How To – Page 3 – Hugh's Views & News

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Harnessing AI in Blogging: Benefits, Challenges, and Personal Insights

Published on Mar 27, 2025Mar 27, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts61 Comments

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...’.

An image highlighting the box to tick on a WordPress dashboard to prevent AI tools from scraping your site. — 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.

11 Tips to Craft Irresistible Blog Post Titles That Attract New Visitors

Published on Mar 10, 2025Mar 10, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts74 Comments

What do you consider the most crucial factor in attracting new visitors to your blog or website?

Many may immediately say, ‘content.’

However, content is not always king.

An essential element that nearly every visitor encounters first before deciding to read a blog post in depth exists.

Crafting Compelling Titles for Your Blog Posts

Why Great Blog Post Titles Are Essential…

“On average, 5x as many people read the title as read the body copy. When you’ve written your headline, you’ve spent eighty cents out of your dollar.”
— David Ogilvy

Indeed, the secret lies in your blog post titles. Craft captivating titles, and you will witness a surge in new visitors eager to read your posts and explore your website.

I don’t know about you, but some blog post titles can make me sleepy, especially when they have been used repeatedly.

Blog Post Titles: The Equivalent of Book and Movie Titles

I consider blog post titles akin to the titles of books or movies. If a title captures my interest, I am likely to begin reading the book or watch the film.

Titles are as significant as the content itself, yet many bloggers give their blog post titles little, if any, thought. Master both, and you’re on the path to success.

If your blog post title isn’t engaging, how many potential new and existing visitors will scroll past it without a second thought?

I often find myself doing the same. If a title fails to grab my attention, I quickly move on.

Think about this: how many visitors to your blog are likely to do the same?

Tip: When creating titles for your blog posts, consider what title would motivate you to click on the ‘read more’ link.

Strategies to Make Your Blog Post Titles More Enticing

Certain words in blog post titles can attract readers’ interest in learning more. Here are a few examples:

How
How to
When
Have
Have you
Don’t
Did
Do you
This
This is
Who
Why
What
Where

Additional Techniques to Enhance Your Blog Post Titles

Incorporate Numbers

Numbers can greatly affect the effectiveness of your titles. Think about these two examples:

My thoughts on Ways to Get People to Read Your Blog Posts.

7 Blogging Tips That Will Boost Your Post Engagement And Get Visitors Reading Your Blog.

According to Janice Wald of MostlyBlogging.com, odd numbers generally perform better than even numbers in titles, with prime numbers yielding even greater results.

Odd numbers tend to attract more attention as they seem less predictable compared to even numbers.

Tip: Opt for numerals instead of spelling them out when using numbers. Digits tend to stand out more in headlines and require less space.

Utilise Hashtags

Hashtags can enhance your blog post titles, aiding both SEO and drawing in visitors seeking specific topics.

Explore trending hashtags around your post’s publication time. Bluesky and X are great resources for identifying these trends, but always ensure your hashtags are relevant to your content.

Warning: Excessive hashtags can lead to search engines flagging your post as spam. To maintain a professional appearance, limit yourself to no more than three hashtags in your blog post title.

Incorporate Bluesky and X Usernames

If you mention someone in your blog post with a Bluesky or X account, including their handle in the title can be beneficial. When your post is shared, the individual mentioned receives a notification and may expand your reach by resharing it.

For example, when writing a book review, in the blog post title, include the Bluesky or X handle of the author.

Optimise Word Count

Research from CoSchedule.Com suggests that blog post titles around 55 characters long typically earn the highest click-through rates. Titles within six to ten words also tend to yield better engagement.

