can’t do this, then you’ve allowed the problem to beat you.
July
Flash Fiction – Crossroads Of Desire
I didn’t write as much flash fiction during 2025 as I had intended, but this piece of flash fiction was my favourite of the year. It involves two people you’d probably pass in the street most days. Meet Bill and his wife, both in the autumn years of their lives. Are they a normal couple you wouldn’t give a second look at, or are they two people who each come with a dark secret? Only you can decide, but only if you read the piece of flash fiction that gives you a glimpse into their lives.
This 4-minute read packs a punch.
I’ll be making amends and writing more flash fiction during 2026, so you better watch out!
August
5 Reasons Why Every Blogger Should Have a Contact Page and How to Build One
August was the flattest month for me, blogging-wise, in 2025. It felt like I was on a plateau with no way up or down. There was little to choose from in terms of blog posts because I didn’t publish much, but thankfully, this post got a lot of engagement, proving it wasn’t as quiet out there as I thought.
Ask yourself these questions. Why would anybody want to contact you? But more importantly, how easy is it to contact you via your blog other than by leaving you a comment? Remember that leaving a comment isn’t always the right way to contact someone. After all, anyone visiting your blog can read comments. Are you missing out on any golden opportunities? Check the post for full details. You may be surprised.
September
This New WordPress Feature Helps Promote The Blogs You Love
I had to take an unexpected blogging break in September, but thankfully, this post had already been published before I departed. And I wasn’t disappointed with the reaction in the comments section to something the majority of WordPress users had no idea existed.
Short but sweet, this blog post from September 2025 packed as much of a punch as Bill and his wife did in July.
October
Where To Legally Source Amazing Images For Your Blog Posts
The latter quarter of 2025 saw me focusing very much on copyright issues, with many bloggers believing that their blogs are so small and private, nobody will care if they use images, photographs, or any material, including song lyrics, that are copyrighted. How wrong they are.
If you can not guarantee that the material or images you are using in your blog posts are free to use, then are you breaking the law? And, even worse, could you be fined?
November
The Latest Blogging and Publishing Scams You Need to Be Aware Of Now
How many of you believe that you’d never get scammed online?
With the advent of AI, the perpetration of scams has become significantly more sophisticated, leading to an alarming increase in the number of individuals who are susceptible to such deceit.
Different scams are emerging continuously, yet it appears increasingly challenging to identify them. Are you equipped to recognize a scam?
December
5 ‘Questionable’ Photos That Give You The Chance To Say Who You Are
In November, I shared my exciting decision to dive back into my passion for photography blogging, but this time with a fresh perspective. Although I had paused my photography posts in the past due to engagement challenges, I’m now thrilled to explore new ways to connect and inspire my audience.
This post not only showcased more of my own photography but also offered readers a wonderful opportunity to share a bit about themselves. Success! Engagement flourished, and I ended the year just as I hoped, fostering genuine connections rather than mere visits masked by guilt.
Finally, a glimpse into the inside of 2025 for my blog.
- 43 posts published
- 32,600 words written
- 2,700 clicked the ‘like’ button on my posts
- 2,100 comments left
A busy blogging year full of creativity and engagement.
What was your favourite blog post of 2025 on your blog? Why did it resonate with you? What’s the most significant lesson you learned about blogging and engaging with your audience in 2025?
You can follow me at the following sites.
The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.
Copyright @ 2026 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.
Discover more from Hugh's Views & News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Hugh's Views & News 
Well Hugh, that surely made me think about what my own “most meaningful” posts were last year and why some of them matter more than the popular ones. I enjoyed this stroll through your year.
Thank you. It’s not only the popular posts that we should look at, Ritish. Sure, certain subjects are popular with regular readers, but posts that do not attract as much attention can also hold something special for the writer. After all, why write and publish it?
