The past three months have been busy outside the world of blogging, so much so that I didn’t get the chance to write and publish monthly round-up posts for September or October.
Did I feel bad? Did I apologise? No. Sometimes life gets in the way of schedules, and my blogging routine was thrown off course, but it happens to everyone, and nobody needs to apologise. From what I saw, my posts from September, October and November continued to receive engagement, and for me, it’s all about interacting with other bloggers, writers, and readers.
Better late than never. Without further ado, here is the monthly round-up for the past three months on Hugh’s Views and News.
WordPress has introduced a new blog recommendation feature that displays recommended blogs on your Gravatar profile, improving visibility. My post details how to add the blogs you love the most.
Here’s a fresh writing challenge that everyone is encouraged to try. Can you write a story using only 101 words (no more, no less) based on a featured image?
How easy do you make it for visitors to share your blog posts and boost the visibility of your blog? Take action: These nine options are easy to find and activate.
This post outlines various scams affecting bloggers, including voicemail scams and email phishing claims that appear to come from WordPress. Don’t become a victim of a scam or fined for downloading copyrighted material.
Something strange happened this month. For the first time since I’ve been blogging, one of my blog posts received more engagement on social media (Mastodon) than on the actual post. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it, but could it be that claims of real engagement in the world of blogging are on the decline?
However, August turned out to be a bumper month for me. Although I only published three blog posts, four if you include this one, my stats soared. August 2025 was the highest month for views of any August since I started blogging in 2014. And to top it all off, engagement remained high.
How was your August blogging-wise?
Here’s your opportunity to catch up on my three blog posts from August 2025.
Did you know that keeping old, outdated blog posts can damage your blog? What do you do with your old blog posts? Join the discussion.
I’ve always believed that the summer months are quieter in the blogging world because many of us are off doing better things and making the most of the weather, provided it’s not too hot and humid. Yet, I have been proved wrong this summer, with my stats for June being significantly higher compared to June 2024, and they remained much the same for July. But how are your stats doing for the year so far?
Including this post, I’ve published 31 posts so far this year, which is significantly fewer than I’ve ever done, except for 2014, my first year of blogging. My blogging tips posts remain popular, although I’m pleased that both my flash fiction posts received much more engagement than previous flash fiction posts.
When was the last time you backed up your blog? Don’t need to back it up? Think again. I’d recommend reading the last post on the following list.
Here’s your opportunity to catch up on my four blog posts from July 2025.
Bill faces a crucial decision at a crossroads, ultimately choosing a hidden path that leads to complicated consequences for him and his wife.
Would you know what to do if your blog vanished without explanation? My post describes how you can prevent the nightmare of losing all your blog’s content.
I’ve always believed that engaging with comments is at the core of what makes blogging so vibrant and interactive.
While I won’t reiterate what has been said about bloggers who choose not to respond to comments, I was taken aback to learn that some bloggers are opting to turn off comments entirely. Some claim that it’s the future of blogging, where people no longer want to engage, mainly because they don’t have the time.
Wait a minute. A silent blog? No comments? No space for discussion or interaction with fellow bloggers and readers? Will these blogs be relegated to ‘library’ status – a place for reading but not engaging?
Is it possible that some of those who neglect to respond to comments are also the ones shutting down comments altogether?
What drives the decision to turn off comments?
The leading reason appears to be time constraints. Many bloggers argue that responding to comments diverts precious time away from creating new content. This perspective honestly frustrates me.
If your content generates a lot of comments, managing responses can indeed feel overwhelming. While it’s true that time spent responding might seem more effectively allocated to writing new posts, with proper time management, it doesn’t have to be a significant issue.
Is there a limit to how many comments are too many?
In my 11 years of blogging, I’ve managed and replied to over 25,000 comments. Whether that’s excessive is debatable, but as a blogger, I continuously seek more engagement. I always feel sad for those blogs that generate little to no comments from readers. What are they doing wrong?
