Mar 28, 2015 / Community Pool

Community Pool

The place for feedback, advice, and friendly blogging chatter.

Have you just published a new post and are dying for some feedback? Did you recently start your blog and could use some layout or design advice from your more seasoned peers?

The Community Pool is for peer feedback and advice. Looking for more specific information? Check out some of these resources:

Tap into the wisdom of The Daily Post blogging community and leave your question here in the comments. Others can then click through and offer input either on your site, or in the comments here (feel free to indicate which you’d prefer).

To help us make the Community Pool a productive space for discussion, here are some tips you might find useful:

  • While you’re not required to, we encourage everyone who requests feedback to also reply to at least one or two other bloggers who need some help. Spread the love!
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  • If you’re looking for quality feedback, be as specific as you can. Questions about a particular post tend to draw more comments than ones about entire blogs. Questions about specific design elements are more likely to be answered than ones asking for general layout advice.
  • We discourage leaving links without a more substantive message or question. These are often overlooked by other bloggers, and we frequently remove them to make the comment reading experience smoother.
  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. The idea is to have fun — it’s a pool, after all!
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  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
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  2. Hey friends, if you want me to check out your site give my site a quick review and I promise, I will return the favor! I’m going to bed now but as soon as I wake up, and get the time to, I will respond to EACH AND EVERY RESPONDS that I get! Promise!

    Alright so going to bed now. Will talk to you again soon.
    Cheers to the WordPress community! You guys are awesome!

    Benjamn

    Liked by 6 people

      1. Hey Rose, I’ve checked out your site and I love what I saw. Very positive, cleanly organized and very uplifting. It’s clear what your blog is all about and I can see why people kept coming back for more.

        Thanks for checking my site out, I really appreciate that and hope you have a nice day!

        Your pal,
        Benjamin

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Love the color scheme and layout of your site. Very tasteful and upbeat, much like the theme of your site 🙂 The pictures included with your articles are great and keep the site from becoming too text-heavy. Just watch your grammar – you’ve got a few run on sentences. Not a huge deal, but every little bit helps 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Haha thanks Natalie, appreciate you taking your time to check out my blog and giving these comments. I agree, every little bit helps cause it’s true 😉

        I’ve read your blog and I want you to know that your writing is extremely engaging! You can really feel the sincerity in the words which is awesome. Layout and settings fits the theme of it and overall, I had a really nice visit. Kudos for the interesting topic on gender and cursing lol!

        Your pal,
        Benjamin

        Like

      1. Thanks for checking my site out and leaving this comment bud! Really appreciate it 😉

        Anyway, I’ve just finished surfing your site and I was laughing as I wrote those comments (yup left a few). Loving that writing style and voice in them. Keep the awesome content coming and most importantly, don’t stop writing!

        Your friend,
        Benjamin

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Hey Megha! Thanks for the feedback! I just checked out your blog earlier and I’m really amazed at all the different recipes you got in there lol! Everything looks amazing too!

        Site looks really welcoming and I gotta say, it felt nice surfing through. I realized something though. I wanted to write some comments in your about me page but there’s no way for me to do it. Perhaps you can look into adding it there?

        Anyway, you got a really cool site going so keep the good content coming yeah? Btw, you had me drooling at the pizza hehe.

        Cheers for the awesome WordPress community 😉

        Your pal,
        Benjamin

        Like

    5. Love the theme used, interesting and makes a statement! I think you should run a grammar check, few small errors here and there ! Also, amazing idea u have there !
      Cheers!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hey Mukthi, thanks for the review and comment! I’ve went through your site as well and truly, you do write well lol so get that insecurity thing out of your head because… Yeah, it is just in your head lol!

        Anywho, site looks nice but there’s the issue of not being able to “like” your about page. I saw comments on it as well and likewise, I think it’ll be good if you put it up so people can show their support 😉

        Everything is new but I got a forum set up for my projects’ community and if you got some time and feel like you wish to contribute to the cause, feel free to join us yeah? We’d love to have you in the team.

