derricksrandomviews

It should not if you keep the posts url slugs all the same as the 7.0 post.

I did not read far enough down the gallery block help guide, gallery blocks for non circle members can be added to any area of a 7.1 site where gallery sections are not supported including: 
Blog posts Individual events Product items' Additional Info It's not possible to add gallery blocks to any area with page sections, including:
Layout pages Collection landing pages (blog pages, events pages, portfolio pages, store pages) Portfolio sub-pages Footers Circle members can add gallery blocks to all content areas in 7.1. Once they add the block, anyone with permissions to edit site content can edit the block. To learn about becoming a Circle member, visit Squarespace Circle.
I must confess that since I didn't know how it works, I assumed something was broken. 
 

I am a bit confused here. I can add a normal gallery block to a portfolio project page section as well as a standard page section. I have complete control over the block, columns, layout all the normal things. It works with both Fluid Engine and with the Circle Labs opt-out of FE option enabled. I think that some 7.1 users may not have the gallery block option, I was sent a screenshot of a block menu and it did not appear. I have not been able to discover any part of 7.1 where you should be able to add a gallery block and the option is not there.  Is it possible that when the block was added to 7.1 some time ago that not all 7.1 sites were updated?

I used to use mailchimp for RSS feed but it quit on me. I have not been able to restore the service. I switched to follow.it which used to call itself Specific Feeds.  Emails from them are not quite as  good looking as Mailchimp, but works great. My subscribers seem to be okay with it as well. Easy to sign up and  a subscriber can elect to receive a notification of a new blog post or receive the whole post in an email reader format. Give it a try on my site if you wish. 
my random views

It would be easier to put the image in the footer as opposed to trying to come up with code to have the block cross that invisible line between the section/page and the footer. If you want the footer to have a background image and look like part of the page this may work for you here:
 

Thanks Derek

You simply create a file link, which can be text, button, or image. Directions and the video guide are here:
https://support.squarespace.com/hc/en-us/articles/205813928-Uploading-and-managing-files

You can't in reality back up a Squarespace site, Squarespace is a closed system,  but you can duplicate most of it. That feature is on your account page under the three dots on the right. The domain stays the same. Domains can be changed, however, or added to the duplicated site as stated here:
Duplicate a site

Have you tried an Archive Block? Archive blocks can display content by date, tag, category or author.
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You can do it easily by follow the video instruction.
Loom Message - 30 March 2023.mp4

That worked perfectly, thanks Derrick!

What do you mean by updating automatically? Are you referring to having a post show up on a page other than your main blog page once it is published? A blog summary block updates as soon as a post is published. And it can be set as a  carousel. 

Cracked it! Thanks again for your help.

To check your site version go to Home > Help in the editor. Down at the bottom of the panel it will show your site version.
There is no requirement to update to v7.1 unless you want access to FE. The Classic Editor is a perfectly good editor. I actually prefer it to FE.

In your case, a 7.0 site will be the closest to the look you have now, here are my suggestions:
https://wexley-demo.squarespace.com/ the gallery grid can be arranged in a number of different ways this is one I built. https://christinegregoryphotography.com/ This site has a landing page. 
https://avenue-demo.squarespace.com/ is also a good design for photographers/videographers, and bloggers like myself here: my random views I am also using a landing page template, separate from the site template,  as the home page, something only 7.0 has without having to code a page to make it. 
https://wells-demo.squarespace.com/ has a classic look for photographers and artists. 
https://flatiron-demo.squarespace.com/ very good-looking template, with full-page galleries, and no footer. 
https://carson-demo.squarespace.com/ keeps the basic gallery structure, but if you want to go big and bold with your portfolio this is the template to use. 
All have the traditional gallery look, as opposed to scrolling sections. Everything looks very much the same on mobile but why not have something classic and a bit unique on the desktop? That is where photographs should be viewed most often in my opinion. 

I may have answered my own question by stumbling around in the blog post options. There's a calendar at the bottom of the pane for selecting the date!

Hi,
Thx!!!!, it also works on my 7.1 site

Yes use a summary block on your home page with one or more items.  Set  it for featured posts.  Every new post marked featured will automatically show up.
 

Good code, but does require a business or commerce billing plan. 

Please see this post: 
When you are ready to launch your new site, you can disconnect your domain from the original website and connect it to the new site.
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Perfect, thanks! That worked well. 

That was it exactly, it is a Summary Block, not an actual blog page.  Your comment had me look into how it was implemented on the page and there I could see that it was a Summary and I could see the maximum of 8.  I increased that and all is well.
Thank you so much!  I really appreciate your fast response.

Exactly where are you trying to add this block?  You are missing more blocks than just the image gallery which is currently available in 7.1  for pages, portfolio project pages, and blog posts. The gallery block was not originally in 7.1 but was added back some time ago. You should have it. 

I use it for private pages, I use the url for that page in emails, social media, but don't want it on my nav bar. I also put my blog page in the unlinked section while using a summary block page as the front facing blog page. 

Squarespace sites can only be hosted by Squarespace. You cannot host it elsewhere.