How To – Hugh's Views & News

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5 More ‘Questionable’ Photos That Allow You to Say Who You Are

Published on Feb 9, 2026Feb 9, 2026 by Hugh W. Roberts41 Comments

I want to thank everyone who engaged with me (and other bloggers) on my previous photography post. If you missed it, ‘5 ‘Questionable’ Photos That Give You The Chance To Say Who You Are‘ was slightly different from my first photography post in this series, as it asked you questions based on the photos.

I had fun with it! I hope you did.

This month, I’m showcasing five photographs (all of which feature me), so all were taken by somebody else. I am also highlighting another WordPress gallery block you can use to display your photos.

Feel free to leave a comment or write your own post with your responses. If you decide to create a post, you’re welcome to link back to mine so other bloggers can join the discussion.

1. What is the oldest photo in your photo collection?

A photo of a woman pinning something onto a man's t-shirt, with writing across the front. The man is looking up towards the ceiling. — Photo taken 23rd February 2006

2006 must have been the year I started an online photo library. I do recall the event when this photo was taken, which was a staggering 20 years ago! Doesn’t time fly?

The photo was taken at my ‘Sten’ party. What’s a ‘Sten’ party? It’s similar to a stag or hen night, but it’s for both men and women. This was a gathering organised by my work colleagues, a few days before my partner and I had our civil partnership.

Civil partnerships for same-sex couples became law in the UK when the Civil Partnership Act 2004 came into force on the 5th December 2005. Elton John and his partner, David Furnish, were among the first to have a Civil Partnership in the UK.

The first couples were able to formally register their partnerships in Northern Ireland on 19 December 2005, followed by the rest of the UK on 21 December 2005.

Do I remember anything from that night apart from having various slogans pinned to my T-shirt? Yes, quite a lot, but far too much to publish here. I could probably produce a mini-series for Netflix about what happened that evening, but that would only mean a second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth season.

2. Are you a tourist or a stay-at-home type of person?

A photo of a man standing next to a gap in a wall that used to have a door. — What happened to the door?

This photo captures the moment a medieval ruin briefly considered becoming a holiday cottage before immediately changing its mind. The stone walls whisper stories of sieges, monks, and mysterious drafts, while I, casually leaning against it, wonder, “Yes, but does it get Wi-Fi?” The contrast is striking: centuries of hardship versus sandals that have clearly never known true suffering. No, I don’t wear sandals like that anymore, and I’ve never worn socks with them!

I love history, but there’s also something heroic about that pose. One foot crossed, arms relaxed, expression calmly confident—like a travel brochure model for Accidental Time Travel Monthly. Can you imagine ‘Time Travel’ holidays? Something for the not-too-distant future, perhaps? You half-expect a guide to announce to the other tourists, “And here we see the rare British Tourist in its natural habitat, pausing to rest after conquering a mildly uneven cobblestone.”

My favourite part of this old building is the doorway beside me, which perfectly frames the scene: step through it, and you’re in the 14th century; step back out, and you’re searching for a café, gift shop and the nearest toilets! It’s a vivid reminder that while history may be ancient and awe-inspiring, it still serves as a perfect backdrop for a relaxed lean and a very modern sense of comfort.

3. What’s your most memorable moment of the 21st century?

A photo of a man standing in the Olympic Park for the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. — What were you doing in 2012?

With the Winter Olympic Games underway at the time of publishing this post, I am privileged to have attended the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games.

The Olympic Park entrance looms behind me as the crowd shuffles forward with the quiet determination of people who’ve accepted they will queue, and they will like it. Yes, we British do seem to enjoy queuing a lot!

That smile says, “I’ve beaten the queues, the weather, and possibly public transport.” The Adidas shirt is doing some serious international diplomacy—it’s covered in flags, symbolising unity and global harmony, all before the first race. It’s the kind of outfit that silently reassures everyone nearby that yes, this is a special day and nobody should be grumpy.

Meanwhile, my background extras are showing peak Olympic spectator behaviour: backpacks adjusted for the 400th time, sunglasses on despite the sun’s best efforts being “meh,” and that universal look of someone thinking, “Did I bring the tickets?” It’s a perfect snapshot of optimism, mild chaos, and the unmistakable feeling that something memorable is about to happen.

4. Which television show would you like to appear on?

A photo of a man and woman who have just stepped out of Doctor Who's TARDIS onto a strange planet. — Where are we?

Those of you who know me well know how much I love science fiction, especially anything related to time travel. So when I had the opportunity to star in an episode of ‘Doctor Who’ with my niece, I jumped at it.

I have no idea where we landed, but luckily, there were no signs of the Weeping Angels, Daleks, or Cybermen. Those of you with a keen eye will notice that half of my left foot is missing, which suggests this is an edited photo, though I had nothing to do with those edits.

This all happened in Cardiff, before the pandemic, when the ‘Doctor Who Experience’ arrived in town. My niece was quite upset by it all, as she scars easily and couldn’t wait to leave, while I was sad to have to say goodbye to the TARDIS.

If you ever hear that familiar whirring noise the TARDIS makes, you might be quite surprised when I step out of the blue police box.

5. Do you believe in aliens?

A photo of a man standing behind a large billboard that has a picture of aliens doing an autopsy on a human. The man has stuck his head through a hole, so the human is him. — Have you found a cheese sandwich in there?

Talking of aliens, have you ever met any? Well, as you’ll see in the photo above, I have.

This is what happens when roadside art, aliens, and questionable life choices collide. One moment you’re minding your own business at the ‘Arizona Last Stop,’ the next you’re being casually abducted mid-nap by long-armed extraterrestrials with very flexible elbows.

My expression says, “I did not have this on today’s itinerary,” while the aliens look like they’re just checking the seatbelt before take-off. It’s less ‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’ and more Close Encounters of the Mildly Inconvenient Kind.

Honestly, if aliens are real, this feels exactly like how they’d introduce themselves to me—confusing, slightly rude, and searching me for proof that I’d eaten that last cheese sandwich.

The Cover Block

This month, I am displaying and featuring the ‘Cover’ block. Here’s one of my featured photos in the Cover block.

Doctor Who

The Day the TARDIS Was Stolen

Hugh W. Roberts

I’ve always dreamt of writing an episode of Doctor Who, so I came up with a title for the photo I have used.

