Jun 22, 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.

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  2. I’m really struggling finding my niche. I don’t want to come off “negative” in my blog posts because I think that turns people off and yet I’m struggling with life and think people would relate. I always try to keep things “upbeat” even if that’s not how I’m feeling. What do others think? Should I just write from my pain and experience and hope readers will connect? I kind of feel shallow when I write “upbeat”/fluff stuff. http://suessimplesnippets.wordpress.com/2014/06/09/another-day-another-headache/

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    1. Hello Sue, I have just read some of your blog, I don’t think you have too much to worry about. You have an easy to read style. I wouldn’t say your Instagram piece is negative ! Of course we are all prone to negative thoughts, especially when our health is not so good some days – I’m a long term migraine sufferer (though thankfully less frequently these days) so I could identify with every word on your migraine article. As long as you provide a balance in your blog I am sure you will continue to attract readers, some will benefit from your shared experiences for sure. But don’t try and sit down and write something “upbeat” when you are feeling anything but- we, the readers, will spot the fake “happy” quickly. Good luck! PS I’m a new blogger, so I’m not sure how qualified I am to comment!

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  3. Just a few Q’s-please reply here>With wordpress premium, does that include the domain credit, so we can add in wordpress blog directly to our website, so it would not come across as an external page.
    Finally, what sort of ‘profile’ are users able to build when signing up, if they were to sign up to our website, does this mean they always have to make a second sign up to use the blog?

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    1. Hi TravelKanga! If I understand your question correctly, then yes, WordPress.com Premium does include a custom domain which you can use for your site. Whether you build a site or a blog (or have a site that features a blog) doesn’t depend on the upgrade — you can have either for free.

      I’n not sure about your question about “profiles.” As the owner of a site here, you’re able to invite new users in a variety of roles — from administrator to author. You can read more about different user roles here.

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  4. Just started this today as a place to put the philosophies and whatnot behind a novel I’m outlining right now. It’s also for random essays and musings about life at 24 in this culture and economy.

    I Am Optional. Life is Not.

    That’s the first blog. If you see any mistakes it I’d appreciate it and I’ll go back and fix them. Feedback on the ideas in the blog are also accepted. I love a good discussion especially when posts are on ideas I’m growing. Hope you enjoy it

    Liked by 1 person

  5. I would love comments on my blog, which I started very recently. Would appreciate any and all feedback, but my more specific concerns are: (1) the writing (it’s challenging to be succinct, clear, and interesting – tips appreciated!) and (2) my use of pages. Thank you! mynaturebaby.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

  9. Please visit and follow (if you like it!) my blog and I will try and return the favour. I’m a journalism student starting out so need all the readership I can get 😘
    aminaahmedsblog.wordpress.com

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  11. Most of my life I have accepted people that I met regardless of nationality, race, religion or sexual orientation. As a result I know firsthand that we are all the same AND different. Our media has played on differences to politically divide us and accuse those with whom they do not approve as racists, or elitist. That is divisive rather than inclusive.
    The explosion of available information also has us acting like puppets on a string reacting to controversy before events unfold. The Media continuously inflames us on issues of the day and warns us of the dire consequences to come.

    Why is it then, that in a few weeks we are chasing another story, another calamity and often ignoring events that take place worldwide that have been doing so since nations were formed thousands of years ago.
    Because I have lived a full and fruitful life I remember the roar caused by The Women’s Liberation movement where we were told that it was demeaning for us to be labeled as Miss or Mrs, since men were called Mr.? MS has gone the way of the dinosaur.
    I remember when we worried about swimming in public pools or the beach or doing anything at all when polio was the scourge of the world. We were all on the verge of being infected.
    I remember the Cuban missile crisis that threatened to annihilate the world in an atomic bomb holocaust. I could go on and on about perceived destructive events that were on the news 24/7 even before the TV/Social Media, Technological revolution made us walk around attached to a cell phone. Catastrophes that never happened make news? Only when a hysterical Media becomes obsessed with today’s dire headlines.
    We have become reactionary to excess. Al Gore predicted that after the rash of hurricanes 14 years ago Florida would be flooded by yearly deadlier and deadlier catastrophe. Never happened.
    We have become addicts of catastrophe and only the public can put an end to the constant hysteria. Any ideas on what we can do to start accentuating the positive instead of wringing our hands endlessly over every problem that arises that needs instant resolution?

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    1. Velveeta Cheese in the big rectangular box…on the shelf in the grocery store, not in the refrigerated section. Ick!!!

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    1. It’s actually unnecessary, since your user name above the comment links directly to your blog. Anyone who’d like to visit your blog can do so by clicking on it.
      On the other hand, if you’d like to invite feedback on a specific post, that it’s a good idea to include a direct link to that post in your comment, to make it easier for readers to find it.

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  16. Hi, I’ve been working on a blog site for months, mostly trying to get some cohesion about the things I like to write about, no excuses to anyone. I’ve put in a lot of old material to see how it would all relate. Looking at it now, it makes sense to me, but I wonder if you could have a look and tell me through The Daily Post how the content appears from the outside. Thanks so much.

