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From Sawdust to Success With WordPress.com

Jolie Karno will be the first person to admit that she’s not technologically literate. As a wood-turner in Oakland, California, she works with her hands day in and day out and doesn’t want to spend hours fiddling with a website.

Of course Jolie needs to make a living, though, so she wanted a website to sell her custom-made wood products. The thought of building out a full e-commerce website was so daunting that she struggled to find a way to get started. Until she learned that WordPress.com offers easily customizable templates and 24/7 support.

With the help of our incredible Happiness Engineers, she was able to get her online store launched, which makes her creations shine. Take a look for yourself at joliekarnodesign.com.

After you’ve watched the video, visit WordPress.com/customers or click below to learn more and get an exclusive 25% off coupon.

Get 25% off

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Learn to Design Your Own Theme in Our Newest Webinar

Choosing your site’s design is a crucial first step in the creation of any new website and is key to conveying your brand or message online. Our new option to “Design Your Own Theme” revolutionizes this process by introducing predefined Block Patterns, which act as modular elements for your unique design.

This groundbreaking tool provides a straightforward point-and-click interface for quick layout and style adjustments, streamlining the design process. You can now add, remove, and rearrange entire sections of your site layout with ease—saving time traditionally spent on manual construction. This allows you to freely explore different design ideas in a user-friendly playground that encourages exploration and experimentation.

Join us for this enlightening webinar where we will demonstrate how to work with this new tool to create a custom website in minutes. We will then explore the various ways Block Patterns can be used in the page editor to construct unique layouts for any page or area of your website. The session is free to attend and will conclude with a live Q&A to address all your questions.

Attend this webinar

Also presenting: “Picking the Perfect Plugin”

Expand your website’s range of features through the strategic use of plugins. In this popular webinar, our Happiness Engineers will educate you on the selection, analysis, and management of both free and paid plugins to boost your WordPress.com site. Gain specialized understanding to make decisions that are right for your unique website.  

As with all of our webinars, this session is free to attend, and we will follow our live presentation with an open Q&A to answer all your plugin questions.

Attend this webinar

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Meet Site Profiler: Instant Access to Everything You’ll Ever Need to Know About Any Domain

Site Profiler is a fast, accurate, and ad-free tool designed to provide WHOIS and hosting information about any domain. Whether you’re a domain owner or just curious about where a site is hosted, Site Profiler is a fast way to pull up the details you need.

Just drop in any URL and you’ll have the hosting and domain registration details right at your fingertips. It’s free, simple, and user-friendly.

Why use Site Profiler?

Fast and accurate: Get precise domain information fast.

Ad-free experience: Focus on what matters without distractions.

Free to use: Absolutely no charge for using Site Profiler.

Check for domain availability: You can enter any domain, check if it’s available, and register it immediately through WordPress.com.

A simpler way to switch

With Site Profiler, you can drop in a URL, check the details, and make the switch all from one place—whether you’ve moving a domain over or an entire website. Google Domains customers can transfer their domain(s) to WordPress.com for free, and if you decide to add a paid website plan, too, your first year of domain fees is on us. And if you’re considering moving your entire site, please take advantage of our 7-day free trial for a risk-free, seamless site transfer. Learn more at wordpress.com/move.

What’s coming next?

We’re not done with the Site Profiler just yet. Stay tuned for additional features like performance and security scans to make this tool even more powerful. 

What other site analyses would you like to see in the Site Profiler? Let us know in the comments.

Get started today

Check a site, transfer your domain, and find all the details for any domain under the sun, with Site Profiler. Explore the tool here.
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NaNoWriMo + WordPress.com = The Ultimate Author’s Toolkit 

NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, is an annual event where writers from all over the world challenge themselves to write a novel in just one month. It’s a celebration of creativity, determination, and the power of storytelling.

In addition to sponsoring NaNoWriMo, WordPress.com is offering a special gift to this year’s participants as a way to reward your efforts in this exciting challenge. Read on for more information.  

WordPress was born from the desire to help anyone tell their story, so we’ve always had a close bond with authors. Below are a number of ways a WordPress.com site can help you on your writing journey.

Write your novel on your WordPress.com blog

WordPress pages and posts are flexible enough for you to write the entire novel on your site. Here’s how you can structure your site to make the writing process seamless. See this guide for step by step instructions.

