Category: Blogging Tips

The Amazing New WordPress Comments Box: What It Does

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts131 Comments

Have you noticed the new style comment box on WordPress?

In line with the Block editor, WordPress has rolled out a new cool comment box on most WordPress blogs. While I’m writing this post, I still see a few blogs with the old-style comments box, but I’m confident all WordPress blogs will soon display the block-style comment box.

The new style comments box appears on blog posts, but not when you add your comment via the comments box on the WordPress Reader.

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This new comments box can do more than just leave comments

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

Here is a breakdown of what users can do when leaving comments on blogs with the new block-style comment box.

What does it look like?

This is what the new style comment box looks like.

Image showing the new style block comment box on WordPress
WordPress Block Style Comments Box

It looks very simple, doesn’t it? And it is very easy to use. Your Gravatar image appears in the bottom left corner.

The comments box looks like this as soon you click in the box.

Image showing
Click inside the box to start typing your comment.

Notice the difference? A toolbar has opened along the top, and an ‘+‘ icon has appeared inside the comments box. Let’s examine what they do. I’ve numbered some icons in the following image.

Image highlighting the features of the toolbar on the block style comments box on WordPress
Features of the toolbar
  1. Block being used.
  2. Aline text
  3. Bold
  4. Italic
  5. Pingback link

1 – This is the type of block being used when commenting. It will always be the Paragraph block by default, but you can switch to the List or Quote block by clicking on it. If you change it to the List or Quote block, a new toolbar will appear.

2 – Use this icon to align text to the left, right or centre.

3 – Use this icon to make the text bold.

4 – Use this icon to make the text italic.

5 – Use this icon to create a pingback.

Most readers only use text when leaving comments and they will never feel the need to align it or make it bold. However, many bloggers want more.

You can now insert other blocks into the comments box by clicking the ‘+‘ icon. For example, you can now easily insert an image in your comment by clicking the ‘+‘ icon and choosing the Image block.

Image showing an image placed into the block-style comments box on WordPress.
Copy and paste the URL address of the image you want to add.

How cool is that? (not the photo of me, but the fact that I can add an image to the comments). This is especially good for participating in photography challenges without creating a blog post or when explaining something where including an image or screenshot helps.

I want to mention that you can create pingbacks in your comments. Pingbacks are powerful and can help boost visitors to your blog. We could already add pingbacks when using the Classic view on our blog’s dashboard but we can now finally do it using the Default view.

Image showing how to create a pingback in the comments box on WordPress
Create pingbacks in your comments.

Are you unsure how to create a pingback? My post, The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One, provides full details.

Before submitting your comment, remember to click the small settings cog next to your Gravatar photo to open a new menu. Why?

Image showing the new menu that opens when clicking the settings button next to a Gravatar profile in a Block-style comments box on WordPress
Click the settings cog next to your Gravatar picture for a new menu.

Not only will the menu that opens confirm if you are logged into WordPress, but you can also sign up to receive web and mobile notifications for posts on the blog you are leaving your comment on, get email notifications of new posts, and receive email notifications of any new comments left on the post (including a response to your comment from the blog host).

Press the ‘Comment‘ box to submit your comment.

Is this true?

I’ve heard that some bloggers are threatening to stop leaving comments or are thinking of leaving WordPress because of the introduction of the new block-style comment box.

Given that the bare minimum somebody has to do to leave a comment is to type their comment into the box, I find it hard to believe that people are threatening to stop leaving comments or leaving WordPress because of the introduction of this new comments box. If you are, please reconsider your decision.

The new block-style comments box is not hard to use; it’s just a little different!

Update

Users can now disable blocks in comments. Go to Settings – Discussions, and in the ‘Comments‘ section of the page, turn off ‘Enable blocks in comments.’ Remember to save the change.

WordPress’s new comments box style is a refreshing update that enhances the user experience. Its modern and intuitive design makes interacting with comments more enjoyable. If you have any questions about it, feel free to leave them in the comments section. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!

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WordPress: ‘Open In New Tab’ Box – Where Is It?

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts61 Comments

WordPress constantly changes; some things keep changing and return to where they were before. That’s why I’ve updated and am republishing this post from July 2023.

Light blue image with the words 'WordPress: "Open In New Tab' Box - Where Is It?' in white text.
This is where to find the ‘Open in new tab’ box on WordPress.

If, like me, when you create a pingback, you prefer links to open in a new window rather than in the same window you’re viewing (thus losing the page), it’s vital that you tick the ‘open in new tab‘ box when adding links or pingbacks to a blog post.

The ‘open in new tab‘ box used to be visible when creating a pingback but has reverted to being hidden again. I don’t know why, but I wanted to show you where to find it.

