How I’m Using August for Blog Housekeeping and a QR Code Boost

August – A Quieter Time for Bloggers

Have you ever heard of the term ‘Silly Season?’

Here in the UK, silly season takes up the whole of August. It’s when the UK parliament is on its summer break, and the newspapers usually have little to report on. The news can therefore be made up of more of those silly stories, such as the world’s biggest carrot contest or “Local Seagull Elected Honorary Mayor After Stealing 57 Chips in Under a Minute.”

If you are a blogger, August can be very much like ‘Silly Season’. Why? Well, you may see more posts that take on silly themes because of lack of what is going on. This could well be one such post.

Some bloggers take the opportunity to take a well-earned break from blogging in August. I’ve seen this happening already with folk announcing a summer break or informing their followers that they won’t be around the world of blogging as much as they usually are.

For me, August usually means more time to write or read, or fiddle around with the look of my blog. Blog Housekeeping is something I’m a firm believer in. After all, we’re putting ourselves out there, so ensuring your blog looks the best it can to make it a welcoming and friendly place to visit is a must.

But it was only a few months ago that you did a complete makeover of your blog, Hugh,’

I hear you. Yes, it’s true. My blog took on a whole new look when I jumped ship from a Classic to a Block theme. I wrote about the whole process and experience and three months down the line, I’m happy with how everything turned out.

But I’m still fiddling with my blog! And now it’s August, it feels like a great time to get my blog ship-shaped for the rest of 2026 and beyond.

Adding a QR Code to My Blog

For starters, I’ve added one of those QR codes that seem to be appearing everywhere. Even on my TV set, I can log on to my streaming services via a QR code. In the car park, I pay via a QR code, and if I want more information on upcoming events at the local theatre, I scan a QR code.

It seems we’ve become a ‘QR’ world. ‘Scan the QR code for the recipe.’ ‘Scan the QR code to read the first few pages.’ ‘Scan the QR code to book your ticket.’ ‘Scan the QR code to create a QR code.’ They’re everywhere and my blog has now joined the QR world.

You’ll find the QR code towards the bottom of the side bar, just to the right of this post if you’re viewing it on a desktop or laptop comuter. It was easy to create, plus it has a picture of me in the middle. How cool is that?

Sadly, if you scan the QR code, you won’t get the lowdown on what I ate for breakfast last Friday, or what I watched on TV last night, or see a video of me having two teeth implants fitted (thank goodness for that I hear you shout).

If you rather not scroll down to see my QR code, here it is! It’s looks pretty much like any other QR code except for that picture of me. Where will it take you? Scan it and see.

A custom, bright blue and white QR code set against a blue background with rounded corners. In the center of the QR code is a circular profile photo of a light-skinned, bald man wearing a light blue polo shirt. Below the white container holding the QR code, the text "@hughsviewsandnews.com" is printed in white sans-serif lettering on the blue footer.

Time to Freshen Up

I’m also planning an audit on the lists of blogs I follow, the categories and tags I use for posts, and deleting images and photos I no longer use from my blog’s media library, thus freeing up more space.

Over to You

Although I update the ‘About’ page of my blog regually, I’m taking the chance to having a look at it and make some changes, as well as updating any information. When was the last time you updated the ‘About’ page of your blog? You’d be surprised how many bloggers never update their ‘About’ page. I’ve seen some more than 10 years out of date. What does that tell you about the person behind the blog? Lazy? Forgetful? Doesn’t care?

Before you go, I’d love to hear from you: When did you last update your ‘About’ page — or have you ever? What’s the one blog housekeeping task you keep putting off? Are you a take-a-break-in-August blogger, or do you use the quieter period to catch up?

Happy Silly Season!


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65 responses to “How I’m Using August for Blog Housekeeping and a QR Code Boost”

  1. Michelle (Boomer Eco Crusader) avatar

    Like you, I review and update my “About” page once a year. One blog task I procrastinate on is checking for broken links. I try to do a scan once a month, but some months I don’t get to it.

