Celebrate Your Milestones
Once in a while, it’s important to stop, catch your breath, and look at your accomplishments before you move on to the next thing — to put a stake in the ground that says, “I made it this far!”
Today, we’re rolling out a couple of notifications to help you celebrate your blog activity milestones. From now on, whenever you hit a milestone for how many followers your blog has (5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and beyond), you’ll get a badge:
We also created badges to celebrate when you receive lots of likes from visitors:
In addition to celebrating your achievements, we wanted to notify you when you’ve had a particularly good day for receiving likes or new followers. From now on, we’ll let you know of your best days for such activity:
Keep in mind that we’ve only started counting your best days this March.
We all blog for different reasons. Some might chronicle their travel adventures, others might detail their culinary undertakings. If you find a post or a blog you enjoyed, like it or follow the blog — your action might send them a badge and make them smile. It’s easy to find great new blogs to follow using the Reader.
Mar 21st at 5:03 pm
Reblogged this on martin remy and commented:
Another fine feature from my fine team-mates.
Mar 21st at 5:06 pm
Great new features! That will make it much easier to keep track of all these things.
Mar 21st at 5:06 pm
how about a badge for how many site visits you have had…100, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, 5000, 10,000, etc.
Mar 21st at 5:11 pm
Reblogged this on tekArtist and commented:
Automattic Data Team FTW! I’ve really been enjoying our new notification system, and this addition makes it even more fun.
Mar 21st at 5:12 pm
Reblogged this on Paolo Belcastro.
Mar 21st at 5:12 pm
I always loved receiving gold stars. Great idea! Thanks for your amazing on-going improvements!
Mar 21st at 5:15 pm
Does anyone else see these badges? If they are right up on the page I think that will be tacky! And if so, do I have the option of turning them off?
Thanks, Lynda
Mar 21st at 5:21 pm
These badges are shown only to you, the author.
Mar 21st at 5:16 pm
badge like foursquare. I like it.
Mar 21st at 5:18 pm
Reblogged this on Jeremy Herve and commented:
Badges! Blogging is getting more and more fun every day!
Mar 21st at 5:27 pm
Very useful tips.. Keep rocking wordpress..:-)
Mar 21st at 5:27 pm
nice
Mar 21st at 5:40 pm
hey! it’s the little things that make me smile… this is one of them, thanks!
Mar 21st at 5:41 pm
Neat bonus thank you for adding it.
Mar 21st at 5:45 pm
Awesome! Any reminder of any accomplishment is heart lightening.
Mar 21st at 5:47 pm
You know, it IS a shame that we’re not given gold stars for grown-up accomplishments like we did when we were children…unless you’re a blogger, that is. I LOVE IT! What a spectacular way to celebrate blogging milestones. Thank you!
Mar 21st at 5:49 pm
Reblogged this on Russell's Rants and Raves and commented:
A fantastic new feature!
Mar 21st at 6:02 pm
Reblogged this on how2beabetterwife.
Mar 21st at 6:05 pm
This is abso-freakin-lutely awesome!! ♥
Mar 21st at 6:05 pm
This is great if your followers are able to leave comments
Mar 21st at 6:15 pm
such positive actions!
Mar 21st at 6:16 pm
I don’t like this at all. Do you have to have this option? I like the stats tab. That is enough.
Also, I didn’t get a reply to my WordPress question. should I ask it again. It has been 3 days?
Dawn
Mar 21st at 6:37 pm
For the time being, milestone badges can’t be turned off. But only you see them, and only in the little notifications menu in your toolbar.
Re: your question, if you asked your question to support (http://en.support.wordpress.com/), you should have received a response already. You can try contacting support again.
Mar 21st at 6:20 pm
Great concept! A novel way to encourage new bloggers!
Mar 21st at 6:33 pm
This is a feature I can get behind! Love it~
Mar 21st at 6:34 pm
Wow. I so don’t care. I’d actually blog less to not get the badges. Can I opt out of getting them? I don’t need the pats on the head.
Mar 21st at 6:42 pm
I’m sorry to hear that. There may be an option to turn off badges in the future, but at this time all you can do is ignore them. Fret not, only you can see them.
You could also remove “Like” buttons from your blog, that would prevent the Like badge: http://en.support.wordpress.com/likes/
Mar 21st at 6:39 pm
Have not seen any badges, only a message about reaching a milestone of 120 blogs and establishing the next goal at 125
Mar 21st at 6:46 pm
If you reach a milestone, the little notifications menu in the right of the topmost toolbar will glow orange and you’ll receive a badge. The goals milestone is from the screen you get from after you post.