If you’re unsure what a pingback is or how to create one, my post, ‘The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One,’ has all the details.

  • Highlight the word(s) to which you want to add your pingback.
  • Click the pingback icon in the open toolbar, and add or search the URL address of the page, post or site you want to link to.
  • Click the ‘edit‘ button.
Image showing the pingback icon and edit button for a pingback on WordPress
After creating the pingback, click the edit button.
  • In the new window that opens, tick the ‘Open in new tab‘ box.
  • Click the ‘Save‘ button.
Image highlighting the 'open in new tab' box on WordPress
Tick the ‘open in new tab’ box.
  • When a reader clicks the pingback in the post, the link will now open in a new window (not on the same page they’re reading).
  • Want to test it? Click the following link – Meet Hugh. It should open in a new tab on your device.

Let’s hope that WordPress leaves the ‘open in new tab‘ box where it is.

If you have any inquiries about pingbacks or the ‘Open in new tab’ option, please feel free to ask in the comments section.

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The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts49 Comments

I came across some comments recently where somebody asked how to create a pingback to the post they were leaving their comment on. The blog host didn’t know. It got me thinking that I should do an updated post on what pingbacks are and how to create them.

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Pingbacks are a powerful blogging tool. Don’t miss out on not using them.

What are pingbacks?

A pingback is a type of notification that allows you to inform another blogger that you have linked to a post or article on their blog or website. This notification is typically automated and serves as a way to establish connections between different blogs or websites. Sometimes, pingbacks are also referred to as trackbacks.

If the other blogger has a pingback-enabled website or blog, then they can see a notification that you have linked to their article. They can then choose to allow your link to appear in the comments section of their blog post.

This may drive traffic to your blog when readers click on the pingback notification link.

Pingbacks work well on blog challenge posts such as Thursday Doors or Sunday Stills (to name but a few).

Today, I’m going to show you how to create a pingback.

Let’s get started.

In the screenshots below, I’ve numbered key points and am creating a pingback to my recent blog post, ‘The Power of Feedback: A Writer’s Brief Journey Through Editing and Story Chat.‘

Image highlighting keypoints in creating a pingback on a blog post
Keypoints on creating a pingback
  1. Highlight the word or words you’ve picked.
  2. Click the pingback link that pops up in the toolbar.
  3. In the URL box, enter the URL address of the blog post you’re linking to, or if it’s one of your own posts, search for the post.
  4. Choose the post you’re linking to.

Finally, and most importantly, tick the box next to the ‘open in new tab‘ box.

Image highlighting the 'Open in new tab' box
Tick the ‘Open in new tab’ box.

Ticking the ‘open in new tab’ option guarantees that when users click the pingback link, the linked post will open in a new tab or page. This feature effectively retains users on the current page, allowing them to easily return to your post to leave a comment or engage with the content.

Not selecting the “open in new tab” option could result in missed opportunities for comments and likes.

  • Your pingback has been created and will be highlighted in the post.

Tip – You can also highlight the pingback by making the text bold. To do this, highlight the text and click ‘B‘ (bold button in the toolbar).

  • Before publishing your post, preview it first and make sure the pingback works. Does it go to the right location? If not, delete the URL and insert the correct one.
  • Once you are happy that your pingback is working, publish the post.

Pingbacks should be exclusively directed toward blog posts and websites relevant to the subject of the post you are sharing or where you have been specifically invited to link.

Never create a pingback to a post that has no connection with the subject of your post.

Should I ask first before creating a pingback to another blogger’s post?

It’s always nice to ask first, but you’re good to go if the blogger has enabled pingbacks. And if you know the blogger well, there is no need to ask. But it’s best to ask if it’s your first time linking to one of their posts.

However, there’s no guarantee that your pingback requests will get the thumbs up. I receive pingback approval requests every day, and I won’t approve any that seem spammy or are completely unrelated to the post they’re trying to link to.

Are there any advantages of having pingbacks on your blog posts?

Yes. Here are a few advantages.

  • Creates traffic to your blog.
  • SEO-friendly.
  • Search engine optimizations (SEOs) such as Google and Bing rank blog posts that include pingbacks higher.
  • Bloggers may link back to one of your blog posts.
  • Great for promoting older blog posts you have published that some of your followers may not have read.

Caution—It is crucial to refrain from creating a pingback to a blog or website’s home page. This practice is discouraged because it fails to notify the blogger whose post you are referencing.

Do pingbacks attract spam?

Some experts recommend not allowing any pingbacks or trackbacks to a blog because they attract spam. However, by moderating all pingback notifications, you can prevent any spam pingbacks from appearing in the comments section of your blog posts.