Organize your pages 

Define how and where your content will be organized. Whether it’s chapters, characters, settings, or any other category, WordPress.com provides the flexibility you need.

Just write

Each post can represent a chapter, and you have full control to edit or re-order your content as you see fit.

Let your readers read

Let the world read your masterpiece or only share it with a select audience. You decide! Utilizing a paywall or newsletter setup may work well for your goals.

But what if you don’t want to write the actual novel within your blog? How can a WordPress.com blog help in that case? In plenty of ways, actually.

Build anticipation with your website

One of the most powerful tools an author has in their arsenal is anticipation. Building excitement and intrigue around your book, even before its release, can be a game-changer. And what better way to do this than with a WordPress.com website? Here’s how:

Intriguing sneak peeks 

Share short snippets from your novel on your blog. These tantalizing glimpses into your plot can pique the interest of potential readers and keep them coming back for more.

Character deep dives 

Everyone loves a well-developed character. Use your blog to discuss the backstories of some of your characters. By giving readers a deeper understanding of your characters’ motivations and histories, you can get them invested in their journeys even before they pick up your book.

Share your progress 

Keep your readers in the loop by announcing your progress as you write. Whether it’s hitting a word count milestone or completing a particularly challenging chapter, sharing these moments can build a sense of community and excitement.

Exclusive sign-ups 

Allow readers to sign up for newsletters or alerts. They can be the first to know about your novel’s release date, receive exclusive content, or even get special discounts.

Book signing and event announcements 

If you’re planning book signings, readings, or other events, your blog is the perfect place to let your readers know. It’s a great way to meet your fans in person and build a stronger connection with them.

Engage with your readers 

Use the comments section of your blog to engage with your readers. Answer their questions, discuss plot theories, or simply thank them for their support. This two-way interaction can foster a deeper connection between you and your audience.

In essence, a WordPress.com blog isn’t just a platform for sharing your work; it’s a dynamic space where you can engage with your readers, build anticipation, and create a community around your novel. So, as you embark on your NaNoWriMo journey, remember that your website can be an invaluable companion, helping you connect with readers every step of the way.

Our special offer for NaNoWriMo participants

To support all the budding authors out there, we’re offering a special 20% discount on the first year of an annual plan. So, if you’ve been thinking about starting a blog or website, now is the perfect time. Check out our Plans & Pricing for more details, and use the coupon code nanowrimo2023 to claim your discount.

Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, WordPress.com is the perfect platform to support your writing journey. We’re excited to be a part of NaNoWriMo 2023 and can’t wait to see all the incredible stories that will emerge from this challenge. 

Happy writing!

Learn more

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Hot Off the Press: New WordPress.com Themes for October 2023

The WordPress.com team is always working on new design ideas to bring your website to life. Check out the latest themes in our library, featuring beautiful new options for bloggers, creators, and small business operators of all kinds.

All WordPress.com Themes

Programme

Programme is a blog theme inspired by legendary designer Massimo Vignelli’s playbills for the Piccolo Teatro in Milan. This theme is perfect for showcasing programs, calendars, and announcements.

Massimo Vignelli is well-known among designers for his dedication to a select few typefaces. Drawing inspiration from this, Programme includes a style variation featuring Evolventa and another that uses Libre Baskerville.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Ueno

Ueno is a mobile-first theme suitable for any kind of blog or website. It features an opinionated default style and two alternative style variations. Ueno was inspired by Japanese kimono patterns and designs attributed to Seikō Ueno.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Organizer

Organizer is a portfolio theme that will appeal to a number of different WordPress users. Due to its simplicity, it works as both a simple portfolio/showcase site as well as a blog or small business website.

The theme has a simple structure and displays only the most necessary information. Four vibrant style variations allow you to choose the flavor that best suits your aesthetic.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

Erma

Erma is a portfolio theme that features gorgeous imagery and modern layouts. With three styles and elegant templates, Erma is the perfect choice for artists, designers, and other creative professionals looking to showcase their work in an eye-catching way. The clean and sophisticated design allows your portfolio pieces to take center stage.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

StartFitter (Premium)

Although StartFitter’s initial design is geared towards fitness-focused small businesses, it can easily be customized to any service-based organization or side hustle. With professional templates for pricing, product, and contact pages, StartFitter is the theme you need to boost your business’s growth.

Click here to view a demo of this theme.

