Author: Web Administrator

What Is Online Reputation Management And Why Is It Important?

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When people Google your name or business, what shows up? That’s the heart of online reputation management, and it matters more than ever. 

Maybe you’ve noticed a few bad reviews showing up in search results. Or maybe you’re just realizing how much your online presence influences trust, whether you’re closing a sale, applying for a job, or running a business.

This article breaks it all down in plain English—no fluff or jargon. You’ll learn what ORM actually involves, how it impacts your success, and most importantly, how to take action before your reputation starts working against you.

What Is Online Reputation Management?

Online Reputation Management (ORM) is the practice of shaping how people perceive you or your brand online. It’s about making sure the first thing someone sees when they Google your name or business leaves a good impression.

Put simply, ORM is how you monitor, influence, and manage your online image. In a nutshell, these are its main functions:

  • Brand protection: Guarding your image from false claims, negative reviews, or reputation attacks.
  • Trust building: Increasing transparency and credibility with your audience.
  • Customer engagement: Responding to feedback and building relationships publicly.

What Does ORM Involve?

Online reputation management isn’t a one-time fix, it’s an ongoing process. Here are its core components:

  • Monitoring online mentions: This means keeping an eye on what people are saying about you on review sites, blogs, social media, forums, and even news articles.
  • Responding to reviews & comments: Whether it’s a glowing five-star review or harsh criticism, how you respond matters. Timely, thoughtful replies can turn a negative into a positive and show you care about your reputation.
  • Promoting positive content: This includes publishing blog posts, customer testimonials, case studies, or media coverage that highlights your strengths. The more good content out there, the more it pushes negative or irrelevant results down.
  • Suppressing or addressing negative content: ORM doesn’t always mean deleting negative comments (which often isn’t possible). It’s about addressing the issue head-on, resolving complaints, and building so much positive content that the bad stuff gets buried or recontextualized.

6 Key Platforms That Influence Your Online Reputation

Your online reputation is shaped by more than just your website. It also includes:

  • Google search results
  • Review sites like Yelp, Trustpilot, and G2  
  • Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter (X), LinkedIn, Instagram  
  • Online forums like Reddit and Quora  
  • Blog posts (yours or others’)  
  • News sites and press releases

Proactive vs Reactive ORM

There are 2 ways to approach ORM: proactive and reactive.

Proactive ORM is all about building a strong online presence before anything goes wrong. You create valuable content, encourage happy customers to leave reviews, and stay active online so you stay in control of the narrative.

Reactive ORM kicks in when something negative appears. A bad review, a misleading article, or a social media backlash. It focuses on damage control and reputation repair.

Ideally, you want to do both. Think of proactive ORM as wearing sunscreen, and reactive ORM as treating a sunburn. One protects your reputation in the long run, while the other helps when trouble shows up.

Why Is Online Reputation Management Important?

Online reputation management isn’t just about looking good online. It affects whether people trust you, buy from you, or even find you on Google. These days, one review or comment can spread fast and change how people see you, even if you’re not part of the conversation.

Here’s why it really matters:

1. People Trust Online Opinions More Than Ads

Before making decisions, people look you up. In fact, 93% of consumers read online reviews before buying a product. Reviews are today’s word-of-mouth, only they’re permanent and public. 

What’s more, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation when they’re recent and relevant. That means your reputation online is your first impression whether it’s your Google Business profile, Yelp page, or LinkedIn search result.

2. Bad Reputation = Lost Revenue

A few negative reviews or an unanswered complaint can cost you business. Harvard Business School found that  a one-star increase in a Yelp rating can generate a 5–9% increase in revenue. Flip that around, and a one-star drop can hurt your bottom line.

And it’s not just about reviews. A poor or outdated online presence can cause potential clients or employers to go with a competitor even if your service is better. People assume your online image reflects your real-world professionalism.

3. Your Reputation Affects SEO & Visibility

Google wants to show users the most relevant and trustworthy content. That includes user reviews, star ratings, mentions in the press, and high-quality backlinks. If your brand is associated with trust and positive engagement, Google is more likely to feature your content prominently.

