Tag: Questions About Blogging

3 Quick And Easy Ways To Promote Your Old Blog Posts

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts53 Comments

Are there easy ways to promote your old blog posts, and should you feature them on your blog again?

Can old blog posts bring in more visitors, followers and comments?

The answer is YES.

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Have you killed off your old blog posts?

One of the biggest mistakes many bloggers make is forgetting their old blog posts. They publish posts and quickly forget about them.

Yet, If they’ve been regularly publishing blog posts, their blog archive will be a treasure trove of opportunities waiting for them to bring posts alive again. Just think about all those followers, readers and visitors who have never seen those posts.

Rather than ignoring these old blog posts, there are ways to bring them back to the attention of your audience.

These old blog posts probably never got anywhere near as many views and comments as your recent blog posts, but did you know that they could quickly bring you many more views, comments and followers?

My three quick and easy tips for bringing these old blog posts back to life are easy to follow and will deliver results as soon as you implement them.

1. Display ‘related’ posts at the end of all your blog posts. 

I’m always surprised by how many WordPress bloggers don’t have this feature switched on.

Here’s a screenshot of the related posts that featured at the end of one of my recent blog posts. 

Image highlighting 'related' blog posts at the end of a blog post.
Promote similar older blog posts at the end of new blog posts.

WordPress automatically chooses which of your posts to display. 

If you’re not already showing related blog posts at the end of newly published blog posts, follow this guide.

  • On the dashboard of your blog, click on Settings and Reading. 
Image highlighting 'Settings - Reading' on the dashboard of a WordPress blog.
Select ‘Settings’ – ‘Reading’
  • On the Reading Settings page, look for Related Posts and ensure ‘Show Related Content After Posts’ is switched on.
Image highlighting the 'Show related content after posts' option on WordPress
Switch on ‘Show related content after posts.’
  • Choose which other settings options you want to use.
Choose which settings options you want to use.
  • At the bottom of the screen, click on the Save Changes button.
  • Future posts will now display three related posts from your archives, resulting in those posts being seen again. 

2. The ‘Blog Posts’ Block

Those using the Block Editor can use a terrific block called the’ Blog Posts’ block. It allows bloggers to choose which of their previous blog posts to promote on newly published posts.

  • Insert the ‘Blog Posts’ block in the place where you’d like to feature it on your upcoming new post. You’ll find the ‘Blog Posts’ block under the ‘Widgets’ section, or you can search for it by entering ‘Blog Posts’ in the search bar.  
Image highlighting the search box when searching for a block, and the Blog Posts block.
Select the ‘Blog Posts’ block
  • The Blog Posts block defaults to showing the last three blog posts you published, but you can change this. You can leave it as it is or switch to other settings.
  • Today, I will show you how to choose the blog posts you want to display.  
  • When you insert the block, a toolbar will open on the right-hand side of the page. Under Display Settings, look for Choose specific posts and slide the button to the ‘on‘ position. 
Image highlighting the 'Choose Specific Posts' option on WordPress
Switch on the ‘Choose Specific Posts’ option
  • In the ‘Posts‘ box, type in the blog post title you want to display. As you type, suggestions for blog posts with the words you are using will appear. 
Image highlighting the search box in the Blog Posts block on WordPress
Search for the posts you want to promote on your new blog post.
  • Select the blog post you want to feature.
  • If you’re going to add more blog posts, search for them by typing in more words in the Posts box.
  • I recommend that you add no more than three posts. 
  • The Blog Posts block has many other settings, which you can read about here.

3. Add pingbacks to previous blog posts. 

If you’re unsure what a pingback is or how to add it to blog posts, my post, ‘The Power Of Pingbacks: How To Create One,’ will help.

There’s nothing wrong with adding pingbacks and linking back to your previous blog posts. Lots of bloggers do it.

In fact, I recommend that you include at least a couple of pingbacks in all your blog posts. However, you should always ensure that what you’re writing about is connected to the post you’re linking back to.