The WordPress Cover block offers many possibilities. It’s a versatile, visually appealing block that lets users create engaging sections on their pages and posts. It serves as a powerful tool for showcasing images, photos or videos with overlay text, enabling content creators to combine striking visuals with compelling messages.

By using the Cover block, you can add an engaging background image or video that complements your content, while overlaying text to share information, tell a story, or boost your branding. This block is especially useful for creating call-to-action areas, or unique segment dividers that attract attention to key announcements or highlights on your blog.

With options such as text alignment, colour overlays, and the ability to adjust your background image’s focal point, the Cover block enhances your blog’s visual appeal and readability, making it an important component of effective storytelling and design in WordPress.

Click the following link for more information about the Cover block.

How to make a photographer’s day.

Next time you leave a comment on a photography post, instead of saying ‘Great photo,’ describe what about the picture made you think it was great. Was it the subject, the lighting, the scenery, the angle it was taken from, or the emotion it evoked when you saw it?

It only needs to be a few lines, but the people you leave the comment for will appreciate the feedback much more than when all you say, time after time, is that it’s a great photo.

Remember that one genuine, thoughtful comment once in a while is worth thousands of short, non-engaging comments that only prove you visited and that you don’t have the time.

What is the oldest photo in your photo collection, and what is it of? Are you a tourist or a stay-at-home type of person? What’s your most memorable moment of the 21st century? Which television show would you like to appear on? Do you believe in aliens?

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

You can follow me at the following sites.

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How to add a blogroll to a widget bar.

On your blog’s dashboard, navigate to Appearance – Widgets and click the ‘+‘ symbol in the top right corner.

An image highlighting where to find 'Appearance' and 'Widgets' on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — Click Appearance – Widgets

Find the Blogroll block by typing ‘Blogroll’ in the search bar. Click on the Blogroll block to add it to your widget bar.

An image showing where and how to find the Blogroll Block on WordPress. — Add the ‘Blogroll’ block

For some reason, when you add a Blogroll block, it automatically populates with several blogs, some of which you may not recognise. I found this quite odd, but it’s simple to remove any unwanted ones.

To delete a blog, select the blog you wish to remove, then click the three vertical dots (kebab menu) and choose Delete.

An image highlighting the kebab menu and delete button when deleting blogs from a Blogroll on WordPress. — Deleting blogs from a Blogroll is easy

To add blogs, click on the ‘+‘ symbol and select from the list that appears or use the search bar to find the blogs you wish to add.

An image highlighting the 'plus' button and a list of blogs when creating a blogroll on WordPress — Add or search for the blogs you want to add to your blogroll.

To change the name of your blogroll, click next to ‘Blogroll‘ and add your own description.

An image highlighting how to change the name of a Blogroll on WordPress — Rename your blogroll

Click the Update button in the top right corner to publish the Blogroll in the widget bar.

Check your blog to ensure the Blogroll widget is visible. You can see the blogroll I created towards the bottom of the widget bar on the right side of my blog. It contains the blogs I read the most.

How to add a blog roll to a page or post.

Add the Blogroll block anywhere on a page or post.

To add or remove blogs from your blogroll list, follow the instructions above.

Remember that you can change the name of your blogroll. However, be aware that if your blogroll contains many blogs, it will take up a lot of space on the post or page.

You can also convert your blogroll into a reusable block, now called a Pattern, by clicking on the block, then selecting the three dots (kebab menu) and choosing ‘Create Pattern.’

An image showing how to turn a Blogroll into a 'Reusable Block.' — Turn your blogroll into a reusable block

A reusable block on WordPress, now often called a Synced Pattern, is a feature that allows you to save a specific block or group of blocks for use across multiple posts or pages. This is particularly helpful for those selling items on their blog, such as books. For example, if a link to your books needs updating or the price changes, the updates are automatically reflected everywhere the block appears. Clever stuff!

To answer the question I raised in the title of this post, what happens when you add a blog roll to your site? Well, that’s straightforward. It means you promote the blogs you enjoy reading most. In doing so, you help foster a community and bring its members closer together. In turn, you’ll be supporting them in developing their blogs and community. What better way to say ‘thank you’ to those special people?

I’m looking forward to seeing your blogrolls as I’m looking for some new blogs to follow. If you have a blogroll on your blog, let me know.

Note: Widget bars only show when viewing posts and pages on a desktop computer. When viewing posts on a tablet or mobile phone, click the menu button to see them.

Have you ever created a blogroll on your own blog? Which blogs or websites did you include? How do you think a blogroll can improve the reader’s experience on a blog? How often do you update your blogroll or the blogs you follow? Have you come across any new blogs from fellow bloggers’ blogrolls? If so, which ones?

The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

You can follow me at the following sites.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

How To Avoid Soaring Blogging Overload: 4 Helpful Ways

Published on Jan 12, 2026Jan 12, 2026 by Hugh W. Roberts71 Comments

Just a heads-up: This blog post might make you think I’m talking about you.

A couple of years ago, the following post debuted on this blog.

7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Deciding Whether To Follow A Blog

It got people rethinking why they follow particular blogs. And that was my aim. Job done! Or so I thought.

It won’t come as a surprise that, having already read many posts this year where the writer outlines how they are already feeling overwhelmed and guilty about not being able to keep up with reading, commenting, and writing posts (and we’re only a few days into the 2026), I thought it a good point to say a few things that some bloggers find difficult to talk about.

Is this you?

Not only is following too many blogs something that can have an adverse effect on your mental health, but it can also have a negative effect on your writing and creativity.

Some people act immediately when they start to feel overwhelmed, stressed, or guilty about blogging, but sadly, some leave the world of blogging, sometimes without giving any notice of their intention to do so.

Of course, some people also give up blogging on a positive note.

As I already mentioned, following too many blogs is one of the biggest pitfalls of blogging because many bloggers believe they have to follow every blogger that follows them, read their posts and leave comments on every post. Sure, some of those bloggers only ever leave short, non-engaging comments more as proof they’ve visited, but sadly, some go on to abandon their blogs when it all becomes too much.

Let me be clear. If anyone suggests it’s only polite to follow the blogs of everyone who follows your blog, they are talking nonsense. If I took that advice, I’d be following over 7,000 blogs. Can you imagine how overwhelming that would be and the effect it would have on my mental health, especially if I felt I had to read and comment on every post?