    I scanned your QR code, but I’m not on Bluesky. I’ve been trying to simplify my social media. I deleted Twitter last year, and recently deactivated my blog Instagram.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      I’ve also cut back on my social media over the years, Michelle. Spreading yourself too thin on social media simply doesn’t work. It’s all about finding which social media platforms work best for us and then getting them down to a manageable number.

  2. junedesilva avatar

    Hello, Hugh and Happy Silly Season!

    To answer your questions (very helpful for focusing an overheated mind), I last updated my ‘About’ page when you reminded me to do so!

    The blog housekeeping task I keep putting off is changing to a block theme. I keep looking at all the available themes that might work with my blog, but I fail to make a decision. We’re hoping to sell our home in France, and this will have a considerable impact on the content of my blog. Perhaps I’m using that as an excuse to delay changing to a block theme…

    Perhaps it’s because I’m retired that August doesn’t impact me in the same way it used to when I was teaching/training. We usually spend August in the UK because it’s too hot in France!! As far as blogging is concerned, I don’t have a specific plan, but I could definitely use the time to catch up on my blog reading and editing some of my old posts etc.

    Anyway, this is rather a long comment, but thanks for encouraging me to reflect on my blog housekeeping, always a positive outcome!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Hi June, thank you for your comment and for responding to my questions.

      It also took me a long time before I actually switched to a Block theme. Then, when I finally did it, I wondered why I had taken so long to do it. But you do need to be in the right frame of mind to make the switch, as there is some work involved, though that work was more about the fun aspect for me. I so much enjoyed putting my new blog look together.

      Honestly, I do not mind long comments. They are much better than getting those short, robotic praise comments that always give the same praise. Plus, longer commnets are a very good indictaion of how sucessful I have been with engaging with my readers.

  3. Deb's World (Australia) avatar

    Thanks Hugh, always a good reminder of things we could be doing and updating. I’m just back from 10 weeks away and took a blogging break, so now I am trying to get back into it! I spent the the last 4 weeks of my trip in Somerset with my daughter and granddaughter, and wow was it hot and dry there. Hope you’re staying cool where you are!

    Our silly season comes in December, our summer and Christmas season. I remember when the girls were little and we were driving around Europe in summer they started singing Christmas carols because they figured it was summer so it must be Christmas time, it took us a while to work it out!

    I’ll try and do a QR code for my blog but I’m currently struggling with SEO for my posts so I’ll try and get that sorted first!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Welcome back, Deb. I hope you had a great blogging break and wonderful travels. Yes, we are on course in the UK to have our hottest and driest summer ever. We’ve just begun our 5th heatwave of this year, although thankfully, this one is short-lived and will be over by the weekend.

      I’ve found that the AI on WordPress helps with the SEO. I ask it to suggest some SEO-friendly tags, and it comes back with them for me. Since using it, I’ve seen an increase in both visitors and comments.

  4. V.M.Sang avatar

    What do QR codes send you to on a website? I don’t use them myself, so I can’t check using yours. Can you decide where to send them?

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      You can create a free QR code instantly using your web browser. In Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, go to the webpage you want to share, click the three-dot menu or right-click the page, select Create QR code, and download the image file. Anyone with a mobile phone or device that has a camera can then scan it and go to where you set up the QR code to take them. If you use Canva, they also offer a free QR code generator.

      1. V.M.Sang avatar

        Thanks for that. I’ll look into it.

  5. Eugi avatar

    Happy Silly Season, Hugh. I audit my blog about once a month. Since, I frequently make changes to my blog, I take the opportunity to check for missing images and broken links. Also, older posts are brought back or deleted. Speaking of the About Page, I need to update mine, because I added a new category. The QR code is a cool idea, and I might try it on my blog, as well. As always, thank you for sharing your advice and tips.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      You’re welcome, and happy silly season to you as well, Eugi.