Pingbacks can also be added to images, pictures, and photos in blog posts and captions.

Let’s wrap it up!

  • Your blog’s archives are a treasure trove of blog posts that can attract new visitors, comments, and followers.
  • Don’t allow old blog posts to remain idle and not work for you. Use them.
  • Your previous blog posts may not have been read by new followers. Introduce them to your new audience.
  • People who may have read your older posts are often thankful for the opportunity to read them again, especially if the post includes tips and advice.
  • Ensure you keep old blog posts up to date.
  • WordPress has made several blocks available on the Block editor to promote old blog posts. The ‘Blog Posts’ block is just one of those blocks.
  • Consider switching it on if you’re not already using the ‘Related Posts’ feature.
  • Remember that you can create pingbacks to old blog posts from any images or photos in future blog posts.

Do you promote your old blog posts? If not, why not? How do you promote them? What way(s) of promoting old blog posts have worked best for you? Have you had much success promoting old blog posts?

Did you enjoy reading this post? Then you may also like…

Any questions about this post? Leave them in the comments box.

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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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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?

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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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Experiencing Problems With Leaving Comments On WordPress? This Is What I Found. Read This Post Now

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts67 Comments

I’ve written about comments a lot over the last few months, so this seems like the ideal opportunity to discuss some problems with commenting on WordPress.

First, I want to discuss a problem with getting email notifications from WordPress whenever comments are left on my blog posts.

Light blue image with the words 'Experiencing Problems With Leaving Comments On WordPress? This Is What I Found. Read This Post Now' in white text.
Are you experiencing any of these problems with comments on WordPress?

I’ve stopped getting email notifications whenever anyone comments on one of my posts, so I have had to revert to checking for new comments on my blog’s dashboard.

It’s not a huge problem, but the email notifications act as a backup, so I know when comments have been left, and they also serve as a reminder that I have comments to respond to. I don’t delete an email notification until I’ve replied to a comment. That way, I don’t miss any.

I reported the problem on the WordPress Forum. That was over two weeks ago, and whilst I’ve had a lot of contact from WordPress staff, the problem is currently with their developers.

Is anybody else having problems getting email notifications of comments left on their blog posts? Or is it just me?

I’ve also reported another issue to WordPress. I’m wondering if any of the following are happening to you when leaving comments on other blogs?

Other problems with commenting.

Have you noticed that the comments box on WordPress has changed? The old comments box has been replaced with a new one (see the following image), but it seems to be causing me a few problems.

Image showing the new-look comments box on WordPress.
Have you noticed the new comments box on WordPress?

The above new style comments box has gradually been introduced to most blogs on WordPress.

You can write a comment, press the reply button, and move on pretty swiftly, but my concerns are with something hidden behind the settings (cog) button next to the icon that displays your Gravatar image. When you press the cog, you’ll see this.

Image showing the tree options available on the new-look comments box on WordPress.
There are three options to choose from in the new-look comments box.

See those three new options at the bottom of the comments box? Not only can you now get web and phone notifications of new blog posts from the blog you’re leaving a comment on, but you can set how often you get notifications of new posts.

These are not new, though. They’ve been available for use on WordPress for a long time but were buried deep in our blogs’ dashboard settings. Now, they’re much easier to find and use.

So far, so good, you may think, but it’s the ‘email me new comments‘ button that is causing me concern.

You see, I’m one of those bloggers who like to receive an email whenever anyone replies to a comment I’ve left on their blog or when anyone else leaves a comment on the post I’ve already commented on. It’s my way of knowing that not only have they responded to my comment but also a way for me to either reply to or ‘like’ the comment. I do not like the thought of any blogger thinking I’ve ignored their comment.

The problem now is that when you slide the ‘email me new comments‘ button on, not only do you get emailed comments for the posts you’ve left comments on, but you’ll get email notifications of any comment left on any of the posts on that blog regardless of whether you left a comment or not.

If the blog you’ve left a comment on is huge and gets hundreds of comments, this could become a big problem with your email box filling up quickly.