Good news from WordPress about spam comments

After an update in 2023, the WordPress anti-spam software has dramatically strengthened its ability to intercept spam. Consequently, there has been a significant decrease in the volume of visible spam comments reaching blogs. Previously, hundreds of spam comments inundated my blog on a daily basis. However, following the update, I only encounter one or two weekly.

Where possible, try and include at least one pingback in every blog post you publish.

You can use a mixture of pingbacks to your posts and those of other bloggers.

Are there any problems with allowing pingbacks on your blog?

None that I am aware of.

An invitation to create a pingback

If you’ve never created a pingback before, try creating one for this post. I’ll be happy to let you know if it works and include it in the comments section.

If you encounter any problems creating a pingback, don’t hesitate to ask me for some help.

Summary: The Power of Pingbacks and How to Create Them

  • This guide explains pingbacks, how to create them, and the best practices to follow.
  • This guide covers everything from creating a pingback to the benefits, staying safe from spam comments, and recent anti-spam updates from WordPress.
  • This post also encourages readers to use pingbacks and shares my positive experience. It’s helpful for new and experienced bloggers, giving them the knowledge and confidence to use pingbacks effectively.
  • In the busy blogging world, pingbacks are important for connecting and getting more site visitors.
  • Pingbacks, sometimes also known as trackbacks, are useful tools for bloggers that let other bloggers know when you link to their posts.
  • It’s polite to ask first before creating a pingback to another blog unless you know the blogger well or have been invited to link to a post.
  • Always tick the ‘open in a new tab’ box so that readers do not lose the page they are reading.
  • Pingbacks do not attract spam.
  • WordPress anti-spam software now eliminates the majority of visible spam, saving you time in checking for comments that may have been marked as spam by mistake.

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

I actively utilise pingbacks as part of my content strategy. My experience with using them has been positive, as they help me foster connections with other blogs and websites and enhance engagement. If you have any questions about pingbacks, please leave them in the comments section below, and I’ll be happy to address them.

My thanks to Sylvain Richard for his recent blog post about pingbacks.

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Copyright @ 2024 hughsviewsandnews.com – All rights reserved.

Are You Getting ‘Anonymous’ Blog Comments? How To Stop Them.

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts96 Comments

Encouraging visitors to join the conversation on my blog posts and those of other bloggers is a must for me. Personally, if I can’t quickly leave a comment on a blog post, I’ll move on to the next one.

It’s one of the reasons why I use WordPress, as I’ve found it difficult to leave comments on other blogging platforms. What about you?

I firmly believe that we should prioritise making it effortless for blog visitors to leave comments. It’s crucial not to burden them with unnecessary obstacles when they want to engage with us. But that comes with the cost of receiving comments from anonymous readers. But is that a problem?

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Or should you make it easier for visitors to leave comments?

I’ve always received comments on my blog posts from visitors using ‘Anonymous’ or ‘Someone’ as their display names. But it has never bothered me because I can spot spam comments easily and guarantee that none will reach the comments section of my posts.

Here’s an anonymous comment I received recently.

Image showing what an 'anonymous' comment on WordPress
Do anonymous comments annoy you?

I wasn’t concerned when it appeared because it was left on one of my recent Wordless Wednesday posts about leftover chocolate, so I knew it was genuine.

Not knowing who the comment is from could pose a problem, but if it sounds genuine and has no uninvited or suspicious links, I’ll reply and approve the comment.

However, I’ll mark it as spam if it looks or sounds like a spam comment or contains any uninvited links. Oh! And I never approve comments that say ‘Nice Post.’ ‘Nice’ or ‘Great photo,’ regardless of who left them.

How do I make it easier for visitors to leave comments on my posts or prevent them from being anonymous?

In the blog settings of WordPress.Com blogs, there are settings which users can turn on or off to make it easier for visitors to leave comments or to prevent comments from being shown as anonymous.

  • To find these settings on your blog’s dashboard, go to Settings – Discussion and scroll down to the ‘Comments‘ section on the ‘Discussion Settings‘ page. I’m using WordPress on an Apple iMac desktop computer in these screenshots.
Image highlighting 'Settings' - 'Discussion' on a WordPress blog.
Click on Settings – Discussion
Image highlighting the 'Comments' section on the discussions settings page of a WordPress blog.
Scroll to the ‘Comments’ section.
  • If you want to make it easy for visitors to your blog to be able to leave comments, ensure you have the first two settings in the ‘Comments‘ section, ‘Comment author must fill out name and email‘ and ‘User must be registered and logged in to comment,’ switched off.
Image showing the settings to turn on or off depending how easy you want to make it for visitors to your blog to leave comments.
Switch on or off depending on how easy you want it to be for visitors to leave comments on your blog.
  • If you do not want comments on any posts showing as ‘Anonymous’, ensure those two settings are switched on. However, beware that turning these settings on will make it more difficult for some users to leave comments.
  • Turning these settings on means that users must either fill out their name and email address or be registered as a WordPress user and logged in to be able to leave a comment. Some users may not like giving this information to be able to comment.
  • Make sure you click the ‘Save Settings’ button if you make any changes.