Also, tools like Google’s E-E-A-T guidelines (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) mean your reputation can now influence your search rankings. If people question your credibility, so might the algorithm.

4. It’s Critical For Recruitment & Hiring

Your online reputation doesn’t just affect customers, it influences potential hires. 86% of job seekers check out employer reviews and ratings before applying for a job. A negative employer brand can not only drive away top talent but cost you more to attract them.

Companies with strong reputations see a 28% reduction in turnover and spend 50% less per hire. That’s how closely your public image is tied to internal success.

5. Reputation Shapes Long-Term Growth

Whether you’re building a business or a personal brand, your reputation compounds. A consistent, positive online presence builds trust over time, bringing in:

  • More referrals
  • Better customer retention
  • Increased brand authority
  • Greater resilience during crises

On the flip side, reputation damage, especially if unmanaged, can take years to recover from. You can’t control everything people say about you, but you can control how you respond and what you amplify. Let’s dive deeper into that a bit. 

What Happens If You Ignore Your Online Reputation?

Ignoring your online reputation doesn’t make problems go away, it just lets them shape how others see you without your input.

What Can Go Wrong?

Negative Reviews Gain Traction

A single bad review isn’t a dealbreaker, but when it goes unanswered, it can become the dominant voice. 94% of consumers say a bad review has convinced them to avoid a business. No response often reads as “we don’t care.”

Customer Complaints Can Go Viral  

Social media gives frustrated customers a megaphone and they use it especially when they feel ignored. One unresolved tweet or TikTok video can quickly spiral into a public relations headache.

Rumors And Misinformation Spread

If you’re not actively monitoring your brand, false information on blogs, forums, or review sites can spread. Once Google indexes it, it can live at the top of your search results for months or even years.

What Are The Consequences?

Lost Sales And Leads

89% of consumers check online reviews before making a purchase. If what they find is negative or worse, unaddressed, they’ll go with a competitor who looks more trustworthy.

Lower Search Visibility

Google factors in review quantity, recency, and quality when ranking local results. Poor engagement or consistent negativity can lead to declines in local SEO rankings, making you harder to find.

Higher Costs To Recover

Once your reputation takes a hit, cleaning it up isn’t easy or cheap. Crisis PR campaigns, paid reputation repair, or legal consultations can cost thousands and take months to show results.

Bottom line? Not managing your online reputation means you’re handing the mic to everyone else. If the loudest voices are unhappy ones, it’s your brand and your business that pays the price.

How Online Reputation Management Works + Examples

Online reputation management isn’t a one-time fix, it’s a continuous process. Whether you’re a business owner or building a personal brand, managing your reputation means staying active, aware, and authentic across every online channel.

Here’s how it works, step by step:

Step 1: Audit Your Online Presence

Start by searching your name or business on Google. What shows up on page one? Check your social media profiles, review sites (like Yelp, Trustpilot, Google Business), blog mentions, and forums.

You are looking to answer:

  • What are people saying?
  • Are there negative reviews or outdated information?
  • Does your brand reflect your values?

Example: 

After a quick search, you notice most people are landing on an outdated product page that doesn’t reflect your current inventory. Your Google listing is missing new product categories, and one review mentions confusion about whether you carry certain accessories.

You update your listings, refresh your homepage content, and make sure popular sections like this golf cart accessories page are easy to find and clearly linked from your social profiles. With those updates in place, search results start highlighting more accurate, helpful content, and customer questions drop noticeably.

Step 2: Set Up Monitoring Tools

You can’t respond to what you don’t see. Use free tools like Google Alerts or paid ones like Mention, Brand24, or Reputology to get notified when someone talks about your brand.

These tools track:

  • Mentions across the web and social media
  • Keyword alerts tied to your name or business
  • Sentiment trends (positive, negative, neutral)

Example:

After setting up alerts, you get notified about a blog post reviewing your service, something you would’ve missed otherwise. It’s positive, so you leave a quick thank-you comment and share it on social media.

Or negative comments are piling up on Facebook and Twitter, and people are frustrated that no one received a heads-up. You quickly join the conversation to acknowledge the issue and explain the steps you’re taking. 

