Apr 6, 2015 / Community Pool

Community Pool

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

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?

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:

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.

  • 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!
  • The Community Pool comments section can get quite big — and starting duplicate threads doesn’t help. Thanks for not posting the same question more than once!
  • 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!
  • 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 Brian Cantoni.

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  3. Hi, I would like some feedback on my website. I am not a writer and my motivation for the post is in the advent it generated enough interest I could start my own business-organic homemade health products and join the ranks of the million dollar bloggers; an honest pipe dream.

    At present I feel my site is too dull and I am not targetting the right audience. I really need tips on improving my layout of the page and how to organise my articles into categories. I haven’t a clue.

    I started the blogging 101 course in order to improve my content, after all content is king. At present I have had no feedback which is ok as I don’t have a unique style and I don’t write pultizer prize stuff. The blog forces me to write and maybe relate topics to my blog giving a face lift to my present material.

    If someone can help with my layout I will be truly grateful. Thank you

    Liked by 2 people

  7. I’ve just posted a blog on moving house and specifically planning for moving from one house to another and needing to consider what items to keep, what furniture you need to source, and how you may get rid of what’s unwanted.

    It’s a dual purpose, showing at the bottom section how this blog post is formatted as a write up of a design.

    I’d really appreciate your feedback on the consistency of the writing style, and particularly how effectively the intro sets up the post https://ryansb90.wordpress.com/?p=577&shareadraft=55231075905e5

    Like

    2. Already followed:) Some feedback, make an About page, so your readers can get to know you a little bit…use pictures for your posts, people are very visual, you can add some colour and your personality to the blog…otherwise I am excited to read some more of your posts:)
      Good luck!

      Liked by 1 person

  11. I saw Krista answer a technical question. Would that be okay to put here? I am trying to paste a Mail Chimp code into an opt-in page. I paste the code in text mode. Every time I save the page, the opt-in form disappears. What do I do? Thanks,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Took a look at your blog. You’ve got some engaging content there. Participating in forums like this increase your exposure and as a result, your following

      Like

    2. Thanks for the share – really great poem there…
      Not sure if it was yours or if you were sharing something you found on someone else’s blog but either way it was great.

      love brett fish

      Liked by 1 person

    1. hi there – i like it as something different to shake up your blog and it is your blog so self-indulgent away – i was just wondering format wise if there was a way to reduce the size of the questions because it all looks so big and i think it might feel more manageable if you could reduce it by 25 or 50% – not sure of how much of a formatting nightmare that might be but if it’s easy then try it and see if it looks any better… but otherwise good job

      love brett fish

      Like

      1. Thanks Brett, I agree, it is too long and bulky. I might have a go playing around with formatting, thanks for stopping by.

        Like

  15. Hello Everyone,
    I am Ganesh, I have blogged about leadership and Ethics, in this blog i have discussed about the necessity of ethics in leadership with some examples.
    I would be really happy if you people give me a feedback about my writing skills and my Blogs. I have pasted the link below waiting for your comments.

    Leadership & Ethics

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Trudy, The only thing I would say is that I have read quite a few blogs on the New York life. I think you are going to have to develop “something” that is unique to your blog to gain a big following. I don’t know NY so I have no idea what that is. I blog on bipolar illness and there are many of us but we all seem to be different. Make sure you stand out in the crowd. http://lilypupslife.wordpress.com/

      Like

      1. i’m trying to figure out what that is that makes me different besides my age , gender, race all that. There are a few , a couple that started at the same time as I did actually. but I’m working on differentiating myself. It was one of the tasks from Blogging 101 that I found I still have to deal with, extending my brand and a feature. I appreciate your feedback, thank you.

        Like

      2. Yes, I hope that wasn’t blunt or anything. I do travel to a lot of blogs and I have just noticed that is really a popular topic. And honestly, I don’t look at gender, race, or age when reading a blog. Unless, of course, it is a “mommy” blog or something. Please let me know if I can be of any more help.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Lily, I didn’t take it as harsh at all. I asked for feedback and I appreciate that you took the time out . As far as race and gender I mentioned that only as a way to differentiate myself and I wouldn’t do it , I think you should be drawn in by the quality of writing not by who is writing.

        Like

      5. That’s very kind of you. I will keep that in mind. Right now I would just ask for more critiques on past posts. I am an an admitted introvert so blogging and opening myself to strangers is difficult, so I’m learning.

        Like

    1. I liked your poems. They were very inspiring. Is all your posts poems? I think you could expand your blog and talk about teen life and things that go on in your life through poems. Thanks!

      thekyleinator
      I would like it if you would check out my blog https://thekyleinator.wordpress.com/

      Like

  18. Hello All,
    I’m new to wordpress and am looking for some general feedback on my writing. If you find a minute, please check out my latest post “Results”. I write flash fiction, so everything it’s a quick read.
    Thanks!
    -M.L.R.

