I think I found a way to use the WordPress reader even though I’m self-hosted. It will take an extra 10-15 minutes more each time you publish a post but I’m already seeing the benefits! And for new bloggers out there, I’ll say it again, do not pay someone to learn how to blog. How do you think they’re making their money? This post is 1 of a million that’s out there and free that will help you learn to blog!
So I did something stupid a few years back and switched over to self-hosting too early. I think I was impatient to use plug-ins and to monetize my blog which has garnered a lofty $28.36 from ads. That being said, I lost out on the community that is the WordPress reader. Once you switch from WordPress.com that hosts your site to WordPress.org (the software) your blog no longer shows up in the feed. Unless you delete your WP (short for WordPress.com) site, it’s still there, collecting dust like my yoga mat.
The Idea
Then I had an idea, what if I were to still use the WP blog to bring folks to my self-hosted site. But here’s the problem, if I copy and paste the exact same blog post to the WP blog, 2 will exist in the internet and Google doesn’t like duplicates. You could be penalized by a lower rank.
I scoured the internet on what to do and there is literally not one post (at least that I could find) on how to use reader as a self-hosted site. I went to the WordPress forum to pick brains bigger than mine. That’s when a WordPress angel came to my aid and suggested the Press This button.
Press This
The Press This button is installed on your bookmark bar and I’ll explain how to do that in a second. You’ll need it to post on your WP blog.
Steps to Publishing on Reader as a Self-hosted Blog
Again, I don’t know if there is an easier or better way but this is how I’m doing it now.
Step 1
Log into your WP blog and go to your settings. Ensure you are not in your self-hosted blog.
Step 2
Under settings select the writing tab and scroll to the bottom where Press This lives. Click the Press This button and drag it up to your bookmark bar (make sure your bookmark bar is visible).
Step 3
Go to your self-hosted site. Once there, press the Press This button. A second window will pop up.
Step 4
Here is where the extra 10-15 minutes come in to play. It’s up to you on what you add/don’t add. Here is what I’m doing:
- Adding the same featured image
- Selecting categories
- Adding tags (this is important since this is how people find you)
- Adding a few sentences on what the post is about.
Step 5
Click publish
Optional
Something that’s optional is I updated my about page on my WP blog. On the about page, I let everyone know that I will be posting every post on the WP side going forward but that I have a very active blog that is self-hosted. I added a link to my self-hosted site on the about.
I also added an Instagram feed to my WP blog and added links to all my social media. Basically I made sure everything is updated and looks pretty. I consider the WP blog the vehicle to get folks over to my self-hosted site.
Are you self-hosted? Do you have a better way to do this? I’m all ears!
But I see your posts on my reader… I’m I missing something?
So I think because you subscribe to my blog, I will be in your reader. If someone isn’t subscribed, I will never show up so I miss the opportunity to be visible to a new audience.
Ohhh. Gotcha!
I was wondering about that myself… It’s an issue of subscribers vs. Discover, right? Like, self-hosted blogs don’t show up in Discover and give up any hope of being Featured? (or I’m wrong, because I still haven’t taken the plunge but it’s on my to-do list and I’m glad for the opportunity to observe someone else splashing about in the deep end!)
I am not self hosted but I use my reader a lot. I miss blogs that used to be on it!
I know, right! I miss being on it! Think long and hard before ever self-hosting! 🙂
I think I won’t for a long time if ever
Good for you!
I’m trying to understand. Is your WordPress.com blog under the same url as this blog? I’m seeing hotmessmemoir.com on the reader, and the same on this page, so I’m confused as to how you’re doing that?
I jumped into self hosting and am sitting here with an invisible blog, so am actually thinking of doing the same as you did—I’m thinking to add a site into the WordPress.com side so I can funnel my posts there.
Just curious how close your url addresses are, so as not to confuse readers.
Thanks!
Yes, my .com and .org url are the same. Since I already had an account with .com, I simply added the press this button to my chrome bar so I can click on my self-hosted post, press it and add it to my non-self hosted account. Ok, did I make this super confusing for you bc that wasnt my goal.
Goodness! Yes I’m still confused.
I have another blog at WordPress.com and a self hosted one to go with that one. When I press it, I have to create a new post on then .com side. And it credits my WordPress.org site with the reblog. I did not know you could have two sites with the same url.
Learning!
Ok, so this was 4 years ago but I believe I paid a few extra bucks to have hotmessmemoir.wordpress.com (or however all wordpress hosted sites are) to always look like hotmessmemoir.com on the front end. You are absolutely right that I have to create a new post on the .com site and that it credits the .org site. I just write a few sentences describing what my self-hosted post is about and leave it to the reader to click on it and go to my site. I’m sorry it’s so confusing and I wish I had a better way to describe it. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you! If you email me, I’ll be happy to send you screen shots of the steps I take. I can be found at [email protected].
I was looking for the same answers as you and it seems the solution to your problem might be installing Jetpack. As I understand it your self-hosted site will show up in the Reader that way.
https://wordpress.org/support/topic/how-to-get-self-hosted-wordpress-posts-to-be-visible-on-wordpress-com-reader/
In terms of having duplicate sites out there: You can buy a redirect from your old blog to the new one, so you keep your ranking.