To avoid this in the future, you set up a real-time emergency notification system so you can send instant updates to customers by voice or SMS whenever there’s an urgent change or outage. 

Step 3: Respond to Reviews & Comments

A review, positive or negative, is a chance to build trust. Thank people who leave great feedback. When facing criticism, stay calm, professional, and solution-focused.

Tips:

  • Use templates to streamline responses (but personalize them)
  • Respond within 24–48 hours when possible
  • Take sensitive conversations offline if needed

Example: 

For businesses in the outdoor living space or home improvement, reviews often mention product durability. One customer leaves a 2-star review saying products like these outdoor cabinets didn’t hold up in coastal weather (which is ironic because it should be built for this kind of weather).

The company responds promptly, apologizing, offering a replacement, and linking to their updated line of weather-resistant outdoor kitchen cabinets designed for tougher climates. The reviewer updates their rating, and new shoppers see the brand’s accountability in action.

Step 4: Create Positive Content

Don’t just react, create. Publish blog posts, high-quality images, case studies, customer success stories, or press releases that show your values, expertise, and results. Hire an expert to create content that can push negative or irrelevant results lower in search rankings.

Ideas to create:

  • Blog articles with industry tips
  • Video testimonials from happy clients
  • Behind-the-scenes content or employee stories
  • Press coverage or award announcements

Example: 

After noticing that older, mixed reviews were showing up high on Google, you publish a blog post answering common customer questions and add fresh testimonials to your homepage. Over the next few weeks, that content starts ranking higher and gives people something better to click and trust.

Step 5: Engage On Social Media

People expect you to be present and responsive. Comment back, reshare customer stories, and join conversations that matter to your audience. Engage on your social channels, automate when needed, to help build authority and humanize your brand.

Example: 

You notice someone tagging your product in a story with great feedback. Instead of just liking it, you reshare it, add a thank-you message, and respond with a short tip to help them get even more out of the product. Not only do they become repeat customers, but they tell others and now you’ve got free word-of-mouth working for you.

Step 6: Work With Experts When Needed

If you’re overwhelmed or facing a serious issue like negative press or a fake review attack, it’s worth getting professional help. ORM agencies and tools can guide strategy, offer cleanup services, and protect your brand at scale.

Example: 

After a string of fake one-star reviews hits your Google profile, you reach out to a reputation management agency. They help you flag and remove fake reviews, launch a content campaign to highlight real customer stories, and improve your search results over the next few months. Without help, it would’ve taken much longer to bounce back.

Reputation management isn’t about faking perfection. It’s about showing up consistently and being honest. Respond thoughtfully, post regularly, and lead with integrity. Over time, people trust not just what you sell, but how you show up online.

Who Needs Online Reputation Management?

See if your brand fits into one of these categories.

Small Businesses  

Local service providers, restaurants, salons, and clinics live and die by word of mouth and today, that means reviews. A few bad ratings on Google or Yelp can scare off new customers. Managing your reputation helps you show off great service, respond to feedback, and build trust in your community.

 E-Commerce Brands  

When your entire business runs online, your reputation is your storefront. Product reviews, influencer mentions, social media comments all of it shapes buyer decisions. A strong ORM strategy helps you stay ahead of negative feedback and highlight your best customer experiences.

Solopreneurs & Freelancers  

If your name is your brand, what people find when they Google you matters. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, designer, or writer, your reputation affects referrals, pricing power, and client trust. Managing it means making sure your best work and feedback are easy to find.

Corporations  

Bigger companies face bigger risks. One employee tweet, viral video, or unhappy customer post can turn into a crisis overnight. That’s why brands invest in ongoing monitoring, crisis response strategies, and reputation repair to catch issues early and protect long-term trust.

Job Seekers & Professionals  

Recruiters and hiring managers Google applicants every time. If your LinkedIn is outdated, or if a random comment from years ago shows up in search results, it can affect opportunities. Managing your digital presence helps you look polished, reliable, and ready.

