Blogging Tips Archives - Page 2 of 27

Q&A: Can I create an RSS feed for a single category in WordPress?

Posted on November 14, 2018

Question from Blake V.: Hi Rick. I have a WordPress question if you don’t mind.

I blog about Bluegrass music. I have categories for new CD releases, show dates, equipment reviews…you name it. If it pertains to Bluegrass music I write about it.

I’ve had several people ask me if I could create an RSS feed just for the “Show Dates” category because that’s the only thing those particular people come to my blog to see.

Is there a setting I can change or maybe a plugin I can use to create an RSS feed just for that one category?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

10 tips for starting and writing a successful blog

Posted on November 9, 2018

Have you been thinking about starting a blog? Do you already have a blog but you’re having a hard time getting people to visit it?

The truth is most anyone can start a blog these days, but attracting visitors who like your posts and want to come back to read your latest stuff on a regular basis isn’t easy.

That being said, starting your own blog and writing posts that are interesting and useful to your readers can be done if you follow a good plan.

What follows is my plan for running a successful blog. In order to make it easy to follow and understand, I have written it as a series of tips: [Read more…]

Q&A: Why did my blog start showing the old versions of posts I’ve updated after installing CloudFlare?

Posted on November 9, 2018

Question from Elise: I’m hoping you can help me fix a problem I’m having with my WordPress blog.

My blog pages started loading real slowly a few weeks ago and I read somewhere online that installing CloudFlare on it would speed it up.

Well, I installed CloudFlare and sure enough the pages immediately started loading a LOT faster. Needless to say, I was delighted!

But then I noticed a problem. Whenever I update a post it shows the updated version when I view it on my computer, but it shows the old version (the way it was before I updated it) when I view it on my phone.

I called several friends of mine and asked them if they were seeing the new versions of the posts (I told them what the changes were so they’d know what to look for). Every one of them are seeing the old versions of my updated posts.

I’m the only person that’s seeing the updates, and that’s only when I’m looking at the posts on my computer. I still see the older versions when I use my phone.

Why is this happening, and how can I fix it?

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: How can I prevent WordPress from automatically installing updates?

Posted on November 6, 2018

Question from Edwin G.: I’m really upset Rick. I checked my email this morning and found that both of my WordPress blogs had been updated to the latest version during the night without my knowledge or consent. I don’t like that!

I’ve had problems in the past with WordPress core updates breaking my blogs so now I always update my blogs one at a time, then check to make sure everything still works before updating the next blog.

Is there a setting in WordPress that I can change to prevent it from installing updates automatically? If there is, I can’t find one.

Rick’s answer: [Read more…]

Q&A: Is a ‘website’ and a ‘web page’ the same thing?

Posted on November 3, 2018

Question from Martina H.: I have an Internet question for you, Rick.

I keep hearing the terms “website” and “web page” and I find them a little confusing. Is there a difference between the two or do they both mean the same thing?

Rick’s answer: Martina, the terms “website” and “web page” are closely related but they in fact refer to two very different things. Some people use them interchangeably, but they really shouldn’t.

Here’s the scoop… [Read more…]