To install any of the above themes, click the name of the theme you like, which brings you right to the installation page. Then click the “Activate this design” button. You can also click “Open live demo,” which brings up a clickable, scrollable version of the theme for you to preview.

Premium themes are available to use at no extra charge for customers on the Premium plan or above. Partner themes are third-party products that can be purchased for $79/year each.

You can explore all of our themes by navigating to the “Themes” page, which is found under “Appearance” in the left-side menu of your WordPress.com dashboard. Or you can click below:

All WordPress.com Themes

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One Inbox to Rule Them All

The internet is undefeated in coining new terms to describe our digital lives: hashtag, blog, clickbait, lurk. Somehow, though, the most universal phenomenon of them all doesn’t have a word yet. 

How many times have you lost track of an online conversation, even accidentally ghosting someone because you couldn’t remember where it was happening? Between iMessage, WhatsApp, Instagram, Signal, Discord, and others, you’ve probably found yourself swiping between apps on a regular basis just to find your various chat threads. Frankly, with “appnesia” on the rise, we’re amazed we have any friends left.

There may not be an official word for it, but there is an answer: Texts.com. All your messages in a single place—truly the one inbox to rule them all. And today, we’re thrilled to announce that Texts.com is joining the Automattic family.

The best messaging app on the market

Texts.com brings all your chats into a single dashboard: iMessage, Slack, WhatsApp, Instagram, Telegram, Messenger, LinkedIn, Signal, Discord, and X, with more services on the way. 

Beyond the unmatched convenience, Texts.com also offers end-to-end encryption, as well as some delightful features that other messaging apps can’t seem to figure out, like scheduling messages to send when your recipient is awake, or the ability to mark as unread on services that still don’t have it. 

And then there’s the bevy of handy keyboard shortcuts, a customizable interface, and even group chat summaries for when you’ve been away for a few hours and come back to 100+ unread messages. No more appnesia, just power and simplicity where you need it most.

Messaging is the future 

In 2005, Automattic started as a publishing platform with WordPress.com; in 2015, the acquisition of WooCommerce added a commerce solution to those publishing tools; 2019’s addition of Tumblr brought a new suite of advertising tools to the company’s bench. Now, with the acquisition of Texts.com, Automattic moves into a fourth market that’s integral to the modern web experience: messaging.

Texts.com founder Kishan Bagaria joins Automattic as the company’s new Head of Messaging; the rest of the fully distributed Texts.com team is staying on and working in earnest to bring the desktop app to mobile devices. 

Get on the waitlist today—and get one step closer to the inbox of your dreams. 

Join the waitlist

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Your New Go-To Keyboard Shortcut: Introducing the Command Palette

Can we all agree that keyboard shortcuts have become indispensable to the experience of using a computer? Just think about where the world would be without copy/paste! We may not think about them much, but these combinations of keystrokes have helped millions of people make their daily—even hourly—workflows faster and more efficient. 

WordPress already utilizes a number of incredibly handy keyboard shortcuts:

When you’re in an individual post or page, typing “/” allows you to quickly search for and insert any of our blocks or patterns. 

“Shift+Command+/” brings you right into distraction free mode (one of our favorites around here). 

“Ctrl+Option+O” toggles the list view/outline pane, allowing you to quickly see your blocks at a glance and rearrange them easily if needed.

And now, with the brand Command Palette tool, yet another piece has been added to the ever-growing kit of convenient, time-saving keyboard shortcuts. 

We think it’s pretty darn cool, so in this short post we’ll walk you through where and how to use it. 

Diving deeper 

The Command Palette is available across the editing experience, whether you’re switching between templates in the Site Editor or toggling through settings in a post/page, with specific contextual options depending on where you are. While in editing or writing mode, simply hit Command+K (Mac) or Control+K (PC). This will bring up a handy little search box with the instructions: “Type a command or search.” 

Type “new” to bring up quick actions for adding a new post or page. Enter the name of a specific post or page on your site to quickly navigate exactly where you want (“About page,” for example). Or access a template in a flash by typing “Header,” “Footer,” “Home,” etc. 

