Mar 23, 2014 / Community Pool

Community Pool

The Community Pool is for those of you looking for input, whether on post ideas, writing, blog design and layout, or anything else. If you have a post, page, or idea you want to bounce off someone, leave a comment. Your fellow bloggers can then click through and offer input either on your site, or in the comments here (feel free to indicate which you’d prefer).

Read on for the ground rules and to leave a comment . .

  • You’ll get the best feedback if you can be as specific as possible about what you’d like people to respond to or where you’re struggling.
  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. We’re here to help and support one another, not to beat anyone down.
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • To keep from losing your place in the comment thread while you visit others’ blogs, right-click on a link to open it in a new tab or window.
  • No running on the deck.

Photo by t_a_i_s.

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    1. Over all I think it’s a nice blog but having a cockroach jump off the page the first thing- not my cup of tea. 🙂 Nice job though.

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      1. Nope, I do those regularly. On the “Daily Prompt” we get a prompt for a blog post, but we also used to get a photography prompt with that too. Thanks Diane. 🙂

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      1. Thank you. For checking it out, and for following along. I only hope I make it worth your while. I will give it my all.
        😉

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    2. Don’t we all. 🙂 I don’t think we can “make” anyone follow our blogs. It’s a matter of interest as to what we’re writing. It does get frustrating at times but don’t give up.

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  8. I’ve been blogging for some time now and I have continued with the same theme. I’m looking to change it so it will really nice if you could give me some feedback related to that. I would really like to know is it comfortable for you while reading.

    PS- I will love to give feedback to your work as well 🙂

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    1. the theme of ua blog is altogether good. it is worth noticing.. but its just that one thing that makes the posts difficult to read…= u change the layout from 2 post layout to single post layout..and then it will be all okay

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      2. no not about the sidebars but about the way ua posts are displayed… they are displayed in 2 columns.. instead u should make it one column layout….

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      6. matlab ki aapkay home page pe sirf do chaar pages hi detail main display horahay hain baqee posts detailed posts nai hain .. sirf kch hi detail hai un main

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      13. I went through your blog and there are real problems that you should rectify –
        1.Post title are leading you to dailypost[dot]wordpress[dot]com don’t come and paste the header.
        2.Please check the links on the right hand side (the about me and linkedin ) they should link to your public profile. First sign out from those services then copy the link of those profiles and use it.

        Have a great day 🙂

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      14. actually i had ma accounts on linked in and about.me but i ahve deleted them.. so srry for that… and for your first point i couldnt understand it.. sorry

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      15. The heading of your posts are linked to other sites. When someone clicks on the heading, the post page should open up instead I was redirected to dailypost[dot]wordpress[dot]com 🙂

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      16. the posts that lead u to daily posts are the only posts that are linked to daily post.. otherwise ma other posts dont open like that… just the posts linked t daily post open like that

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    2. You clearly know what you’re doing, and you’re doing it well (it looks like several thousands of people agree with me, based on the page view counter!) but do you have to have so much… stuff? For lack of a better word? I feel a little overwhelmed when I look at your page. That can just be fixed with some spring cleaning. Good luck with whatever changes you make, but don’t change too much becasue you’ve clearly figured out the magic formula for this!
      — TheAnsible
      http://jperez600aday.wordpress.com/

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      1. HI, Thanks for your wonderful feedback and I will definitely try to fix the things you said. Though I would have to figure out what stuff should not be there. WordPress is definitely a good community to be a part of 🙂 😀

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      2. I went through some of your posts and they are really well written. The theme looks great. Few suggestions –

        1.Do add the like button it engages more people.
        2.Since your blog is not on a general theme like travel or food. i think you should try to find bloggers who write about similar topics. (Use reader for this)
        3.Add your social network profiles to your blog at least twitter to start with 🙂

        Have a great day 🙂 😀

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  9. Ahoy there fellow bloggers! I would really like some feedback on my blog! (click on my username) don’t hold back any of your thoughts. Is it visually appealing? Are the posts interesting?
    Thanks a lot to those of you who take the trouble to visit my blog and give me any sorts of tips 🙂 follow if you like the blog! thanks!

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      1. Thanks a lot! 😀 I visited your blog too, and I have one suggestion – I think you should keep the background static, and no scrolling. also, if it’s possible, change the background image. But that’s only my suggestion. It’s obviously entirely unto you =))

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  13. Always appreciate feedback about any part of my blog, but especially the What I’ve Been Thinking About category. Would love to hear your thoughts!!! Justashyguy.WordPress.com Thanks!