And that’s it. Only you can choose whether to have these settings on or off. Go with what you feel most comfortable with.

Do you make it easy for visitors to your blog to comment, or do you prefer to only allow those willing to give their information to be able to leave comments? Is WordPress the best platform for engagement and for leaving comments? Let me know in the comments.

Is your blog as secure as it can be? Take this final step to make sure nobody can hack it. Take a look at my recent post for more details.

Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have

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Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts63 Comments

You wouldn’t leave your doors unlocked if you were the last one to leave the house, would you?

Would you give a stranger the password to your online banking account?

Would you share or give a stranger the password to your blog?

Protecting your blog is just as important as protecting your home and online bank accounts, yet many bloggers share personal details about themselves on their blogs and on social media, which can be a treasure trove for scammers. Be careful what information you share.

Before sharing any information, ask yourself, ‘Would I share this information with a complete stranger?’

Light blue image with the words 'Is Your Blog Safe? One Security Feature You Must Have' in white text.
Adding this feature will give your blog an extra layer of security.

Although we’re all encouraged to use a strong password to protect our blogs, did you know that many blogging platforms, including WordPress, offer users an extra layer of security when it comes to protecting their blogs?

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to enter a code or use another device in addition to your password. For example, you can use an app like Microsoft Authenticator or Google Authenticator to generate access codes for your blog.

WordPress offers users two-factor authentication security. Follow the guide below to set it up for your WordPress blog. For this example, I’m using an Apple iMac desktop computer.

How to set up two-step authentication for your WordPress blog.

  • In the top right of your blog, click on your profile picture/avatar.
  • Click on ‘Security‘ in the menu on the page’s left side.
Image highlighting the 'Security' tab on a WordPress blog.
Click on the ‘Security’ tab.
  • Select the ‘Two-step Authentication‘ option.
Image highlight the Two-Step Authentication tab on a WordPress blog.
Select Two-Step Authentication
  • Select which method you would like to receive the two-step passcode generated by WordPress, and click the ‘Get Started‘ button.
Image highlighting the 'Get Started' button when setting up Two-Step Authentication on WordPress.
Click the ‘Get Started’ button.
  • Follow the onscreen instructions depending on your selected method to receive the WordPress two-step authentication passcode.
  • Once enabled, logging into WordPress.com will require you to enter a unique passcode generated by an app on your mobile device or sent via text after adding your username and password.
  • You will receive an email from WordPress confirming that two-step authentication has been enabled.
Image showing an email confirmation from WordPress confirming that two-step authentication has been set up.
You’ll get an email from WordPress confirming that two-step authentication has been set up for your blog.
  • That’s it! Access to your blog is now protected by an extra layer of security.

I’d recommend adding or checking that the recovery email address and recovery SMS number for your WordPress blog/account are also correct when switching on two-step authentication.

Are you making the most of Two-Step Authentication to safeguard your blog? Need guidance on setting it up? Share your best practices for securing your blog in the comments below.

Did you miss my post giving details of what plans I have for my blog in 2024? Check out my post, ‘2024: Exciting And Positive Things Happening On Hugh’s Views And News‘, for complete details.

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Exploring Multiple Avenues: How to Contact WordPress for Support: 6 Best Ways

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts44 Comments

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or a novice blogger, there might come a time when you need assistance or have questions about your WordPress site.

Have you ever had to contact WordPress? What’s your preferred method and experience of contacting them?

Light blue image with the words 'Exploring Multiple Avenues: How to Contact WordPress for Support: 6 Best Ways' in white text.
What’s your preferred method to contact WordPress?

During the ten years I’ve been blogging, I’ve contacted WordPress many times for support with my blog. I’ve always received good support from them.

From reporting bugs to getting answers to my questions and getting deals on renewing my WordPress plan, they’ve always been helpful and friendly.

But does the level of support vary depending on which WordPress plan you have?

Fortunately, WordPress offers various channels for users to seek help and find solutions to their queries. In this blog post, we’ll explore how you can contact WordPress for support.

WordPress Support Forums

The forums cover various topics, from general troubleshooting to specific plugins or theme-related queries.

This is my preferred way of contacting WordPress as their staff (Happiness Engineers) get involved in your query, as do other blogging community members.