Beyond the basics, you can dive deeper into the WordPress experience with the following commands: 

Back to page (to return to editing a page from a template)

Customize CSS

Delete template

Delete template part

Disable pre-publish checklist

Edit Template (when editing a page)

Enable pre-publish checklist

Exit code editor

Hide breadcrumbs

Learn about styles (to trigger the welcome guide for Styles)

Manage all custom patterns

Open code editor

Open editor preferences

Open keyboard shortcuts

Open Navigation Menus

Open List View (in the Site Editor)

Preview in a new tab

Show breadcrumbs

Toggle block inspector

Toggle fullscreen mode

Toggle list view (in the Post Editor)

Toggle settings sidebar

Toggle spotlight mode

Toggle top toolbar

View site

View template parts

View templates

Site Editor-specific commands:

Reset styles to default

Reset template

Reset template part

Open styles

Open styles revisions

Block-specific commands: 

Group

Ungroup

Duplicate

Remove

Add before

Add after

The ultimate shortcut tool

Think of the Command Palette as the ultimate shortcut tool, allowing you to do more with fewer clicks, whether you’re trying to toggle a specific setting or transform an Image Block to a Cover Block.

You can move almost anywhere in the editor from this shortcut box, so play around, get comfortable with it, and make navigating your site even more of a breeze than it was before. 
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New Course: Turn Your Passion Into Impact by Building an Online Course

Are you driven by a desire to share your knowledge and expertise with the world? Do you feel the pull of making an impact but aren’t sure how to leverage your skills? In today’s digital economy, there’s an abundance of opportunity, but sometimes the path is anything but clear. That’s why we’ve crafted a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this exciting journey. 

Unlock your future with our brand-new course: Building Online Courses. 

Not just another how-to guide

We’ve taken the essence of building compelling, flexible, and effective online courses and distilled it into actionable insights. This course is a treasure trove of strategies designed to help you bring your unique skills to a global classroom. Let’s delve into why this course is essential for aspiring educators like you.

How online courses will transform your brand 

Imagine breaking free from geographical and time constraints. That’s the power of online courses—they’re a stage for you to share your skills and knowledge with a global audience. Here’s why that’s a game-changer:

Global reach: Break through geographical boundaries. Whether it’s someone across the world or literally right next door, your digital classroom is limitless.

Flexibility: Craft your product around your life. No more stressing over schedules; this is learning and teaching on your terms.

Financial freedom: Create new avenues of income by monetizing your expertise. After all, why shouldn’t you benefit from the value you’re bringing into people’s lives?

Community building: Establish a tribe of like-minded learners. It’s not just about information; it’s about transformation.

Convenient creation: We demystify the technical aspects of building a course so that you can focus on what truly counts: impactful content.

Tailored to your needs

Choose from a variety of course setup options. Are you a fan of simplicity? WordPress.com’s built-in features, like pages and posts, make course building a breeze. Prefer a structured approach with advanced features? Our Learning Management System (LMS) options like Sensei offer robust frameworks for a more comprehensive learning experience. In Building Online Courses we cover them all and guide you through how each option works.

As an added bonus, we’re also offering a webinar: Effortless Course Creation: Sensei LMS + WordPress.com for two live sessions in October (the recorded replay will be available after that).

Empower, engage, excel

We don’t stop at the “how”—we also dive into the “why,” helping you map out a meaningful and coherent educational pathway. From determining course frequency to crafting a compelling sales page, every lesson is a stepping stone to elevate your teaching and, in turn, enrich your students’ lives.

Are you ready to blaze a trail?

Join us as we break down barriers and redefine the landscape of online education. Whether you’re an expert or someone who’s just a few steps ahead of the audience you wish to serve, this course will set you on a path to success.

Ready to turn your passion into impact? Dive into the enriching world of Building Online Courses and become the educator the world needs.

Are you excited? So are we. Let’s build your future in education, together.

Get started right now

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Engage a Wider Audience With ActivityPub on WordPress.com

Exciting times are here for all WordPress.com users! The revolutionary ActivityPub feature is now available across all WordPress.com plans, unlocking a world of engagement and interaction for your blog. Your blogs can now be part of the rapidly expanding fediverse, which enables you to connect with a broader audience and attract more followers.

Let’s dive into what this means for all WordPress.com blogs.

What is the “fediverse”?

The fediverse consists of federated platforms like Mastodon, which are networks of independent websites or servers that can communicate with each other while still operating individually. It’s much like email; you can send emails to users with accounts on different services (like Gmail, Yahoo, etc.), yet all of them can interact seamlessly. Similarly, federated platforms enable users to follow, share, and interact with content across different services in a unified network.

What is the ActivityPub plugin?

