You may be wondering why I’m asking this question. Does it really matter which technology we use to read blog posts?
The short answer is yes. In recent years it has become more difficult to format a blog post in a way that’s optimal for all the different ways we can read blog posts.
To explain this further, I’ll share a couple of examples.
Example #1 – Nested images
- This is an image that’s surrounded by text in a blog post, and is typically aligned to either the left margin or right margin.
- Nested images look great in a computer web browser and mirror the traditional way we’ve read print newspaper and magazines articles.
- But, those same nested images viewed on a web browser in a device or phone may have a seven word sentence appearing on seven consecutive lines beside the image.
- Or, if you’re reading the post on a smaller screen eg. phone, the nested image may end up being randomly placed in the middle of a section of text.
Example #2 – ‘Click to Tweet’ boxes
- ‘Click to Tweet’ works well when viewed in a web browser. A reader can tweet a link for the blog post with one click.
- But, ‘Click to Tweet’ functionality doesn’t work in emails or the WordPress Reader App where it will usually only show the underlying HTML code. Or, in the case of my author blog, when I use the WordPress ‘Block Editor’ (aka. Gutenberg) the ‘Click to Tweet’ information is missing from my posts when viewed in the WordPress Reader.
- Therefore, it’s important to not rely on ‘Click to Tweet’ information as part of the blog post reading experience, and to ensure the information contained in ‘Click to Tweet’ is included elsewhere in the post.
Example #3 – WordPress Reader App and Feedly Reader App
- The WordPress Reader App will add the ‘featured image’ from WordPress self-hosted blogs to the start of the post.
- In contrast, the Feedly Reader App does not pick up any featured images in WordPress posts created using the ‘Classic Editor’.
- For Inspy Romance blog posts that use the ‘Classic Editor’, Feedly will stream in the main blog header image for all of the individual blog posts in the feed.
- Interestingly, the Feedly App likes the new WordPress ‘Block Editor’ and will happily stream in all the images in the blog post.
- Facebook, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to like WordPress ‘Block Editor’ posts and often won’t add any images in blog post preview links shared to Facebook.
It’s complicated and confusing, right?
The Upshot: If we know how the majority of our blog readers are reading our posts, we can format our blog posts in a way that gives you the best reading experience.
WordPress Reader App
I’m currently in love with the WordPress Reader App that I regularly use at least once a day on my phone.
How to use the WordPress Reader App
To set up a Profile in WordPress that will connect to the App, all you need to do is create a Gravatar. If you have a WordPress blog, or contribute to a WordPress group blog (free WordPress blog or self-hosted), your Gravatar account is your Username that you use to log in at the WordPress sites.
Jetpack is the plugin that connects WordPress blogs to the WordPress Reader App.
The benefits I’ve discovered from using the WordPress Reader App to read blog posts:
- I can read all the blogs I follow in one place – including non-WordPress sites eg. Blogger.
- I can ‘like’ WordPress blog posts and comments in the App.
- I can receive notifications in the App when someone likes my WordPress blog posts and comments.
- One big benefit: I can easily comment on WordPress blog posts within the App without needing to log in.
- I can receive notifications in the App for both comments on my blog posts and replies to comments I’ve made on other blog posts (ie. WordPress blogs that use the Jetpack plugin).
- When commenting using the App, I’m automatically logged into WordPress and therefore bypassing the comment moderation processes that may be set up for WordPress blog comments posted using names and email addresses.
- I love the convenience of being able to use my phone to interact with blog posts and bypass the login process at WordPress sites that use Jetpack.
My question for you: How do you read our blog posts?
Please use the numbers below to let us know how you’re reading our blog posts.
- Daily emails
- Computer or laptop
- Device ie. Tablet or iPad web browser
- Smart Phone web browser
- WordPress Reader App in a device or phone
- Feedly or another type of reading App
- Hard copy print out of the blog post
- Other, please specify
Mary Preston says
I subscribe via email and read on my PC.