Thankfully, I only read and comment on posts that interest me.

Before following any blog, ask yourself these questions.

1. How often are new posts published?

The frequency at which posts are published is important. Some bloggers publish a new post once a month; others publish weekly; some publish daily; and then there are those who publish more than one post a day.

I once followed a blog where the host was publishing up to five new posts daily.

I could have ignored how often she published new posts, but because I found some of her posts interesting and she was following my blog, I felt obliged not only to follow her blog but also to read and comment on all her posts. Yes, those comments were short and non-engaging because I was not able to keep up.

This led to guilt when I missed any of her posts, left comments only to prove I visited and to feeling overwhelmed by it all.

Check how often posts are published before pressing the ‘subscribe’ button. If posts are published daily, and that’s too much for you, consider not following or do not feel obliged to read all the posts.

If you receive email notifications for new posts, consider getting one email a week with the posts they publish. Yes, there’s an option for that. You can then choose which of those posts you want to read.

How To Change How often You receive New Post Notifications

On the ‘Manage Subscriptions‘ page of your blog (under the ‘Reader‘ button), click on the three dots (Kebab menu) next to any of the WordPress.com blogs you follow and choose how frequently you get email notifications of new posts.

The choices are Instantly, Daily or Weekly.

An image highlighting the settings for changing the frequently of new post notifications from WordPress — Click the three dots (kebab menu) then select how often you receive new post emails

Consider getting new post notifications via web and mobile notifications if getting email notifications become too overwhelming.

If you are happy with the frequency of new posts, by all means, subscribe and enjoy.

2. Is the content interesting enough?

Time is something many of us cannot manage when reading blogs, usually because we feel we do not have time to read everything, yet we feel obliged to and often leave a comment as proof. It’s a surefire way to get yourself on a slippery slope toward blogging burnout.

If none of the content interests you, don’t feel obliged to follow or read.

Don’t become a ‘ghost’ follower by subscribing to blogs you know you’ll never visit. After all, would you read a book on a subject that did not interest you? Be honest and ask yourself, ‘will I actually read this blog, or will it just add guilt to my unread list?‘

Time is precious, and wasting it on reading content you have no interest in is one of the main blogging mistakes you can make.

Spend time on reading content that interests you and which may inspire you to leave genuine, thoughtful comments.

Leaving a thoughtful, genuine comment occasionally far outweighs the impact of posting brief, unengaging comments on every post simply to show you were there. Make your comments count, ensuring that “thank you” isn’t the only response that resonates.

Thoughtful comments show you are interested and want to engage. Short, non-engaging comments simply prove you visited. They do not prove you read the post.

And remember that if a blog you follow publishes posts on various subjects, you are under no obligation to read everything they publish. Read only what interests you.

3. Does the host look after their blog?

Would you shop on a website with lots of broken links, a poor layout, or where you have difficulty finding what you are looking for?
Would you follow a blog that is broken because the host keeps blaming WordPress or anybody else but themselves for the faults?
Would you follow a poorly designed blog or one full of errors, broken links, and no sense of organisation?
Would you follow a blog that no longer has security updates because of it’s outdated theme or has a comments section full of spam and unverified links?

I hope you answered ‘No’ to all of those questions.

Just as taking care of your home creates a warm, inviting, friendly, comfortable, and safe place for family and friends to visit, maintaining your blog is equally important. Bloggers who prioritise maintaining their blogs demonstrate their commitment to making a positive impression on visitors, showing that they truly care about their audience.

Unmaintained blogs present a significant security threat to visitors. Bloggers utilising unsupported WordPress themes are not receiving crucial security updates, jeopardising the safety of their audience, particularly when clicking links.

Consider carefully before following or engaging with any blog that presents itself as outdated, disorganised, unsafe, or uninviting due to its poor layout. This caution extends to blogs that permit hostile or inappropriate comments in the comment section.

4. What do you know about the hosts(s)?

Who is the individual behind this blog?
What is their name, and what is their geographical location?
What topics do they cover in their writing?

These are critical questions to consider before deciding to follow any blog. Reflect thoroughly on the implications of following a blog that fails to provide sufficient information about its author(s). While their posts may appear engaging, the absence of identifiable information raises concerns regarding the safety and credibility of your decision to follow.

I have misjudged by following various blogs based on the appeal of their content, only to discover particulars of the hosts that were quite disconcerting. A more sensible approach would have been to inquire about the blog’s authorship and to consider why I should place my trust in them.

More often than not, some bloggers adopt a seemingly friendly manner to attract visitors, only to later reveal their true intentions, often by posting derogatory comments directed at you or fellow bloggers.

I’ve discovered that with time, I can quickly judge what people are like from their blog posts before deciding to follow their blogs. However, if I can’t find any information about who they are and what they blog about, I won’t follow.

A simple rule of thumb

If, after reading 3–5 posts, you’d be disappointed not to see the next post, it’s probably worth subscribing.

What has been your experience with following too many blogs? Have you felt overwhelmed? Do you prefer quantity or quality in blog subscriptions? How do you choose which blogs are worth your time? How important is it to know about the host behind a blog before following? What tips do you have for bloggers feeling overwhelmed by subscriptions? How do you balance reading, commenting, and writing?

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.

5 ‘Questionable’ Photos That Give You The Chance To Say Who You Are

Published on Dec 18, 2025Dec 19, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts54 Comments

Last month, I published the first post of my ‘photography-themed’ series. If you missed it, you can read ‘4 Never Before Seen Photos And Why You Need To See Them‘ and join the many readers who have already joined the conversations.

I want to thank everyone who left a comment and those who started conversations about the photos I featured. Honestly, the post’s success exceeded my expectations. I have a dedicated group of readers who love to engage, and for that, I am genuinely grateful.

December 2025

This month, I am not only showcasing five photographs (some of which I appear in), all with a Christmas theme, but I am also highlighting another WordPress gallery block you can use to display your photos and photography.

So, here we go. I’m excited to share five photos, three of which are new to my blog, each one posing a question. Feel free to leave a comment or write your own post with your answers. If you choose to write a post, you’re welcome to link back to mine so other bloggers can join the discussion.

1. When did you first meet Father Christmas?

A photo of a smiling man standing next to Father Christmas — When was the last time you bumped into Father Christmas?