Users worldwide share their knowledge and assist each other in the forums. You can post your questions, describe your issues, and receive helpful responses from experienced WordPress users, moderators, and WordPress staff.

I’ve helped bloggers out with their queries and questions on the forums.

Next time you have a question or a problem with your blog, give the Forums a go. I’ve had great success with them. And who knows? It may be me who responds to your question or query.

Click the following link to go to the WordPress.Com Forums.

Official WordPress How-To Documentation

Before reaching out for help, the official WordPress how-to documentation is worth checking out.

These comprehensive resources provide detailed information about WordPress features, settings, and troubleshooting tips.

Many common issues have step-by-step solutions outlined in these guides, making it an excellent self-help option.

Click the following link to go to the Official WordPress How-To Documents.

WordPress Support via Email

For more personalised assistance, you can contact WordPress support via email. The official WordPress support email address can only be accessed by completing a form – Contact Us.

When reaching out through email, be sure to provide detailed information about your issue, including the name of your blog, which WordPress plan you are on, which WordPress theme you use, which device you are using, and details of the device’s operating system.

The more details you provide, the easier it is for the support team to understand and address your problem.

Social Media Channels

WordPress is active on various social media platforms, including X and Facebook.

You can follow official WordPress accounts and use these platforms to ask questions or seek assistance. Community members and WordPress developers often actively monitor these channels and may respond to your queries.

I’ve spoken with WordPress staff on X and have found them professional, helpful and friendly. After talking to them on X, I even got a discount code for renewing my WordPress plan.

WordPress on X.

WordPress on Facebook.

Live Chat Support

This can be a quick way to get real-time assistance.

If you’re lucky enough to have a WordPress plan that offers Live Chat, it’s an instant way of getting help from a staff member at WordPress, although I have found that Live Chat isn’t always available.

Although I’ve always had much success with Live Chat, it can sometimes be time-consuming.

As well as having details of your blogging problem or question, give details of which device and operating system you are using. Screenshots of errors or bugs are also helpful and help resolve issues quickly.

To find out if your WordPress plan has Live Chat, click the question mark icon in the top right of your screen and click the ‘Still need help‘ button, and you’ll see a list of options available to you.

Image showing where to access Live Chat on WordPress
Live chat is great for getting an instant response from WordPress.

Users with a free or starter WordPress plan or those on a monthly subscription cannot access Live Chat.

Hire a WordPress Developer

Hiring a WordPress developer might be the best solution for complex issues or customisation requirements. However, this could be an expensive option.

If you do go down the route of this option, I’d recommend you ask around first to find out if anybody can recommend a computer savvy who knows their way around the WordPress platform. Asking the blogging community is always a good option.

If you want to hire a member of the WordPress staff to sort out problems with your blog, contact them via email at support@wordpress.org.

WordPress isn’t always at fault, but sometimes they are.

You only have to look at the WordPress Forums to see that some problems are caused by users rather than WordPress. They’re usually not following the correct procedures or do not understand how something works.

I recently saw a user blame WordPress because they could not add images to their posts. It turned out that they’d never reduced the size of the images they were downloading into their media library; hence, they’d run out of media space.

Some bloggers also give out incorrect information to other bloggers. I had to step in when one blogger said everyone had to be logged into WordPress to leave comments on any WordPress blog. That is not true, and I corrected them explaining that all bloggers can choose via their blog settings whether or not readers had to be logged into WordPress to be able to leave a comment.

So, WordPress are not always at fault.

Of course, the WordPress platform will have bugs like any online site and platform, but WordPress will only know about them if you report them. Don’t sit back and hope that somebody else will do the job.

Sometimes, problems can be related to just one blog.

I recently had a problem with my blog, which only seemed to be affecting me. I stopped getting email notifications of new comments being left on my blog posts.

From the moment I reported the problem, the WordPress staff I spoke with on the Forums were not only accommodating and kept me updated, but they finally got to the bottom of what was causing the problem and fixed it.

My blogging friend Colleen Chesebro also reported problems around some Full Site Editoring themes. WordPress has since withdrawn some of the themes without any notice to users. They’d launched these themes too soon without proper testing, so sometimes, WordPress can be at fault.

However, I hear that current changes to the FSE Themes make them easier to use and install. I think the very least WordPress could have done was give notice first to those using the FSE themes they were going to withdraw.

For now, I’m sticking with my Classic theme, which WordPress still supports (along with over 50 other Classic themes).

Finally, whenever contacting WordPress, please be friendly. Treat them how you expect them to treat you. Being angry, impatient or nasty does nobody any good.

Conclusion:

WordPress has built a robust and supportive community that caters to users of all skill levels. Whether you prefer community-driven forums, official documentation, or personalised support via email, various channels are available to help you navigate any WordPress-related challenges.