How To Manage Your Online Reputation

Managing your online reputation doesn’t have to be overwhelming. It’s about building habits that keep you visible, trustworthy, and in control of your story. Here’s how you can do it consistently:

I. Claim Your Profiles Across Platforms

Secure your business name (or personal name) on platforms like Google Business, Yelp, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and industry-specific directories. Even if you’re not active on all of them, claiming your profiles prevents confusion and keeps someone else from pretending to be you.

II. Ask For & Showcase Positive Reviews

Happy customers usually won’t leave a review unless you ask. Make it easy for them to send a quick link or follow up after a purchase. Once you have great reviews, work with marketing experts to feature them on your site, in marketing materials, and on social media to build credibility.

III. Address Negative Feedback Constructively

Negative reviews aren’t the end of the world, they’re a chance to show how you handle tough situations. Respond politely, take responsibility if needed, and offer to make things right. Your reply isn’t just for the reviewer, it’s for everyone else reading.

IV. Keep An Updated Blog Or Content Hub

Publishing fresh content signals that you are active, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. A blog, resource section, or content hub also gives you control over what ranks in search results. Share tips, answer FAQs, or highlight your values.

V. Share Customer Stories & Testimonials

Real experiences from real people are powerful. Share screenshots of reviews, create short video testimonials, or write up case studies. This kind of social proof builds trust faster than any sales pitch.

VI. Run Regular Reputation Audits

Don’t wait for a crisis to check in. Once a month or at least quarterly Google your business, read recent reviews, and scan social media mentions. Look for trends, outdated info, or anything that might need attention.

VII. Stay Transparent During Crises

If something goes wrong, be upfront. Acknowledge the issue, explain what you’re doing to fix it, and follow up publicly. People don’t expect perfection, they expect honesty. Being transparent builds more trust than silence ever will.

Conclusion

Reputation is built over time, but it only takes one misstep to damage it. Managing it well means being proactive, responsive, and real every step of the way.

If you re not sure where to start or you’re ready to take your brand’s online presence seriously, 99robots offers their expertise in managing your online presence.

Ready to take control of your reputation? Visit 99robots and get a customized plan that keeps your online presence working for you, not against you.

The post What Is Online Reputation Management And Why Is It Important? appeared first on 99 Robots.

10 WordPress Plugins Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

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Do you want to use artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies on your WordPress site?

Many WordPress plugins are using AI and machine learning to offer smarter features. There is a chance that you might already be using one of these plugins on your site.

In this article, we will share some of the best WordPress plugins that use artificial intelligence and machine learning.

What are Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning?

If you follow the news, then you must have heard the words artificial intelligence or machine learning being mentioned.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are computer technologies that offer smarter solutions in computer devices, apps, GPS devices, smart TVs, home assistance devices, and more.

Artificial intelligence gives computer programs able to make choices without human intelligence.

Machine learning helps the software learn from experiences, data, and user activity to improve artificial intelligence and make better choices.

These technologies allow developers to automate tasks that would normally need human intelligence.

For example, voice recognition, search patterns, translations, image recognition, and more are currently being used by most modern mobile phones and smart devices.

What’s the difference between artificial intelligence and machine learning?

Artificial intelligence can make decisions based on programmed intelligence.

Machine learning further enhances artificial intelligence by self-learning through user activity and collecting information. This makes artificial intelligence smarter and allows it to make more accurate decisions.

What about machines taking over the world?

Many prominent scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs have expressed concern over the possible threat to human society from artificial intelligence and self-learning machines.

However, it also has great potential to improve the lives of billions of people. That’s why even the most prominent AI skeptics encourage its careful usage for the greater good.

What Can Artificial Intelligence Do for WordPress Websites?

It can provide a smarter and much better user experience for your users.

For example, it can improve WordPress search, grammar and style checking, show related content, improve conversions, boost eCommerce sales, and more.

Your website becomes smarter, faster, and more personalized for your users. This saves you time which allows you to do other things to grow your business.

That being said, let’s take a look at the WordPress plugins that use AI and machine learning.

1. Akismet

Akismet is one of the only two plugins that come pre-installed on every WordPress website. It uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to detect spam comments.