I have to dig deep into the archives of my memory to recall the first time I encountered Father Christmas. I was six years old, and meeting the man I thought was the ultimate VIP (Very Important Person) was like waiting for the last biscuit in the jar.

It happened in a department store’s Christmas grotto, a place where the air smelled like gingerbread and desperation—not just mine, but also my sister’s, who was so terrified of Father Christmas that she screamed like we were evacuating from a man-eating, zombie, giant snowman! The whole store was probably questioning their Christmas spirit as they listened to her wails echo off the walls, rattling every bauble and piece of tinsel in the store.

However, on Christmas Eve, she had no problem with Father Christmas making his grand entrance into our home, as if he owned the place, and dropping off presents. After all, she was fast asleep, blissfully convinced that if she couldn’t see him, he mustn’t be able to see her!

The above photo was snapped one June while I was on a cruise, proving that you might just find Father Christmas on a beach holiday! So remember to be nice all year long, because you never know when you may be teetering on the edge of his nice list.

Do you have a photo of you with Father Christmas?

2. Have you ever baked a Christmas cake?

A photo taken from above of an iced Christmas cake. On top of the cake are some stars, Santa, a Christmas tree, and a snowman. — Have you ever baked a Christmas cake?

I distinctly recall my grandmother turning into a Christmas cake factory every year. I adored being her little helper, especially during the cake decoration extravaganza a few days before Christmas.

It was quite the spectacle watching her bake the cakes in September, then patiently unwrap them from their greaseproof swaddling every few weeks for a little “brandishing” with brandy. Who knew a cake could get an alcoholic makeover before the Christmas festivities even started?

I would sit there, as she dramatically stabbed the cake bases with a fork and spooned what seemed like an endless supply of brandy into the tiny holes. Of course, she’d also help herself to a few swigs of brandy while waiting for the cakes to soak up what she’s already spooned in. It was like she was giving them a little boozy makeover and joining in the festivities early.

The cake in the above photo was baked by me, but it wasn’t made the traditional way my grandmother prepared her Christmas cakes. I cheated by using a box with all the ready-prepared ingredients for making a Christmas cake. However, the magic of icing and decorating the cake was still present. And, of course, I carried on the tradition of a few glasses of brandy while feeding and decorating it.

If you’re wondering why it’s just a photo of the top of the cake, I decided it was the only part of it I felt I hadn’t cheated at. However, this made me start looking at all the different angles you can take photos, giving them a new dimension.

Do you make your own Christmas cake or do you buy a shop-bought one? And what’s inside your cake? Is it fruit-based, or filled with sponge, jam, and buttercream?

3. What’s your go-to karaoke song?

An old 1980s photo of a young man at a Christmas party in a bar, singing into a plastic bottle? — What’s your go-to song at a party?

Get ready to cringe! I’ve totally lost track of how many Christmas parties I’ve attended over the years—seriously, it’s like my life turned into a never-ending Netflix series focused on festive cheer, and most of them were work parties, where the eggnog flows like water, and the awkward small talk is the real gift! From fancy dress to black tie, I’ve always got into the spirit of Christmas celebrations. And the above photo is no exception.

Taken in the late 1980s, I’m not entirely sure why I decided a bottle of bleach was the ideal choice for a microphone, but let’s chalk it up to a few too many festive glasses of sherry or eggnog that night! My outfit is a glorious testament to the era; I mean, who could resist the charm of penguins proudly dancing on my braces? Clearly, I was ahead of my time in fashion… or maybe just in silliness!

However, I still know the song I was singing when the photo was taken.

This song has become my ‘go-to’ whenever anyone puts a microphone in my hand. So, if you ever meet me, never give me a bottle of bleach or a microphone!

What’s your go-to karaoke song?

4. What’s your favourite Christmas tree ornament?

A photo of a Christmas tree ornament of Father Christmas in his sleigh being pulled by reindeer. — What’s your favourite Christmas tree ornament?

My favorite Christmas tree ornament is a jolly old Father Christmas in his sleigh, dramatically being yanked along by two reindeer who have clearly lost the plot; they’re now engaged in an epic showdown over who gets the last carrot that all the kids left out, while Father Christmas just sits back, chuckling with a mince pie in one hand and a glass of brandy in the other, thinking, “This is the real Christmas spirit!”

As Father Christmas steers his sleigh joyfully, all those glasses of brandy would probably get him into trouble if he were caught by a traffic officer. However, as he’s flying, rather than driving on roads, hopefully he won’t get into any trouble.

Over the years, I have collected many Christmas tree ornaments. This one is only a few years old and was bought online from a well-known London store. Yes, it was expensive, but the joy it has brought is worth every penny.

Do you have a favourite Christmas tree ornament? Share the details or a photo with us.

5. Is this how Christmas makes you feel?

And finally, is this how Christmas makes you feel?

A photo of a festive Christmas reindeer that appears to have collapsed onto the ground after a busy Christmas. — Does the thought of Christmas make you feel like this?

Whether it’s before or after Christmas, most of us will find ourselves feeling deflated, like a poor reindeer caught napping three days after the big day—let’s just say, even Rudolph looks like he needs a strong cup of cocoa at this point!

The look on its face says it all and reminds me of those confusing days between Christmas and New Year, when the days of the week all blend into one. “Is it Monday or Tuesday? No, it’s Wednesday, isn’t it, or was Wednesday yesterday? Hang on, wasn’t it Thursday yesterday?”

The Slideshow Block

This month, I am displaying and featuring the ‘Slideshow’ block. Here are my five photos, all in the slideshow block.

When was the last time you bumped into Father Christmas?
Have you ever baked a Christmas cake?
What’s your go-to song at a party?
What’s your favourite Christmas tree ornament?
Does the thought of Christmas make you feel like this?

You can select as many photos as you like for your slideshow. Captions you have added to your photos also appear, but unfortunately, and this is something I dislike, the captions cannot be centred.

You can set the slideshow to manual, so readers must click to view the next image, or select an autoplay option. If you choose autoplay, you can also decide how many seconds pass between each photo (I chose 4 seconds).

Another option is to add a transition. You can choose slide or fade for your photos. You can also select the image size: small, medium, large, or extra large. I decided on the ‘Large’ option.

All of these options can be found by clicking on the image and choosing the ‘Block‘ option.

An image showing the different options of the Slideshow block on WordPress — The Slideshow Block options.

