In the midst of transitioning myself into rediscovering WordPress, and publishing <a href="/articles/blog-posts/rediscovering-wordpress/">content on my blog first</a>, I realized that one thing that kind of bums me out is that nobody posts comments on my site. As far as I'm concerned, anything that's published anywhere that's not on my site should be treated as ephemeral, even if it necessarily isn't.

Start with the basic building block of all narrative.

In a village of La Mancha, the name of which I have no desire to call to mind, there lived not long since one of those gentlemen that keep a lance in the lance-rack, an old buckler, a lean hack, and a greyhound for coursing.

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In the midst of transitioning myself into rediscovering WordPress, and publishing <a href="/articles/blog-posts/rediscovering-wordpress/">content on my blog first</a>, I realized that one thing that kind of bums me out is that nobody posts comments on my site. As far as I'm concerned, anything that's published anywhere that's not on my site should be treated as ephemeral, even if it necessarily isn't.

So, when I receive a reply to something, or have a fun interaction with my content with someone else on social media, I find that at least a small part of me is sad, because I know that interaction is probably not something I'll keep. (I draw the line at manually cross posting comments lol).

So, when I receive a reply to something, or have a fun interaction with my content with someone else on social media, I find that at least a small part of me is sad, because I know that interaction is probably not something I'll keep. (I draw the line at manually cross posting comments lol).

I know that WordPress is going social, and I also know that someday, this problem might get drastically improved, but I am getting into the habit of choosing to comment on people's actual blog content first, and only replying to a post directly on social in situations where there is no other option.

I know that WordPress is going social, and I also know that someday, this problem might get drastically improved, but I am getting into the habit of choosing to comment on people's actual blog content first, and only replying to a post directly on social in situations where there is no other option.

I invite (and encourage!) you to start doing the same!

I invite (and encourage!) you to start doing the same!

Let’s Go Back To Commenting on Blogs

I have created a second RSS feed on my site, specifically for micro content, like the post you're reading right now.

If RSS is your thing, and you'd rather follow me using that, you can do so directly through my site now using the micro content feed:

<a href="https://www.alexstandiford.com/microcontent-rss.xml">https://www.alexstandiford.com/microcontent-rss.xml</a>

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I have created a second RSS feed on my site, specifically for micro content, like the post you're reading right now.

If RSS is your thing, and you'd rather follow me using that, you can do so directly through my site now using the micro content feed:

<a href="https://www.alexstandiford.com/microcontent-rss.xml">https://www.alexstandiford.com/microcontent-rss.xml</a>

<div class="wp-block-group">I have created a second RSS feed on my site, specifically for micro content, like the post you're reading right now.If RSS is your thing, and you'd rather follow me using that, you can do so directly through my site now using the micro content feed:<a href="https://www.alexstandiford.com/microcontent-rss.xml">https://www.alexstandiford.com/microcontent-rss.xml</a></div>

My (Very) Basic PoSSE Setup

In 2009, I started blogging. But not like...blogging in the traditional "I'm just writing content" sense. In the "I want to make money with a website" sense. It was a photo-editing tutorial website, (in hindsight, inappropriately) called Gimped! and it was chock-full of tutorials on how to edit with the photo editor, Gimp. I kinda wish I still had the content from that site, but I long-since gave it up, because I have historically had a bad habit of deleting stuff when I don't want it. I built it because I wanted to make money selling ebooks, as well as ads and other things. It actually found mild success, too.

In 2009, I started blogging. But not like...blogging in the traditional "I'm just writing content" sense. In the "I want to make money with a website" sense. It was a photo-editing tutorial website, (in hindsight, inappropriately) called Gimped! and it was chock-full of tutorials on how to edit with the photo editor, Gimp. I kinda wish I still had the content from that site, but I long-since gave it up, because I have historically had a bad habit of deleting stuff when I don't want it. I built it because I wanted to make money selling ebooks, as well as ads and other things. It actually found mild success, too.

In fact, every website I've ever built over the years has, in one way or another, been driven by the direct promise of money. All of my blogging has always been about "earning credential" and "SEO marketing", and all of those things. Blogging has always been a part of my content strategy, but I've never just...used it as a place to publish personal content, or anything that I'm simply writing because I want to share it, like I do on social media.