        Cheers for awesome WordPress community!

        Your friend,
        Benjamin

        Like

    6. I love your mission and that’s its so upbeat and positive. About your site, I have 2 recommendations:
      1. Use a darker/thicker font, because it’s a bit hard to read (like Megha Agrawal said)
      2. Mix concrete advice with more high-level posts. I feel like both are needed and they complement each other.

      Best of luck
      bongre.wordpress.com

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hey Bongre, cheers for the review and visit bud. Appreciate your time and effort.

        Now, I want you to know that your site contains some really solid stuff and I know they can be of help to A LOT of people. I used to write stuff like this as well in my first blog, feel free to check it out http://www.doubleyourpresence.com

        So here’s the thing. Project BIY is a new project and community that I am starting and as you know, I’m looking for people like us to help change the world in some way for the better. Your work CAN make a huge difference in lives.

        Hence, I’d like to ask you to join us in our cause, join our team if you feel that you got the time and motivation to.

        Our forum and community is still new and I’d be honored to have your contribution and help in making this community’s mission a reality.

        Let me know yeah? Whether you choose to join us or not, I’d respect your decision. It’s your time and your life after all 😉
        We can always keep in contact regardless of your decision!

        Your pal,
        Benjamin

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Wow 🙂 that’s an amazing project and I have a lot of respect for what you’re doing. I’m really interested now (even more than before), since the community you describe is exactly the kind of community I want to join.

        Most people, myself included, can have a hard time sharing our deepest wishes, because they’re such an intimate part of us. We fear being mocked, or rejected, misunderstood or that other person simply doesn’t care. Even more so because it’s rare to find a place where people actively want to help each other and be helped.

        Trusting a friend, and knowing that they’ll be there for you, and you for them, is one of the greatest joys life can bring. I have moved a few times, which made it difficult sometimes to find such friends, and I can fully understand their value and how two people can help each other grow.

        I’ll definitely join 😀

        I’m glad you wrote a lot 🙂 it really helped me understand what you’re trying to do. I’m sure we will be able to collaborate and work on something together 🙂

        Btw, great advice, I’ll put an archive section in my blog (I hadn’t thought about that before)

        Thanks for taking the time to give such a great answer and I wish you a lot of success 😀

        Like

    7. Hey friends! To all of you who’ve responded, I am currently at work but as soon as I get off work and got the chance to, I WILL return the favor. Promise 😉

      I will talk to you guys again soon! Cheers for the awesome spirit 😉

      Your friend,
      Benjamin

      Like

      1. Just an updste, will respond to those whom I’ve yet to review yet in the next 24 hours. Sorry for the delay, lots of work to do and not much time to rest as well. Will get to them as soon as I can.

        Till then, hope you guys stay awesome. Cheers!

        Your pal,
        Benjamin

        Like

      2. Hi, first I’d like to thank you for your visit and (very) kind comments.

        I visited both your sites as well (DoubleYourPresence and Project BIY) and have to say that I’m impressed with what you have accomplished. Your posts are interesting and helpful, and I believe Project BIY will do a lot of good. 🙂

        You mentioned joining your community/team, and I’m curious about what that entails. What are your desires and what do you hope to get out of it?

        Small warning though: as you can see on my blog, I don’t post very often, because I like to take my time to think and make some research before posting. I have said false things in the past, because I was too lazy to do proper research. I’m now really careful about what I say, because I don’t want to misguide people and end up being more detrimental than helpful. I’m also often busy, so I can have a hectic schedule and hope that won’t be a problem.

        Still, it’s very kind of you to invite me, and I’m confident you’ll be able to create a great team. It would be a pleasure to keep in contact with you, especially since you repeatedly proved yourself to be really respectful and friendly.

        Please continue posting 🙂 and best of luck in growing Project BIY

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Haha thanks for checking them out, hope it was helpful 😉

        Also, don’t worry, I totally understand what it’s like to be busy. I’m currently running on pretty tight schedule myself but I’m lucky enough to still be able to squeeze some time to work on these projects.