Needless to say, that is something I do want. I only want email notifications of comments left on the posts I left a comment on. Why? Well, I find that reading comments can sometimes be as interesting as the post they’re left on, plus comments often give me new ideas for blog posts.

I’ve reported the issue to WordPress, and they’ve replied. See the screenshots below. However, I’m not the only one who reported this particular problem.

Image showing discussion on WordPress forum regarding email notifications about comments
Images showing a discussion on WordPress forum about emails and commenting.
Image showing another blogger who has reported email notification problems on WordPress
Somebody else has reported the same problem.
Image showing a response from WordPress to my concerns regarding problems with email notifications from WordPress
A response from a member of staff at WordPress

That was the last response from WordPress, but I’ll update this post with any developments.

Some good news – My spam box is empty!

Is it only me, or has anyone else seen a drastic reduction in spam since the new comment box appeared? I used to get hundreds of spam messages to scroll through every day, but now my spam box is empty almost every day – hooray!

So, there is no need to close comments off posts anymore if WordPress has waved a magic wand and stopped the spam once and for all. Hooray – that means I can leave comments on blog posts that are more than a month old.

Are you having any of the problems described in this post or any issues with leaving comments or receiving WordPress notifications as a whole? Has the amount of spam you’re getting plummeted? Let me know in the comments section.

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

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts
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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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How To Find Free Photos And Images On WordPress: Why You Should Use Them.

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts44 Comments

I’ve published many posts about the perils of using copyrighted images and photos. Several bloggers I know have been fined for downloading copyrighted images and photos, including when they reblogged posts.

Did you know that WordPress offers free, high-quality images and photos to enhance the visual appeal of your WordPress website or blog?

You’re searching for the right image for your new blog post. Rather than doing a Google search in a separate tab — and running the risk of using an image you don’t have rights to — use the free images and photos WordPress offers.

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Did you know that WordPress offers users free photos and images?

To avoid any chances of being fined for using copyrighted images and photos, the best advice is to always try and use your own photos and images in your blog posts.

Of course, you could choose not to include any images or photos, but given that posts that include photos or images get 70% more traffic, you should add at least one image or photo to all your blog posts.

Where Do I Find The Free Images And Photos WordPress Offers?

  • Add an Image block to your blog post.
  • Click on the ‘Select Image‘ link to open a new menu.
  • The free images and photos are under ‘Pexels Free Photos‘ and ‘Openverse‘.
Image highlighting where to find Pexels Free Photos and Openverse in the media library of a WordPress blog.
WordPress offers hundreds of free images and photos to all WordPress users.

Pexels Free Photos

  • When you click Pexels Free Photos, a new window will open that includes a search bar.
  • Add a description of the image or photo you are looking for in the search bar and click the ‘Search‘ button.
  • Look through the results, click the image you want to use and click the ‘Select‘ button.
  • Click the ‘Load More‘ button at the bottom of the page to see more results.

When you select an image from Pexels Free Photos, it is downloaded to your media library. Remember to add information about the image to help readers with sight impediments and who may use speech software on their devices.

WordPress will have already completed the title of the image or photo and added credit details, so the only information you need to add is Alt Text and Description.

Openverse

Openverse works like Pexels Free Photos. It’s a search engine for openly licensed media, which gives access to over 600 million Creative Commons licensed and public domain image and audio files. All files can be used free of charge.

You can use the search box to find content licensed for commercial use and content that may be modified.

If you use any images or photos from Openverse, they are downloaded to your media library. You’ll need to complete the Alt Text and Description boxes, giving the image/photo details.

It’s Not Only WordPress That Offers Free Images And Photos.

Several websites offer free images that you can use on your WordPress website. These websites curate collections of high-quality images that are free to use, often under various Creative Commons licenses. Here are some popular websites you can explore:

Review and respect the license terms associated with each image when using images from these sites. Providing proper attribution to the photographer or the source is always good practice.

