Jul 27, 2014 / Community Pool

Community Pool

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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    1. Hi Char,

      First of all best of luck with your adventures in Thailand!

      First impressions of your site in its embryonic stage would be to provide the first section of each post only. There is an awful lot of information looking at me from the first page, and it takes quite a while to load up what with the photos further down the page.

      Maybe it’s just my own personal taste – but a little teaser of each post on the front page helps a viewer scan over a range of posts instead of being faced with a big body of text.

      I did something similar to my own blog lately, which I (hope) makes the reader experience a little easier.

      Aidan

      Like

    2. First: Enjoy the adventure in Thailand. Still one of my all-time favorite places. Second, you might wish to jazz up your blog with an engaging header image–Thailand is full of such images so it shouldn’t be too hard. I’d also recommend making an About page, so readers can know a little about you and the context of what they are reading. Best wishes

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  2. Hello all, I’ve just moved over to WordPress from another blog site. I’m just getting to grips with this, although I love it already. Would love it if you’d have a look at my food blog littlecrick.wordpress.com and give me any hints or tips you feel I need to do! Thank you so much and have a lovely evening! Xx

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    1. I like the concept of your blog and the color theme you’ve got going. It allows the readers to focus on your content and not get distracted by flashy colors. My only piece of advice would be to break up your paragraphs more so it’s a little easier for a reader to look at. Feel free to look at my blog if you want and tell me what you think! http://collegelady17.wordpress.com/

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      1. Thank you very much for the advice! I will definitely do that! I tend to be quite wordy, so I’ll cut down on that. Your blog is great! It’s so colourful, and you’re really funny. Well done! x

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      2. Hey wordy is great! Just maybe break up what you’re saying into smaller paragraphs. You’ve got a great blog.

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    2. Welcome to WordPress! Your content seems really good and the font you chose works well too. My suggestions would be to add a simple yet meaningful header image that well represents the subject matter of your blog, and definitely flesh out your About page, as readers want to know a little more about who they’re reading. In your case, since you have a lot of previously posted material, you might want to consider a Best OF page with links to your favorite posts. I have one on my blog is you wish to see an example. Best wishes!

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      1. Ah that’s a brilliant idea, thank you so much! I have been meaning to put up a photo as well so shall do! Thank you very much x

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  3. Hello everyone,

    I hope you all are having a great weekend! I recently created a humorous blog discussing what it is like being a single woman millennial. I don’t have much on the website yet, but I did create an about me page and an origin page. Blogging has changed since I first started, so I would love to know what you all are looking for when it comes to becoming a follower of someone’s blog and what I can do to improve the beginning stages or embryonic stage as I read below.

    Thanks for reading and viewing in advance,

    Genevieve
    http://secretlifeofanamericansingle.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Took a look at your blog. While I personally can’t relate to your circumstances (think 39 yr old male married for 15 years) I think that your writing style is engaging enough to draw readers with similar interests. So be sure to tag your posts well and comment on similar style blogs which will increase your exposure which in my estimation is 99 percent of the battle

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    1. I think it’s a good start, but maybe a little bland? Maybe you could add a picture to where you have your blog title? Maybe add a little colour or pictures to the text?

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    2. I would agree that you need some images on your blog to be more engaging. Would also suggest you make your subtitle (all you need to do is click) a little bigger. Welcome to the Blogosphere

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  5. Wow, it’s been so long since I commented on a Community Pool forum. What I hope for is to find more interesting and fun people (and blogs! Let’s not forget about that!) to like and follow. More importantly, I need you input. See, I changed my theme (again), but this time I want to keep it the way it is and work on my content. Grammar is my worst enemy sometimes and in order to come out of this battle unscathed, I’m going to have to focus on that instead of my blog theme.
    http://sincerelymsroberts.com/

    Like

    1. I like your content. The layout is a little tough to navigate in order to find other posts you’ve written. I like the concept though and what you’ve got going on in it. I’d love if you would take the time to view my blog as well.

      Like

    1. Your photography blog is really neat. The pictures themselves are fantastic. You’ve got a great skill for angles and lighting. I think it’s pretty cool.

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      1. Wow, thank you so much. I’m just not getting enough traffic. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong!

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      2. Try networking and posting on other’s blogs. If you have a twitter account or any social media outlet, use that to promote your blog. If you would want to link blogs and post a link to mine sometimes, I’d be more than happy to do the same for you so that way my readers would click on your blog.

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      3. That would be lovely and how’s it done? hahaha I’m sorry I’m a total disaster when it comes to advertising my blog.

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    2. You might need to get yourself on Instagram! I get a lot of feedback on there rather than on my blog and most people will visit my blog to view the rest of my blog page!

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      1. True, you’re not the first person to tell me that. I am actually on instagram @bmyshot . I’ll try to be more active there.

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    1. Hi Day Thinker! I have had a look at your blog and, while I love green, I wonder if perhaps you might consider mixing things up a bit with your theme and/or images. Just a suggestion. But the human eye tends to tune out with long stretches of words and no images – we can thank the internet and all forms of moving media for that! Ha! And if the only images we are seeing are one colour, again, we tend to tune out. Sad, yet true. 🙂

      You may consider adding gifs or pictures to illustrate your points. Also, watch your comma usage. When in doubt, leave it out. Otherwise, you have the start of some interesting blogging here! Clearly you are a deep thinker and have a decent sense of humour. Keep it going! Hope this helps – Mother Hen

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    1. Hi Ali! So far, your tone is fine – I read the post on your motorbike incident -ouch! 😦 I am a little curious about the style you are using, with each sentence being treated as its own paragraph. Is this intentional? Have you considered grouping sentences into paragraphs with double spacing between (or whatever your template allows)? It would be VERY much easier to follow, as my eyes keep getting crazed by returning to the start line after each thought. Not to go all grammar nazi on you or anything – it is merely an observation.