        My end goal is simple. I want to create a community where people can go to for some positivity in their life.
        I know not all of us are lucky enough to have positive ppl in our lives to support us in doing what we wish to accomplish in life and I personally believe that everyone who has a dream or goal, deserve to have the support they need.

        Aside from chasing after a dream, I also want it to be a place where ppl can feel safe to share their dreams and worries.

        We don’t have to feel like we can’t be who we are or strive to be;
        We don’t have to go through life seeing only the negative;
        And we certainly don’t have to go through life’s obstacles alone.

        I’ve been through phases in my life when I felt that life held no meaning for me. Just when I was about to give up on everything, my friends would help me see the light. When I lose my way, they help me get back on track and I do the same for them. Especially my best friends who’ve been in my life since the start of high school.

        So the thing is this, I noticed something about them and myself. We supported each other through our toughest times- the reason why our bond is so strong is because we don’t give up on each other. We genuinely cared for each other’s wellbeing and progress in life. When life take away all the positivity in theirs? They come to me and vice versa.

        We help and guide each other when either of us seem to falter. It’s the type of bond and relationship that I believe, can help ppl excel in their lives because a lot of us need support but are afraid to share our true self and/or desires with others because we are afraid of ppl judging us or making us feel insecure by being put down.

        Hence, I want to create this community where everyone who sees possibilities in life can come together to share their ideas and lives. A place where Genuine ppl who truly care about you, me and everyone’s lives and interest to assemble.

        Make this world a better place by making a positive difference in our fellow brothers and sisters lives.

        If we can inspire just one person around us to live their life a little happier? It’s already something. I want to inspire others to live. I want OTHERS to inspire me to live. I want OTHERS to inspire OTHERS to live.

        With that circle of life- I’m pretty sure this world will become a merrier and definitely more peaceful place.

        That’s the end goal 😉
        I apologize for the long respond lol!

        Oh and don’t worry, I know what you mean on not wanting to misguide ppl as well lol.
        I mean, quality over quantity. Golden rule.

        Btw, not sure if I mentioned this but your blog has no archive section and I always tell bloggers to put an archive column because it links your readers to your older content!

        Oh, also, we must keep in contact my friend. I’m sure we can work on something together in future if the opportunity arises 😉

        Your friend,
        Benjamin

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I really like your new layout! My only issue is your big main image. The image size is fine but the resolution of the image is really low so it looks odd and out of place next to the clean, high quality layout. That’s a pretty easy fix though! Keep up the good work. I love the message and theme of your blog. What a great outlook!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for the feedback. I made it transparent enough for the title to show. I wondered about it. Thanks. I will try it without.

        Like

  4. Hi bloggers, I write a blog called Misstery blog. I have always wanted to blog and I have been blogging for just over 2 months. I almost have 200 amazing followers, and the community surrounding my blog is so supportive and lovely. My blog means the absoloute world to me, and it is not only a passion. But a real dream of mine. I love progressing through time, and meeting new bloggers. So I would love if you could check out my blog here…
    https://missteryblog.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Your site is beautiful! I love Soap & Glory products. If you’re looking to meet new bloggers, you should check out the Geeks & Beauties community of Google+. It’s a great way to connect with others. Keep up the good work!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Aww thank you so much. I think it’s a nearer 3 months now. Honestly i just keep at it. Blogging has always been my dream since I discovered the power of the internet really. I honestly don’t really know why people like what I write. I just work so hard on it. Loving your blog too 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Its almost been 3 months I think. Honestly I have just poured my heart and soul into every post. I love the internet, and have always wanted to be a part of it. So when I took the opportunity to be a part of it, I took it knowing I could try my absolute best and stay true to myself. Your blog is great! Hope you’re having a great day, thank you for your lovely comment 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      1. thank you for the feedback. I liked how organized your blog is, very easy to navigate. Overall yours is very good. thanks!