At times, responding to comments might take up an entire morning, time I could dedicate to crafting additional blog posts or short stories. Nevertheless, I’ve always believed that if someone takes the time to read my work and leave a comment, it’s only courteous to return the favour with a response.
“Treat every visitor to your blog, just as you would a guest in your home.”
This advice stuck with me early in my blogging journey, given by a blogger with an awe-inspiring follower count. She made it a point to respond to each comment (except comments from spammers or trolls), a lesson that remains ingrained in my approach.
A priority every morning when I log into my blog is to respond to comments. Not only does this affirm that my writing is resonating with readers, but it also establishes a friendly atmosphere, showing visitors and commenters that their contributions are valued.
Are all comments created equal?
Absolutely not. Comments vary widely. Some reflect that the commenter has read the entire post, generating fresh ideas for future content. Others, however, leave you wondering if they merely clicked the ‘like’ button without engaging deeply with your work. Some find it difficult not to leave a comment, regardless of what it is. Perish the thought that they may upset a blogger by not leaving a comment every time.
I acknowledge these lighter comments by liking them. At the very least, it signifies that I’ve read their input. However, I’ve grown tired of the short, non-engaging comments from the same bloggers all the time, especially those who obviously have not read the posts and who see my blog as a quick way to get some free marketing for their own blog.
Do I have a meaningful quote about comments?
Indeed, I do! This quote has resonated with many over the years:
“Not addressing comments left on your blog is akin to inviting someone over for coffee and ignoring their presence.”
The broader impact of comments.
Comments can spark rich debates among readers. It’s always enlightening to see two or more bloggers engage in discussions about the subject I’ve tackled in my post. I regard this as a ‘healthy debate.’ A blogger once told me that encouraging dialogue through comments showcases your engagement with the audience, even if not every comment is directly addressed to you.
But let’s revisit the question posed in the title: Why should bloggers eliminate comments from their blogs? I understand why some might temporarily disable comments (e.g. when they’re taking a blogging break), but turning them off completely seems contrary to the essence of blogging.
After all, don’t comments facilitate communication between the reader and the author? Isn’t that what most bloggers aspire to do—to connect with their audience?
Are you thinking about turning off comments on your blog? Are you somebody who can’t resist leaving a comment on every single post you check out, or do you just never bother to comment at all? Jump into the chat!
The featured image in this blog post is taken from Pixabay. Spelling and grammar mistakes were checked with the help of AI.
I’m getting tough with non-engaging comments. Any non-engaging comments, such as ‘Nice post’, are marked as spam.
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Have you ever found yourself lost in the rabbit hole of themes while setting up your WordPress blog? Are you an existing blogger who needs to change an outdated, unsupported theme? Many bloggers embark on this journey—one filled with excitement, anxiety, and the quest for the perfect layout.
As I look back on my blogging evolution, I can’t help but recall the days of choosing that first simple theme, a decision that would shape my entire online presence. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of an adventure that would change with every new theme and update!
How did it all begin?
The first theme I chose was straightforward. It featured a space to add a profile picture and little else. It targeted first-time bloggers who sought a simple layout and a quick start. It got me off to a great start.
As the years progressed, I became more confident in changing the theme of my blog. I wanted a side widget bar to add information, such as a follow button, links to my social media accounts, and a box with links to previous posts.
That first theme change took me a whole weekend to complete. It wasn’t particularly complicated, but it required much work to ensure everything was as I wanted. After all, my followers had increased, and more people were visiting my blog, and I didn’t want anyone to think I was stuck in 2014 or going backwards in the blogging world.
Other theme changes occurred; each time, I found it easier and took less time to change themes. Then it came to a grinding halt.
Full-Site editing themes
Fast-forward a few years, and I considered changing my blog’s theme from the Classic theme I had been using to a new Full-Site-Editing (Block) theme. However, it seemed too complicated, and I was reading posts from other bloggers detailing the difficult transition they had gone through and a list of problems they faced. It reminded me of stories I’d read when some bloggers switched from WordPress.com to self-hosting their blogs.
