Customize your blog’s Fediverse representation

When other Fediverse platforms (like Mastodon) display your blog, they use certain settings to create a representation of your content and identity. While each platform may display this information slightly differently, customizing these settings helps make your blog’s presence more engaging and rich across the various Fediverse platforms. This guide will show you each setting.

Your avatar is the small image that represents your blog across different Fediverse platforms. ActivityPub automatically uses your site icon as this avatar, which appears next to your posts and comments when they’re displayed on platforms like Mastodon or other Fediverse services.

To change your avatar, navigate to Settings → General and update the site icon setting here. A clear, recognizable image works best as it helps Fediverse users identify your content in their feeds.

The header image is a large banner that appears at the top of your blog’s representation when viewed on Fediverse platforms. This image helps make your blog visually distinctive and can reflect your blog’s theme or content focus.

To add or change your Fediverse header image, take the following steps:

1. Visit your site’s dashboard that has Fediverse enabled.
2. Navigate to Settings → ActivityPub.
3. Click on the “Blog profile” tab.
4. Use the “Manage header image” setting to upload a custom header image that represents your blog.
5. Click the “Save changes” button at the bottom of the screen.

With an image uploaded, you can click “Remove Header Image” if you prefer not to display a header on your Fediverse profile.

This is a short bio or description of your blog that appears when fediverse users view your content. By default, the plugin uses your site’s tagline, but you can customize it to better introduce your blog to potential followers across the fediverse. Enter text that clearly describes what your blog is about, which helps potential followers understand your content focus and decide whether to follow you.

Extra fields allow you to add additional information that will be visible when Fediverse users view your blog. These fields let you share more details such as links to other websites, personal information, or any other details you want Fediverse platforms to display about your blog.

1. Visit your site’s dashboard that has Fediverse enabled.
2. Navigate to Settings → ActivityPub.
3. Click on the “Blog profile” tab.
4. Scroll down to the “Extra fields” section and:
   • Click “Edit” to modify existing fields.
   • Click “Add new” to create additional custom fields.
   • Click “Manage all” to organize your extra fields.
5. Click the “Save changes” button at the bottom of the screen.

Account aliases provide a way to link your current Fediverse identity with previous accounts you may have had. When migrating from another Fediverse account to your WordPress blog, aliases help transfer your followers to your new identity, making the transition seamless for your audience.

1. Visit your site’s dashboard that has Fediverse enabled.
2. Navigate to Settings → ActivityPub.
3. Click on the “Blog profile” tab.
4. Scroll down to the “Account aliases” section.
5. Enter the URL of your previous Fediverse account (one URL per line).
6. Complete the migration process from your old account.

This is particularly useful if you’re moving from a Mastodon account to your WordPress blog, or if you change domains. The migration is safe, reversible, and doesn’t affect anything until you initiate it from your old account.