Mar 21st at 6:42 pm
great catalyst. Now what happened to the world map of where your readers are from? Out of circulation so quickly? Why?
Mar 21st at 6:50 pm
If you’re referring to the “Views by Country” stats panel it’s still there, right on your stats page: http://wordpress.com/my-stats
Mar 22nd at 12:28 pm
View by country is no longer showing on my Stats panel. It was there the first week the facility was offered…
Mar 21st at 6:56 pm
This is brilliant! I’ve only just started taking this seriously – anything that encourages me to keep going is a massive help. Thanks.
Mar 21st at 6:56 pm
Reblogged this on venescu.
Mar 21st at 6:58 pm
I like this…..received my milestone today….
Mar 21st at 6:59 pm
One of the things I love about WordPress the most….the continued updates to make the site better. Thanks WordPress! I am loving all of the new upgrades
Mar 21st at 7:00 pm
D I S L I K E! It’s bad enough that we only get 9 notifications max. This will only crowd it.
Mar 21st at 7:06 pm
Sorry to hear that.
There aren’t infinite badges, though! After you receive your badge for 500 likes, there’s a 1000 badge, and maybe one more, but that’s it.
Mar 21st at 7:00 pm
The few negative responses about this new feature should be ignored and I sometimes wonder why people are so negative and also explains the state of the world today. They do not deserve a reply Joen as that is what they want-attention.
Mar 21st at 7:15 pm
Got a 100 likes one today.. I know its not much.. but it made me happy. make that, very happy.. thanks!
Mar 21st at 7:21 pm
I love this! What a wonderful way to enhance community and interaction here. Thanks for this!
Mar 21st at 7:22 pm
Thanks, this is a nice added fx…. SIGH… now if only I could get Support to figure out why I am blocked from accessing a number of WordPress blog sites, including both a number of my favorites, and MY OWN. Not only do I have to log out to see my own front page, but am blocked from reading some of the best stuff being posted, if I’m logged in. I turned in a Support request last week, and still have not heard from anyone there since they suggested I clean my cache and cookies (been there, did that, no help…all three times…) Still no word, and no help…. I don’t get it….???? Did I do something to offend someone? I did get a bit angry, on the fifth, sixth, and seventh attempts to get help in one day, but I didn’t think it was worth this kind of punishment, especially since I pay for my domain listing… so, maybe y’all can tell me what’s up with this?…. Thanks…. I’m tired of figuring out workarounds…. just to see my own site….
Mar 21st at 7:25 pm
P.S…. I really do like the new functions on the toolbar…. and I would post this help plea in the support section, but have had absolutely no response from anyone there for any of my last five reports of the same issue, so it seems pretty fruitless….. so please pass this along with my kudos for the rest of this post….
Mar 21st at 7:25 pm
Wonderful! One more stupid piece of crap and no way to turn it off.
Mar 21st at 7:28 pm
I think it’s a great idea! Thanks!
Mar 21st at 7:47 pm
This is definitely a great feature, looking forward to more blogging and more milestones!
Mar 21st at 7:50 pm
Thanks WordPressers
This is a very fun feature, that makes checking out my blog status alot of fun and exciting! You guys spoil us!
Mar 21st at 7:53 pm
very good feature
Mar 21st at 7:57 pm
love it!!!
Mar 21st at 8:13 pm
This is great.
Keep the milestone yourself…
Mar 21st at 8:14 pm
Reblogged this on spinningonthewebb and commented:
Very cool new features!
Mar 21st at 8:14 pm
This seems like so much fun! Sad thing is that there isn’t a like or follower to be found on my blog…
Mar 21st at 8:15 pm
Meaning, keep it up…LOL
Mar 21st at 8:21 pm
wow!!! bello! grazie!!!
Mar 21st at 8:24 pm
Nice feature. I’m still at the stage where I can count all this stuff on one hand, but hopefully one day it’ll come in handy!
Bug @ Bugwear
Mar 21st at 8:28 pm
This is great! Sounds fun… Am waiting for my badges!
Mar 21st at 8:34 pm
Love the idea! It is always a good thing to get a positive mention when you have done something well. It’s nice to be encouraged.
Sandy O
Mar 21st at 8:36 pm
Great idea! I have written celebratory posts to mark a milestone. I just started to blog this year and milestones help motivate me to continue blogging. I have a modest number of likes and vistors to my blog. It might be a small step in the blogosphere but its a huge step for me and milestones remind me of what I have achieved to date. After all, I am still a new kid on the block.