WordPress Plugins

Another convenient way to find free images within your WordPress editor is by using plugins specifically designed for this purpose. These plugins integrate with popular free image websites, allowing you to search and insert images directly from your WordPress dashboard.

Some notable plugins for finding free images include:

Installing and activating these plugins will add additional options to your media library, making browsing and selecting free images for your content effortless.

Note: Plugins are not available on all WordPress plans.

Image SEO Best Practices

While finding free images for your WordPress blog is essential, optimising any images or photos you use for search engines is equally crucial. Following some basic image SEO best practices can improve your blog’s visibility and attract more organic traffic. Here are a few tips:

  • Use descriptive filenames and alt tags that reflect the image content.
  • Optimise image file sizes to improve site loading speed.
  • Add relevant captions and descriptions to provide more context.
  • Ensure images are responsive and look good on all devices.

By incorporating these strategies, you enhance the visual appeal of your content while improving your blog’s overall SEO performance.

Let’s Wrap It Up.

  • Finding free images and photos for your WordPress website or blog is easier than ever.
  • Whether you explore the WordPress options, leverage free image websites, or use dedicated plugins, the possibilities are abundant.
  • Adhering to image licensing requirements and optimising your images for SEO will ensure a visually appealing and optimised blog.

So go ahead and utilise the resources available to you, and make your WordPress blog shine with stunning images that complement your content!

Remember, a picture is worth a thousand words.

Disclaimer: Always review and respect each image’s terms and conditions and licensing rights. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.

Where do you get the images and photos you use on your blog? If you have any questions about using free images and photos on your blog, leave them in the comments section. Alternatively, please join the discussion and conversation if you’d like to add any information about using free images and photos.

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Is Your Blog Under Attack? Yes, It Is. 4 Easy Ways You Can Protect It

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts40 Comments

Every day, our blogs come under attack from various elements.

Just like protecting our families, pets, and anything else we value, we should do all we can to protect our blogs from threats.

Image with light blue background with the words 'Is Your Blog Under Attack? Yes, It Is. 4 Easy Ways You Can Protect It' in white text
Are you doing enough to protect your blog from threats?

Threats come in all sorts of forms, but there are a few simple steps you can put in place to keep your blog safe.

1. Comments

What do you do if you receive unfriendly comments or comments that do not agree with what you have said in your blog post?

I’ve blogged for nearly ten years, and, in that time, I have received a handful of comments that were not only very personal but were rude, racist or homophobic.  

Because I moderate all comments before they appear on my blog, I was able to stop these comments in their tracks. They were of the nature that did not call for a reply, and I simply marked them as spam and deleted them.

And it wasn’t only me that some of these unfriendly comments are aimed at.  

I often see rude, unfriendly comments and spam appear on other blogs. Not only can they be shocking in their nature, but in many cases, the very name of the commenter can also be very offensive. 

Unfortunately, Akismet, the WordPress software that blocks unwanted spam, doesn’t always catch all of it. So, monitoring all comments before they are published on your blog posts is worth considering. 

Follow these steps to set up monitoring comments.

For the purpose of this post, instructions are via the ‘Default” view of your blog’s dashboard.

  • Click Settings – Discussion on your blog’s dashboard.

Image highlighting the Settings and Discussion options on the dashboard of a WordPress blog.
Click Settings and Discussion
  • On the Discussion Settings page, scroll down to the ‘Before A Comment Appears‘ box and slide open the button next to ‘Comment must be manually approved.’
Image highlighting the 'Comment must be manually approved' button on the Discussion Settings page of a WordPress blog.
To approve all comments, select the ‘Comment must be manually approved’ button
  • Click on the ‘Save settings‘ button. 

You may also have noticed an option to allow comments to be posted straight away from people who have previously had comments approved by you. 

Image highlighting the 'Comment author must have previously approved comment' button on a WordPress blog.
Selecting the ‘Comment author must have previously approved comment’ means you don’t need to approve those comments.

For bloggers who are dealing with hundreds of comments daily, this is a great time-saving option as you don’t need to manually approve them. 