To establish a foundation for creating your blog post titles, consider these templates:

How To ____
How To Find ____
How To Completely Change ____
How To Create ____
How To Use ____
How To Get Rid Of ____
How I Made ____
How To Save ____
How To Help ____
How To Develop ____
What To Do With ____
Here’s How To ____
Where To Find ____
What No One Tells You About ____
(#) Questions You Should Ask Before ____
(#) Secrets To ____
(#) Signs You Might ____
(#) Rules For ____
(#) Facts About ____
(#) Ideas For/To ____
(#) Essential Steps For/To ____
(#) Foolproof Tips For ____
(#) Handy Tips For ____
(#) Tricks For ____
(#) Key Benefits For ____
(#) Reasons You ____
(#) Wrong Ways To ____
(#) Most Popular ____
(#) Tips For ____
(#) ____ Mistakes You Won’t Make Again
(#) Things I’ve Learned This Month
Why My Weekend Was Amazing
You’ll Never Believe What Happened Last Week
Why This Is The Only Chocolate Chip Recipe You Need
Meet ____ ____ Who Reveals Their Writing Secrets
Why I’m Recommending These (#) TV Shows to Fans of ____
Book Review: (#) Reasons I’m Giving ____ by ____ ____ (insert Bluesky or X username) 5 Stars

(Remember to insert a number in place of (#).)

I’ve used many of these title ideas and seen excellent results. My titles frequently include words that draw readers in.

Warning: Always remember to add a title to your blog post. Any title is better than having none. WordPress replaces empty titles with a five-digit number, which does not encourage visitors to click the ‘read more’ link.

AI – can it help with blog post titles?

Yes, it can.

Did you know that WordPress has an AI block? Just ask it to suggest a title for your post, and see the result.

Not sure how to use AI on WordPress? Check out this excellent post from Fedora, who blogs at Fedora Pancakes – ‘A Guide to WordPress.com’s AI Assistant.‘

Conclusion

Blog post titles are the first impression for visitors; make them as compelling as possible.
Titles are as important as the content of your posts.
Consider what would encourage you to click ‘read more’ when crafting a title.
A poorly chosen title could mean missing out on countless new readers, likes, and comments.
Ensure every post has a title; it doesn’t have to be perfect—just better than a default number.
Use engaging words like How, What, Why, and Where to entice clicks.
Odd numbers usually outperform even numbers in titles, making them more appealing.
Use numerals for numbers in titles for better visibility.
Keep hashtags limited to three to avoid looking spammy.
Mentioning Bluesky and X usernames can help boost your post’s visibility on social media.
Use AI to help generate blog post titles.

How do you generate titles for your blog posts? Are there any extra strategies you would like to share or questions about title creation? Join the conversation in the comments!

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The Ultimate Guide to Engaging on Bluesky: Tips, Features, and Strategies for Success

Published on Mar 3, 2025Dec 30, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts88 Comments

When I joined Bluesky in November 2024, I thought it might be just another social media platform, but I was mistaken. It has now become a place where I visit and engage every day. Plus, it’s already driving traffic to my blog and has introduced me to many amazing people worldwide.

Bluesky is a friendly, easy-to-use platform for interacting with other users, and many bloggers, writers, authors, and photographers have already joined.

However, it’s not all plain sailing. Bluesky has its fair share of bots and scammers, but they’re easy to deal with.

How does Bluesky work?

If you have ever used Twitter or X, the Bluesky platform runs similarly. However, Bluesky is the new kid on the social media block, so it doesn’t do everything you could do on Twitter/X. However, it does have a couple of features that Twitter/X does not have.

Since it has over 33 million users (as of this post), it’s a social media platform every blogger, writer, and author should consider joining.

How Bluesky Works

Users publish posts (known by some as Skeets), including links to blog articles, books, images, and photos. Other users can view these posts and engage by commenting, clicking the ‘like’ button, and resharing the post (a ‘reskeet’). It’s very similar to what occurs in the blogging world.

The more you interact with other users, the more rewarding and effective your results from Bluesky will be.