Today, I’m still using a supported WordPress Classic theme (Toujours), and even though I have thought long and hard about switching to a Block theme, I haven’t jumped ship.
Future themes are here, but there’s a catch!
Last week, WordPress announced that anyone using WordPress could build a blog theme using AI for free. All you have to do is give AI some information about the type of layout you are looking for, and it’ll build the theme and do all the work for you.
Not only was I excited by this news, but it got me thinking about all those bloggers experiencing problems with their blogs because the theme they use is outdated and no longer supported by WordPress. These bloggers could let AI build a theme for their blog and eliminate all the problems they’re experiencing once and for all.
But what about those who won’t use AI? Would they rather continue using outdated, unsupported themes than allow AI to help them?
Using an outdated, unsupported theme can lead to several issues. Here are a few.
1. Security vulnerabilities: Without updates, the theme may become prone to security risks that could compromise your blog. 2. Compatibility issues: As plugins and WordPress itself update, an outdated theme may not function correctly with newer versions, causing layout glitches, functional problems such as not being able to leave comments and issues with WordPress believing you are not logged in. 3. Lack of support: You won’t have access to official support for troubleshooting any issues or queries that arise with the theme. WordPress will advise you to change to a supported theme. 4. Performance issues: Unsupported themes may not be optimised for speed and performance, leading to slower load times. 5. Missed features: Regular updates often include new features and improvements; sticking with an unsupported theme means missing out on these enhancements, which could benefit your blog’s features and user experience.
We’re not quite there yet!
Unfortunately, after a few messages exchanged between a member of WordPress staff and me, I discovered that this new service of AI creating a theme for your blog is only available to those who want to start afresh with a brand new blog. The AI software can not change themes for an existing blog. However, WordPress is working on this, and it will become available sometime in the future.
Would you allow AI to help you change the theme of your blog?
Given that I’m not confident about changing my blog’s theme from my current theme to a full-site-editing theme, I’m looking forward to AI doing the work for me. I just hope it’s something I’ll be able to do sooner rather than later.
Recommended reading about AI in blogging from other bloggers.
This post from Debbie at Deb’s World, “Reinventing Blogging: A Look into the Future,” dives into the controversial realm of AI in blogging, and trust me, it’s a must-read that has ignited plenty of debate. Are you ready to jump into the fray and add your voice to the discussion?
Would you use and trust AI to help change your blog’s theme? Are you still using an outdated, unsupported theme and experiencing problems? Are you someone who will never use AI, even if it means the problems you’re experiencing with your blog will continue? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s chat!
In today’s digital landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a progressively popular tool across various domains, including blogging.
WordPress integrated AI into its platform a few years ago, joining numerous other sites that now offer AI as an option.
I have witnessed many bloggers who are afraid of what AI can do, but I have also seen many bloggers embrace AI and utilise it for the benefits it can offer.
However, like any tool, there are pros and cons to consider.
What are your thoughts about using AI to blog?
This post examines the advantages and disadvantages of integrating AI into your blogging process.
Pros of Using AI in Blogging
1. Improved Efficiency
AI tools can streamline the writing process. From generating topic ideas to creating content drafts, AI can save bloggers considerable time, allowing them to focus on refining their unique voice and style.
This may prove beneficial to bloggers who publish daily, but those bloggers who publish less often may not see any benefit.
2. Enhanced Creativity
AI can assist in brainstorming and generating creative content ideas. With access to vast databases and algorithms that identify trends, AI can offer fresh perspectives and innovative suggestions.
However, some consider this to be plagiarism, a term that specifically refers to taking another person’s work—words, ideas, and so forth—and presenting it as one’s own without proper attribution.