Your posts are always interesting and informative, Hugh, and I try to read them as much as possible. Bloggers who turn off comments for all posts are a mystery, as that defeats the whole purpose of blogging, as you said. The only time I turn comments off, is when announcing a hiatus. Great idea for the year-end blog roundup, which I’ve done as well, as part of Terri’s Sunday Stills blogfest:
https://thedogladysden.com/2025-year-in-pictures-plus-blog-recap/
It’s a mystery why bloggers turn comments off on any posts, unless they’re going away, taking a break or publish a post that doesn’t warrant comments, Debbie. Thankfully, WordPress allow us to turn comments off on individual posts. However, some bloggers have informed me that they see ‘no comments’ as the future of blogging, allowing them to put more time into writing posts. Thankfully, not everyone agrees with that.
Hugh you are a wealth of info, I thank you for continually sharing what you find, and what you know with all of us! X
I’m delighted to be of help to the blogging community, Carol Anne.
I’ve learned a lot from your bounty of information through the years Hugh and thank you for all the WP knowledge you have shared.
You’re welcome, Linda. I’m delighted that my posts are helping. That’s always very good to hear.
I agree that these were your top posts of 2025, Hugh. I’m sure we all appreciate your helpful hints and ideas for better blogging! Continue the good work in keeping us bloggers informed! And congratulations on the tons of views 👏
Thanks, Terri. I certainly have plans for more blogging tips posts this year, especially on subjects many bloggers don’t like to talk about.
You certainly have kept the blogging community on their feet this year! I enjoyed starting each month of last year with a peek into the culture of Japan courtesy of my Wasabi calendar. Otherwise the blog I posted about A Christmas Memory touched my heart because the story touched my heart so much and not because of anything I did!
I enjoyed your calendar posts, especially learning about the different holidays they have during the year.
Please feel free to leave a link to the posts you mentioned.
What a great recap of your blogging year, Hugh. I don’t think I missed any of these posts, as they are always so informative and helpful. Here’s to another year of great blogging!
Wow, Jan! Thank you so much for not missing any of the posts in this post. That means so much to me, knowing that what I am writing and publishing is helping.
Likewise, wishing you another fantastic year of writing and blogging.
These were all great posts and I’m happy to read them again. I don’t understand why anyone would turn off comments on their blog (in fact I don’t even know how to do it!) I love reading the comments and responding. Thanks for all the informative posts over the past year! Happy New Year and all the best for 2026.
I can show you how to turn comments off, but I don’t think you want to know, Darlene. However, comments can be turned off on any individual post, not just all of them, so some bloggers do find it a helpful tool.
I agree with what you say about the comments section. Sometimes, the comments section can be as good as the post. I’ve often found many inspiring comments that have triggered new blog post ideas, so the comments section can also be a treasure trove of new ideas.
Happy New Year to you.
Thanks. If I feel the need to turn off comments, I’ll contact you. I get many ideas from comments too.
Good to hear. I’m here to help, so please do not hesitate to ask any questions I can help with.
Happy New Year, Hugh. I remember reading many of these posts during the year – always informative and so helpful. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to read them again.
You’re most welcome, Esther.
Happy New Year to you.
Happy New Year, Hugh, and thank you for sharing the top 12 of 2025. Although you are a fantastic writer (you know, I love your stories), I am not surprised that especiall your posts about blogging are most popular.
I wrote and published more blogging-themed posts than any other subject I wrote about in 2025, Erika. Will that continue? Given the feedback I get from many people on those posts, I think it will. However, I’m determined to write more flash fiction this year.
Happy New Year.
Works both for me 👍
Terrific roundup, Hugh. All of these posts were familiar to me, and they were all helpful.
My favourite piece of 2025 is a post I wrote for my Sunday Spark newsletter called “Woke is not a 4-letter word”. It resonated with me because I am so weary of political and societal “leaders” fuelling the division in society, and the mistreatment of anyone who isn’t a straight white man.
Here’s a link if you’d like to check it out: https://boomerecocrusader.com/the-sunday-spark-woke-is-not-a-four-letter-word/
Thank you, Michelle. And thank you for sharing the link to your favourite post of 2025. I’ll certainly give it a read, as the title has got me very interested in what you have to say about the subject.