Here are the key components of how Bluesky functions:

User Registration: To start, users must create a quick and straightforward account. A missing banner, avatar or profile description makes you look like one of those quickly thrown-together bot/scam accounts that frequent many social media platforms. Be sure to include that you’re a writer, blogger, author or photographer in the description. That helps ensure you connect with fellow writers or photographers rather than those who post about subjects you’re not interested in.
Publishing Posts: Users can share content, including text posts, links to blog entries, images, videos and photos. They can also reshare (known as reskeeting) the posts of other users.
Engagement Mechanisms: Other users can engage with posts by commenting, liking, and resharing. This interaction helps foster a sense of community and encourages dialogue.
Discoverability: Bluesky’s algorithm allows users to discover posts that may not be directly connected to the author, broadening the audience reach. For example, I am also interested in astronomy and have connected with users who publish images, photos and posts about space.
User-Friendly Interface: The platform is designed to be intuitive, making it easy for users to navigate and effectively use its features. I quickly learned how the platform works.
Building Connections: Users can follow others, creating a network of connections that enhances the engagement on the platform.
Community Guidelines: Bluesky implements guidelines that users are encouraged to follow to maintain a friendly environment. These guidelines help minimise conflicts and foster positive interactions. Unlike other social media platforms, Bluesky does not tolerate any hate speech.

With over 33 million users at the time of writing, Bluesky is emerging as a significant platform for bloggers and content creators seeking to broaden their reach and engage with a broader audience.

What not to do on Bluesky

I’ve seen numerous bloggers share links to their posts and then leave immediately. They do not interact with any other users.

It’s no surprise that their posts receive little, if any, engagement or shares.

Unsurprisingly, in the four months I’ve been on Bluesky, I’ve not seen any increase in the number of users who follow them or the number of accounts they follow.

Their accounts resemble stepping onto a new planet that could rapidly be populated but is desolate due to a lack of visitors and engagement.

Avoid dropping links to your own posts and then running away. The general advice for any social media platform is that 80% of your posts should feature the content of other users, while the remaining 20% can be your own material.

Avoid overlooking comments on your posts (except those from scammers or bots). At the very least, show appreciation to anyone who leaves a comment.

Be friendly, helpful, and positive toward others. Remember that Bluesky differs from X/Twitter. Avoid seeking out or engaging in arguments. Ignore, delete, and block any comments from spammers, bots, or troll accounts.

How to spot bot accounts and scammers on Bluesky

The majority of bot and scammer accounts can be easily spotted.

They generally have a high following count but a very low follower count, while the number of published posts is low and primarily consists of posts shared from other users.

Lots of numbers will appear after their BlueSky user name – e.g. hughblogger123456789.bsky.

The account will have a generic, poorly written Al bio and posts.

The account will primarily feature reposts, with very few original posts.

If you accidentally follow one, they will immediately send you a direct message saying ‘Hello’ or asking how you are or where you are from.

They will continue to bombard you with direct messages.

Their bio may sometimes indicate they are seeking love, a partner, or requesting a donation. Some will also claim to be experts in book/blog marketing or able to make you lots of money with little effort.

Their profile pictures may seem too good to be true and are often taken from other sources online. Be cautious of accounts featuring military uniforms and those revealing body parts you might not anticipate seeing in their bio picture.

Here’s an image of a scam account that recently followed me. I immediately blocked it.

An image of a scammer account on BlueSky where a donation link is visible. — Beware of scam accounts asking for donations.

Sadly, 338 people are following this account, some of which will have donated.

Here’s a warning from one Bluesky user about the type of scam account I mentioned.

An image of a warning from a BlueSky user about not donating money to certain accounts on BlueSky. — Never donate to any accounts asking for these kinds of donations.

More helpful tips from other Bluesky users.

Helen describes ways to stop receiving direct messages (DMs).

An image showing how to turn off direct messaging on BlueSky. — Don’t want direct messages on Bluesky? Follow this advice.

Follow Helen on Bluesky at @helenmaryme.bsky.social.