By exploring these options, you can ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience as you build and manage your WordPress blog.

What’s your experience with reporting problems to WordPress? What methods do you use to report problems? Are you currently experiencing any issues with WordPress? If so, what are they and have you reported them to WordPress? Share your experiences in the comments section.

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Why I’m Delighted WordPress Has Fixed This Annoying Bug

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts41 Comments

In my recent blog post, Experiencing Problems With Leaving Comments On WordPress? This Is What I Found. Read This Post Now, I shared details of two problems I was experiencing connected to comments on WordPress.

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If you don’t report problems to WordPress, how will they know about issues with their platform?

I am thrilled to inform you that the issue I reported regarding the ‘Email me new comments‘ checkbox when leaving a comment has been successfully resolved by WordPress.

Image highlighting the 'Email me new comments' button on WordPress
Click the ‘Email me new comment’ button to get an email notification of when somebody has replied to a comment you left them.

So here’s what happened: When you checked the ‘Email me new comments‘ box, things went a bit haywire. You not only started getting email notifications for comments on that specific post, but you also got bombarded with notifications for comments on other posts on that blog, even if you hadn’t left a comment or picked the ‘Email me new comments‘ option. Your inbox was basically drowning in a sea of WordPress emails. Crazy, right?

Now, when you select the ‘Email me new comments‘ option, rest assured that you will only receive email notifications for comments posted on the exact same post where you have left a comment.

Why do I tick the ‘Email me new comments’ box?

Not only do I get informed via email when I get a reply to a comment I’ve left, but reading other blog posts’ comments always helps me with ideas for new posts. Sometimes, comments can be as interesting as the post they’ve been left on.

I can also definitely lend a helping hand when bloggers reach out for assistance in their comments. Moreover, I take great pleasure in rectifying any misinformation that comes my way. Just the other day, I came across a comment where a blogger erroneously mentioned that having a WordPress account is a prerequisite for leaving comments. Allow me to assure you that this information is not accurate. Indeed, anyone can participate in the discussion without the need for a WordPress account.

One problem remains

The problem I reported concerning no longer getting email notifications when somebody leaves a comment on any of my posts has still not been fixed. However, WordPress has assured me that they’re still working on fixing it.

I’d be interested in knowing if anybody else is experiencing problems with not getting email notifications when comments are left on their posts. Please let me know in the comments section.

Are you experiencing any problems with leaving or receiving comments on blog posts? What are they, and have you reported them to WordPress?

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Have You Discovered These Two New Excellent WordPress Features? And Where Have Reusable Blocks Gone?

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts51 Comments

You may already be acquainted with these exciting new features I’ve recently uncovered on WordPress. However, I wanted to discuss them in case some of you are still unaware of their existence or unsure about how they function. Let’s delve into these remarkable additions and explore their potential!

Light blue image with the words 'Have You Discovered These Two New Excellent WordPress Features? Where Have Reusable Blocks Gone?' in white text.
New features you may like to try out on WordPress.

Send Test email.

I absolutely love this new feature! It’s incredibly handy because not only do I get to double-check my email notifications for my new blog posts before hitting the publish button, but it also serves as a safety net to ensure that my blog post is flawless and error-free. This is a game-changer for me!

Note – this feature may not be available to WordPress free plan users.

Before scheduling or publishing a new blog post, click the ‘Send test email‘ button, and WordPress will send you an email showing the excerpt and a link to the post.

Where can I find the ‘Send test email’ button?

Under the ‘Publish‘ settings of the draft of your post. Ensure you open the ‘Newsletter: Everyone‘ section to see it.

Here’s a screenshot.

Image highlighting the Send Test Email' button on WordPress
Send test emails for all your WordPress new post notifications.

Not only can you check that the excerpt of your blog post is correct, but you can also click the link within the email to open the post and verify that everything is as it should be.

So, no more –

  • Missing images
  • Uncentred captions
  • Upsidedown images
  • Misplaced images
  • Images and text overlapping
  • Missing blog post titles
  • Missing headings
  • Missing words
  • Spelling mistakes
  • Forgetting to close comments
  • Broken videos or YouTube links
  • Broken links/pingbacks

Of course, spelling and grammar mistakes may still appear, but at least you now have another way of checking and editing a post before it’s published.

A new way to showcase previous blog posts.

Most bloggers like to showcase previous blog posts so those who missed them the first time can catch up.

There are various ways to promote older blog posts on newly published posts. This is a new blog post template that WordPress has added to ‘Patterns‘ to help promote previous posts. In fact, WordPress has added lots of new ‘Blog Post’ templates. Here’s one I selected.

Where can I find Blog Post templates?