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  19. Hi if anyone is in the beauty blogging world i would like to know if video tutorials would would help my blog a little. I know seeing a makeup tutorial along with the post instead of just a picture would help people understand better 🙂

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    1. I would seriously recommend doing a video channel if you are blogging makeup. I wouldn’t give up a wordpress blog – but complement it with video, especially if some of the tutorials or tips have lots of steps. With a ‘walk through, talk through’ video – people can judge how much effort and time is involved. If you are not to confident in front of the camera – you do can also upload photos to youtube and make video slideshows. You also add subtitles in directly in youtube. My teenage daughter and all her friends use youtube just for finding makeup tutorials. If your blog is your main content feed – just link your youtube fans over to wordpress for the nitty gritty. Video is the future and it’s will help get new people over to your blog. Tip for youtube – invest in a decent microphone! it doesn’t need to be really expensive. Get one that is records in one ‘direction’ because the mic in your handy / ipad / pc is designed to pick up sounds from a wide area and they record lots of background sounds too. It makes a big difference, even if your just adding audio to slideshows.

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      1. Thank you! I’m not camera shy at all lol so i think i will start a youtube to compliment my blog. I just wanted to know if anyone else thought it was a great idea like me 🙂

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  20. Hi, everyone! I’m a newbie and was hoping I could get some feedback. I write about nontoxic things (especially for kids/babies since I’m a new mom). I know sometimes this topic can be depressing or overwhelming, and I’m hoping to make it informative and helpful. Any feedback on the writing, use of pages, or topics, etc. would be sincerely appreciated!
    http//:mynaturebaby.wordpress.com

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  21. Hey! I have just started writing again in English and made my first post. I am not the greatest speaker and writer in the world but I would love for some comments on how I can improve certain areas of where I might lack in the language. Maybe someone can see a pattern that I, myself, do not see. A pattern that is of improving.

    Also, go ahead and comment on how my blog can be improved in other areas than the actual writings.

    If you only got to eat 3 kinds of food for the rest of your life, what would it be? And why?

    Thanks!

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  23. Dear blogger, i’ve been blogging for almost a year now and I post routinely daily amounting to over 750 posts but I think my progress is kind of slow compared to other’s blog with fewer posts. Anyone had any idea what I do wrong? Beside linking my posts to daily prompt daily and weekly photo challenge, what are other “promoting” stuff I could do? I love writing and honestly if more follower mean more interaction, i would love to!

    journeyman.wordpress.com

    And this is a new blog i’m currently working on as a side job (nothing serious)
    boldylie.wordpress.com

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    1. Some people will avoid following a blog that posts too often. Reducing the number of posts would also help you maintain consistent quality in your content without running out of material.

      Also, I avoid some blogs that link to the weekly challenges when it’s obvious that the posts never have anything to do with the challenge topic. How relevant are your posts? Your links might be hurting, not helping.

      Finally, the headlines for your non-photo posts look like the titles of academic books. Very clunky. They should look more like news headlines.

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      1. Thank you very much for the insight! I’ve never think it backward before, my link is always relevant with the challenge/prompt. You are right about the title, I read too many medical journal. Will improve my post in the future

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  24. I have a blog designed to act as both a diary and something to amuse the public, and I would really like to make the number of people looking at my blog a bit bigger. Writing is very important to me and although most of my posts are humorous (or intended to be, anyway) I occasionally put more serious posts up. Please just have a look at it, and if you have any advice then go ahead and tell me!

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  25. I have a question and not quite sure where to leave it, so I apologize if this isn’t the right site. Since I’m fairly new to blogging, I’m seeing that awards are being won. How does one go about winning an award? Or how would one nominate someone else to win an award? Is there a list to choose from? A form to fill out? Any info, or links that could better direct me would be very much appreciated.

    Thanks!
    ~Kate

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  26. I am new to blogging world. I decided to start a blog after I became seriously ill and almost died. I write about my life realisations and those thing that are incredibly cheesy but very true.

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  28. I just started blogging a few days ago and I’d like to connect with others who are interested in philosophy and fiction or one or the other. For some reason I’m finding it difficult to find many blogs out there when I type “Philosophy” into the search box and I find myself becoming untethered in the blogosphere, click click clicking my way into the far reaches of space. (I hope I’m not giving away my Luddite tendencies here.)

    Tips, suggestions? Anyone got a space suit life jacket?

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    1. Yeah man, I too like philosophical content abd this what I am gonna write about but I feels sometime that no one like such stuff anymore. But it is my passion which i would not leave.

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      1. Strange, isn’t it? You’d think philosophy would be the most popular of subjects since it’s so fundamental to all the other sciences (well, that’s a matter of contention these days too). This could be an interesting blog topic: Why philosophy matters. Or does it?

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  29. Hi! I am the pround (bit of an underdog) owner of a new book-and-movie review blog called Bleeding The Words. It’s basically about how words have the power to change us. It’s just starting out, so don’t expect anything to spectacular going in, please. Hopefully it will get better in time. 🙂 Here’s the link, for everyone who is interested. http://bleedingthewords.wordpress.com/

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