Follow these two accounts on Bluesky to discover which hashtags are trending: @trendtags.bsky.social and @alphasky.social.

An image showing popular hashtags on Bluesky.

An image showing an account that publishes trending hashtags on BlueSky — Follow these accounts to discover trending hashtags on BlueSky.

Bluesky encourages the use of hashtags, so I recommend using them.

Curious about who has blocked you or added you to lists or starter packs on Bluesky? Follow @listifications.app.

An image of a post showing an account to follow on BlueSky to find out who has blocked you or added you to lists or starter packs.

For authors, some Bluesky users offer to add details about your books to their author websites. While this may initially seem suspicious, I recommend sending information only to those you have been following or believe are trustworthy. Here are the details of one author who recently posted, inviting other authors to send him details of their books so he could add them to his author’s website. As you can see, I took up his kind free offer.

An image of a Bluesky post by an author providing free marketing on their author's website. — Free marketing offers on Bluesky.

Follow JP (James) at @pangeanchronicles.bsky.social. Visit James’ author’s website by clicking the following link.

The Pangean Chronicles

Create and get yourself added to BlueSky Starter Packs.

I highly recommend creating at least one starter pack and trying to get added to the starter packs of other Bluesky users. This will allow you to connect with numerous other Bluesky users who share similar interests, thereby increasing your exposure and that of your blog.

For more information about the benefits of Starter Packs on Bluesky, click the following link.

Introducing Bluesky Starter Packs

I have created a Starter Pack for Bloggers. Click the link or scan the QR code below to see it.

https://go.bsky.app/D5Nztv6

Please let me know if you’d like to be added to my bloggers’ Starter Pack by leaving a comment with your Bluesky handle.

And finally…

Don’t forget to add the BlueSky sharing button to your blog.

Ready to dive into Bluesky? Share your best tips for navigating the platform! If you have questions or want some help with its features, don’t hesitate to reach out. Feel free to drop your Bluesky handle here so others can easily connect with you.

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Boost Your WordPress Blog’s Reach: A Step-by-Step Guide to Adding a BlueSky Sharing Button

Published on Feb 3, 2025Feb 3, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts56 Comments

In my recent post, Navigating the Social Media Landscape: My Journey with Five Platforms, I shared my experiences with the social media platform BlueSky, which I am excited to embrace as a new user!

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).

How To Add A BlueSky Sharing Button

On the dashboard of your blog, go to Tools – Marketing.

On the Marketing and Integrations page, click on the Sharing Buttons icon.

An image highlighting the Sharing Buttons icon on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — click the Sharing Buttons icon.

Click on the Edit sharing buttons icon.

An image highlighting the Edit Sharing Buttons icon on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — 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.

Image highlighting the BlueSky sharing button on WordPress. — Select the BlueSky sharing button.

Click the Save Changes button.

The BlueSky sharing button will now appear on your blog posts.

Image highlighting the BlueSky sharing button on a blog post on WordPress. — 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.

Image highlighting the Connections button on the dashboard of a WordPress blog. — Click the Connections icon.

In the Share posts with Jetpack social box, look for BlueSky and click the connect button.

Image highlighting the BlueSky connect button in the connections area of a WordPress blog. — Click the BlueSky connect button.

Add your BlueSky Handle and BlueSky app password in the boxes and click the Connect account button.

Image showing where to add your BlueSky account details when connecting your WordPress blog to BlueSky. — Add your BlueSky details.

You’ll be asked to confirm your BlueSky account by clicking another Connect button.

Image showing the connect confirmation button when connecting a BlueSky account to a WordPress blog. — 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!

To follow me on BlueSky, click my BlueSky User name – hughsviewsandnews.com

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

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Navigating the Social Media Landscape: My Journey with Five Platforms

Published on Jan 13, 2025Jan 29, 2025 by Hugh W. Roberts126 Comments

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.

BlueSky 🦋

Profile Name: @hughsviewsandnews.com

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.

