Store Blog
Share updates, tutorials, and news with your customers through your store's blog.
Overview
Pixlpay's built-in blog feature lets you:
- Create and publish blog posts with a rich text editor
- Add featured images and media
- Optimize posts for search engines with meta tags
- Schedule posts or save as drafts
- Feature important posts
- Track post performance with reading time estimates
Your blog appears at /blog on your storefront and helps with SEO, customer engagement, and building trust.
Creating a Blog Post
- Go to Marketing > Blog Posts
- Click Create Post
- Fill in your post details
Basic Information
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Title | The main heading of your post (required) |
| Slug | URL-friendly version (e.g., my-first-post) |
| Author Name | Name displayed as the post author |
| Excerpt | Brief summary (up to 500 characters) shown in previews |
TIP
The slug auto-generates from your title. You can customize it for better SEO. For example, "How to Get Started" becomes how-to-get-started.
Writing Content
Use the rich text editor to format your blog post:
Formatting Options
- Headings (H1 through H6)
- Bold, italic, underline, strikethrough
- Bulleted and numbered lists
- Blockquotes for callouts
- Code blocks for technical content
- Links and images
- Tables for structured data
- Horizontal rules for section breaks
Editor Modes
- Visual Mode - WYSIWYG editor with toolbar
- HTML Mode - Direct HTML editing for advanced users
TIP
Write in Visual Mode for ease of use. Switch to HTML Mode only if you need custom styling or advanced features.
Featured Image
Add a visual header to your post:
- Click the upload area or drag and drop an image
- Supported formats: PNG, JPG, GIF
- Maximum file size: 2MB
- Recommended size: 1200x630px for best social media sharing
The featured image appears:
- At the top of the blog post page
- In blog post previews on your blog index
- As the social media thumbnail when shared
WARNING
Images larger than 2MB will be rejected. Optimize your images before uploading for faster page loads.
Publishing Options
Status
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Draft | Post is saved but not visible to customers |
| Published | Post is live on your storefront at /blog/your-slug |
Draft Posts
- Perfect for work in progress
- Only visible to you in the dashboard
- Can be edited and published later
Published Posts
- Immediately visible to all storefront visitors
- Appears in your blog index at
/blog - Can be unpublished to hide temporarily
Featured Posts
Toggle "Featured Post" to highlight important content. Featured posts:
- Display with a star badge in your dashboard
- Can be shown prominently in blog widgets
- Useful for announcements or popular content
TIP
Use featured posts sparingly. Too many featured posts dilute their importance.
SEO Settings
Optimize your blog posts for search engines and social media.
Meta Title
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Character Limit | 70 characters |
| Default | Uses post title if left empty |
| Purpose | Appears in search engine results |
Best Practices
- Include your main keyword
- Keep under 60 characters for best display
- Make it compelling to encourage clicks
Meta Description
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Character Limit | 160 characters |
| Default | Uses excerpt if left empty |
| Purpose | Appears below title in search results |
Best Practices
- Summarize the post's value
- Include a call-to-action
- Use 150-155 characters for best display
OG Image
Custom image for social media sharing (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn).
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Default | Uses featured image if left empty |
| Format | Full URL to an image |
| Recommended Size | 1200x630px |
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Leave OG Image empty to automatically use your featured image. Only set a custom OG Image if you want different images for social sharing vs. your blog post header.
Managing Posts
Blog Posts Dashboard
View all your posts with key statistics:
Statistics Cards
- Total Posts - All posts (published and drafts)
- Published - Posts visible on your storefront
- Drafts - Posts saved but not published
- Featured - Posts marked as featured
Filtering Posts
| Filter | Options |
|---|---|
| Search | Search by title or author name |
| Status | All, Published, Draft |
| Featured | All, Featured Only, Not Featured |
Quick Actions
For each post, you can:
- Edit - Modify content and settings
- Publish/Unpublish - Change visibility status
- Feature/Unfeature - Toggle featured status
- Delete - Permanently remove the post
WARNING
Deleting a post is permanent and cannot be undone. Consider unpublishing instead if you might need it later.
