What to do when you don't see new posts on your blog

UPDATE 7 November 2006: There is a tip to add a ? to the end of the URL to see updated post, but I have found that it does not always work. I had to resort to viewing the post/blog with different browsers or click F5, shift+F5 or ctrl+F5.

"I can't get any new posts to show up on my blog. They show up as having published, but won't post to my blog."

Questions like these crop up very frequently on forum. Sometimes, changes have been changed to the template and have been previewed, saved and republished successfully, but the changes are not reflected on the blog when you view it. When you face problem like these, perhaps they are just due to a cache problem. Try adding a ? to the end of the blog URL into the address bar and press the ENTER key. (This tip was given by Rose DesRochers). For example, like this: http://bloggerfordummies.blogspot.com/?. Or press ctrl+F5 or ctrl+Refresh. If you see the new posts or the new changes, then it is confirmed it is only due to a cache problem. I personally have used it before, and most of the time it works, but sometimes, it doesn't. In that case, you can try other methods.

There is another way to test to see if your problem is due to browser cache. Change to another browser to view that blog. If you see the new post/s, then it is due to browser cache. BTW if you are like the majority of surfers who use only Internet Explorer, this is a good excuse to add other browsers to your computer. Install FireFox, especially FireFox with the Google toolbar. You can read more about FireFox and also install it from this site: What is FireFox and why you should be using it (close new window to get back to this page). If you need more convincing, particularly if you are a Blogger blogger, have a look at the following posts:
How to get the PageRank of your blog and also other sites easily (close new window to get back to this page)
What to do when you can't see new post/s or changes to the template (close new window to get back to this page)
A better way to do spell check for Blogger blogs Click "BACK" button to get back to this page)
Testing spell check for Blogger Beta (close new window to get back to this page).

If it is a browser cache problem, you have nothing to worry about as others will be able to view the new posts. The problem only exists on your computer. If you want that resolved too, try clearing the cache (temporary Internet files). See bottom of the post on how to do that. It is a good idea to occasionally clear your cache, but do keep in mind that you may temporarily have to deal with minor inconveniences like a page downloading slower, etc.

If it isn't a cache problem, check to see that your new post have not been saved as a draft, because if it is saved as a draft, it will not be shown. The solution then is obvious. Publish that draft.

Clearing the cache

Internet Explorer

If you are using IE6, to clear the cache, on the menu bar, click TOOLS, an int the drop-down menu, select "Internet Options". The Internet Options box will open to the General tab (see screenshot)

In the section :Temporary Internet Files", click the DELETE FILES button.

FireFox

On the menu bar click TOOLS, then click on CLEAR PRIVATE DATA from the pull down menu, (see screenshot below):

When you click that, a pop-up will appear. Tick "CACHE". You may also clear things like browsing history, etc, but it may mean that the convenience of being able to select a page already visited before from a list of choice as you begin to type in an URL in the address bar will no longer be present.


Books from Amazon

Blogging: Genius Strategies for Instant Web Content by Biz Stone, former Senior Specialist on the Google Blogger team

The Rational Guide to Google Blogger (Technical accuracy is assured by Biz Stone, Former Senior Specialist on the Google Blogger Team)

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