Flipboard

Profile Name: Hugh W Roberts

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

Profile Name: @HughWRoberts

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.

Join me on BlueSky at @hughwroberts05.bsky.social

Instagram

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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Want More Blogging Success? What Happens When You Find It.

Published on Nov 12, 2024Nov 12, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts97 Comments

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.

Image showing the preview post and email option on WordPress. — 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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Turn This Setting On To Stop Seeing Too Much Spam On Your WordPress Blog

Published on Oct 14, 2024Oct 14, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts51 Comments

Is your WordPress blog getting too much spam?

Do you want to free up the time it takes you to filter through spam looking for genuine comments?

Turn this setting on now.

Light blue image with the words 'Turn This Setting On To Stop Seeing Too Much Spam On Your WordPress Blog' in white text. — Does your blog get too much spam? Turn this setting on.

On your blog’s dashboard, go to Jetpack – Akismet Anti-spam.

Image highlighting Jetpack - Akismet Anti-spam on the dashboard of a WordPress blog — Click Jetpack – Akismet Anti-spam

On the page that opens, look for the Settings box. Under Spam Filtering, ensure ‘Silently discard the worst and most pervasive spam so I never see it’ is selected.

Image highlighting the 'Silently discard the worst and most pervasive spam so I never see it' setting on WordPress. — Ensure ‘Silently discard the worst and most pervasive spam so I never see it’ has been selected.

Click the ‘Save changes‘ button.

You’ll now see much less spam in your blog’s spam folder.

Obviously, you can continue to review all spam, but this can be very time-consuming if your blog gets a lot of spam.

On average, I now see less than 10 spam comments per week in my spam folder. It used to be hundreds. Turning this setting on has helped.

On the same page, you can also see how much good work the Akismet anti-spam software has done in capturing spam comments on your blog. Here’s a snapshot of my blog.

Image showing the stats of how much spam has been blocked on Hugh's Views And News. — How much spam has been blocked on your WordPress blog?

Akismet has caught over 308,000 spam comments since I started blogging in February 2014!

Occasionally, spam comments will get through, but you can help WordPress by marking them as spam. Likewise, if a genuine comment ends up in the spam folder by mistake, mark it as ‘not spam.’

Something else you may find interesting is that WordPress now deletes spam that is over 15 days old in the spam folder, so you no longer have to do it! Another win! Thank you, WordPress.

Don’t stress about spam!

I’ve come across some bloggers who allow spam to stress them. This does nothing but spoil the enjoyment blogging brings.

If your blog receives too much spam, turn on the setting outlined in this post. You’ll soon see a vast decrease in the amount of spam you see.

How do you deal with spam on your blog?

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

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Blogging

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader? This Is Why You Should Use It.

The WordPress Reader is great for reading the posts of the blogs you follow. But did you know it can do much more?

This is what I found out.

Why do you use the WordPress Reader?

Keep reading

by Hugh W. Roberts Sep 16, 2024Sep 16, 2024

Blogging Tips

5 Easy Ways To Unfollow A WordPress Blog

Are you following too many WordPress blogs?

This is how easy it is to unsubscribe from those you want to unfollow.

Keep reading

by Hugh W. Roberts Aug 29, 2024Oct 6, 2024

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

How Easy Is It To Follow Your Blog? How To Add A Subscribe Button To All Your WordPress Posts

Published on Sep 23, 2024Sep 23, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts59 Comments

Sometimes, I struggle to find a subscribe or follow button on blogs. I came across one recently where there wasn’t one. I spent ages looking and even left a comment asking how to subscribe to receive more posts, but the host didn’t reply to my comment!

But I’m delighted that WordPress now makes adding a subscribe (to my blog) button to all your posts (past and future) even more effortless. And the best part is that once you switch on this setting, you won’t have to do it again.

Where and how to switch on the Subscribe Block button.

On the dashboard of your blog, go to Settings – Newsletter.