Click the following link for more information about the Slideshow Block.

How to make a photographer’s day.

Next time you leave a comment on a photography post, instead of saying ‘Great photo,’ explain what it was about the picture that made you think it was great. Was it the subject, the lighting, the scenery, the angle it was taken from, or the emotion it evoked when you saw it?

It only needs to be a few lines, but the people you leave the comment for will appreciate the feedback much more than when all you say, time after time, is that it’s a great photo.

Do you have a photo of you with Father Christmas? Do you make your own Christmas cake or do you buy a shop-bought one? What’s your go-to karaoke song? Do you have a favourite Christmas tree ornament? How does Christmas make you feel?

Linking to Sunday Stills hosted by Terri Webster Schrandt – Theme: Festive Red and Green.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

You can follow me at the following sites.

How to Enable or Disable the Falling Snow Effect on Your WordPress Blog

Published on Dec 6, 2025Dec 8, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts34 Comments

Have you noticed that snow is falling on some WordPress blogs? As you read the post, small flakes of snow gently drift down. Meanwhile, on other blogs, like mine, there’s no snow.

WordPress introduced the festive snowfall feature a few years ago. It only works when reading a post via the WordPress website. You won’t see it if you’re reading a post in the WordPress Reader or the Jetpack App unless you click through to the website. This time, it runs until 4th January 2026. But how do you turn the feature on or off? Easy – follow my instructions.

Go to your blog’s dashboard and click Settings – General.

Scroll down the page until you come to ‘Snow.’

You’ll see a box with the words ‘Show falling snow on my site until January 4^th.’

An image highlighting how to turn on/off the falling snow feature on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — Where to turn on/off falling snow on your WordPress blog

If you want snow to fall on your blog, tick the box. If you don’t want snow falling on your blog, untick the box.

Click the ‘Save Changes‘ box at the bottom of the page.

Ensure the changes are effective by opening one of your posts on the WordPress website.

I’m not a lover of anything moving onscreen while I’m reading, as I find it distracting. However, I know that many bloggers love the idea of gently drifting snowflakes while they read blog posts during the festive season.

The choice is yours. And now you know how to switch on or turn off snow falling on your blog.

For the above instructions, I’m using a desktop computer. The falling snow effect is only controlled through your WordPress.com dashboard, not the Jetpack mobile app.

Is it snowing on your blog? If not, do you want it to snow? Let me know why you like or dislike the idea of snowflakes drifting on WordPress blogs.

The featured image on this blog post is sourced from Pixabay. AI reviewed spelling and grammar errors.

You can follow me at the following sites.

4 Never Before Seen Photos And Why You Need To See Them

Published on Nov 10, 2025Nov 11, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts94 Comments

I used to publish a substantial amount of photography on my blog, especially in Wordless Wednesday posts, and then it all ceased!

I couldn’t help but notice how they generated little to no engagement. I felt somewhat disheartened by this apparent lack of interest in my photography. After all, how can you respond week after week to the same ‘Great shot’ comments, other than with a ‘Thank you?’ It almost seems as if people are just going through the motions with those kinds of comments without truly engaging with the content.

Can a photography blog post generate meaningful engagement?

It’s something I wasn’t entirely convinced about. I only had to look around the blogosphere and see the same ‘Great photo’ comments on photography posts.

However, some photo challenges seem to spark discussion and engagement, although you’ll sometimes have to sift through the ‘Nice shot’ types of comments. Nevertheless, as I’ve discovered, hosting any kind of blog challenge is hard work, so it’s always a shame when people drop links or short comments and run without recognising the effort the host has put into creating the post. Some of those hosts must feel disheartened when it happens, but the thoughtful and engaging comments they get must make all the difference.

I love photography, so why don’t I showcase mine?

After realising I was missing out on sharing my photography and not wanting to create my own photography challenge, I decided to publish a monthly photography post showcasing four photographs I’ve never featured on my blog before.

Not only that, but at the end of each post, I will display the photos in a separate WordPress photo Gallery block and give a brief explanation of that block’s features.

So, here we go. I’m excited to share with you four never-before-seen photos that I’m delighted to finally unveil on my blog!

1. How old is this tree?

A photo of the ends of a tree trunk that has been cut down. The rings on the inside of the trunk are visible. In the background are some colourful buildings, trees and plantlife. — How old was this tree?

What initially caught my eye in this shot were those colourful buildings in the background. But the fallen tree had me asking many more questions.

Can you actually determine a tree’s age by counting the rings in its trunk? Well, this tree got a bit overzealous during a storm and decided to take a nap across a footpath! It turned into the ultimate footpath block, leading to some unfortunate lumberjack shenanigans where it had to be chopped into manageable pieces.

Not only did I ponder the ancient age of this tree—seriously, is it older than me?—but I also found myself wondering about the brave soul who planted it and how many people have swung from its branches or taken leisurely naps beneath its leafy embrace. The rings? Oh, they’ve got secrets, but counting them seemed as feasible as getting my two dogs to sit still long enough for a family photo.

Today, the chunks of trunk are still hanging around, serving as a posh Airbnb for wildlife that need a place to kick back and relax. I’m thrilled parts of it are still there because this tree has decided to become the ultimate retirement home for other species.

2. Do you know this bear?

A photo of the head of a child's toy bear that has been put over one of the stones that jut out on top of the wall. Behind the toy is some plant life. — I’m lost. Have you seen my owner?

This cheeky face practically yanked a grin out of me when it halted my stroll. I simply had to snap a photo—who could resist it? There it was, perched impossibly high, making me ponder not just how it got there, but also who the previous owner was. Was it a child’s hat, a brave toy that escaped the toy box, or maybe even a rogue UFO pilot’s accessory? Hey, a guy can dream about flying a UFO dressed as a Bear, can’t he!?

A few days later, the bear was gone. Someone had either claimed it or rehomed it, although my darker, more creative mind was also insisting that it had fallen off the wall and was now trapped behind it (was that a call for help I could hear?).

Whatever had happened to this smiling bear, I was thankful for the joy it had not only given me when I spotted it, but also for the smiles it must have brought to others who had seen it on their journeys. I hope it was reunited with its owner.