Used by millions of websites, Akismet has improved over the years to detect almost all spam submitted by bots. It can also detect spam comments manually submitted by actual human users by learning from their mistakes and recognizing patterns across millions of websites.

For more details, see our Akismet guide for beginners with instructions on how to set it up on your WordPress website.

2. WordLift

The WordLift plugin integrates its web-based service to your WordPress website. It offers SEO tips to improve your content with the help of its knowledge graph.

It analyzes your content to offer facts, figures, and media to match and build contextual relationships among your articles which results in better content recommendations. It builds a knowledge graph for your own website, which becomes smarter as you add more content.

3. Grammarly

Grammarly is one of the most popular WordPress plugins. It is an artificial intelligence-powered grammar-checking tool that analyzes the readability of your content to help you write better.

It supports American, British, Canadian, and Australian English languages. It is also available as a Google Chrome addon as an alternative to the JetPack module.

4. Google Language Translator

Google Language Translator lets your users easily translate your website content without creating a multilingual WordPress site. It brings Google’s AI and machine learning translation engine to your WordPress website.

You can simply select languages you want to display on your website. After that, you can add the translator to your website using the sidebar widget or shortcode.

For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to add Google Translate to WordPress.

5. MyCurator Content Curation

MyCurator is a cloud-based content curation service. It allows you to add an artificial intelligence-powered content aggregator, which shows content relevant to your selected topics and improves results by learning from what you add or vote on.

You can create a curated content section on your website by fetching the best bits of content relevant to your audience. You can add any article you like to your website with an excerpt and a link back to the source.

6. WebsiteVoice

WebsiteVoice is a free WordPress plugin that converts your text content into high-quality audio. This helps improve user engagement and save time for users to listen to your articles while they’re busy with other routine work.

You’ll need their website token to activate the text-to-speech option on your site. These tokens are free initially, but you have to upgrade to a premium plan to continue using their service.

7. Quttera Web Malware Scanner

Quttera Web Malware Scanner allows you to scan your WordPress site for malware and malicious code. This is particularly useful if you suspect that your WordPress site is hacked or blacklisted by search engines.

The plugin uses artificial intelligence to learn from false positives and improves scan results based on usage. While it helps scan an infected website, it doesn’t protect your website from getting affected.

For better security, see our ultimate WordPress security guide to protect your website against hacks, DDOS attacks, and malicious code.

8. ChatBot

ChatBot provides AI-powered virtual chat agent for your website. It uses machine learning to improve the live chat experience and send accurate responses.

You need to sign up for a free account on the plugin’s website. After that, it will start learning as you use it. You can also train it on what to say and how to respond to user queries. This can be handy in keeping users engaged on your website and generating more leads.

9. Link Whisper

LinkWhisper is a free WordPress internal linking plugin powered by Artificial Intelligence. It learns from the content on your site and suggests powerful internal linking opportunities to improve your search rankings and grow your traffic.

The plugin looks into your website’s content, including pages and posts. Then it offers suggestions in the WordPress block editor to add internal links while you’re writing and editing an article.

10. ImageSEO

ImageSEO is a free WordPress image optimization plugin. It uses artificial intelligence to optimize the alt text and title of your images to grow your organic traffic.

The plugin also generates social cards for Twitter, Facebook, and channels. After activating the plugin, you can upload images on the WordPress website, and ImageSEO will write the name, title, and tag for the images automatically. It seamlessly works on single and bulk image uploads.

We hope this article helped you learn about WordPress plugins using artificial intelligence and machine learning. You may also want to see our guide on how to improve your WordPress website speed and performance.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post 10 WordPress Plugins Using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning first appeared on WPBeginner.

How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Error in Chrome

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Are you seeing the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error when trying to access a website or when viewing a website resource using your browser’s inspect tool?

This error message appears when your browser is unable to connect to the website you’ve requested. You might also see it in your browser’s inspect tool when you are exploring why a certain resource on the website won’t load.

In this article, we’ll show you how to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome.

What Is the ‘ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED’ Error in Chrome?

The ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED message is displayed in Google Chrome when it is trying to open a web page or website resource but is unable to do so. This error code is usually included inside an error message such as:

‘This site can’t be reached’‘Failed to load resource’

There are lots of common WordPress errors, but this error may stop you from visiting your own website and logging in to the WordPress admin area. You’ll typically want to solve this problem as quickly as possible.

Often when you see this error message, your WordPress website is still working, but something is stopping the browser from accessing it. In many cases, you will only need to fix a problem with your own browser or internet connection.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome. First, we’ll look at how to fix the error when you can’t access an entire website, then we’ll show the solution for when you can’t access a specific file or resource on a website.

How to Fix the ‘This Site Can’t Be Reached’ ErrorHow To Fix the ‘Failed To Load Resource’ Error

How to Fix the ‘This Site Can’t Be Reached’ Error

Usually, this message is displayed when you can’t access an entire website.

You will see the Chrome error message ‘This site can’t be reached’ along with the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error code. The message may even suggest a few things to try to fix the error, such as checking the connection, proxy, firewall, and DNS configuration.

Other browsers will display similar messages, such as:

‘Unable to connect’‘Hmmm…can’t reach this page’

There are many things that can interfere with your connection to the website, and you will need to follow some troubleshooting steps to identify and fix the problem.

We’ll briefly cover the steps you should take below. For detailed instructions, see our guide on how to easily fix the ‘This site can’t be reached’ error in WordPress.

Check Your Internet Connection

The simplest fix is to check that you’re connected to the internet and restart your modem and router. Resetting your internet connection may be all it takes to reconnect to your website.

If not, you should check to see whether your website is working. Simply visit the Website Uptime Status Checker website, then enter the URL of your own site.

If your site is down, then you should contact your WordPress hosting provider to let them know your website is down.

Clear Your Browser Cache

Your web browser stores files and data from the websites you visit, so it doesn’t have to download them again. However, this can cause problems if the cached files become outdated or corrupt.

You can easily clear the browser cache in Google Chrome by clicking on the three-dotted icon in the upper-right corner and then selecting ‘More Tools,’ followed by ‘Clear Browsing Data…’

In the popup that appears, check the box next to ‘Cached images and files’ and then click the ‘Clear data’ button.

Now try revisiting the website to check whether you can access it.

Troubleshoot the Software on Your Computer

Some of the security and networking software you run on your computer may be interfering with your connection to the website. This can include your firewall, antivirus software, VPN, and proxy server.

We offer detailed instructions on how to troubleshoot each of these in our guide on how to fix the ‘This site can’t be reached’ error.

Troubleshoot Your DNS Settings

Similar to the browser cache, your computer stores the IP addresses of all the websites you visit. This means the browser doesn’t have to look up the same IP address multiple times.

By flushing your DNS cache, you’ll get the very latest information about a website, including its new domain name or address.

To help you out, we’ve created a complete guide on how to clear your DNS cache for Mac, Windows, and Google Chrome.

If you still can’t access the website after doing this, then you can try changing your DNS server as well. You can follow the detailed instructions in the change the DNS server step of our guide on how to fix the ‘This site can’t be reached’ error.

Reset the TCP/IP Settings

Finally, if there’s a problem with how your internet connection is configured, then renewing your TCP and IP protocol will return the connection to its default settings, which may solve the problem.

You can learn how to do this step-by-step in the reset the TCP/IP settings section of our guide on how to fix the ‘This site can’t be reached’ error.

How To Fix the ‘Failed To Load Resource’ Error

You might notice that, while your website loads, a certain resource or file doesn’t. This file could be an image or other media file, JavaScript, or a CSS stylesheet. A missing resource can cause your website to misbehave or not function properly.

When that happens, the browser will add a notice in the error console for debugging purposes.

In most cases, you would see this error in your browser’s error console when using the Inspect tool. You might see the error message Failed to load resource: net::ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED.

This error message happens when your website’s code mentions the file, but your browser is unable to download it. This can happen when there is a problem with the file itself, or the URL that points to it.