  • On a draft post, click the ‘+‘ symbol to add a new block and select ‘Patterns.’
  • On the menu that opens, click on ‘Blog Posts‘ and select from the many templates on offer.
Image highlighting where to find Blog Posts Templates on WordPress
Select a ‘blog posts’ template from the many on offer.

You can also select the ‘Blog Posts’ block for the same job.

Each template has many settings you can play around with. For example, I set the template I displayed above to two rather than three columns (displays as one column when viewing on a mobile phone). You can also change the background colour and text colour of the template.

On the template I used, up to six posts can be displayed, with new blog posts added as you publish them.

Unfortunately, I could not find a way of choosing which blog posts I wanted to feature in the template I chose, but some of the templates allow you to do this.

The one drawback I have noticed about my chosen template is the inability to set links to open in a new tab. As a result, users clicking on any of the links will lose their current page. To address this issue, I highly recommend including the ‘Blog Post Template‘ at the end of each post. This way, readers can easily navigate to related content without losing their place on the page.

Where did all my reusable blocks go?

Synced patterns have replaced Reusable blocks, offering a unified creation experience for new pattern functionality on WordPress. Any reusable blocks you’ve created for your blog can now be found under ‘Patterns.’

Go to ‘Patterns’ – ‘My Patterns‘ for a list.

Image highlighting where to manage reusable blocks on WordPress
Reusable blocks can now be found under ‘Pattern.’

Not sure what a reusable block is? My post, ‘What Is A Reusable Block On WordPress? How To Create One And Save Yourself Lots Of Time,’ gives full details.

How to manage reusable blocks.

  • Ensure you view your blog’s dashboard in ‘Classic‘ view. When writing this post, it won’t work when viewing in ‘Default‘ view (WordPress are aware of the problem).
  • On the draft page of a post, click the three dots (options button) in the top right-hand corner of the page.
  • Click ‘Manage Patterns‘ in the new menu that opens.
Image highlighting how to manage reusable blocks on WordPress.
Click ‘Manage Patterns’ to manage reusable blocks.
  • A page will open that lists all your reusable blocks. This is where you can edit or delete them.
Image showing a list of reusable blocks (now Patterns) on WordPress
A list of reusable blocks

IMPORTANT NOTICE – Please exercise caution when deleting a reusable block that has been previously used in your posts. Deleting a reusable block will result in its disappearance from all associated posts, and a notification will be displayed indicating that the block is no longer available. It is crucial to be mindful of this consequence to avoid any unintended disruptions to your content.

Have you explored any valuable new features on WordPress, or are you already utilising the ones I’ve mentioned? Are reusable blocks an essential part of your workflow? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section, and don’t hesitate to ask any questions.

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Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Please Read This Post. Let’s Keep Blogging Fun

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts100 Comments

It’s happening again. Bloggers are saying that blogging is stressful or makes them feel guilty.

Blogging is becoming a chore.

They don’t have time to read and comment on all the blog posts of all the blogs they follow.

They’re constantly apologising for not reading, commenting or publishing new blog posts.

They don’t have time to keep up with a blogging schedule they set themselves.

They feel obliged to read and comment on everything because those bloggers read and comment on their blog posts.

Let’s get something straight about blogging. Nobody expects you to read and comment on all their blog posts.

Image with a light blue background with the words 'Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Please Read This Post. Let's Keep Blogging Fun' in white text.
Do you suffer from blogging stress or guilt? Read this post.

Just because Susan and Jenny read and comment on all of each other’s blog posts doesn’t mean you have you. And believe me when I say that Jenny and Susan won’t have always read each other’s blog posts. They may have left comments, but those comments don’t prove they read the post.

Nobody cares if you don’t read and comment on all their posts.

Nobody says it’s your obligation to read and comment on all their posts because they read and comment on all your posts.

Nobody? Well, not quite. The only person who may feel obliged or think they must read and comment on all the posts of the blogs they follow is you.

One of the biggest pitfalls of blogging is feeling obligated.

Once again, I’ve been reading blog posts, comments, and social media posts where people ask for advice because blogging has got to the stage of stressing them out and/or making them feel guilty.

They seem to feel that not reading and commenting on every post is some kind of a blogging crime and will land them in blogging jail.

I’ve written before about the stress and guilt blogging can bring (if you allow it) and know exactly how these bloggers are feeling, having been through the whole blogging ‘feeling guilty’ trip myself.

So, allow me to explain why you never need to feel stressed or guilty about blogging or never need to apologise for not reading, commenting or publishing blog posts.

Why did you start your blog?

One of the reasons why I signed up for WordPress was because I thought blogging would be fun.

One year in, I became very stressed and guilty because I couldn’t keep up with reading all the new blog posts published by the bloggers I was following.

