May 25, 2014 / Community Pool

Community Pool

The Community Pool is for those of you looking for feedback, 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 . .

TIP: 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.

  • 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. If you simply leave a link to your blog, it’s likely to be overlooked.
  • 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.
  • No running on the deck.

Photo by t_a_i_s.

Show Comments

444 Comments

Comments are closed.

Close Comments

Comments

  1. Hi everyone! I’d love some advice and feedback on the blog I’ve recently started. My next step is to register a domain and get a host (any thoughts/advice on that would be appreciated!) My aim is to write a blog that is honest, personal yet still relevant and helpful to those who read it; I focus on life, faith and my experience of that as an OCD sufferer. Feel free to send me a message or comment or whatever! Peace.
    http://notatheologyclass.wordpress.com

    Like

  2. Hello everyone! If anyone is willing to look over my blog and let me know if they can identify a theme, that would be awesome 🙂 I’m trying to determine if the direction my blog is going is good, and if I don’t have a unifying theme then I should work on that first to get the direction right. Thanks for your help 🙂

    Like

  3. I revamped my Best Of page & would love some feedback -particularly regarding as to whether or not the titles inspire curiosity to read more.

    Like

      1. I had a look at the page Ben. I’m definitely no expert and just recently added a text widget with titled The Best of Travel Tales (my blog name). As far as titles, and I am working on this too, is to include the location of where you are blogging about. Gives the reader a quick idea of the topic and good for SEO as well.

        Like

  9. Hi for everybody! I need Your help and support! At the university our teacher gave for us the project to do. It is about blog.. create a new blog! And I post my first post. Can You check and tell me or everythink is ok with this post? I don’t know how to use this program yet 😦 http://ewanesska.wordpress.com/

    Like

    1. u look to be too young on the blogging community. u hv put no tags in the post, tags are the way people will search and may find your blog. u can update the existing posts.
      u may update some content on your about page. write about yourself, why u hv this blog, and welcome the readers…
      u may chck mine. regards – http://YourWellWisherProgram.wordpress.com

      Like

    1. i just read your post. mainly out of curiosity! how exciting!! i am now following …
      i like the real raw feelings and excitement shared. i am also new to blogging, so i don’t have any advice. i’m hoping you don’t give up and quite this adventure. i’m rooting for you!!

      Like

    2. I think it’s a pretty interesting concept and should give you some interesting experiences to write about. A good way to keep it from becoming too narrow in scope would be to write about what you’re doing to fill in for the loss of the smart phone like hobbies you’re starting, etc.

      Like

  13. I’m pretty new to blogging. But I had an idea for a blog post for my blog, Sports Buzz with Jame-MY TAKE ON SPORTS. I love the NY Jets. I want write a short sports Rant about Vick and Geno fighting it out for Jets starting quarterback. What do you think?

    Like

  15. Hello everyone—I’m in the process of updating my site and making it look nice, with theme, tagline, etc. I’m trying to make race and culture a major topic of my blog so could you please read my newest post and tell me what you think? Also advice about the aesthetics and how to tie it all together would be helpful too!

    I Am An “Other”

    Like

  17. Hi Everyone, My name is Steve and I am a recovered cocaine addict. I started my blog about a week ago as a way to feed my creativity and to help fellow addicts. As I am very new to blogging I am a really unsure how to go about growing my audience. It is my experience that everyone has someone in their life who has or has had problems with drugs and alcohol. So that is my question. How to I grow my audience. Thanks for you help

    Like

    1. Hi Steve! Growing our readership is something pretty much all of us are working on. 🙂 My suggestions/tips are these:

      1. Share your blog offline as well as online. I’ve found that many people, myself included, spend a lot of time promoting our blogs online (through facebook, twitter, whathave you) but not as much time sharing it with people we know in our physical life. I think we all get a little numb from the constant demands for our attention online (like this, follow this, subscribe here!, etc).The next time you meet someone in person that might be interested in your blog, tell them about it. (Perhaps at a NA meeting, for example?)

      You could even get business cards made with your blog url on it, if you ever have some spare cash to kick around.