Did you know that WordPress users can choose to stop their blog’s content from being shared with a WordPress-licensed network of content and research partners, including those that train AI models? To achieve this, navigate to your blog’s dashboard, select Settings—Reading, and tick the box next to ‘Prevent third-party sharing...’.
Tick this box to stop AI from using your blog content.
3. SEO Optimization
Numerous AI-based tools can analyse keywords and optimise content for search engines. They offer insights into the types of content that rank well, assisting bloggers in enhancing their visibility and reach.
I utilise AI to generate titles for blog posts when I struggle to think of a captivating title that will entice readers to read and engage further. Consequently, I have observed a significant increase in engagement and visitors to my blog.
4. Data-Driven Decisions
AI can analyse reader behaviour and feedback to inform content strategy. By understanding what resonates with the audience, bloggers can create more targeted and engaging content.
However, your WordPress statistics can also provide this information by analysing the stats of posts that receive higher engagement. Typically, you’ll observe a correlation between those posts that engage readers more and those that attract less engagement.
5. Consistency
AI can assist in maintaining a consistent posting schedule by automating aspects of the content creation process. This guarantees that the blog stays active and engaging for readers.
It is widely known that blogs which publish on a schedule tend to retain readers; however, it is unwise to publish content merely for the sake of it. There is nothing wrong with occasionally missing the publication of a blog post or taking a break from blogging. Nevertheless, if you choose to take the latter route, ensure that you inform your readers.
Cons of Using AI in Blogging
1. Lack of Personal Touch
AI-generated content often lacks the emotional depth and personal touch that human writers naturally provide. Readers tend to connect more readily with personal stories and unique experiences that AI is unable to replicate.
If you let AI compose all your posts, you’ll soon notice a decline in visitors and engagement.
2. Quality Control
While AI can generate content rapidly, the quality does not always meet high standards. Bloggers must review and edit AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with their voice and is factually accurate. Remember, it is your blog, not that of AI. Your voice matters.
3. Dependence on Technology
Over-reliance on AI can hinder writing skills. Bloggers may grow overly dependent on tools, stifling creative development and originality. This is particularly evident in the fiction world, where I have observed AI produce stories that lack emotion or feeling, thus making them dull and unappealing.
My advice is that if you use AI, mix it with your written content.
4. Ethical Concerns
The use of AI raises ethical questions, such as plagiarism (which I discussed earlier) and authenticity. Bloggers must ensure that their use of AI does not compromise their integrity or mislead their audience. Always check (and check again) what AI produces.
5. Costs
Although some AI tools are free, many come with a cost. For bloggers on a tight budget, investing in AI technology might not be practical. However, this won’t affect those who choose not to use AI.
Do I use AI in blogging?
Yes, I utilise AI to assist with spelling and grammar corrections. I have also used AI to verify if I have omitted anything essential from a post, as well as for generating titles for blog posts.
The featured images I use in my blog posts (including this one) are primarily created using the WordPress AI image tool. However, I have found that the tool is not always particularly effective at generating images, especially when more than a few words are included. More work is needed to improve it.
Conclusion
Utilising AI in blogging offers both exciting opportunities and significant challenges. While it can enhance efficiency, creativity, and data-driven decisions, it is crucial to maintain a balance and preserve the unique voice that attracts readers. By carefully weighing the pros and cons, bloggers can make informed choices about incorporating AI into their writing process.
If you wish to utilise AI, do so with your own writing rather than generating posts entirely composed by AI.
Finally, we must never forget that we all have a choice regarding AI. We can either use it or leave it be. What we must never do is persuade other users to use it or not. It’s a personal decision. Never criticise those who choose to use AI if you are against any use of AI in writing. Likewise, don’t criticise anyone who refuses to use AI if you use it.
Recommended reading about AI in blogging from other bloggers.
This post from Debbie at Deb’s World, “Reinventing Blogging: A Look into the Future,” dives into the controversial realm of AI in blogging, and trust me, it’s a must-read that has ignited plenty of debate. Are you ready to jump into the fray and add your voice to the discussion?