To fix the problem, you will need to either replace the resource in question or fix the URL. We offer detailed instructions for both of these in our guide on how to fix the ‘Failed to load resource’ error in WordPress.

We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED error in Chrome. You may also want to see our ultimate WordPress security guide, or check out our list of easy ways to increase your blog traffic.

If you liked this article, then please subscribe to our YouTube Channel for WordPress video tutorials. You can also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

The post How to Fix the ERR_CONNECTION_REFUSED Error in Chrome first appeared on WPBeginner.

How to Track WordPress Widget History (Easy Method)

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Do you want to track your WordPress widget history to monitor changes made to the widgets on your site?

Widgets are blocks of content that you can add to your website. They allow you to add different elements to your sidebars such as signup forms, images, recent posts, and more. Tracking widget history allows you to easily monitor changes and undo them as needed.

In this article, we’ll show you how to easily track your WordPress widget history.

Why Should You Track WordPress Widget History?

By default, WordPress comes with a feature called revisions for content types like posts and pages. Revisions make it easier to what changes were made by which user, and allow you to easily undo those changes if needed.

However, there is no built-in revisions feature for WordPress widgets.

Tracking widget history will allow you to keep track of changes made to widgets on your WordPress website. You can see which user added, removed, or changed a widget, and then you can keep those changes or undo them by editing your widget.

Similarly, if something in a widget has stopped working, then you can pinpoint which changes caused the problem and fix them manually.

That being said, let’s take a look at how to easily track widget history in WordPress.

How to Easily Track WordPress Widget History

The easiest way to track WordPress widget history is by using the Simple History plugin.

First, you need to install and activate the Simple History plugin. For help, see our guide on how to install a WordPress plugin.

Keep in mind that plugin will only track changes made after the plugin is activated.

After installing the plugin, let’s make a few changes to your WordPress widgets. Simply go to the Appearance » Widgets page and make some changes to your existing widgets.

Don’t forget to click on the Update button to save your widget changes.

After that, you can go to the Dashboard » Simple History page inside WordPress admin area.

You’ll see the changes you made to your widgets appear at the top.

Apart from widget changes, Simple History will also be able to track the following changes and user activity on your website:

theme updatesplugin installationsidebar widget historyComments historyuser loginsuser profiles

If you want to change the settings of the plugin, then you can simply head over to Settings » Simple History from the WordPress admin dashboard.

From here, you can modify the plugin settings according to your needs.

If you want to track the widget history of your WordPress site directly from the dashboard, then you can check the ‘On the dashboard’ option beside the ‘Show History’ option.

This will allow you to access Simple History by simply heading over to Dashboard » Simple History from the WordPress admin panel.

You can also select the number of items you want to show on your log page as well as your dashboard page.

Additionally, you can enable the RSS feed option by checking the box next to it if you want to receive daily log updates about your website.

Don’t forget to click the ‘Save Changes button at the bottom once you’re satisfied.

Next, you may want to switch to the Debug tab. From here, you can view all the log events displayed as Loggers.

Plus, you will also be able to see the names of tables that plugin has created in your WordPress database.

The plugin also allowss you to easily downoad the logs file to your computer.

Siply switch to the Export tab on the plugin’s settings page and choose which format you want to use for the export.

You can choose either JSON or CSV format. We recommend using the CSV option as you can open the CSV files in any spreadsheet software like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel.

After that, click on the Download Export File button and plugin will send a download file to your browser.

Here is how it would look when you open it in a spreadsheet software.

Final Thoughts

Having an activity log is very important as it helps you keep your website safe. Simple History does that for widgets and many other plugins.

Other plugins like WPForms have added revisions to WordPress form building, and WPCode has also added version control for custom code snippets.

Lastly, if you’re looking for a comprehensive activity log solution for WordPress security, then we recommend taking a look at WP Activity Log plugin.

We hope this tutorial helped you learn how to easily track your WordPress widget history. You may also want to check out our guide on how to start a podcast, and our top picks of the best WooCommerce plugins for your store.

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The post How to Track WordPress Widget History (Easy Method) first appeared on WPBeginner.