3. Does this sign give you mixed emotions?

A photo of a wooden sign that reads 'Dogs' Graves, St Catwg Walks Exit, and Bluebell Wood.' In the background are some trees and grass areas — This way please

This sign will probably evoke mixed feelings. After all, that first line isn’t pleasant, is it? It evoked a vision of a horror story and film by one of my favourite authors, Stephen King. However, the bottom part of this sign brought to mind a beautiful, tranquil place that could be the name of a location you’d find in a children’s book.

I wondered why there was not a separate sign for the dogs’ graves. After all, who would want to visit a dog’s graveyard, apart from maybe pet owners who had buried their beloved pets there? Bluebell Wood, on the other hand, sounded like a lovely place for a walk, especially during bluebell season in May. I pictured myself sitting in Bluebell Wood, forest-bathing, while recharging my body and mind.

Later, I discovered that the gardens, where the photo was taken, were purchased by William Graham Vivian in 1860, when he acquired Clyne Castle, a nearby dwelling, and began creating the surrounding landscape gardens. He died in 1912, and the many dogs buried in the graveyard were his pet dogs. So, there’s the answer to why the dogs’ graveyard is on the sign.

4. Do you know this dog?

A photo of a black and white Welsh Cardigan corgi sitting next to a sofa while looking directly at the camera. — Do you think I look younger than my age?

Talking of dogs, the chap in the above photo turned 14 last month.

For those of you who haven’t read my ‘About‘ page, this is Toby, the older of the two Welsh Cardigan Corgis my partner and I own. I still recall the day we collected him and how, from the moment we met him, our lives took a new turn. It’s one of the best days of our lives.

Toby is a photography subject, like me, in that he usually moves when a picture is taken. However, on this particular day, his 14th birthday, he posed for the camera, and I was thrilled with the result.

Toby’s hobbies include sleeping, walking, and meeting his mates on the beach. He also enjoys having a mad 10 minutes after dinner, when I have to chase him (very slowly) around the dining table while carrying his favourite toy in his mouth. Additionally, he likes to believe he’s in charge of the household.

When I first started blogging in 2013, Toby was a prominent feature on my blog, but over the years, he hasn’t been as interested in appearing. However, he has recently garnered considerable attention on Bluesky, where some of his photos have been shared hundreds of times and generated a lot of engagement. It’s a rare occurrence that he appears on my blog, and I’m very grateful that he agreed to let me share his photo.

The Gallery Block

The first WordPress gallery I am displaying and featuring is the ‘Gallery‘ block. Here are my four photos.

The Gallery block is a straightforward photo gallery that lets you drag and rearrange images to display them in any way you prefer. It’s a useful gallery, and I notice it being used more frequently than any of the other image blocks provided by WordPress.

Notice how the captions I’ve added to my photos appear at the bottom of each one. You don’t need to add captions to photos, but they are a great way to boost engagement from visitors, especially when asking a question.

To find the ‘Gallery‘ block, search for ‘Gallery‘ under the ‘Blocks‘ tab when drafting a post.

An image displaying the 'Gallery' block under the 'Block' tab on WordPress — The Gallery Block

Click the following link for more information about the Gallery Block.

How to make a photographer’s day.

Next time you leave a comment on a photography post, instead of simply saying ‘Great photo,’ explain what it was about the picture that made you think it was great. Was it the subject, the lighting, the scenery, the angle it was taken from, or the emotion it evoked when you saw it? It only needs to be a few lines, but they will appreciate the feedback much more than when all you say time after time is that it’s a great photo.

How do you usually engage with photography posts? What encourages you to leave a comment other than saying, ‘These are nice photos.’ Are you a photography blogger? If so, does engagement on your posts matter to you?

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

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9 Important Options on Your WordPress Blog to Check Now!

Published on Oct 20, 2025Oct 20, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts26 Comments

I’m surprised by how many bloggers miss the opportunity of having their posts shared for free by not displaying sharing buttons on their blog posts.

Of course, some bloggers don’t want any of their posts shared, but they tend to be in the minority.

In today’s digital age, having social sharing buttons on your blog is crucial for expanding your reach and boosting engagement. This post will guide you through the steps to add sharing buttons to your WordPress blog and emphasise the benefits of including them.

For the purpose of this guide, I’m using an iMac desktop computer.

To add and edit sharing buttons on your WordPress.com blog, follow these steps:

Log in to your WordPress.com account.
From your dashboard, navigate to ‘Settings‘ and select ‘Sharing.’

An image that highlights Settings and Sharing on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — Click the ‘Sharing’ option.

You’ll be taken to the ‘Sharing Options‘ page of your blog, where you will see a variety of options that include –

Available services
Enabled services
Live preview
Button style
Sharing label
Show buttons on
WordPress.com Likes are
WordPress.com Reblog button
Comment Likes are

Let’s have a look at each of these options and what they mean.

Available services – This displays any sharing buttons not currently visible on your blog. To add an available sharing button, drag it to the ‘Enabled services‘ box and click the ‘Save‘ button at the bottom of the page.

There is also an ‘Add a new service‘ link that, when clicked, allows a user to add new sharing services that are not currently available on WordPress.

Enabled Services – This section shows all the sharing buttons currently on display on your blog. Here’s an image of the sharing buttons available on my blog posts and pages.

An image showing the sharing buttons on a WordPress blog — Sharing buttons on Hugh’s Views And News blog.

Notice the ‘Customise buttons‘ link under the buttons. Click this to be taken straight to the ‘Sharing options‘ page of your blog.

You may also have noticed the ‘More‘ sharing button. This is where you can group certain sharing buttons under one button. To do this, simply drag the buttons you want to hide to the ‘Services dragged here will be hidden behind a share button‘ box. On my blog, the ‘More‘ button includes sharing buttons for ‘X’, ‘Email’ and ‘Print.’

An image showing hidden sharing buttons behind a 'More' button on a WordPress blog. — Hide sharing buttons behind one button.

To rearrange the order of how sharing buttons display on your blog, simply drag the buttons to the order you want them in. Remember to save any changes.

To remove a sharing button from your blog, drag the button to the ‘Available services‘ section and click the ‘Save‘ button at the bottom of the page.

Live preview – This section shows how the sharing buttons display on your blog.

Button style – There are four options to choose from.

Icon + Text
Icon only
Text only
Official buttons

On my blog, I have chosen sharing buttons to show ‘Icon + Text’ as this helps those using speech software know which sharing button is which. If you use ‘Icon only,’ speech software won’t know what each sharing button is.