Are you hopping on the AI train in your blogging adventure? If so, what tools are you using, and what benefits has AI brought you and your blog? Does the use of AI in the blogging world concern you? Are you against using AI in Blogging? If so, what are your reasons? We want to hear your thoughts if you’re for or against AI. Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s chat!
I’m getting tough with non-engaging comments. Any non-engaging comments such as ‘Nice post’ are marked as spam.
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Since BlueSky is new and (at the time of this post) has over 30 million users, it’s an exciting opportunity for WordPress bloggers to enhance their posts by adding a BlueSky sharing button at the end of their posts!
Let me empower your blog by showing you how to connect it to BlueSky. Many blogs have yet to embrace this fantastic feature (and it’s not only BlueSky that you can connect to your blog).
On the dashboard of your blog, go to Tools – Marketing.
On the Marketing and Integrations page, click on the Sharing Buttons icon.
click the Sharing Buttons icon.
Click on the Edit sharing buttons icon.
Click the Edit Sharing Buttons icon.
In the Edit visible buttons box, click on the BlueSky sharing button. If you do not already have it as a sharing button, it will be ghosted out.
Select the BlueSky sharing button.
Click the Save Changes button.
The BlueSky sharing button will now appear on your blog posts.
Visitors can now share your posts with BlueSky.
Click the Reorder button to rearrange the order of the sharing buttons on your blog posts. To do so, click on one of them and drag the button to where you want it to sit.
Click the Save Changes button.
How To Connect Your BlueSky Account To Your WordPress Blog
On the dashboard on your blog, go to Tools – Marketing.
On the Marketing and Integrations page, click on the Connections icon.
Click the Connections icon.
In the Share posts with Jetpack social box, look for BlueSky and click the connect button.
Click the BlueSky connect button.
Add your BlueSky Handle and BlueSky app password in the boxes and click the Connectaccount button.
Add your BlueSky details.
You’ll be asked to confirm your BlueSky account by clicking another Connect button.
Confirm your BlueSky account.
Your BlueSky account is now connected to your WordPress blog. WordPress will share your posts directly with your BlueSky account whenever you publish a new post.
Remember to connect other social media accounts to your WordPress blog by following the same instructions.
Are you on BlueSky? I’d love to connect! Please share your BlueSky details in the comments so I can follow you. If you have questions about BlueSky, adding a sharing button, or linking your BlueSky account to your blog, feel free to drop them in the comments section—I’m here to help!
Social media is a powerful tool. When used correctly, it can connect us with thousands of individuals and bring visitors to our blogs, resulting in new followers and connections.
However, social media is a ravenous beast. Before you realise it, it’ll consume all your time while scattering you far and wide without delivering results. It’ll take everything from you and give little back.
One of the first pieces of advice I received from another blogger was to join as many social media platforms as possible to attract visitors. It turned out to be one of the worst pieces of advice I followed, as it wasn’t long before I found myself spending too much time on numerous platforms.
I realised that spreading myself too thinly on social media was not the solution, so I reduced the number of accounts I managed. This freed up significant time, allowing me to engage more on those platforms. Before long, I noticed increased visitors coming to my blog from various social media sites. Social media was finally paying me back for the time I was investing in it.
Since starting my blog in 2014, I’ve tried most social media platforms. Today, I will discuss five of them and explain why they have worked or not for me.
I joined BlueSky in November 2024. It’s one of the new kids on the block. When this post was written, it had gone past the 27 million milestone of the number of users. That number is rising fast.
Not only have I found BlueSky a friendly place to engage with other users, but it’s simple to use, running a similar platform to X. Like any social media platform, the more you engage with other BlueSky users, the better the results.
I’ll write more about BlueSky in an upcoming post, but early indications are that it’s a rising social media platform that all authors, writers and bloggers should seriously consider joining.
I’ve also found a lot of photographers on BlueSky. If you have a photography blog or host a photography challenge, ensure you join BlueSky.