On the Newsletter settings page, look for ‘Add the Subscribe block at the end of each post,’ and slide the button to the ‘on’ position.

Click the ‘Save Settings’ button.

That’s it! The ‘Subscribe’ block will appear on all of your posts (past and future), making it easy for anyone visiting your blog to follow you.

This is what the block looks like if you’re already subscribed to the blog or have just signed up.

How easy is it for a new visitor to follow or subscribe to your blog?

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The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One

Pingbacks are a vital tool in the blogging world, fostering connections and increasing site traffic. Are you making the most of pingbacks or missing out on their benefits? This post details their benefits, creation, and anti-spam measures.

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by Hugh W. Roberts Feb 19, 2024Mar 10, 2024

WordPress: How To Close Comments: What You Need To Know

WordPress has relocated the ‘Discussion’ setting to a more visible and accessible position, simplifying the control of comments and pingbacks.

My post outlines where to find the ‘discussion setting’ and when you should consider turning comments off on specific posts.

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by Hugh W. Roberts Jul 8, 2024Jul 8, 2024

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader? This Is Why You Should Use It.

The WordPress Reader is great for reading the posts of the blogs you follow. But did you know it can do much more?

This is what I found out.

Why do you use the WordPress Reader?

Keep reading

by Hugh W. Roberts Sep 16, 2024Sep 16, 2024

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

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader? This Is Why You Should Use It.

Published on Sep 16, 2024Sep 16, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts91 Comments

I don’t use the WordPress Reader nearly as much as I should.

I get email notifications when new blog posts are published by the bloggers I follow. This makes sense as I only follow around 55 blogs, most of which publish no more than a few times a week.

Am I missing out on not using the WordPress Reader? I think so, yes! But why?

Light blue image with the words 'Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader?' in white text. — Tell me why you use or don’t use the WordPress Reader.

One of the reasons I stopped using the WP Reader was that when I was following over 500 blogs, I felt like a hamster constantly running around a wheel in my endless battle to reach the top of the reader. I never reached the top, so I thought I was missing out!

However, I occasionally use the WordPress Reader to search for posts on subjects I enjoy reading. In my opinion, this is where the WordPress Reader is at its best!

For example, I recently entered the word ‘WordPress’ into the reader search bar and was presented with a long list of blog posts in which ‘WordPress’ had been used as a category or tag (this shows how important categorising and tagging your posts is).

But before I discuss some of the search results, let me first say that, unlike some bloggers who seem to think WordPress has deleted the ‘Reader,’ the WP Reader has moved.

Where is the WordPress Reader?

If you’re using a desktop computer, the WP Reader is now located in the top right corner of your blog. Look for the pair of spectacles icon.

Image highlighting the WordPress Reader icon and where to find it. — The WordPress Reader icon has changed and moved.

Click on it, and you’ll be taken to the WordPress Reader.

On mobile phones and tablets (using the Jetpack app), the WP Reader icon (spectacles) is located at the bottom of the screen.

What I found in the search results!

I was delighted to see some of my posts appear in the search results. However, I was more interested in the posts from blogs I don’t currently follow.

One of those posts that grabbed my attention was from Mitch, who blogs at The Power Of Story. Mitch’s post, ‘What’s Up WordPress?‘, was about the sudden ups and downs of his blog’s number of subscribers/followers. Indeed, I’ve noticed the same thing happening with my blog.

Image showing the ups and downs of subscriber/follower numbers on WordPress

My subscriber/follower stats have become like a fairground rollercoaster ride. Some days, I lose a lot of subscribers/followers, and then the numbers suddenly return, although not the same subscribers.

I did some digging and found that WordPress are now actively deleting spam blogs and blogs run by spambots. That’s a good thing, especially since I’ve been manually unsubscribing them for many months. WordPress is unsubscribing these blogs for me, although I will unsubscribe any I find myself.