However, be wary. Somebody who may have left a perfectly friendly comment on an earlier post could also leave an unfriendly comment on a future one.

How to deal with people who don’t agree with you

Sometimes, I receive comments from people who may not agree with what I have to say, but that’s a part of the whole blogging experience. 

However, providing their comment has been written in a friendly and professional manner, I will approve it. 

Nobody should tolerate rudeness or bad manners, so don’t allow any of these kinds of comments to appear on your blog. 

If comments are unfriendly, rude or make you feel threatened, mark them as spam.

Allowing unfriendly, rude comments to appear on your blog can make your blog look unfriendly and unwelcoming, especially to new visitors.

And consider removing anyone who leaves a rude comment, or one that threatens you or another blogger, from your subscriber list. My post ‘How To Spot And Remove Spammers And Spambots From Your WordPress Blog‘ gives full details.

Look after your fellow bloggers

If you see a rude comment or one that is spam on a blog you follow, inform the blog’s owner of the problem. They’ll probably thank you for looking out for them.

How to block certain bloggers or readers from leaving comments

Further down the same page on the Discussion Settings dashboard, you’ll see two boxes entitled ‘Comment Moderation‘ and ‘Disallowed comments.’

Image highlighting the Comment moderation and Disallowed comments boxes on WordPress.
This is where you can blacklist other bloggers and comments

These boxes are where you can add certain words, the web address of a blog, the email address or the internet protocol of a user you want to block. 

Comments will be held in a moderation queue if they contain anything you have added to the Comment Moderation box.

Comments will be sent to the trash bin if they match anything you have added to the Disallowed Comments box.

2. Internet trolls

If you are unlucky enough to find that an internet troll has decided to try and make your blog their new home, ignore them. 

Whatever you do, don’t engage in any conversations with the internet troll. Whether through comments or if they try to contact you through your ‘contact me’ page, ignore them. 

Internet trolls will do all they can to get you to react to what they have said. They may even try to get some of your readers to engage with them by responding to comments they have left, so never approve their comments.

Don’t give internet trolls the satisfaction of acknowledging them in any shape or form. 

Remove any comments, and don’t allow them to upset you in any way. Add them to the ‘Disallowed Comments‘ box. They’ll soon get the message and move on.

3. Back-Up

How would you feel if you woke up one morning and found that all your blog content had disappeared? 

It’s the stuff of nightmares, so be kind to your blog and make sure you back up its content regularly.

Depending on your WordPress plan, your blog can be backed up via Jetpack – Backup on your blog’s dashboard. If you don’t have this facility, consider saving all your blog posts via an external server or hard drive.

If you’re already writing your blog posts on Word, Pages or any other writing software such as Grammarly, ensure you save the documents on the iCloud (if you have access) or on another hard drive.

Don’t lose all your hard work by not backing up your blog.  

4. Anti Virus Software

Always update anti-virus software on your device to protect your blog and ensure you have the latest version. 

If hackers can get access to well-known websites, then they may be able to get access to your computer\device.

Malware could allow cybercriminals to take control of your computer, log your keystrokes, or access your personal information and financial data, which could lead to identity theft. So, not only could your blog be at risk from hackers, but so could your bank details and other personal information.  

Remember to keep all other software on your computer up to date and use the latest software versions of any website you visit regularly.

WordPress.Com users will always have the latest version of WordPress as WordPress download updates directly. Those who have self-hosted blogs should ensure they have the latest updates installed. 

This all may sound nightmarish, and you may ask yourself who would want to attack your blog, but every blogger should take it seriously. Don’t become a victim. 

However, whatever you do, keep enjoying your blogging experience. 

Although attacks on our blogs are happening constantly, your anti-virus software (and the software supplied by WordPress) deals with most threats without you knowing about it.

Let’s Wrap It Up.