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  15. I would love feedback in my comment sections of my blog regarding how I am doing as an online persona. How well do my posts reflect who I am/draw readers in? Thanks to any of you who help a sister out.

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  16. Hi everyone! I want to change the look of my blog and would love some tips: what do you hate most about the design of my blog now? How would you change the layout, colours, widgets… to make it better? Any feedback much appreciated!

    And a question for Michelle Weber: has the scheduling of the community pool changed? I noticed it was published several hours later than the usual time…

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    1. I find it okay… unless you might want to make the color more prominent… and maybe add a ‘recent posts’ and or ‘top posts and pages’ widgets… I would put them up top somewhere ..where they are readily able to be seen.. then readers may go and read some of them when they land on your site.. Just a couple of thoughts.. Diane

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    2. I liked it. If you add more color it may detract from you writing. Experiment with it but may I suggest you decide where you want the focus. Good job.

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  18. Hello! This is my first blog, and I’m looking for some feedback on how my writing has translated from writing personal emails about my excursions to writing for a broader audience. Also looking at the lengths of the posts would be helpful.

    Thanks!

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    2. I agree with Sue. You’ve got great stuff. Not only is it intersting, it’s well-written. You could teach other new bloggers a thing or two! If you’re truly looking for critique, I find the scolling photo bar under the header to be a little distracting, but it’s not so annoying that it keeps me from reading. Overall, I’m very impressed.
      — TheAnsible
      http://jperez600aday.wordpress.com/

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      1. Thank you both! While perhaps not so constructive for the writing, certainly an ego boost. I agree about the slider, I’ve looked into removing it, but have gotten no response//success.

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    1. Navigating is pretty easy so that’s good. Personally, I’d reduce the size of the header image. I found it a little jarring given that it is the first thing I see when I go onto the site.

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  22. Hello. I am wondering about purchasing my own domain, so I can drop the ‘wordpress’ from my web address. Has anyone done this and what Are the pros and cons? Many thanks

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    1. unless you’re very ‘tech savy’ and independent as far a figuring out how to do things on your site.. I wouldn’t suggest changing. I’ve known several bloggers who did so and then came back to .com just my thoughts… Diane

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      1. Thank you Diane. I think you are referring to going self hosted. I have not got for the stomach for that. I think changing my domain name is something a bit different – off to check now. Thanks again.

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      1. Thank you. Is it really straight forward ie I literally just buy the domain name? Realise i will have to update profiles on social media, but other than that – any glitches? Ie do followers have to re follow you?

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      3. Thank you very much. Going to do it tonight. I have been blogging for six months this month and promised myself An update of some sort if I made it – this will be that update 🙂 .

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      4. I felt the same way. I’ve been blogging for 3 years but was on blogger before…I changed over to WordPress 6 months ago as well! Wish you all the best! 🙂

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      5. I have no experience of blogger but I am getting on really well with wordpress. hope you are liking wordpress life too. Oh, just seen you are following my blog 🙂 thank you for popping by. Going to check yours out now – hope to have more conversations with you over there soon .

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      2. When I see language like that right off the bat I go no further. So yes, the comic. You may have good stuff but I won’t be back.

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  24. I started blogging since January 20 and am fairly new to blogging. I have requested comments about my posts, but haven’t got any response. I would be grateful if someone could please share some inputs on a couple of my posts. I don’t have much inflow of readers. While I spend a great deal of my time reading and commenting on other’s blog’s, I don’t find similar gestures on my blog. Is there a protocol or something…have read through the commenting guidelines as well but cudn’t find myself violating anything!

    My desire is to post engaging short stories on my blog, posts that convey the profound meanings of life. But if I do not have any viewership, i’m not sure of the point. Please advise how do I go or not go forward. Here are a few (short) links if you could comment on about your overall experience, it will do me a lot good:

    http://wp.me/p4i2SH-7A
    http://wp.me/p4i2SH-4V
    http://wp.me/p4i2SH-w
    http://wp.me/p4i2SH-4B

    Please feel free to go through the entire blog at: http://thepreciousawakening.wordpress.com/

    Thank you so much for your time and effort! Look forward to hearing your critiques.

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    1. Hi…I didn’t read your posts through… but I did scan them (actually just to let you know I’m going through some issues re fatigue..that’s why) I’ll just give you some thoughts.