        Like

    1. Hi! I love your blog, the content is great. You like to address real issues in the world like I do. And the way you write is very powerful. Hope you are having a great day 🙂

      Like

    3. Loved your header image, it sets an overall mood of the blog. Content of the post is great, in my opinion share more appealing pictures. Pictures hold the readers and since you are talking about ballroom dancing here, good pictures can do lot of work for you.
      These are my views I hope you don’t mind.
      Do let me know your views on my blog. http://bhaili.com/free-printable-coloring-page/

      Like

      1. Makes sense – this is one of my earlier posts, and I’ve tried to add more photos since then. It’s good advice!

        I’ll check yours out now 🙂

        Like

      2. Wow, such intricate designs on those coloring pages! You do a great job with balancing words and pictures, and I think the simplistic theme works well for your blog 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. It was an awesome article. Also, quite apt I must say. Among your various avatars throughout your journey, you’ve portrayed a strong women yet a adaptable girl. Thanks for sharing. It was one of the most beautifully crafted articles that I’ve come across since I started blogging. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for the comment. Till date, I’ve received one confession & it’s already on the blog. Also, I’ve visited that site & it answers almost all questions. It’s a very interesting site. 😦

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I’m a fellow blogger, not a gamer. I liked your blog because you seem intent upon giving your niche a bash. Don’t think humility is going to help much if you want a huge following.

      We, and the other bloggers here at WordPress chose wisely when picking a community. Hang in!

      Oh… I left a Like and Comment on blog. You wanted readers to be more critical.

      No worries if you lead with specifics, I’m almost certain readers will follow. Is that pointed enough???

      Like

  12. Hi everyone – once again I am loving exploring all the new blogs out there. I am a newbie with all this blogging stuff but it has been a great outlet for me as I struggle through a difficult time in my life right now. My blog runs the gamut but ultimately, it is an attempt to document my ascent towards a path of steady happiness again. I go through my everyday trials and tribulations, my depression, the things that help me on a daily basis, and the various methods i am using to keep myself in a happy place (Buddhism, yoga, studying reiki, listening to music, finding joys in superficial stuff. and my family.) Would love some feedback please!!!

    Liked by 5 people

    2. Anyone that has a weekly series titled Magical Unicorn Moments is someone I want to know. I love the humor. True mirth can only be appreciated if we know true pain. It’s the old laugh or cry choice. I’m now a follower.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. I know it feels a bit cult-y to say “I have followers”. Just don’t tell us Heaven awaits on a comet if we drink your special juice and we’ll be OK 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    3. Love the blog, your post titles and content are great. I particularly liked the “Why am I still Poor” post about rage yoga. It made me laugh and sounds like the best idea ever! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Hey guys 🙂 Well I started my blog last week and I’m trying real hard to promote it haha but I’m going to be focusing it on pictures I have taken over time and pictures that I still plan on taking as well as some of my writings. Please go check it out and let me know what ya think. Thank you 😀

    Liked by 3 people

      1. thanks 🙂 do you know how to actually do that? I’m doing trail by error but don’t want to mess up too much lol

        Like

      2. Interestingly, the photos now show. Somebody gave me the advise that I should simply state what the photo is and why I made it. Maybe do the same. Give specifics of what the photo is of/about and let your audience know why you chose to share it.

        Like

      3. yeah I actually finally picked a proper theme lol and oh ok so don’t let people guess just tell them the facts and then they let me know what they think

        Like

      4. Also, at the end of your post, ask for feedback. You may not get much, but every bit helps. The other thing I have done is push my feed to Facebook and Twitter to cross pollinate followers.

        Like

      6. Ya, at the bottom of your home page, you can push your blog feed to other social media site automatically. I’ve been surprised at where those links lead, especially Twitter, if you use good tags to draw interest. Make sure you tag your post with words like #mountains,#squirrel, #Denver. It will draw people through search engines over time.