  • Make sure you protect your blog from any online attacks.
  • Don’t approve any comments that are unfriendly, rude, or racist towards you or any other bloggers.
  • Consider moderating all comments before they appear on your blog.
  • People may disagree with what you say in your posts. Only approve their comments if they’ve been written in a friendly and professional manner.
  • Unsubscribe and or/block trolls and unfriendly readers from your blog.
  • Never respond to comments from trolls or allow their comments to appear on your blog.
  • Remember to regularly back up your blog or save your blog posts on an external hard drive.
  • Keep anti-virus software updated on your devices.
  • Ensure you’re using the latest version and tools of WordPress.

Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about protecting your blog from unwanted attention and attacks? Do you have any questions? Join the discussion by leaving me a comment with the details.

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What Kind Of Comments Are The Best To Leave On Blog Posts?

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts132 Comments

My blogging friend Brenda, who blogs at Curiosities, Castles and Coffee Shops, publishes a series of blog posts where she introduces a new blogger and shares some wonderful blogging tips.

In her recent post, Brenda talks about using prompts to get ideas for blog posts, especially when we struggle to find something to write about. She mentions the daily WordPress prompt, which asks a question bloggers can respond to in a blog post.

I won’t go into all the details of Brenda’s excellent advice, but it got me thinking about the subject of comments.

Light blue image with the words 'What Kind Of Comments Are The Best To Leave On Blog Posts?' in white text.
What kind of comments do you leave on blog posts?

I left a comment on Brenda’s post, which sparked a conversation with another blogger, Laura, who blogs at Keeping It Creative.

The following screenshot is just a small part of the conversation Laura, Brenda, and I had about the subject of comments.

Image showing engaging comments between bloggers on a blog post.
Are your comments engaging?

Our conversation got me thinking about the overall subject of comments and how I’ve noticed a big difference in the comments being left on blogs.

When I first started blogging, the majority of bloggers had conversations and discussions in the comments section with each other about the subject of the post. But over time, that trend seems to be dwindling which had me asking the question –

‘What has happened to the art of conversation and discussion in the comments section of blogs?’

Gone are the days when many readers left comments that not only proved they’d read the post but also gave feedback that opened discussion and conversation.

Now, it seems, some bloggers leave comments with little, if any, way of responding to them other than with a ‘Thank you.’ Comments such as –

  • ‘I enjoyed this.’
  • ‘Wonderful.’
  • ‘This is a great read.’
  • ‘Well done.’
  • ‘Great interview.’
  • ‘You did a great job.’
  • ‘Another great story.’
  • ‘Great authors and books.’
  • ‘Great post.’
  • ‘Thanks for sharing this.’

Or worse, a comment that includes nothing but emojis.

Yes, some of those comments sound encouraging, but as Laura said in her comment, ‘Sometimes a comment is so generic, it feels like the person leaving the comment never read the post.’

None of the above comments mention anything about the contents of the post.

Why do people leave short, non-engaging comments?

There are probably some genuine reasons for leaving non-engaging comments all over the blogging world, but what are they?

I hope some of the reasons will be left in the comments section of this post. I’m interested in knowing.

Some bloggers claim they don’t have the time to leave longer, engaging comments because they don’t have the time to leave them. Some have too many other blogs to visit. Some rush around the blogging world because they only have so much time to visit and comment on as many posts as possible.

But in contrast, if they didn’t feel obliged to visit these blogs to leave short, non-engaging comments, they could free up some time to leave a few engaging comments that open up discussion and conversation.

Then I got this comment from Janice, who blogs at Mostly Blogging.Com.

Image of a conversation saying that it is no longer trendy to leave comments on blog post.
Is it no longer trendy to leave comments on blogs?

I was shocked by what Janice told me. Is it really no longer trendy to leave comments on blogs? Are readers only wanting information, not a community?

The other side of the blogging coin.

It’s not only some of those visiting posts at fault for leaving short, non-engaging comments. Some bloggers respond to engaging comments that clearly show they want to discuss the contents of a post by saying nothing more than a ‘Thank you.’ They instantly cut off engaging with their audience.

What are engaging comments?