Viewing Your Blog
Blog Index
Customers can view all your published posts at:
https://your-store.pixlpay.net/blogOr if you have a custom domain:
https://yourdomain.com/blogIndividual Posts
Each post is accessible at:
https://your-store.pixlpay.net/blog/your-post-slugPreview Published Posts
Click View Post when editing a published post to see how it appears to customers.
Blog Post Features
Reading Time
Automatically calculated based on content length:
- Average reading speed: 200 words per minute
- Displayed on blog post pages
- Helps readers decide if they have time to read
Social Sharing
Each blog post includes share buttons for:
- Twitter - Share with a tweet
- Facebook - Post to timeline
- Copy Link - Copy URL to clipboard
Post Metadata
Displayed on each post:
- Author name (if provided)
- Publication date
- Reading time estimate
Content Guidelines
Writing Tips
Structure
- Use clear, descriptive headings
- Break content into scannable sections
- Keep paragraphs short (3-4 sentences)
- Use bullet points for lists
Engagement
- Address readers directly
- Include images and media
- Add internal links to products
- End with a call-to-action
SEO
- Use keywords naturally in headings
- Include relevant terms in first paragraph
- Add alt text to images
- Link to related posts
Content Ideas
Product-Related
- Product tutorials and guides
- Feature announcements
- Update logs and changelogs
- Behind-the-scenes content
Community-Focused
- Customer spotlights
- Community events
- User-generated content
- Success stories
Educational
- How-to guides
- Best practices
- Industry news
- Tips and tricks
Best Practices
Publishing Frequency
- Consistency matters more than volume
- Start with 1-2 posts per month
- Increase frequency as you build a backlog
- Quality over quantity always
Post Length
| Type | Word Count |
|---|---|
| Quick Updates | 300-500 words |
| Standard Posts | 800-1,200 words |
| In-Depth Guides | 1,500-2,500 words |
| Long-Form Content | 2,500+ words |
SEO Optimization
On-Page SEO
- Include target keyword in title
- Use keyword in first 100 words
- Add keyword to meta description
- Use related keywords in headings
Technical SEO
- Optimize images (compress before upload)
- Use descriptive slugs
- Internal linking to other posts/products
- External links to authoritative sources
Social Media
Cross-Promotion
- Share new posts on your social channels
- Create graphics for each post
- Encourage comments and discussion
- Repurpose content for different platforms
Timing
- Publish during peak traffic hours
- Consider your audience's timezone
- Test different days of the week
- Monitor analytics for patterns
Troubleshooting
Post Not Showing on Storefront
Check these common issues:
- Status - Ensure post is set to "Published"
- Publication Date - Verify
published_atis in the past - Store Settings - Check if blog is enabled
- Cache - Clear browser cache or try incognito mode
Images Not Uploading
File Size
- Maximum 2MB per image
- Compress large images before uploading
- Use tools like TinyPNG or Squoosh
File Format
- Supported: PNG, JPG, GIF
- Not supported: WebP, SVG, BMP
- Convert unsupported formats first
Slug Already Exists
If you see "slug already exists" error:
- Another post is using that slug
- Change the slug to something unique
- Add a number or date:
my-post-2024
Content Not Saving
Common Causes
- Session timeout - Save frequently
- Large images embedded in content
- Special characters in title
- Network connectivity issues
Solutions
- Copy content before submitting
- Upload images separately first
- Remove special characters
- Check internet connection
Related Features
- Email Marketing - Send blog posts to subscribers
- Social Proof - Promote blog content with popups
- SEO Settings - Configure site-wide SEO
- Custom Domain - Use your own domain for blogs
TIP
Link to your blog posts in email campaigns to drive traffic and engagement. Featured posts make excellent newsletter content.