Building an audience is one of the most challenging aspects of creating online content.
You put your energy into writing, publishing, and refining your work, but it takes time and effort to find readers who really connect with what you create.
What if your readers could help your blog grow? What if the writers you love could introduce their audience to yours?
That’s the idea behind Recommended Blogs, a feature now available in the WordPress.com Reader that lets you share the blogs you like most with your own audience.
Where you can see recommended blogs in the Reader
When you find a blog you really like, you can add it to your personal recommendations list.
Your subscribers and readers can then see these recommendations when they visit your profile in the Reader or hover over your gravatar anywhere in the Reader.
This creates a network effect: bloggers recommend other bloggers and help each other discover new audiences in an authentic way.
Instead of relying solely on algorithms or paid promotion, you can grow through the trust of fellow creators.
How to recommend a blog
There are several ways to recommend a blog.
First, you can add or edit your recommendations in the Reader by going to Lists > Recommended blogs.
Or use the “Recommend this blog‘ button that appears on the blog page in the Reader.
You can recommend any blog displayed in the Reader and update your recommendations as your interests evolve.
This also applies to blogs on WordPress.com, Jetpack or other blogs with an RSS feed.
If someone recommends your blog, you’ll receive a notification: a little reminder that your work is resonating with other creators.
Connect with makers who inspire you
If you haven’t spent much time with the Reader yet, this is the place to discover new blogs, follow your favorites, and connect with people from across the WordPress.com community.
You’ll find personalized message streams from sites you’re subscribed to, browse by topic, and interact with other creators.
It’s designed to help you stay connected to the sites that interest you while discovering new voices that match your interests.
Unlike sites that feel like social media, Reader is built as a low-key platform where you can read what you like and find a community with similar interests.
Time to hand out the recs
Ready to make a recommendation? Visit the Reader and share your favorite blogs with your followers.
We continue to refine how recommended blogs work based on your feedback.
It’s all about building a network where creators support each other’s growth, one thoughtful recommendation at a time.