  • They contain information that proves the post has been read.
  • They are written in an engaging, friendly manner.
  • They are at least a couple of sentences long.
  • They indicate that you want to discuss the contents of a post further with who wrote the post.
  • Include any questions about the contents of a post.

And let me reassure you that you should never feel guilty for not leaving a comment or feel obliged to leave one on any blog. There is nothing wrong with clicking the ‘like’ button and moving on after reading a post if you’ve nothing of value to add.

I don’t enjoy having to reply to any comment with just a ‘thank you.’ I want to get into a discussion or conversation about the contents of my posts and what made whoever left a comment say what they said.

For example –

  • Why did they think the post was good?
  • What was it that made them enjoy reading the post?
  • Why was it a great read, story or interview?
  • Was it the way the post was written or some of the answers given? If so, which ones?
  • Did the post strike a cord? Why?
  • What parts did they like/dislike the most?
  • Was it something new they learned? If so, what, and how will they use the new information?

I’ve stopped leaving comments on blogs unless I’ve something of value to add.

And I never feel guilty for not leaving a comment.

I don’t need to prove I’ve visited a blog.

I don’t need to make anyone think I’ve read their post.

I don’t feel obliged to follow and read posts on a blog simply because that blogger follows me and leaves me comments.

And nor should you.

So, what has happened to the art of conversation and discussion in the blogging world? Is it dead, or have I, as a blogger who enjoys discussion and conversation, become a minority in the blogging world? Is it no longer trendy to leave comments? Join the discussion and conversation by letting me know what you think in the comments section.

My post, This Is Why It’s Important To Leave The Right Comments On Blogs: 9 Ways, may also help you to improve the types of comments you’re leaving.

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Is Your Blog A Friendly Welcoming Place? This Is How Not To Run A Blog

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts80 Comments

The other day, I came across a wonderfully written blog post after clicking a link on Mastodon. But the trouble was that I seemed to be the first visitor to that blog, even though the post had been published in May 2023. But it didn’t end there.

Light blue image with the words 'Is Your Blog A Friendly Welcoming Place? This Is How Not To Run A Blog' in white text.
Don’t do this with your blog.

I always find it sad to discover a well-written blog post over a few months old that has captivated me but generated no comments or likes. It’s like it’s been cut adrift, floating around in the deepest, darkest part of the blogging world, where few venture.

Yet there are blog posts I lose interest in after only reading the first few lines that have hundreds of likes and lots of comments.

Not all of those likes will have been generated by people who read the post, and I call many of the comments dead-end comments that fail to ignite any proper discussion.

What are the clues to an unwelcoming blog?

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for the blogger whose post I’d found via Mastodon. I wondered how they feel when they see other badly written posts that have generated lots of likes and comments.

Of course, just because a post has no comments and nobody has clicked the like button doesn’t mean nobody has read it, but how must that blogger feel when they see that their post hasn’t generated any engagement? Do they feel sad or cheated, or do they not care because they wrote and published the post just for themselves?

Looking more closely at the rest of the blog where I found the post, I did find some clues as to why nobody seems to be visiting and engaging with it.

For a start, none of the 15 posts had been categorised. They were all uncategorised. One of the posts was password-protected, so you could not see the contents unless you knew the password. And there was no information about how to obtain the password.

None of the posts had tags attached, meaning they would not appear on any search results page.

Although there was a ‘Contact the Blogger’ page, the ‘About the Blogger’ page contained only a photo. Who is this person? Where in the world are they located? What do they blog about? What are their interests? Why do they want you to read and follow their blog? All you can do is guess the answers to these questions.

Their first post was published in January 2019, meaning, on average, they only publish 4 blog posts a year. Not a lot, you may think, but I’ve seen blogs that publish one post every three months do well.

Imagine my delight when I checked the other 14 posts and found one with a single comment. Somebody had discovered this blog before I had. Somebody had visited, looked around, liked what they had found, and left a lovely comment. But this blog was lifeless, like an uninhabited planet; there was no response to the comment. Whoever was here three years before I arrived had left empty-handed.