Have you noticed your subscriber/follower numbers going on a rollercoaster ride recently?

Another post that grabbed my attention from the results page was from Kevin, who blogs at Chef Kevin Ashton. Kevin’s post, titled ‘The Thorny Issue Of WordPress Likes.’ touched on a subject I’ve often written about – the ‘like’ button!

Love it or hate it, the ‘like’ button is something just about every WordPress user and visitor will use. However, Kevin touched on the subject of ‘guilt’ by not using it, especially when he doesn’t have enough time to visit and read blogs.

I’ve been there, Kevin. Many bloggers feel guilty or stressed about not clicking ‘like’, visiting blogs that follow them, or leaving comments. Yet, in my opinion, nobody really cares that you can’t always visit their blog. I’ve discovered that leaving one engaging comment occasionally that shows you read the post is much more appreciated than leaving short, non-engaging comments just to prove you visited. However, you may not have read their post.

I’ve written many posts about blogging guilt and stress. In my last post on the subject, ‘Stressed Or Feeling Guilty About Blogging? Please Read This Post. Let’s Keep Blogging Fun,’ many readers spoke up about how bad they feel when they don’t have the time to read blogs, click ‘like,’ and leave comments, often resulting in blogging feeling like a chore rather than something that should be enjoyed.

Nobody should ever feel obliged to read posts, click the ‘like’ button or leave comments. Keep blogging fun.

How do you deal with blogging stress or guilt?

The happy and sad sides of blogging!

It was also lovely to see blog posts celebrating milestones on WordPress in the results. From celebrating 15 years of blogging on WordPress to publishing their 100th post and some folks being notified that their blogs had achieved half a million visits, these posts brought a smile to my face.

Of course, posts complaining about how bad WordPress is and the problems bloggers are having also appeared in the results. Although I only read a few, most of the reported issues were related to WordPress’s changes, and the author often confirmed in the comments section that the issue(s) had now been resolved.

Personally, I’m pleased that WordPress does make changes. If they left things alone, the platform would quickly become outdated and dull, as would all our blogs. WordPress would lose many paying customers, and we’d all lose our blogs if they went out of business. I used to hate change but learned that adapting to it is much less stressful than fighting it

Are you encountering any issues with WordPress? My recent post, ‘WordPress Problems: Don’t Panic! How To Solve Issues Quickly,’ may be of some help.

Are your blog posts appearing on the WordPress Reader?

I always check that my blog posts appear in the WordPress reader. To do this, I follow my blog and check the reader immediately after publishing a post. If it’s not there, I know there’s a problem.

There are several reasons why your posts may not appear in the WordPress Reader. The main reason is that you add too many categories and tags to a post. WordPress allows up to 15 categories and tags combined. Your post could be marked as spam and won’t appear if you add more, so ensure you do not add more than 15 tags and categories (combined).

There may also be technical reasons why your posts don’t show in the reader. If you don’t see your posts, contact WordPress. They’ll be able to help.

That’s it for today. I’ll share other interesting posts when I do more searches on the WordPress Reader.

Why Do You Use The WordPress Reader?

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Are you doing everything you can to protect your blog?

This is one security feature I recommend every blogger have. And it’s easy to set up.

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The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One

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WordPress: How To Close Comments: What You Need To Know

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by Hugh W. Roberts Jul 8, 2024Jul 8, 2024

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

Click the buttons below to follow Hugh on Social Media

5 Easy Ways To Unfollow A WordPress Blog

Published on Aug 29, 2024Oct 6, 2024 by Hugh W. Roberts25 Comments

If you missed my recent post, 7 Common Mistakes To Avoid When Deciding Whether To Follow A Blog, you won’t have seen the fantastic discussions in the comments section that raised many questions.

One of those questions was, ‘How do I Unsubscribe From A WordPress Blog I’m No Longer Interested In Reading?’

Not sure why you should unfollow a blog? Read the post for the answers.