Ausjenny says
1 and 2. I receive the notification of a post. Sometimes I read the paragraph to see if I want to read a post but mostly will then click the link and read it on my PC.
Margaret Bunce says
I read the blogs on my smart phone most of the time.
Paula Marie says
4 and 2
I get the emails and then click to the blog either from my phone or laptop
Victoria Goldy-Rhodes says
1, 2, and 3 for me!
Renate says
Dear Narelle! Thanks for another informative blog post on the challenges authors face in promoting their work and interacting in today’s world with so many interactive technology outlets. To answer your question: How do you read our blog posts?
1. Daily emails (I receive the Inspy Romance email on my iPad and computer and then use the Link.)
2. Computer or laptop (While sipping my morning cup of coffee, I then reread the blog on my computer – larger screen and since I prefer using a keyboard I type my response.)
3. Device ie. Tablet or iPad web browser (Usually I first read the blog on my iPad while I am still in bed – to see who is blogging today and the topic.)
4. Smart Phone web browser (When traveling and to check responses while sitting on the bluff or in a park – I use my iPhone.)
Did check on the apps you mentioned above? But have limited apps on my electronic devices. Writing and publishing and informing readers is a multi – faceted endeavor, which makes this retired educator awe stricken. Best wishes.
Ellie says
1 and 4. Occasionally 2.
Wemble says
Hi Narelle, wow, I’ve never thought of this! All these things I take for granted- thanks for sharing about the huge process of formatting this blog!
The majority of the time I use my Mac (so number 2) to read the blog post. In the morning over breakfast, I then typically check back in on my iPad (number 3). So 2 and 3 for me.
Blessings:)
Marcia Smith says
1 and 3 for me.
Jackie Smith says
1 and 2 for me!
Sally Bayless says
I receive notification from 1, then use 2 to read. I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know there was a WordPress App, even though I blog on WordPress here and have my author page in WordPress.
Toni Shiloh says
I get the 1 and click on read more to option to actually read on 2.
Melissa Henderson says
1 and 2 for me. :-)
Lila Diller says
I get the notification in my email and click on the link to read the post in my browser, on whichever device I’m checking emails on. That’s usually my very old smart phone for which I can not download any more apps. Even when I get a new phone, I refuse to get the WP app. I do sometimes use my laptop also.
Lori Smanski says
LOL yes this is kinda confusing. I read #1 and #2
Nicole Santana says
I read on my laptop and phone.
I do notice the big differences in formatting between my laptop and phone, but it doesn’t bug me. I’m reading for content on either platform.
Linda Hogue says
1 & 4 for me.
Linda Orr says
1 and 2.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
1, 2, and 4 for me. I can’t reply with my phone for some reason, so I try to just use my laptop.
Janet Estridge says
I subscribe by email and use my laptop.
Thanks for entering me in your giveaway.
Merrillee Whren says
I read on my computer or my iPhone. It depends on where I am and what I’m doing.
MaryEllen Cox says
2
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Mary, I also subscribe to our daily emails because it’s the easiest way to make sure I don’t miss any posts. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Jenny, I like how WordPress provides the opening paragraph/s to email subscribers and also shares to Facebook via Publicize. For WordPress blog posts, the first approximately 50 words (what you’ll see as the post ‘preview’ on the blog home page) is the equivalent of the Amazon ‘Look Inside’ preview. It should define the main point/purpose of the blog post and hook the reader into wanting to read more. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Margaret, I’m the same. I’ll click through from the daily emails on my phone . I rarely read blog posts on my computer. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Paula, The daily email subscription seems to be popular. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Victoria, iPads and tablets are ideal for reading blog posts. The larger sized screen and portability are a big plus. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Renate, You’re very welcome, and we appreciate your detailed feedback. Back in the day when blogging first started, it was relatively straightforward to write a post and include one or two small images (or no images at all) because dial-up internet was so slow. Blogger included an online reader in the Blogger Dashboard where you could follow all your favorite blogs. Collecting blog followers and including that number in book proposals for traditional publishers was important, and blog commenting was one of the main ways authors interacted with readers. Some things change, and other things stay the same. Best wishes. :)
Trudy says
I get the notification in my e-mail and then open it in my browser on my desktop computer. My right wrist is fused, so I have no movement in it at all, to using a laptop for me is next to impossible. I’ve typed on typewriters since way back when I was in 6th grade, and by the time I got to computers, they still had the standard keyboards. I still use a pretty standard keyboard, just now it’s an ergonomic one. I don’t like using smaller tablets and things, since I’m not used to typing on those!!