The overall look of the blog was clean and simple. No fancy menus or widgets to click, so it was more of a place where visitors could hang out and engage. Yet, the sheer fact that there seemed to be nobody there had probably put visitors off from following and engaging.

I tried contacting the blog’s owner, but my words bounced back as an echo in this deserted, uninviting place. Maybe they only check in to their blog every three months. We’ll wait and see, but I think I’ll prepare my spaceship and visit another new blog where I hope I find some inhabitants who want to engage with more than just themselves.

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Is It Possible To Add Images And Photos To Comments On WordPress? Yes! Here’s How.

Published on by Hugh W. Roberts50 Comments

Have you seen images and photos in the comments section of blog posts and wondered how they were left there? It’s something I’ve written about before and, given the many changes at WordPress since I last wrote about it, deserves an update.

Light blue image with the words 'Is It Possible To Add Images And Photos To Comments On WordPress? Yes! Here's How.' in white text
Yes, it’s possible to leave photos and images in comments on WordPress blogs

When it comes to adding images and photos to comments, we have to be careful with what we add. We should always ensure the photo or image has a connection to the subject of the post we’re leaving the comment on. And not only that.

If a blogger invites readers to leave photos and images (such as in a photography challenge), then go ahead and leave them.

However, leaving an image or photo just for the sake of doing so is frowned upon by many bloggers, who will mark them as spam. And given that blogs are attacked by spammers daily, I don’t blame bloggers marking uninvited images and photos as spam.

I’ve added images and photos to the comments sections on my blog posts and the comments I have left on the blogs of other bloggers. However, unless I’ve been invited to leave an image or photo, I won’t leave them.

While many bloggers will be happy for you to leave images and photos, it’s always polite to ask first.

How to add images and photos to your comments

  • Add the image or photo to your WordPress media library.
  • Once the image has been added, click it and click the edit button to open it.
Image highlighting the 'Edit' button of a photo in the WordPress media library.
Click the edit button of the photo or image you want to add to a comment.
  • On the righthand side of the screen, you’ll see a window where you can add details about your image. It’s important to complete these details (see the image below).
  • Click the ‘Copy‘ button in the URL box.
Image highlighting the URL address of an image or photo in the WordPress media library.
Copy the URL address of the image or photo.
  • Paste the URL address into your comment.
  • Do not, at this stage, submit your comment as you need to edit one part of the text within the link.
  • Carefully delete the ‘s‘ from the ‘https‘ at the beginning of the link address, so it reads ‘http‘. (If you do not delete the ‘s‘ the image will not show in the comment).
  • Ensure your link ends with ‘.png’ or ‘.jpg’. If it doesn’t, delete any text after ‘.png’ or ‘.jpg’.
  • You can now submit your comment.

The image will now show on the comment. However, remember that if you are leaving an image in a comment on another blogger’s blog, they may have to approve it (and may even remove the link to the image) before it shows up.

I’ve only found this to work on WordPress.Com blogs. On self-hosted blogs, only the link to the image is visible rather than the image appearing. However, those clicking on the link will see the image.

Note – Not all images and photos will show if the security settings on your web browser are set high. However, this does not affect the photos or pictures you leave in the comments of your own blog posts. I recommend that you not change the security settings on your web browser.

Let’s wrap it up.

  • Yes, it is possible to insert images and photos into comments on WordPress.
  • After inserting the URL address of the image, ensure you remove the ‘s‘ from the beginning of the URL so that ‘https’ becomes ‘http.’
  • Only leave images and photos in comments if invited to do so or if you have asked for permission to do so first.
  • If the security settings on your web browser are set high, images and photos may not show. However, this does not affect the photos or pictures you leave in the comments of your own blog posts.

Want to give inserting an image or photo into a comment a go?

Leave me a comment with the link to your image. Perhaps it can be a photo of your latest book cover or of a family pet. I’ll leave it up to you, but only family-friendly images and photos, please.

If you have any further questions about inserting images or photos into the comments, leave them in the comments section.

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