Don’t forget to add the BlueSky sharing button to the sharing buttons on your blog posts so visitors can share your posts to BlueSky.
I joined Flipboard in 2019. It has brought incredible amounts of traffic to my blog and has an excellent customer service team that reaches out whenever problems occur.
Users add information to magazines, so, as in blogging, setting up categories is essential. My most popular magazines are Blogging Tips, Entertaining (short) Stories You’ll Enjoy, LGBTQI, and Writing Tips.
Mastodon is a big part of the Fediverse, which WordPress promotes heavily. The Fediverse is a global, open social network of independent servers that communicate with each other using a common protocol.
Users create posts in much the same way as on X and BlueSky. Posts appear on the timelines of those who follow the person who created and published the post, but other users can also see them.
I’ve had a steady flow of traffic from Mastodon to my blog, although out of the three social media accounts I use, it’s the one I use the least.
X/Twitter
After 14 years, I deleted my X account on December 31st, 2024, for reasons I won’t go into. This means that I will no longer share my blog posts or other bloggers’ posts on X.
Given that I had over nine thousand followers on X, I hope those who followed me there will now follow me on BlueSky. Some already have, but given that this post is my first mention of joining BlueSky, many will not know I am now active there.
I recently gave Instagram another chance. I did my best to boost engagement, but I struggled significantly. While some people interacted with my posts, it was difficult to stand out amidst all the self-promotion on the platform.
There is nothing wrong with self-promoting your own books and blogs, but I find it too overwhelming when it’s every post. I only saw a little of others promoting the posts of others.
Maybe I was following the wrong accounts?
Instagram wasn’t for me. I deleted my account in December 2024.
Avoid following the accounts of those who only promote their own work and who give nothing back to others.
Other Social Media Platforms
There are many other social media platforms that I have not mentioned, and other bloggers, writers, and authors use them successfully. But how?
I would love to know which social media platforms you use and which ones have been the most successful. In the comments section, feel free to share which platforms you use and your username so that anyone reading the comments can follow and connect with you.
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This is post number one hundred and four this year. It was meant to be my one-hundredth post, but life got in the way (I’m not going to bore you with the details), and my Wordless Wednesday post from a few weeks ago earned the honour of being post number 100.
When you think about it, one hundred and four posts in ten mouths seem like an awful lot. Am I overwhelming readers with too many posts, or do you want more? I’m averaging nine monthly posts, which appears to have become a good balance.
If you asked me, ‘Am I publishing too many posts?’ I’d respond, ‘Do what feels best for you.’ However, we should never forget our audience, so there’s no harm in reaching out and asking. Without you (my audience) reading these posts and engaging with me, this blog would be like arriving on a barren planet. And nobody wants that.
I’d be interested to know how many posts you have published in 2024 and if you’re happy with that number. Let me know in the comments.
Let’s discuss other blogging topics
Did you see my recent post about whole blog posts being shown in emails? No? It’s titled ‘WordPress: Excerpts Are Working Again!‘ It’s worth reading if you only want an excerpt of your posts to show in email notifications and want visitors to visit your blog to read them. Reading posts by visiting a blog is a much better experience than reading them by email, especially since some blocks do not appear in emails, making posts look odd and broken.
There are many reasons to encourage visitors to visit your blog, one of which is that they are more likely to engage with you if they are on your blog (rather than reading from an email). Furthermore, visitors can explore your blog, catch up on posts they have not read, and check any links. This brings me nicely to the subject of engagement.
Are you engaging or comment spamming?
As regular visitors to my blog know, I am passionate about engagement in the blogging world. Recently, I came across an alarming article stating that engagement has decreased to an all-time low in blogging. How sad is that? However, when you look at some blogs with low engagement or, conversely, blogs with numerous non-engaging comments, it is evident that this is happening.