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Ellie, Reading daily emails on phones is a popular option. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Natalya Lakhno says
1- Daily emails – YES! I love my daily reminder in the e-mail :)
2 – Computer or laptop – Yes
4 – Smart Phone web browser – Yes
5 – WordPress Reader App in a device or phone – I’ve learned something new and definitely would try!
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Wemble, You’re very welcome, and we appreciate your feedback, We’re fortunate at Inspy Romance to have Valerie working behind the scenes checking the basic formatting of our blog posts. We all work to a weekly deadline (Sunday night, US time) for scheduling posts for the coming week, and that’s when Valerie checks the posts are consistent re. formatting. Blessings. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Marcia, Sometimes I think an iPad would be handy for reading blog posts (I read ebooks on my Kindle). Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Jackie, I’m glad to see so many of our readers subscribe to our daily blog posts. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
I’ll be stopping by when I can to reply to all of your comments. We appreciate all your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Toni, I find email is convenient for clicking through to the post. Although if I’m planning to comment I’ll switch to the WordPress App in my phone. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Sally, I’ve watched the WordPress App evolve and improve since I first started blogging at WordPress six or seven years ago.
The App is a blessing for me when it comes to replying to Inspy Romance blog comments. This is due to the time differences between Australia and the US. It’s just after 8am Friday here (which is somewhere between 3pm-6pm Thursday in the US).
The convenience of the App means I can wake up, drink coffee, and start replying to blog comments (in that order, lol) before I have breakfast.
The 2am ‘live’ time for Inspy posts is early evening in Australia, which means I’m the Blog Admin who’ll be awake to check the posts have been sent out via email and everything is fine.
I’m currently replying to comments using the WordPress App, which means I can ‘like’ both posts and comments as I go.
Definitely check out the App. Their latest update includes the option of using the ‘block editor’ for setting up blog posts using the App.
A few Sunday’s ago we had to resend my Inspy post because I had uploaded a photo directly into my post using my phone and somehow ‘broke’ the post and disabled the ability to comment on the post. Thankfully Elizabeth was awake very early on that particular Sunday morning and we worked out the problem. The swings and roundabouts of using new technology, lol. :)
Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds says
1 and 3
Pat says
I subscribe via email and read on my computer. So 1 and 2 for me.
Margaret Nelson says
Sorry to be so late in responding – busy day! I get #1, the daily email, and then do #2 – read on my desktop or laptop. If I’m on a short trip with no laptop along, I might read on my phone, but do not like the small font size, so usually wait until I’m home to read on desktop or laptop.
Iola says
I use Feedly to skim through the posts of the (way too many) blogs I follow. I usually do this while I’m waiting for something, so I check Feedly on my phone more often than on my PC.
I’ll then highlight a handful to Read Later – usually posts that are too long to read while I’m waiting, or post I think I might want to share on social media. But I might read some short posts in the Feedly app. Others I’ll click through to the actual blog (either because Feedly isn’t showing the full post, or because I want to read the comments).
So I mostly flick through Feedly on my phone, then read (and share) from my PC or sometimes my tablet.
I don’t currently use the WordPress App, but I’m definitely going to check that out as a way of managing comments on my various blogs!
Caitlyn Santi says
1 and 4! I love this blog! ??
Sherri G says
1, then 2 or 3
Kris says
1 and 2 for me – the email doesn’t hold the whole article so if it sounds interesting I click and go to the web site.