Sharing label – This section allows users to change and display their own message above their sharing buttons. Simply add the text you want and click the save button.

Show buttons on – Choose where on your blog you want sharing buttons to appear. Place a tick next to the options and click the save button.

An image showing the options available as to where sharing buttons display on a WordPress blog. — Choose where you want the sharing buttons to display on your blog.

WordPress.com Likes are – This is where you can turn off (or on) the ‘Like’ button on blog posts and pages.

WordPress.com Reblog button – This is where you can turn off (or on) the reblog button on blog posts and pages.

Comment Likes are – This is where you can turn off (or on) the availability of a ‘like’ button on comments on your blog.

Once you’ve added sharing buttons to your blog, remember to always test them. The best way to do this is to visit one of your blog posts to ensure the sharing buttons appear as intended. Click on each button to check that it links correctly to the respective social media platforms.

Top tip: If you have an account on a social media platform, remember to ensure that there is a sharing button for that platform on your blog. You don’t need to remove share buttons where you don’t have an account, as other bloggers and readers may want to share your posts and pages to their own social media accounts. For example, I don’t have a Facebook account, but I allow visitors to my blog to share my posts and pages on their Facebook accounts.

But, at the end of the day, it’s your decision as to how many sharing buttons you want to display on your blog.

Advantages of Having Sharing Buttons on Your Blog

Increased Visibility: Sharing buttons allow visitors to easily share your content with their networks, leading to greater visibility and new readers.
Enhanced Engagement: When users share your posts, it engages their followers, creating conversations and interactions around your content.
Improved SEO: Social shares can boost your search engine rankings. Search engines often view shared content as more credible and relevant.
Brand/Blog Awareness: Every share increases exposure for your brand/blog, helping you capture a larger audience over time.
Traffic Boost: Each share potentially drives more traffic back to your blog, increasing your overall reach and influence in your niche.
User-Friendly: A streamlined sharing process enhances the user experience, encouraging visitors to interact more with your content.

By integrating sharing buttons into your WordPress blog, you not only make it easier for readers to share your posts but also create new opportunities for engagement and growth.

Summary:

Many bloggers miss out on free content-sharing opportunities by not displaying sharing buttons. These buttons are crucial for expanding reach and boosting engagement.
It’s easy to add and display sharing buttons on your WordPress blog. Follow the guide in this post.
Ensure you deal with each option available to you on the ‘Sharing options‘ page of your blog.
There are many advantages of displaying sharing buttons on your blog, including increased visibility, enhanced engagement and improved SEO ratings.
If you have a social media account, ensure you display a sharing button for that account on your blog.
Add as many sharing buttons as you like, even for those social media platforms where you don’t have an account.
Test that the sharing buttons are working correctly at least once every few months.
Make the most of the other options available on the ‘Sharing options’ page of your blog, such as switching on/off the like button and whether or not you want a ‘Reblog’ button to show.

I want to open up the conversation and hear from you. What social media platforms do you find most effective for sharing your blog content? Have you noticed an increase in your blog traffic after adding sharing buttons? How much of a difference has it made? Have you experimented with the different button styles? Which one do you think looks best on your blog? If you could add one feature to the sharing buttons on your blog, what would it be and why?

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

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The featured image on this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes. Images, which were taken from screenshots of my blog, were created by me.

A photograph of a green tour bus from the 1930s with the words 'Agatha Christie Bus Tour To Greenway' on the side.

Bloggers/Authors: Are You Ready For A Writing Challenge?

Published on Sep 12, 2025Sep 12, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts

I’m excited to share that I have published a new post on Marsha Ingrao’s blog, Always Write, dedicated to the captivating art of flash fiction!

If you’re a writer looking to sharpen your skills or a reader eager to explore new narrative forms, this piece offers valuable tips to help you craft compelling stories in a brief format.

But that’s not all! To test your newfound knowledge, I invite you to take part in a creative flash fiction challenge: Write a complete flash fiction story in just 101 words based on the image I have used as the featured image on this post. The image also features in the post.

Whether you’re an experienced author or just starting out, this is an excellent opportunity to unleash your imagination. Jump in, write away, and let’s see what wonderful stories we can create together!

Check out the post on Marsha’s blog for all the details.

Click the image or link below to be taken straight to the post.

An image introducing the guest post about writing flash fiction. — Are you up for a writing challenge?

Story Chat Digest: “Mastering the Art of Flash Fiction” by Hugh W. Roberts

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them on the post on Marsha’s blog, as I am closing comments here to ensure all comments and questions are in one place where everyone can see them.

Have fun with the challenge. Happy writing.

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This New WordPress Feature Helps Promote The Blogs You Love

Published on Sep 1, 2025Sep 1, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts62 Comments

I recently began receiving emails from WordPress informing me that another blogger has recommended my blog.

Of course, there’s an easy way to recommend another blog simply by writing and publishing a post and linking to that blog, but this new way of recommending another blog was something I thought was much better.

After all, once you read a post recommending a blog, it isn’t long before that post gets pushed down your reader list, until it’s probably forgotten about. So, if you haven’t read the post or maybe thought you’d come back to it later, you probably won’t.

However, this new method of recommending a blog is better because the blogs you recommend appear on your Gravatar profile when using the WordPress Reader, which means that anyone checking your Gravatar will see a list of the blogs you recommend.

It’s easy to add the blogs you want to recommend. I’m using an Apple iMac desktop computer to demonstrate this. Here’s how to do it.

On the dashboard of your blog, click the ‘Reader‘ icon (represented by a pair of spectacles).

Click the ‘Reader’ icon.

On the Reader menu, open ‘Lists‘ and click on ‘Recommended Blogs.’

Click the Recommended Blogs link.

Click the ‘Edit‘ button and open the ‘Sites‘ tab. As you will see from the image below, I’ve already recommended some blogs.

Click the ‘Sites’ tab.

To remove a recommended blog, click on the ‘Remove‘ button.

To add a blog, start typing the name of the blog in the ‘Search or enter URL to follow‘ box, and a list of suggestions will appear.

Start typing to display a list of blogs.

Click the ‘Recommend‘ button to add a blog to your Recommended Blogs list. Note that if you are already following a blog, you’ll see ‘Subscribed‘ next to it.