ActivityPub is a WordPress plugin that facilitates seamless integration between your blog and a host of federated platforms, including Mastodon, Pleroma, Friendica, and more. This plugin empowers your readers to follow your blog posts on these platforms. 

In addition, replies to your posts from these platforms are automatically turned into comments on your WordPress blog, creating a more interactive and dynamic conversation around your content. Synchronicity for the win!

Transform your blog into a fediverse profile

Your WordPress blog can now become a profile for the fediverse. This means your readers can follow you and receive all the latest posts from your blog directly on their preferred platform. More so, they can engage in enriching conversations by replying to your posts, with their replies reflecting as comments on your blog post, creating a synchronized and interactive experience.

On Free, Personal, and Premium sites, you can enter the fediverse through your settings (see how below); for Business and Commerce sites, simply install the ActivityPub plugin and follow the prompts to set up your profile.    

Getting started is a breeze

From your blog’s dashboard, go to Settings > Discussion and activate the feature by toggling “Enter the fediverse.”

Make note of your default fediverse profile name. In the example above, it’s the alias openprotocolfanblog.wordpress.com@openprotocolfanblog.wordpress.com. Your alias will be unique to you, of course, and will be far more memorable with a custom domain! (More on that below.)

Follow your new profile on a federated platform, such as Mastodon.

Share your profile name with others so they can follow your blog on federated platforms.

Remember, this feature is applicable to new posts only; and it might take up to 15 minutes for new posts to appear on federated platforms.

Why use a custom domain?

Upgrading to a domain doesn’t just give your profile a professional touch:

A shorter custom domain is simply more memorable than the default name provided.  

It ensures your profile is uniquely identifiable, making it easier for users across the fediverse to find and interact with your content. 

With a custom domain you can easily move your entire fediverse connection to any host at any time. 

Make new connections today!

Take advantage of this new opportunity to extend your blog’s reach, connect with diverse audiences, and create engaging dialogues. It only takes seconds to enable this simple yet powerful feature on WordPress.com. And remember, upgrading to a domain not only emphasizes your unique identity but also enhances profile portability. So, why wait? Dive in and showcase your content to the world!
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New to WordPress.com: Earn More By Adding a Paywall 

While there are many ways to monetize your website, there’s one strategy that stands out for its potential and simplicity: the paywall. We’re excited to tell you that this feature is now available on all WordPress.com sites. 

Let’s explore why and how to use the new Paywall Block. 

What is a paywall and what are the benefits?

A paywall allows you to restrict certain pieces of content on your site or newsletter, requiring your readers to subscribe in order to access your work. 

Generally, you’ll insert a paywall partway through a post, allowing all visitors to see a portion of the content, but then incentivizing them to subscribe in order to read the rest of it. 

If you’re wondering whether this strategy is worth considering, here are the three key benefits:

Revenue generation: By offering premium content behind a paywall, you open a new revenue stream and diversify your income.

Audience loyalty: Paying subscribers are committed to your content, and are more likely to share your content and contribute to your site’s growth. 

Content versatility: You can now offer a mix of free and premium content, and adapt it to each situation. For example, you can upload a podcast and put the transcript behind the paywall, or write a detailed case study and put the downloadable content and resources behind the paywall. These limitless opportunities make it easier for you to attract a wider audience—you can use your free content to draw in new users, and then entice them to subscribe for access to premium content.  

How to use the Paywall Block

You can add the Paywall Block anywhere in your posts or pages:

In the editor for any post/page editor, type “/” or click the inserter (“+”) button to add a new block.

Search for “Paywall,” insert the block, then drag it wherever you want.

From the toolbar or the right sidebar, choose the audience segment who will have access to the content below that paywall—and you’re all set! 

You can also add the Paywall Block to previously published material.

Amplify an existing site with newsletter features

Whether you already have a well-established site or you’re starting from scratch, at WordPress.com you have all the tools you need to start a newsletter. With the Subscribe Block and Newsletter Patterns at your disposal, you can get a publication up and running in no time. With the new Paywall Block, we’ve added another piece to your newsletter toolbox.

What’s next?

WordPress.com is ever-evolving, and we’re always refining the design, experience, and offerings for writers, creators, and publishers like you. We’re all ears for your ideas to make it even easier for more people to publish and earn from their work.

Try out the Paywall Block and let us know what you think in the comments. We’re always listening to your feedback.

Test drive the Paywall Block

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