        Like

  14. Hullo! So I wrote an open letter to the HeForShe movement (a critique) and I’d love to know what you think about it–and I actually kinda want people to read it. Here: https://lunasimaginationigloo.wordpress.com/2016/03/25/heforshe-and-the-overlooked-complexities-of-gender-and-imperialism-an-open-letter/
    Also, I wrote a guest post about alternate relationships. I’m not in a romantic relationship, but I am in a platonic life partnership: https://yellowducksite.wordpress.com/2016/03/23/queerplatonic-relationships-the-lesser-known-lgbtqia-orientations/

    Liked by 2 people

  15. Hi there, Nerds! My name is mckelodeon, and I run the nerd lifestyle blog, Nerd•ily. Today I have another “greatest hits” compilation for the month of February. These are called Nerd•ily’s Niceties. If you’re new to the site, these are great posts to check out. They’ll help you find out what you’re getting yourself into 😉 You can find the latest edition here: http://nerdilyblog.com/2016/03/28/nerd%E2%80%A2ilys-niceties-for-february/

    Thank you, and have a great Monday!

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks for stopping by! And I really enjoyed your post. I’ve always been interested in ballroom dancing, and I like the analysis you conducted on the activity. Very thought-provoking read!

        Like

      2. Aww thank you. That honestly means the world to me, so glad you enjoyed it. I have only been here a few months so I’d hardly say I know too much, but I know a good blogger when I see one 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      3. You should definitely check out the Geeks & Beauties community (no pressure to, though). I don’t know if you’re on Google+, but everyone in the group are so lovely and supportive. I’ve been with them for a few months, and it’s a great way to meet new people.

        Liked by 1 person

  20. Hi All,

    I started being much more deliberate with my photography blog. I’ve got quite a few followers but want to take it up a notch and be more engaging. I started my blog to create a daily writing discipline for myself and as a source for an annual photo journal. I’d appreciate thoughts on how it could be improved and draw more traffic and feedback.

    Thanks,

    https://edlehming.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 2 people

  21. My dreams of becoming a motivational speaker has begun and I’m very excited. My daily goal with my new blog on wordpress.com is to inspire and inform individuals on how to become the person they desire to be, to help guide people through obstacles and lead people to their dreams. Im looking forward to everyone’s blogs as well. Keep working hard. Thanks

    Liked by 1 person

    2. Hi Travis,
      Congratulations! You must be very excited.
      I agree with Natalie – some form of illustration is required.
      Also, I slightly hesitate to say this because I do not want to cause offence but I offer this suggestion for you to accept or dismiss as you wish.
      If you are embarking on a career as a motivational speaker and you will be using your blog to point prospective clients to, or course attendees, then I would suggest you check your posts for errors before publishing, or get someone to look through your content and help you with editing before you publish. Grammatical/spelling errors can make what you are saying misleading, or if you are in business make you look unprofessional.
      I love your enthusiasm and passion. It shines through your content.
      All the best with your endeavours.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you for the feedback. I love it. Im blessed that you’re open and honest. I never considered illustrations honestly, I get so caught up in writing that it never crossed my mind.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Do consider them Travis – it will brighten your pages and draw readers in (if used appropriately). And thank you for being gracious. That is such a relief to me – not everyone who asks for honest feedback means it and I just hate to hurt or offend people.

        Like

      3. I understand completely as to how people act. If you don’t mind me asking: When using illustrations what are some of the ways you personally know of to regarding being “appropriate”?

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Hello Travis,
        I do not mind you asking 🙂
        I just mean don’t stick just any picture up but something that is connected to what you are saying in your posts. I Hope that helps.

        Like

  23. Hello swimmers! I recently got back to blogging after settling into college life. It’s primarily a fashion and personal style blog with other topics mixed in. I’ve just gotten started again, but I have plenty of new posts I’ll be consistently publishing if you want to check it out. Thank you so much! Here’s my link:

    http://rosearianna.com

    Liked by 2 people

  25. Hello there everyone, standard post where I’m looking for some new eyes to have a gander at my photography blog. I post film and digital photography, street and landscape mainly but do delve into other genres every now and again.