Here’s an example. I recently discovered a writing challenge blog and wanted to get involved. But when I checked out some of the comments left, I knew that participating would not be worthwhile. With lots of non-engaging comments such as ‘Nice one’ and ‘great attempt” being left on stories, nobody wanted to engage with one another. It was a barren planet. I left with a heavy heart.
When I publish a post, it’s the engagement I crave. So when I publish a short story or piece of flash fiction, I look for feedback beyond being told it was a great story. Engaging feedback is critical for all of us to improve our writing.
Do you agree? Do engaging comments help to improve your writing?
Take action if you want engagement
This may seem like a shock-horror move, but I’m now marking comments such as ‘nice’ and ‘beautiful post’ as spam. Leaving short comments all over the blogging world is like leaving spam everywhere. We all know how spam can cause frustration and diminish the enjoyment of blogging.
One main reason readers do not leave engaging comments is a lack of time. However, many who offer that excuse leave non-engaging comments everywhere. They spend the time they could have used to leave an engaging comment, posting numerous non-engaging comments everywhere. The flash fiction challenge I mentioned earlier seems to confirm this.
Some bloggers believe that nobody will leave comments on their blogs if they don’t comment, so they leave short, non-engaging comments everywhere. Honestly, that’s a crazy thought.
Before I finish discussing engagement, I want to reassure everyone that they should not feel obliged to leave comments on any of my posts. I won’t be upset if you don’t comment, but I will mark comments as spam if they are those pesky, non-engagement comments I mentioned. One engaging comment every once in a while is worth a thousand non-engaging comments.
I don’t know about you, but it makes all the difference if somebody wants to engage with me and does so in a way that proves they’ve read the post and are interested. Do you agree?
Please preview your posts before publishing them!
Did you know you can preview your posts before publishing them? It seems that some bloggers do not know they can do this. From seeing upside-down images to posts with a terrible and hard-to-read layout, there is no excuse for anyone not to preview their posts before publishing them. It’s so simple to do.
Before publishing a post, click the little ‘laptop computer’ symbol at the top right of the page on which you are drafting the post. You will be able to see a preview of your post as it will look on a desktop computer, tablet, and mobile phone. Plus, and this is fantastic news, WordPress has now moved the ‘preview email’ option to the same menu for how your post will look in an email.
Always preview your posts and WordPress notification emails before publishing them.
Thank you for making that option more accessible to find, WordPress.
There is no excuse for sloppiness in ensuring your posts and WordPress notification emails are at their best for your audience.
Finally, how are your blogging stats performing?
I’m delighted that my blogging statistics have rocketed this year. I’ve surpassed last year’s total number of visitors and views to my blog. But to make things even better, 2024 is on track to be my best year ever (in the ten years I’ve blogged) in terms of viewing statistics and engagement. I believe this disproves those who tell you that you must publish posts every day for your blog to be successful. You don’t need to force yourself to blog every day.
A blog’s success depends not on how often it publishes posts but on the quality of those posts.
Thank you to everyone who visits my blog, reads my posts, and engages with me. Without you, Hugh’s Views and News would never have reignited my passion for writing and engaging with others.
How are your blogging stats this year? Tell me in the comments section.
Layout, content, settings, and format might differ on self-hosted blogs.
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Here’s your chance to catch up on the nine blog posts published in October 2024.
Hugh’s Views and News is at the heart of great conversations and engagement. Did you join the debates and conversations? If not, why not jump in and let us know what you think?
Question: Do you know the name of this strange-looking fruit on this tree?
Are you seeing too much spam on your blog? How To activate Akismet’s spam setting in WordPress to significantly reduce spam comments and streamline your blogging experience.
Do you use excerpts in your WordPress blog posts? If so, there’s an ongoing issue with them. WordPress has now fixed this problem. Read on for more details.
Do you use excerpts in your WordPress blog posts? If so, there has been an ongoing issue with them that has now been fixed. However, for the fix to work, you must take action. Read on for more details.
Hugh's Views & News 