      I hope this helps! Also, glad you have survived your incident and have learned from it. Life is nothng if not a series of learning mistakes! 😀 Cheers, Mother Hen

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      1. No, it’s appreciated. I was trying to keep the account short and consise but maybe I over did it. I’ll have a play with that lay out. Thank you.

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    1. I like your blog! I think it’s awesome that you’ve been able to travel so much at such a young age! I am totally jealous, haha! The layout is nice and really easy to read. Overall your blog is neat and the concept is fun.

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    3. Hi Maddi. Enjoyed your blog’s layout and you have some excellent pictures. I share your love for travel (hence , my own blog) and encourage you to keep on doing it. Nice job!

      Like

  11. Would anyone be interested in linking blogs? It would mean that at the end of your blog and at the end of mine a link would be posted to the other person’s blog. I would love to get enough bloggers willing to do this so I can post a “Bloggers to Watch” bit at the end of my posts.

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      1. I like your blog! I will definitely link with your blog. Your most recent post sold me! Do you have twitter? If you do follow me @collegeladyblog so we can collaborate.

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      1. You got it! I’ll start adding your name at the end of my posts if you’ll do the same! Thank you!

        Like

  14. Hey everyone,

    I have a relatively new blog where I post short stories surrounding the fictional character Isabella Frye. I’ve recently had some serious writer’s block, so I haven’t been able to come up with any stories. Any suggestions? Also let me know what you think of the stories so far I love all forms of feedback!

    http://www.thedreamlifeofisabellafrye.wordpress.com

    I also have another blog I started very recently where I try to be as creative as I can answering The Daily Post’s Daily Prompts: http://www.sienawritesthings.wordpress.com

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    1. I’d love some feedback on my blog ladies and gents! I don’t have many followers and I’m more or less starting out my art schooling and career! Criticisms and advice all appreciated!

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      1. Hi Amber. Took a look at your blog and honestly found it difficult to navigate. I like your wanderlust description in your title but couldn’t find wanderlust themed content (I’m a travel blogger so I’m always on the lookout for a good travel blog to read). You might want to consider a more straightforward theme. I would also recommend having an About Me page so that potential readers can learn a little about who they are reading. Hope this helps and wish you the best

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    1. Hi Maria. Looked at your blog. My one recommendation would be to create your own About Me page as opposed to the blurb on the sidebar. Sharing information about yourself (so long as you are comfortable with it) is a great way to engage your readers and attract new ones. Best wishes!

      Like

  17. Hi bloggers! I am going to try and write more blogs, but my previous attempts have never really gotten off the ground. Constructive criticism please? Thank you!

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    1. I think that your blog has a nice, clean look and is easy to follow. I found your posts interesting, but I don’t think that your posts are very engaging… they sort of read ‘this happened, thanks for reading’. Maybe you should try asking questions? (:

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  21. I’m wondering what people’s opinions are on this subject. Most of you have probably heard about the “sex spreadsheet” that’s gone viral (if not, it’s in the post). I haven’t seen many people approach it without completely taking sides, which I try not to do. That being said, I don’t think anyone owes sex to anyone else, whether they’re married or not. Check it out, please! (And if possible, please comment on the actual post)
    http://nonsenseshenanigans.com/2014/07/23/pressured-to-perform-or-make-excuses/

    Like

  23. Hey everyone, I recently started on WordPress under the guise of ‘warrenisweird’ ..primarily because I AM weird 😉 I write things like personal posts, movie reviews, and even study some of the aspects of film. If you like horror movies [or just movies in general] and comicbooks, hit the follow button over on http://warrenisweird.com !

    Liked by 1 person

  25. New to blogging, but I’ve been a life long writer. I would love for new followers, follow me and I’ll follow you back! freshmannegative15.com

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    1. You’ll love college! My blog is about the college experiences I’ve had so far. I’d definitely encourage you to blog about the people you meet, the experiences you have, and discoveries that you find. while living the college life.

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      1. Thanks for the advice! I am so excited to start this journey in life and share it with others!

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    3. I just read your most recent post on social norms, and being an individual.
      It’s funny how persistent these social dilemmas can be, despite so many of us completely ignoring and shaming them.
      Being an individual and loving that individual that you are is the real beauty!

      Good luck on yor new blog, looks like you have a nice start!

      Please check out my blog too:
      https://soundtracksfortwentysomethings.wordpress.com/

      Like

    4. Took a quick look. To the extent that you feel comfortable, you should make an About Me page and share something of yourself with potential readers.

      Like

  28. Hey all,
    I started a project where I create the faces of surreal people I see in my dreams. Feedback would definitely be appreciated!

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    1. Your images are really cool and creepy almost (in a good way). These are just faces in your dreams or is there a backstory at all? Maybe if you have more life to your images by giving them a story or something. Either way, really cool

      Like

  29. Hello there I’m new here in wordpress and happy to enjoy it to read and to see others thought and idea, the reason that join this great site , that I want to practice my English, here is my first trying my best , and have a nice day/night everyone.

    Empty bed

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      1. Dearest Ben,

        Thank you so much for these links! It is wonderful to know there are people out there willing to help fellow bloggers make a better contribution to their communities.

        Sincerely,
        J.L. Pittd

        Like