    Recent post, well from today actually, on my continuing street photography series; https://the6millionpman.wordpress.com/2016/03/28/street-photography-olympus-om-d-em-5-27/

    Have a look, let me know what you think, and hey if you fancy it I’ll take a look at yours as well. How’s that sound for fair?

    Thanks in advance.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I really like how you have your blog set. It’s very minimalist which I think helps. The idea, I am assuming, is to focus on the photography and with the simple layout, you are achieving that.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank You, that is entirely the point yes. Although I do post wordier (is that even a word?) post’s generally I’ll just write a few short sentences about each image and let the photo’s themselves do the talking. Thanks for looking.

        Like

    1. I’ve never been a fan of the one column pages. I think if you could do two columns it would look nicer and the posts wouldn’t be as large. it would so help with getting people to click the post more often, like with your March 9th post.

      Like

    2. I’ve asked this about my own blog in the past and was told that, once the reader has clicked on a specific post, they tend to use the ‘next’ or ‘previous’ buttons anyway to read it like a book. I’ve hopped over to your blog for a look and, as you’ve got the list of recent posts down the right, I think it’ll be easy enough for regular readers to catch up.

      Having said that, I’m still considering a grid layout for my own posts so maybe I’m not the best person to respond!

      Liked by 2 people

    3. I’ll just leave 2 small observations, since I’m no design expert and don’t have enough experience to give good advice.

      It takes a good amount of scrolling to see just 2 or 3 posts. Besides that, since my computer screen isn’t very big, I can’t see the first post without scrolling.

      Apart from that, keep blogging, because I like what you write 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. As an avid book reader, your blog is awesome! Maybe you could (don’t know if you would be able to do this) put the the title of the book and a picture of the book on the left sideline on top of the date and ‘leave a comment’ section.

      Like

    2. I love the layout of the blog and your logo. Would you mine taking a look at mine? I do a lot of bookish and geekish reviews, but I’m strongly considering going more exclusively bookish and focusing on that niche. Also do you have any tips for more successful book blogging?

      Like

      1. I love your layout. I think it’s great that you have a lot of different types of posts but they somehow all relate a little because of the broad spectrum of your blog. I think if you want to post more about books, think about the niche/genre you read. If you look, my blog is mainly YA with a sprinkle of NA. Since there are two of us, Veronica reads mainly YA Contemporary, where as I am more paranormal/mythological/dystopian/historical fiction.

        I did read your Leigh Bardugo post (love her and have met her! she is a fantastic writer) and you have a great voice, which is where I think readers tend to get lost. You need a distinct voice to stand out from the crowd. So go you! Something you may want to look into- NetGalley. You can get an account for free and request Advance Reader Copies of soon to be published books. That helps with the traffic and reviews of blogs a lot too!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you so much for taking a look and for the advice! I have received a couple of book copies just by reaching out to people on Goodreads so it’s awesome to have another source for ARCs. I will definitely be keeping your words in mind going forward.

        Like

    3. Your layout is very neat and fun. It’s all easy to access and your post set ups are consistent and neat. My only suggestion is to perhaps add a widget to sort by genre so people can easily filter through what they’re looking for.

      Like

    2. Hey I talked to you last week on the community pool, but I think you looked at my old blog and not my main one! I had it configured weirdly, but I fixed it. Here is my actual blog lol: geekinggoddess.com

      Also question, do you prefer book tube or book bloggers?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi again,
        I remember messaging you last week, and now it all makes sense. I’ve just checked your actual book blog out and I really like the range of posts you have so I’ll definitely be clicking the follow button. Personally, I like both, but I spend a lot more time watching BookTube because it’s easier 🙈 Nevertheless I still appreciate a good book blog 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thanks, I’ll have to keep that in mind. I am heading more into the book blogging realms with my own blog, but have always been curious about book tubing. I will have to give it a dabble down the line!

        Like

      3. I’ve considered starting a BookTube channel before. However having my blog, uni and writing to contend with, I don’t think I’d have the time haha

        Liked by 1 person