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Melissa, 1 & 2 is a popular combination. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Lila, The email click through to the post is a popular option. The Apps do require the newer smartphone technology and regular updates downloaded as well. I keep putting off updating my iPhone because I prefer a smaller screen that’s less likely to trigger a migraine. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Lori, 1 & 2 is definitely a popular combination. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Nicole, Yes, we do try to streamline the post formatting to minimise the differences in the reading experience between the computer browser and phones. In recent years the enhancements to made for ‘mobile view’ have also helped. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Linda, 1 & 4 is my go-to for reading the posts. For commenting, I switch over to the WordPress App. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Linda, I’m seeing a trend in 1 & 2 being a popular combination. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Kimberly, I really don’t like commenting on any blogs using the web browser in my phone. I find WordPress is okay if I don’t log in and use the name and email address option. When I’m logged in, I end up posting replies in the wrong thread and confusing myself. Blogger, on the other hand, won’t let me comment at all via the web browser in my phone. The WordPress App is definitely more user-friendly for blog commenting and replying. I can even post comments at Blogger if I visit the posts via clicking through in the App. If Jetpack isn’t activated on WordPress blogs, it defaults to commenting via the name and email address option. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Janet, The email and laptop combination is popular. I presume you’re talking about our monthly Amazon Gift Card blog giveaway because there isn’t a specific giveaway attached to this post. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Merrillee, I appreciate the flexibility we have to read posts in a variety of ways. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi MaryEllen, 2 is popular with our blog readers. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Trudy, I’m glad you have an ergonomic keyboard for your computer. I can type faster on my phone than a traditional keyboard when I’m holding my phone in my left hand and alternating between 3 fingers on my right hand and using predictive text, lol. I can also hold my phone in my right hand and type using my right thumb. I switch around between those positions to minimise the risk of RSI. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Natalya, yes, definitely check out the App and see if it works for you. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Lucy, 1 & 3 is also a popular combination. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Pat, 1 & 2 is a popular option. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Margaret, No need to apologise. I’m the person who’s often reading and commenting on blog posts days later. The big drawback for reading blog posts on phones is that the font size isn’t adjustable to fit the screen. Sometimes I’ll turn my phone around and use landscape view to read posts in my phone web browser. Posts that contain long paragraphs are more difficult to read using smaller devices and phones. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Iola, yes, I use Feedly to skim through my long list of writing blogs and book bloggers. If I’m sharing posts to Twitter using Buffer, I’ll click through to the actual post from Feedly and share from there to Buffer.
I’ve started following the regular First Line Friday book bloggers in the WordPress app. That means I can use the WordPress Reader in the App to read and comment on their posts. I ‘like’ the posts I’ve commented on using the WordPress Reader to keep track of where I’m up to in my blog reading.
Iola, once you add the free version of Jetpack to your WordPress site, you’ll be able to link it up in the WordPress App via signing into WordPress using your existing WordPress Gravatar. At present, your blog is one of the blogs I comment on via adding my name and email address. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Caitlyn, We’re glad you love Inspy Romance! Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Sherri, Those are popular options. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Kris, yes, the emails don’t include images and only contain the beginning of the post. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Jaycee Weaver says
I’m most often on my phone or iPad mini.
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Jaycee, Those are popular choices. Thanks for your feedback. :)
MJSH says
1. 4. Sometimes 5.
Narelle Atkins says
Hi MJSH, This sounds similar to me. Thanks for your feedback. :)
Dianna says
I read the blog on my laptop. I have it bookmarked and go through all my favorites every few days.
Jessica B. says
I use Feedly (#6). Most of the time I use the app on my tablet but I also use their website on a desktop or laptop. It would be great if the whole IR post would display when you open it in Feedly and not just the first paragraph of the post.
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Dianna, I’ll sometimes read and comment on a bunch of posts a few days after they are posted. Thanks for sharing your feedback. :)
Narelle Atkins says
Hi Jessica, I’m not sure why Feedly previews posts from some sites (my 3 group blogs) and shows the full post (my author blog)? I really like how Feedly allows you to mark posts as ‘read’ and/or ‘save’ them in a list to read later. Thanks for your feedback :)