      2. Comment on other blogs. Everyone cherishes comments on their blog, so if you take the time to comment on someone else’s blog, they will almost always at least visit yours.

      3. Accept it will take time. It looks from your blog that you’re just starting out, as you don’t have many entries. That’s fine – it’s actually great that you’ve decided to pursue your ideas. Just keep in mind that it can take months, even years, to gain even a small amount of followers. Don’t let that discourage you – just enjoy the ride!

      Like

  18. Hello! I am new to wordpress and wondered if any of you would help me with the layout? I have some ideas and drafts, so if any of you are interested give me a shout. In addition I am starting a blog where the main theme is traveling and it would help me a lot if you gave me some feedback and possibly some shoutouts, so the content gets viewed. Thank you!

    http://alexfoel.wordpress.com/

    Like

    1. I actually really like your layout. As someone who adores the minimalistic approach, it ticks all the right buttons. That being said, the size of each post/picture may put people off upon first visit as I know many a reader (including myself, more often than not) that want to be able to see the first post as soon as they arrive, as to gain an instant feel for the blog. That being said, I think the theme is perfect for your niche and wish you the best of luck in your blogging adventure. 🙂

      Like

  19. Aloha!
    I have been considering making a personal blog about my life for some time now, but I don’t really know how to get started. Any help would be extremely appreciated!

    Like

    1. Hi! I just started my blog recently, so I know the feeling! My advice would be to wait to write your first post until you feel inclined to write. Don’t force it just because you made the blog. Let something inspire you- this may take some time, some self-reflection, and/or some exploring- and then go from there. After that first post, it will get easier to catch things in your daily life that are post-worthy. But another thing that’s helped me is just catching up on current events- there is so much going on in the world, and though you may want the focus of your blog to be on your life, these current events could give you perspective, or even parallel, some events going on in your own life. Hope that’s helpful!

      Like

  20. Hi. I have been writing to write until now, but after being named one of the VOTY I have started to seriously look at what I need to do to make it more readable. Can I do a straw poll-do you like constancy of writing style (a particular voice) or is variation more interesting? For example, two different posts: http://themangocage.wordpress.com/2014/05/22/the-monkey-of-stubbornness/

    Lighthouse families

    (or, if you’re really keen, a third completely different, short one): http://themangocage.wordpress.com/2014/04/14/an-explanation-time-to-digest/
    Thank you for reading. xx

    Like

  21. Hi all- there is some real talent on here. I’ve enjoyed checking out some of your blogs and was hoping a few of you would check out mine? I’m a new blogger and haven’t yet found my particular niche (not that I necessarily need one). Any feedback about any of my posts or any themes you find interesting in the blog would be really appreciated! Thanks so much.
    http://musingsofacitybear.wordpress.com/

    Like

  25. Hello!! I’m wondering how much information do people want to know about you. I’m trying to share yet be private at the same time. I don’t want to bore my audience and lure them away but I don’t want my blog to be the rantings of a discontented mother either.

    also, I want to include some writings. short stories. and projects as well as recipes i’m trying. i have pages with drop down menus. can you tell me how confusing or irritating they are? or if it’s helpful and organized. THANK YOU

    4 Juices & an Espresso

    fourjuices.wordpress.com

    Like

    1. If it is on YOUR blog, you can go to your dashboard, find the category titled “comments”, and can choose to “trash” whichever ones you want. As to a comment you posted on someone else’s blog, I’m afraid that once you publish the comment, it remains there as long as it isn’t deleted by the administrator of that blog. To be honest, I’m not entirely sure if that’s the truth, but that’s my understanding.
      Thanks!
      By the way, please feel free to check out my blog at http://montairyus23.wordpress.com/
      Aul

      Like

    1. I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean…if you could explain more I’d be happy to help!

      Like

  28. Hi all, I need some advice. I have two blogs and now want to combine them into one, using my primary blog debz2653.wordpress.com. Is this even possible and if so how can I do it? Thanks in advance.

    Like

    1. Well I’m new to this too, but what I read made me feel. So … That’s something. Not on a PC and I can’t see the layout that great, but content has feels.

      Like