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. I don’t see where you need to “jazz it up.” You have good book description, cover, and praises. I may borrow a couple of your ideas for my books. Well done.

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    1. My old eyes have a real hard time reading small font and white on black is brutal! I opened it , went “whooooe” and closed it. Sorry. I’m sure the content is very good but……..

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    2. I like your top image. It seems to be a good fit for the nature of your blog. Personally I like the black. As for content, since it’s about you, anyone reading it is hardly in a position to complain

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  4. Ummm JEALOUS that you get to be in such a beautiful place! I love your pictures and the colors in your background. One small critique I have would be to change up your header. It is a bit difficult to read against the background

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    1. Hi Notsosouthernproper. Thanx for all the good feedback. OK I will try to change that 🙂

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    1. I liked the layout but I didn’t see anything about you. It’s always interesting to read a little about the blogger. 🙂 Nice job though.

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  8. Guys, I’m in need of some advice. If anyone could take about two minutes out of their VIIS (very important Internet surfing), I’d appreciate some advice on how to make my blog overall a more attractive, easily accessible, and much more successful website (ha. ha.) Hard critiquing is in order, blog-family. Thank you. Saludos!

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  10. So I migrated my site from .com to .org today! It was quite the process, but I’m excited that I can now make some changes and possibly consider monetization. The first thing I want to do, though, is to get a new theme. I really want to make full use of the screen (I feel like Coraline has too much blank space) so I’m looking for one that will allow me to have a wide content area on the left, and plus room on the right for my existing widgets plus some ad space. I would be willing to pay up to about $100- any suggestions that would work with my blog?

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Hi guys! I would like your opinions on an “about” page. Is it essential for attracting readers? I have difficulty coming up with an “about” column that I won’t take down in a week or less. Also, do you think my blog has too many widgets? I would also love any criticism on any of my posts! Thanks!
    http://shawnong.wordpress.com/

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      1. hmmmm 😛 That’s a bit tricky cause even I am not sure what I post about. I simply write whatever comes to my mind or any issue which bugs me for days. I’m not sure that would make for an interesting about page:(

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  17. Hello everyone. I just started my blog a week ago and made my first post today, yay for progress! I would really appreciate it if you knowledgeable folk would read it and maybe comment on how to improve my writing or ideas for other posts. I would also love to read other peoples posts so yeah…
    http://roxytome.wordpress.com/
    Thank you 🙂

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    1. Hi! Maybe you could write something about you in the “about” page. It’ll be interesting to know more about the person behind the blog 🙂

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  18. I am just starting my blog and hope to catch some busy families and offer some great tips for easy meals and desserts using recipes posted by various bloggers and simplifying them for the busy chef in the family. This is my work in progress blog and would like feedback if it’s easy to follow and navigate

    http://chasenchanceranch.wordpress.com/

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    1. As a kitchen idiot I always appreciate easy recipes with simple ingredients. Your blog looks like something that will be very helpful to me!

      It might be nice if you used a different category for things like “Chicken”, “Dessert”, “Beef”, etc. That will make it very easy to find recipes for certain things. It’s not an issue just yet but will become one as you post more.

      I liked how you interspersed the pot pie recipe with photos, the way it appears made it a little hard to read for me (the instructions continue right beside the picture, I would find it easier if they started on the next line). I don’t know how you could do it but I would like to be able to see the whole recipe on one screen so that I could set my iPad up on the counter and cook without having to scroll with floury hands!

      I’m quite looking forward to seeing more of your recipe picks, and I really like your header photo!

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      1. Thanks so much for the feedback. I am struggling with setups and arranging and rearranging. I will definitely post the recipes at the bottom and I am trying to figure out categories and how to set them up. Thanks for following!!!

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  19. I have three questions: 1. Is the intention of this website clear? 2. I have tried to link to materials of a variety of different types. Does the variety of materials seem appropriate to you? 3. I have tried to link mostly to visual materials. Are there other kinds of visual materials you would recommend? Thanks for your comments!

    Ohio River Mainstem system map

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  20. I have one random question that I have been debating since I recently started my wordpress blog:
    How do you all feel about putting the link to your blog at the end of comments? I go back and forth. I feel okay doing it as long as I actually put thought into my comment (meaning it’s not just a plug for my blog on a popular post) but sometimes I still feel weird doing it.
    Any thoughts?

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    1. New to this myself. At first it felt like advertising 101 to promote your page everyplace you can. After looking at other comments, a little research on “how to” sites, I’ve found that not to be the case. It is almost blog-taboo to do so?

      I’ve found that your comment alone is your advertisement. A little teaser into your mind. If what you say grabs attention others can find you easily by clicking on your name.

      The only time I’ve found this is not the case is when you have posted something related to the other’s blog. “I’ve found similar / contrasting views on what you have said here. Here’s my blog related to this.”

      A quick thought on your page (see it worked, I checked your page out without a link in the comment!) You may want to explore the “more” feature. With your pictures and content this will allow your main page to feature the first paragraph / picture. There will be a “read more” link to go to that individual blog. This will allow readers to see a selection of your recent posts then select to read one’s (if not all!) that are of interest to them.

      PS, can you send some of that sunshine this way!?

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  21. Hello everyone! On my blog, I try to provide insights on productivity, efficiency, and self-betterment from the perspective of a teenager in high school. I also post samples of my writing (I am an aspiring author). Please check out my blog: http://benjaminsolak.wordpress.com/

    Thank you all for your time and consideration!

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  27. I participate in some weekly photo contests and I am thinking about hosting one myself. What do you think of a scavenger hunt type photo challenge. For example, if the scavenger theme for the week is street then it could be anything you might see on a street from a sign to landscape. Does that sound interesting?

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  28. Second thought. I’m trying to come up with some stable theme to include in photos. I know that leggos are kinda of the rage right now and I heard where a photographer included googly eyes in his photos. So I’m trying to come up with a concept of this nature. Any thoughts?

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