Mar 21st at 8:37 pm
Awesomeness! I can’t believe how much you guys continually improve wordpress. Like I’ve said past, it’s the only blogging experience I’ve ever had (I did join one once, can’t remember the name of it, but all of it seemed to be bitchin’ so I tried to close my account, couldn’t figure out how…. it was SO hard!).
Seriously, the brain storming sessions you must have must be wild. A beaut idea. I don’t mind a wee badge. Last one I had was when I was a kid, Irish dancing
Mar 21st at 8:42 pm
Great, now the only thing I need is more followers and likes
Mar 21st at 8:46 pm
sometimes the smallest things that seem so insignificant can remind us of the most important things, I think this is an assume idea
Mar 21st at 8:49 pm
Yess! Yet another way I will be congratulated on wasting time that could be spent solving world hunger.
Mar 21st at 8:50 pm
Greatness. As usual. Thank you.
Mar 21st at 8:51 pm
Oh something to make blogging even better! Love this idea and it’s fun too!
Mar 21st at 8:57 pm
That’s pretty cool. Everyone loves recognition…even if they’re the only one to see it
Mar 21st at 8:59 pm
Thanks WordPress!
Mar 21st at 9:15 pm
I so love this idea. I actually received a badge notification today and it made me feel accomplished. It’s the little things that really keep you going and motivate you to continue. Thank you for creating such an inspiring feature! Now I have something to look forward to
Mar 21st at 9:17 pm
I am confused. I closed wordpress.com and moved over to wordpress.org. I thought they were separate. No? Yes?
Mar 21st at 9:35 pm
There are differences, yes. These milestone notifications are for WordPress.com only for now.
Mar 21st at 9:19 pm
Ahh, intrinsic motivation has now received some help from extrinsic motivation.
Nice idea. Now, I’m going to go check it out and shoot for the stars, I mean badges!
Mar 21st at 9:22 pm
Thank you WordPress!
WordPress is important because it helps Georgia activists in Deep South to “Fight the Good Fight” and hopefully making a positive impact on the lives of those in need during these horrible economic times.
Many Georgia daily newspapers are run by an extreme right-wing publisher – a member of the elite 1 percent known for his disdain of the poor.
Thankfully WordPress allows us to get our message out (without charge) – when the mainstream media will not (or sometimes are forced to like the significance of Trayvon Martin Case that was driven into national headlines by social media like WordPress).
More posts coming soon on WordPress – and it appears that means more “badges” – smile.
Sincerely,
Rev. Terence A.Dicks
Augusta, Georgia
Mar 21st at 9:26 pm
Reblogged this on Living4real.
Mar 21st at 9:26 pm
yay for badges!
Mar 21st at 9:35 pm
Thank you for the recognition! It is a pleasure to get these badges as feedback!
Mar 21st at 9:37 pm
things just keep on getting better and better – watch out competition, here comes wordpress!
Mar 21st at 9:44 pm
You make blogging enjoyable and rewarding. Love WordPress.
Blog On.
Ed
Mar 21st at 9:47 pm
Reblogged this on Egill and commented:
Team Data, at it again!
Mar 21st at 9:51 pm
Thank you so much for this encouragement and inspiration. I’m glad I made the decision to go with WordPress.com for my blog.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Mar 21st at 9:55 pm
I’ve already reached a lot of these. It will be great to see these accomplishments! Thank you WordPress!
Also, thanks to all those who are following my blog, reblogging my posts, and participating in the comments! It wouldn’t be fun without you!
Mar 21st at 10:07 pm
COOL but it makes me feel really, really green compared to everyone else. Oh well, I will take my little handful of followers and be happy… sigh! TOO FUNNY!!!! Have a great day everyone from the new kid on the block!
Mar 21st at 10:19 pm
I like it! Everyone can use the encouragment!
Mar 21st at 10:33 pm
WordPress is just getting better and better. Thank you!
Mar 21st at 10:54 pm
Reading all these diverse comments has been a revelation to me. Perhaps, as writers we do not see the need to compete, just to do our best?
Mar 21st at 10:57 pm
I’m still quite new to wordpress but I really like how you keep making updates and such improving the place. This is a really good idea!!
Mar 21st at 10:57 pm
I feel like winning an olympic gold medial when I got my first badge! lol. tnx WP!!!
Mar 21st at 11:04 pm
Sorry, but it’s a bit of a pointless gimmick. Please make it so we can turn it off!
Mar 21st at 11:10 pm
Reblogged this on Tracey in Maine.
