WordPress recommends five ways to get freshly pressed, as follows:
Each weekday, we select about ten new blog posts for the Freshly Pressed section of the WordPress.com homepage. These posts represent how WordPress can be used to entertain, enlighten, or inspire.
Getting promoted to Freshly Pressed is a major traffic win because WordPress.com receives a high volume of page views. And, we have a feed set up so people can subscribe to Freshly Pressed. Why do we do all this? It’s our way of saying we like you. We really like you.
So, by now you might be wondering how to get featured. It’s all about the content. Here are five bits o’ advice that will increase your chances of landing on the homepage:
1. Write unique content that’s free of bad stuff.
Each post that makes it to Freshly Pressed contains original content created by the WordPress user. Bad stuff includes (but isn’t limited to) plagiarism, hate speech, fear-mongering, adult/mature content, improperly used images that belong to someone else, spam or content that is primarily advertorial.
2. Include images or other visuals.
Although not every topic can be illustrated, we believe most blog posts can and should have a visual element. We like original images (meaning, your own), but if you don’t have any of your own and decide to use someone else’s, be sure you properly credit the original source. Video rocks, too. You may get a request from us to add an image before you are promoted to Freshly Pressed — the faster you can respond, the more likely we’ll put your post on the homepage.
3. Add tags.
We find new posts by surfing the tag pages. If you don’t use tags, we can’t find you and how sad would that be? Also, don’t use tags that are too obscure (“beauty tips from the ancient world”) but rather more common tags (“beauty,” “history”).
4. Aim for typo-free content.
We know, we’re human, too — errors happen. We recommend using our Proofreading feature before you hit “publish.” If you’ve got a few typos but we really like your post, we may ask you to fix them. In most cases, we’ll put your post on Freshly Pressed after you’ve made the changes.
5. Cap off your post with a compelling headline.
Your headline needs to stand out. Avoid swear words, excessive punctuation or vague statements. We love a clever headline, and that’s often the reason we click on your article in the first place.
Examples:
Good headline: I Won the Lottery and You Didn’t!
Bad headline: U Loserz, i WON!!!!!11!Go Forth and Create
So, that’s it! Once you’ve been promoted, you’ll receive an email from us, and you also will notice your page views and comments increasing. Enjoy the ride! You deserve it!
As far as I can tell, I’ve been following this advice every day since January 1, 2013. Why, then, hasn’t WordPress said that they like me, they really like me? Is it because my tags are too uncommon? My headlines not compelling enough?
Actually, why am I asking you? As I recommend to people in group and individual therapy, direct communication is best. So I suppose I should ask WordPress why I have yet to be freshly pressed, after 1070 consecutive, free-of-bad-stuff-and-typos days.
In the meantime, though, I’d better include some images or other visuals in this post:
Which of those photos seem the most freshly pressed, to you?
And, since WordPress says “Video rocks, too,” here‘s a rocking video for today:
Happy Hanukkah, Chappy Chanuka, and fresh pressings to all and to all a good day!
Hello Ann – I just wanted to let you know personally that I am easing out of blogging for a few weeks (well, until Christmas is over). You continue to inspire me with your wise wit. I have become very busy with friends and family and situations but all is well. I wish you and yours a magnificent Christmas! Lots of love Julie xxx
Lots of love and a magnificent Christmas back at you, Julie! xxx
good one Ann! Happy Chanukah! I hope your present for Chamukah is getting Freshly Pressed!!
Good comment, Lisa, and Happy Chanukah to you! WordPress has eight days to give me that hoped-for present. We shall see …
Actually five days, since they do that “each weekday.”
Wait! It’s six days. Do you suppose good math skills help with getting freshly pressed?
Good point of view, Ann 🙂
I appreciate your point of view!
Happy Hanukkah!
Happy Hanukkah back at yah, Maria (and Grumpy)!
Grumpy is saying “Happy” something? I know why! She likes all the Neon Tetras Ann has been showing in her blog.
What a colorful comment!
I love Ann’s posts!
The Neon Tetras have lit up inside of her! How frightening!
I’m slightly ahead on posts, but I’ve never been Freshly Pressed, but at least I know what it is now. Happy Chanukah from a lapsed Catholic
At least I know even more about you now, Derrick!
I can’t even FIND Freshly Pressed any more!!! All I can find is this thing called “Discover”. 😦
I hope they find you and press YOU!
I am so glad we found each other, Colleen. Lots of shared discoveries here.
Me too Ann 🙂
Thank you Ann for this bit of levity. You deserve Freshly Pressdom for the video alone!
I’m proud to deserve this comment from you!
This should put some pressure on WordPress to explain why you’ve never been Freshly Pressed. You always hit all five of their recommendations. Normally when someone combines three things it’s called a trifecta, so there must be such a thing as a pentafecta and it’s much more impressive and should be rewarded. And an excellent way for WordPress to celebrate Hanukkah would be to perform such a mitzvah.
I am impressed by the way you hit all the important marks, too, Chris. As always, it’s a mitzvah to see you.
Here I was getting all excited that you were going to advise us that you were Freshly Pressed!
You are always freshly pressed and impressive to me!
Love the gingerbread figures in front of the lovely house.
Your appreciation makes me feel freshly pressed, Louise!
I love the gingerbread figures holding hands. That gets my vote for freshly pressed Ann. Or at least acookie cutter award!
You are never cookie cutter, Val, but always sweet!
I have been FP’ed. When I read others’ blogs who haven’t been, such as you, I really wonder what the heck the criteria really is all about. I like to think my bloggity friends are like the Island of Misfit Toys, only as it relates to not being FP’ed but being loved by everyone that matters ❤
(I should say, I was on previous blogs…not the current one-post blog LOL…that would be really, really sad and should start a blogger riot if that one was!)
It’s wonderful to be on this Blogging Island with lovely you, Holly!
I’ve never been “pressed” either! But I don’t follow bloggers just because they’ve gotten a lot of awards, etc.
I’m impressed by those of us who have not been pressed but who keep pressing on! Thanks, Jan.
Happy Hanukkah, Ann,
The often unacknowledged grand effect you have on those who read your post far outweighs any recognition that may come your way from simply some criteria met.
-Alan
This comment is having a grand effect on me. Many thanks, Alan.
Why? You play on higher plane. Period.
That’s a very elevating compliment, David. Exclamation mark.
When I first started…2009, I think…I often wondered about Freshly Pressed. As time flew by and life never stopped, I just wrote because I love writing. I forgot about the Word Press minions and focused instead upon a smaller community of like-minded bloggers who shared my loves and likes. They warmed my soul with kind and generous comments. Sadly, I can’t even keep up as I’d like to with their blogs. I can’t even keep up with my own, as I get older and take longer to do the daily tasks in my life. Nonetheless, I can only do what I can…and I’m sure you’re doing all you can as well. lots of hugs…and here’s to your making it to Freshly Pressed!
I love blogging and I love hugs and good wishes like yours!
You inspire me. That’s what counts.
This gives me fresh inspiration, Elizabeth. Wonderful to see you here.
Thank you for your follow
See you soon
As always Sheldon
Thank you for this freshly pressed comment, Sheldon.
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