I was following way too many blogs, many of which didn’t interest me anyway.

Some days, I found myself doing little else but reading and leaving non-engaging, spammy comments on blog posts. You know the types of comments. Things like ‘Great post,’ ‘I enjoyed this’, or one-worded comments that meant nothing.

Some of the bloggers I was following were publishing more than one post daily, and I soon found myself apologising to people for not reading their posts or not being on WordPress 24 hours a day!

Then it struck me that I was not doing the main thing I’d come here to do – write!

Although I possess a few superpowers, I’m afraid that one of them is not being able to read every new blog post from bloggers I follow.

I began to see this as a problem. Blogging was becoming a monster, and I was doing everything possible to make me want to fight it.

Then, one morning, I woke up, switched on my computer and got that horrible feeling I would get when I didn’t want to go to school or go to work.

I soon realised that I had two choices about blogging. Either I gave it up, or I had to change the blogger I had become.

It didn’t take me long to make my choice. After all, I’d created my blog to write and share my thoughts with anybody who stopped by and wanted to listen to what I had to say.

I decreased my reading time and began to write more.

I stopped following every single blogger who followed my blog. If they didn’t have an ‘about me‘ page so I could find out more about who they were, or they blogged about subjects that did not interest me, then I did not follow back.

If bloggers kept sending me messages begging me to follow their blog, I ignored them.

I stopped feeling guilty for not following back.

As time passed, I began to unfollow bloggers whose blog content I didn’t find interesting anymore.

I stopped reading blog posts that did not interest me, regardless of who had written and published them.

I unfollowed some bloggers who continued to fail to respond to questions or acknowledge comments other bloggers and I were leaving on posts.

I didn’t feel guilty about this because it freed up time for me to write, read, and comment on blog posts that interested me.

If you find yourself in a situation where blogging makes you feel guilty and/or stresses you out, then you need to face the questions I was asking myself.

I’m afraid there’s no magic answer.

What worked for me may not work for you, but whatever you do, ensure you do all you can to make blogging fun again.

Isn’t that the reason why you came here in the first place?

Take control of your blog and stop feeling guilty about not reading and commenting on every blog post or for unfollowing blogs that you no longer have any interest in.

Sure, you may lose some followers along the way (don’t we all?), but it’s not going to finish you off as a blogger.

In fact, they probably didn’t read your blog posts anyway and will have left short, non-engaging comments just to prove they visited, so it’s no big deal (unless your only interest is how many followers you have).

If, like me, you decide to stay (and I hope you do), your blogging passion will return.

Remember – Blogging is a marathon, not a sprint!

Have you ever found yourself feeling guilty or stressed out because of blogging? Are you somebody who keeps apologising because you’ve been unable to spend as much time as you like reading and commenting on posts? How did you get over feeling guilty or stressed out by blogging? Leave me a comment and join the conversation.

Photo showing Hugh's desk with a computer screen showing Hugh's home page of his blog.
Blogging should always be about enjoyment and fun.

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What Do You Feel About Blog Commenting? This Is What Two Bloggers Think

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts
Light blue image with the words 'What Do You Feel About Blog Commenting? This Is What Two Bloggers Think' in white text
Are you leaving the right comments?

Comments play a vital role in fostering vibrant discussions within the blogosphere. They are the lifeblood of meaningful engagement, adding depth and diversity of perspectives to any topic.

But recently, commenting on blogs seems to be going in the wrong direction. 

My recent blog post, ‘What Kind Of Comments Are The Best To Leave On Blog Posts?‘ got many of you discussing various types of comments, but more importantly, the non-engaging comments that sadly seem to have become more popular than comments that spark valuable engagement, discussions and conversations.

If you haven’t read the post, please do and add your voice to the various debates. 

Today, I have the pleasure of presenting two captivating blog posts penned by talented bloggers about the subject of comments.

These insightful pieces delve into the diverse range of comments they receive on their blogs, offering a glimpse into their personal perspectives and emotional experiences.

The first is from blogger and writer Brenda, who blogs at Curiosities, Castles and Coffee Shops. Click the following link to read Brenda’s post and join the discussions her post has sparked.

Introductions over Coffee #11

The second post is from blogger and author Erika, who blogs at Share Your Light. Click the following link to read Erika’s post.

JUST A THOUGHT… – HAS IT CHANGED?

I urge those of you who enjoy engagement, discussions and conversations on blog posts to read both posts and add your thoughts to the discussions that Brenda and Erika have ignited on their posts.

I’m closing comments off here so that comments can be left on the posts I’m promoting today.

A big thank you to Brenda and Erika for taking the courage to open up about leaving comments – a subject many bloggers shy away from.

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