The blog you recommended is now added to your Recommended Blogs list and will appear whenever anyone hovers their mouse over your Gravatar profile in the WordPress Reader. Click the ‘View All‘ link to see a list of all the blogs they recommend.

As you recommend blogs, they will appear on your Gravatar profile.

Whenever another blogger recommends your blog, you should receive a notification email from WordPress with the details of who has recommended your blog, provided you have not switched off notifications. However, I’ve not yet seen these notifications appear under the notification bell icon.

Based on my observations, after clicking on the Gravatars of many bloggers, few have recommended any blogs so far. Additionally, some bloggers haven’t included their blog details on their Gravatar, making it harder for others to find their blog. And remember that if you leave comments on other blogs, your Gravatar will appear next to your comment.

Have you seen this new feature on WordPress? Has anyone recommended your blog in this way? Will you start using the ‘Recommend Blog’ feature? Have you added your blog details to your Gravatar?

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

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An image depicting colourful individuals with vibrant comment boxes above them.

5 Reasons Why Every Blogger Should Have a Contact Page and How to Build One

Published on Aug 18, 2025Aug 18, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts33 Comments

What do you do to make it easy for your readers to contact you?

Most bloggers aim to connect with their audience. This is mainly achieved through the comments section of blog posts, but sometimes someone may wish to contact you privately, which may not be suitable for public view. For example, I receive messages asking for help with WordPress or requests to buy a signed copy of one of my books. Nobody wants to share their address, email, or contact number in the comments section.

A ‘Contact’ page is an important connection point between a blogger and their readers, offering a convenient way to get in touch privately. If you look at the menubar of my blog, you’ll see a ‘Contact Hugh‘ link. That’s where any visitor to my blog can contact me privately.

Here’s why you should prioritise having a Contact page on your blog and how to easily set one up.

Benefits of Having a Contact Page

1. Establishes Credibility

Having a dedicated Contact page gives your blog a welcome and friendly impression. It demonstrates that you’re open to communication and approachable, increasing your credibility with readers and new visitors.

2. Facilitates Communication

A Contact page offers a clear and straightforward way for visitors to get in touch with you. Whether they have questions, feedback, or collaboration ideas, this page acts as a direct link to you, preventing confusion about how to contact you.

3. Encourages Engagement

By encouraging readers to contact you, you’re promoting engagement with your audience. This can lead to meaningful discussions, valuable feedback, and even new ideas for content, further benefiting and enhancing your blog.

4. Supports Networking Opportunities

For the majority of bloggers, networking is essential. A Contact page makes it easy for other bloggers to reach out for collaborations, sponsorships, or guest posting opportunities, contributing to your blog’s growth and visibility.

5. Keeps Your Private Details Private

Having a contact form means you don’t need to share your personal details, like an email address, on your blog. After all, do you know everyone who visits your blog? Even if you provide an email address solely for your blog, advertising it will attract spam, spammers, and trolls.

Some bloggers might prefer not to engage with their audience, so a Contact page may not be essential. However, if you choose not to engage, ensure you turn comments off.

How to Install a Contact Page

Creating a Contact page is a simple process. Here’s how you can set one up on your blog. For this purpose, I’m using an Apple iMac desktop computer.

Go to the dashboard of your blog, click Pages and then Add Page.

An image highlighting Pages and Add Page on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — Click ‘Add Page.’

Title your page ‘Contact’ or ‘Get in Touch’ or choose a title you prefer.

Add a Contact template. WordPress offers several ‘Contact’ templates. To find them, click the ‘+‘ symbol in the top-left corner of the page, then select Patterns and Contact.

An image that highlights Patterns and Contact on the draft page of a Page on WordPress. — Click ‘Contact’ to find the WordPress contact templates.

Choose the template you want to use and make any edits to it. For the contact form on my blog, I used Template Number One.

Preview your contact form before publishing it. Once you’re happy, click the publish button so it appears on your blog.

Tip: Yes, you’ll likely receive spam or spam bots trying to contact you. To quickly sort out those messages, add a line to your Contact form giving instructions on what to do. I added the following details to my Contact form –

Please complete and submit the form below to contact me securely. To verify that you are not a bot or spam, please start your message with ‘Dear Hugh.’ I will then get back to you as quickly as possible.

Messages that do not start ‘Dear Hugh’ will be marked as spam.

And guess what, it works!

You can also find additional Contact forms under Jetpack – Forms (select the ‘About‘ tab) on the dashboard of your blog.

Next, to make it easy for readers to contact you, add your contact form to the menubar of your blog.

On the dashboard of your blog, go to Appearance – Menus.

Search for your Contact form by clicking View All, tick the box next to it, and click the ‘Add To Menu’ Button.

An image demonstrating how to add a page to a menu on a WordPress blog. — Add your Contact form to your blog’s menubar.

Click the Save Menu button at the bottom of the page.

To reposition the Contact form on the menubar, on the Menus page, click on it and drag it to the desired location. Remember to click the Save Menu button after any changes.

An image highlighting how to reposition an item on the menu bar of a WordPress blog. — Click and drag the contact form button to move it on the menu bar.

Check the menubar of your blog to ensure the Contact form is visible and in the correct place.

WordPress also offers Contact forms plugins.

Contact Form 7:
1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Go to Contact – Add New in the dashboard.
3. Customise your form fields as needed, then save.
4. Copy the shortcode provided and paste it into your Contact page.
5. Add the Contact form to your menubar.
WPForms:
1. Install and activate the plugin.
2. Create a new form using their drag-and-drop builder.
3. Save your form and copy the shortcode.
4. Paste the shortcode into your Contact page content.
5. Add the Contact form to your menubar.

How do I know when somebody has contacted me via my Contact form?

WordPress sends an email to you whenever anyone contacts you via the Contact form (except when they consider it as spam). Users will also see a notification under Jetpack – Forms on the dashboard of their blog.

Anything considered spam by WordPress goes straight to the spam folder. Spam is deleted automatically after 30 days, so there’s no need to worry about it.

Conclusion

Having a Contact page is essential for fostering communication and building relationships with your audience. By following these simple steps, you can easily set up a Contact page on your blog and start engaging with your visitors today!

Do you have a way that visitors to your blog can contact you directly? Any questions? Leave them in the comments section or contact me directly.

Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.

The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. AI checked spelling and grammar mistakes.

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