Mar 21st at 11:11 pm
This is a really nice addition. I am also glad I chose WordPress for my blog. And thanks to all my beautiful readers. Namaste
Mar 21st at 11:26 pm
Seems like a good idea, but the usual thing is ‘the proof is in the pudding’ hopefully it will be a worthwhile addition..Thank you WP
Mar 21st at 11:38 pm
I don’t care much about the idea one way or another; so, fine. Clearly many people do like it.
One thing not made clear: are we the only ones to see our “badges”? I don’t want outsiders to know my stats.
Mar 22nd at 5:53 am
The badges are only visible to you.
Mar 21st at 11:58 pm
So happy we joined WordPress! Thanks for making blogging easy and keeping us informed.
Mar 22nd at 12:05 am
One more way WordPress helps authors shine! Thanks for encouragement and ease of use. I am thrilled with WordPress!
Mar 22nd at 12:12 am
I hope to improve as I go along, I am new at this. So be patient with me.
Mar 22nd at 12:13 am
Sounds Good!
Mar 22nd at 12:14 am
Recently, wordpress.com team making a lot of improvement to the site, and a lot FASTER!
Curious to know how the wordpress.com team run. Example like any agile process like scrum, or etc that help to make this happen. Or the team just make it happen the usual method.. ?
Mar 22nd at 5:51 am
Thank you! You can read a little about how we work in this blogpost.
Mar 22nd at 1:54 pm
Thank for the link. Look like p2 is the medium of communication for different geo employees.
Mar 22nd at 12:27 am
a little validation keeps us going and benchmarks are good cause for reflection. thanks.
Mar 22nd at 12:31 am
this is a good idea. thanks!
Mar 22nd at 12:40 am
Nothing better than a pat on the back. I was welcomed this morning to an award on my Dashboard – made my day. My award number was modest, but I’m curious as to how high the numbers go up to?
Marti
Mar 22nd at 5:45 am
There’s a little secret if you get over a thousand, but they stop shortly after 1000!
Mar 22nd at 12:51 am
I love the idea! I don’t think I will earn many yet, but it will feel great when I do!
Mar 22nd at 12:55 am
Boy, you guys work very hard, I’m glad to be one of your family. wow….. and thanx
Mar 22nd at 12:57 am
Please, no badges!!!!!! I love using Word Press. I think it is great. It is fantastic to have all of these facilities, and the liberty to start little websites for all sorts of different things and projects. Word Press is a wonderfult tool and long may Word Press live. The badge thing is so much not getting it. It it is so much missing the point. I don’t blog for badges. I blog for getting out information about all kinds of things that matter to me. I blog for my projects and my audiences. Those are what matter to me I don’t bog for a row of gold stars!!!!!! Now, on top of stupid comments every time I do another post you are constantly going to leave me irritated and patronised with gold badges. I am a ratty Brit. We are a cold blooded lot, perhaps, but we don’t go in for all this head patting and sweetie awarding – not after we get out of first year Infant School anyway!!! Yes, please can I , also, turn the bloody badges off, or you will hear me muttering ‘Grrrr go AWAY! from the other side of the Atlantic. How do I do that?
Mar 22nd at 9:46 am
I’m from the cool side of the Atlantic myself, so I can certainly relate, but I like these badges. They’re shiny and you don’t get them very often. Perhaps I still haven’t processed that Chewie didn’t get a medal at the end of Star Wars when he so rightfully deserved one. And I think that if you’ve received 100 likes on your posts, so do you!
We are listening, though. For now, you can’t disable badges. But you can disable the Like button, that’ll prevent you from getting a Like badge. Keep in mind though, these badges are only visible to you, and they are few and far between.
Mar 22nd at 1:03 am
wow, this is cool…but for newcomers like myself, it may take a few more weeks or months to get to the first milestone.
Mar 22nd at 3:09 am
Keep blogging and telling your friends about your blog! The milestones may come sooner than you think.
Mar 22nd at 1:26 am
Ahaha just saw it appear and I was completely happy and motivated . Thanks again , love it !
Mar 22nd at 2:07 am
If only the Reader didn’t go wonky at times, skipping blogs I’m subscribed to, sometimes making me and my fellow bloggers re-subscribe …
Mar 22nd at 2:11 am
A good motivator to keep us going!
Mar 22nd at 2:26 am
I’ll look forward to all those fun badges, thank you! Also, what are the parameters to being feautured on your site? Thank you!
Mar 22nd at 3:06 am
Five ways to get featured on Freshly Pressed
Mar 24th at 5:01 am
Thank you Martin!
Mar 22nd at 2:37 am
WordPress gets better everyday. I love this new feature.
Mar 22nd at 2:41 am
fantastic idea and its a useful feature to have.