      Good to hear that you are always on top of your blog housekeeping, although I always find something that needs to be done. At least we’re not letting those jobs mount up and go ignored.

      Keep up the great work.

      1. Eugi avatar

        Exactly, If we let tasks mount up, it becomes overwhelming. Thank you, Hugh.

  6. Alison avatar

    I suppose most of my posts are like a diary of sorts but there are probably a few I could delete

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      It’s worth checking, but diary entries can be very personal and not something you want to delete, as, like history, they never become outdated.

  7. Linda Schaub avatar

    Enjoy your time away from your blog Hugh. I updated my “About” page when I retired, but nothing has changed with me, so I’ll leave it for now. We’ve had a very hot, stormy Summer, so I’m hoping August is when I get out more so I ensure I don’t run out of photos over the Winter months. This has not happened since I began blogging in 2013, but I’ve not walked, nor taken photos, as much as usual.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Our hot, dry summer weather has certainly prevented me from going out as much as I’d like to, Linda. I’m definitely looking forward to Autumn. It can’t come soon enough for me. I hope you manage to get some walking done and take new photos soon.

      1. Linda Schaub avatar

        Hugh, I am so far from reaching my year-end walking goal, that I’m going to just forget about it this year. Most of the Winter and early Spring was too icy or slippery to walk. Even going outside to run the car in the garage was dicey. Now the heat. I hope we both have a good Autumn and get out to enjoy nature.

        1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

          Autumn is by far my favourite season of all, Linda. Not only are all the schools back and the majority of tourists gone, but it’s also the perfect time of year to get outside, walk, and take in the world. Enjoy it when it arrives.

          1. Linda Schaub avatar

            Yes, peaceful and quiet again … I hear you on that Hugh. Having never had kids and having been an only child, I would not appreciate having to deal with the noise and distraction of children. You enjoy it as well.

  8. Terri Webster Schrandt avatar

    August is indeed a great month to clean house and blog, Hugh! I’ve never heard of Silly Season but it sure fits! Ours is a little sillier (actually sadder) due to the wildfires nearby but they are contained and roads are open. What is silly for me are all the appointments that landed this month, doctor, dentist, hair, Brodie to Vet, and our wedding anniversary. We upgraded Hans’ ancient relic of a cellphone today (like pulling teeth!!) but it went smoothly.

    Your blog site looks wonderful. I’ll check out the new QR code!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Good to hear the wildfires are at least under control, Terri. I’ve seen some terrible scenes of current wildfires from all over the Northern Hemisphere. It’s very concerning how these wildfires are fast becoming the norm during the warmer months of the year.

      August is a great time to get all those jobs we’ve been putting off done. I hope Hans is enjoying his new phone. He must see such a difference if his previous one was one he’d owned for many years.

      Thank you for the feedback about my blog. I’m always finding something to do and will be spending the next few weeks, hopefully, making it even better.

  9. Dan Antion avatar

    I’m one of the ones spending some time away from my blog in August, Hugh, but slow periods are a good time for updates. I do update my About page once or twice a year.

    BTW, can you send one of those Local Seagulls over here? Maybe while our legislators are on break, we can sneak it in.

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      We’ve certainly got plenty of seagulls where I live, Dan. So we’ve plenty spare, although not the one who is now the mayor and likes pinching chips off tourists. The trick is to add more salt and vinegar. They don’t seem to like that.

  10. JT Twissel avatar

    This month is a reminder that the year is zipping by, isn’t it? I’ll probably use the end of summer to get some projects done around the house. For some reason, I got the urge to change things up – it may spill over into blog reorganizing too, who knows! Have a great month!

    1. Hugh W. Roberts avatar

      Life is like a toilet roll – the nearer you get to the end, the quicker it runs out.

      Good to hear you are doing and planning some projects around the house. We’re planning some decorating and new carpets, but not until October.

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