      I noticed your ‘About’ page you direct people to your fb page… Some bloggers (including me) don’t combine fb with their blogs usually.. maybe the odd exception I post one of mine there but usually not so people may not want to go to facebook. I would put some general information about you and what you hope to write about on your About page.

      I was wondering if you are using tags and categories effectively…. that’s how other new bloggers will often find your blog …. when they scan through WordPress topics.. they will look for example in what they are interested in reading. Some like fiction… others don’t but may like humor… or ‘life’ or ‘love’ or ‘family’ etc etc.

      When someone ‘likes’ or ‘comments’ or ‘follows’ on one of my posts I usually go to have a look at theirs’ but if I don’t really enjoy what they basically write about or can’t relate at all I don’t automatically ‘follow’ them although I may ‘like’ or comment on ‘one’ of their posts. Some people ‘follow’ everyone who follows them but I don’t do so automatically because I want to be able to relate to the blogs I follow.

      When I write … if I write fiction I make sure and ‘tag’ the post fiction BUT for me… I also put it in the title…. so if my readers aren’t interested in fiction they can bypass that post. eg I may title it ‘ The Shadow Knows’ – Fiction or if it’s a poem I do the same ‘The Shadow Knows’ – Poem That also helps if you want to ever find all the poems you’ve written … you could click on your ‘Category’ or ‘Tag Cloud’ (I don’t remember whether you have them…. You can look on my site if you want to get an idea…. of what I mean.

      You should definitely write about what makes you happy…it’s your blog… Just try and let people know what that is … by tags, categories and your about page.

      I have my site set up so my home page displays may latest post on top followed by the next latest and so on… maximum 10 per page so people can scroll down at a glance … again go and see what I mean on my site…. If they want to comment however or like they will click on the title of the one they want to ..
      I don’t think you have your settings that way .. You have only your last one displaying. If you want to know how to change that ask and I’ll let you know….

      I’ve given you a lot to digest.. but felt like I wanted to help in some way if I could…. hope it does…. REMEMBER TAGS and CATEGORIES …. Diane

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    1. Hello! We love your enthusiasm in the Community Pool. When diving into the pool, please don’t post multiple comments with duplicate links to the same post on your site. That’s considered spammy and we have to delete them.

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  30. Re-blog query please – I would like to ask if anyone else feels this way. We have control over comments ie editing, deleting and deciding if someone can comment on our posts however…re-blogs we have no control over. I feel honored if I’ve been chatting with like minded person etc and they decide to re blog something of mine however…if it’s someone I know nothing about, no exchange, their blog is not on the same vein etc as mine I might not want my stuff re blogged on there. Ie I write about my personal experience of pain, a man just re blogged four or so of my posts woth no ask or words of exchange, I check his blog and it’s all re posts of other peoples work yet it seems he has no affiliation with what he’s re blogging so perhaps choosing emotive subjects to gain readers idk but anyhow I would love to have control over my work in this way, does anyone else agree? Is there anything I can do other than asking them to remove my work? Will wordpress ever review this? Thanks for any advice 🙂

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    1. I wish there was a way to do this as well! Maybe write at the top of the post ‘please ask me before you reblog this’ at least that way when it is reblogged the readers will see that first!

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      1. I think I might have to do that. Someone suggested taking out the re blog option but that affects everyone and my whole blog. I don’t want that as I don’t mind re blogs if it is from someone I know or someone with similar vein blog you know?

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      2. I like reblogs from someone who has clearly done it for a reason – if my content matches theirs and they’ve left a comment. I think it should be basic etiquette that someone asks first though!

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    2. I think if you ‘allow’ the re-blog button on your posts… anyone can do so… You could remove it for any specific posts you definitely don’t want reblogged …. You can always check the wordpress.com support for more information but I think that’s the way it is. Diane

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      1. Thanks but I don’t mind re blogging when done in what I call a ‘polite’ and or ‘logical’ way. Ie I either have a rapport or someone ‘gets’ what I’m writing has a similar genre and wants to share. This guy I’ve never spoken to and all he does is re blog. If I remove my re blog button it disables this feature for my whole blog. Thank you for responding though it is appreciate x

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      3. Ah yes I saw that how uncanny at the same time I was grumbling hehe, it is useful, doesn’t solve it unfortunately but thank you for thinking of me. Unless WP changes reblogging rights I just have to swallow it up, though annoying when done in a non mindful way, hehe. xx

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