In fact, every website I've ever built over the years has, in one way or another, been driven by the direct promise of money. All of my blogging has always been about "earning credential" and "SEO marketing", and all of those things. Blogging has always been a part of my content strategy, but I've never just...used it as a place to publish personal content, or anything that I'm simply writing because I want to share it, like I do on social media.

<a href="/articles/essays/your-site-as-a-central-hub/">The last year has invigorated that notion</a>. The idea that I can post on my site and treat it more like I treat my social media accounts than this idealistic place where I only write 2000 word essays. What's crazy, is it's not like this is new. In fact, that's really how blogging started. We just twisted it into something much more than it was, and let Social Media replace our traditional sense of what it is in the process. Look at <a href="https://jjj.blog/">JJJ</a>'s blog, <a href="http://ma.tt/">Matt</a>'s or <a href="http://chriscoyier.net/">Chris</a>' blog. Each one is chock-full of very short posts (ya know, blog posts) that are little more than quick anecdotes and that's it.

<a href="/articles/essays/your-site-as-a-central-hub/">The last year has invigorated that notion</a>. The idea that I can post on my site and treat it more like I treat my social media accounts than this idealistic place where I only write 2000 word essays. What's crazy, is it's not like this is new. In fact, that's really how blogging started. We just twisted it into something much more than it was, and let Social Media replace our traditional sense of what it is in the process. Look at <a href="https://jjj.blog/">JJJ</a>'s blog, <a href="http://ma.tt/">Matt</a>'s or <a href="http://chriscoyier.net/">Chris</a>' blog. Each one is chock-full of very short posts (ya know, blog posts) that are little more than quick anecdotes and that's it.

I think my website should be the most personal piece of me on the web, and yet it was historically been reserved for "my best" content, instead of a holistic look at me. As a result, all of my authenticity found itself on social media instead. I think that sucks. Why should Elon freaking Musk get the most authentic version of me? Mark Zuckerburg? Or anyone else for that matter? Screw that noise. I'm publishing stuff on my website first.

I think my website should be the most personal piece of me on the web, and yet it was historically been reserved for "my best" content, instead of a holistic look at me. As a result, all of my authenticity found itself on social media instead. I think that sucks. Why should Elon freaking Musk get the most authentic version of me? Mark Zuckerburg? Or anyone else for that matter? Screw that noise. I'm publishing stuff on my website first.

I've completely removed all of the big barriers that stopped me from publishing on my site before. Don't have a featured image? So what! Lacking the minimum number of words to make it a "worthy post"? Who gives a damn, publish it. What about headings? Not today, partner! Is this optimized for SEO? Who freaking cares.

I've completely removed all of the big barriers that stopped me from publishing on my site before. Don't have a featured image? So what! Lacking the minimum number of words to make it a "worthy post"? Who gives a damn, publish it. What about headings? Not today, partner! Is this optimized for SEO? Who freaking cares.

And with that, I've been actually using WordPress. like...just WordPress. To do WordPress things. As WordPress was intended to be used. 100% for myself. Like a personal, public journal. And you know what? It's amazing. I've taken some time to <a href="/articles/personal-updates/new-website-who-dis/">re-build my site</a>, and have made small customizations to my WordPress install, but seriously, I'm loving the writing process in the block editor. Turns out, when you get all of the stupid formalities, it's a lovely process.

And with that, I've been actually using WordPress. like...just WordPress. To do WordPress things. As WordPress was intended to be used. 100% for myself. Like a personal, public journal. And you know what? It's amazing. I've taken some time to <a href="/articles/personal-updates/new-website-who-dis/">re-build my site</a>, and have made small customizations to my WordPress install, but seriously, I'm loving the writing process in the block editor. Turns out, when you get all of the stupid formalities, it's a lovely process.

Rediscovering WordPress

New Website, Who Dis?

Using The WordPress App to Publish Social Posts

5 Things I do to Make Habit Forming Easier

Freelance Web Developer &amp; Senior Software Development Engineer at GoDaddy. Digital Nomad of 3 years. I talk about WordPress, off-grid, &amp; RV life.