    Results

    Liked by 2 people

    2. hey there eyes of almond,

      left some words on your post but nice one – really enjoyed the top half a lot – you have a gift for words so keep on and great idea to shove some of your unfinished pieces through the door so to speak

      one way to get more traffic to your blog is to dedicate some time every week to visit other peoples’ blogs and comments and maybe leave links if they are similar to yours but people tend to reciprocate blog love so it’s a good place to start

      all the best
      love brett fish

      p.s. i think you are missing an s on serieS towards the end of your piece which you might want to go and remedy

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Your reply left me happy and awfully embarrassed. I left out an “S” in series. Gasp. Thanks for not only telling me that’s it’s a nice post but giving suggestions on how to improve and increase blog traffic. I appreciate it a lot.

        Like

      2. The typo is always a tough one but I know for me I like to hear so I can fix it up and it’s usually an oversight rather than someone not knowing how to spell a word so no embarrassment needed. And yeah k love this community vibe – we have to help each other…

        Like

  20. I have a general question about pingbacks. I participate in the Daily Post weekly photo challenges, and find each time that a few fellow participants have listed ALL the other links to that week’s challenge responses. When asked to approve a pingback, I am unsure of the purpose.

    Is there a benefit to the person creating the links? Is there a benefit to my approving the pingback? Is there a downside to not approving the pingback?

    Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. find each time that a few fellow participants have listed ALL the other links to that week’s challenge responses.

      It really depends on your own philosophy of blogging, but we feel that this isn’t what pingbacks were intended for. Originally, they were intended to inform a blogger that they’ve been mentioned in someone else’s blog post, so that the person mentioned could respond and keep discussion/conversation going. Some feel linking to the full list is a way to recognize others’ contributions, though the goal of blogging is typically to create meaningful dialogue/discussion, rather than simply links, which on their own, don’t add a whole lot of value.

      We allow pingbacks on the Weekly Photo Challenge and the Daily Prompt to help bloggers find one another and create real connections.

      You’re never obligated to approve someone else’s pingback.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for this post – definitely a hot topic. i am someone who has honesty as one of my biggest values and yet i do think there is a way in which we handle the truth that can help. So while i would avoid dishonesty as much as possible, sometimes i think we need to learn when and how to share the truth. Some things some people do not need to know because it is unhelpful and so we don’t need to ;lie to them, but we don’t necessarily need to tell them all of the truth. If you eat someone’s food and hate it, then telling them may not go down well, unless they ask and then a phrase like “not my favourite dish” will definitely go better than “worse thing i have ever eaten” but sometimes we do get faced with tough dilemmas…

      in terms of losing a Facebook friend over something like that, it looks like you win because now you don’t have that person in your life any more [happened to me with someone a week ago – they were quite mean and vindictive so them leaving was actually a good thing]…

      keep on
      love brett fish

      Liked by 1 person

    2. When I go around and read, it seems that FB does more harm than good. Seriously. I greatly enjoyed your article. It IS hard to be honest, but you can make it an appropriate habit. Just very gentle honesty. lily

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I’ve heard some horror stories because of FB, but at the end it all comes down to how we use it. Honesty is hard for so many reasons but still it’s better to be more honest and open that dishonest. Thanks for reading and commenting.

        Like

      2. no i agree it is how we use it. i just have seen people so brokenhearted over “unfriending” and status and all…I wonder if it is worth it. am glad to comment:) anytime

        Liked by 1 person

      3. I know a lot of people whose life revolves around FB and the number of friends they have, it is some sort of status symbol and trying to constantly prove how much better their life is, when in reality it probably is different. No one wants to keep their lives private anymore.

        Like

  23. I’ve just started my long awaited “shoutyourheadoff.com site through wordpress and would like some tips on how I can make it do what the tag line says and get other people involved .

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I’ve been having some success with social media marketing. I made a page for my site and I invite everyone I know and ask them to invite everyone they know. You can also advertise your site with Facebook for a reasonable price. Get into social media and do some basic research into SEO are my best advice.

      Liked by 3 people

      2. I like the concept but I still don’t really get it. I read your about page, and the purpose of your blog is clear. I just don’t know how it works. There are SYHO Members but I don’t know what that is or how to become one. Personally, I would stick to doing the writing yourself and your small team. Maybe invite guest bloggers every now and then (let’s talk, eh?) but yeah I like the basic concept.

        On a more technical note, you should move your blog to a different domain registrar. Free speech is great but WordPress can take your blog down for just about any reason they want. I can help with that if you would like, just find me on twitter: @therealjwr.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Again thanks for your constructive comments. With your positive help I may well get what I want to do with the site. I’ll contact you later re the registrar. My actual site is registered at 1&1 , maybe I should return to them . I came to wordpress because it offers the ease of creating a website which I personally am not very good at.

        Like

      4. Most of the wordpress.com functionality is available with an independently hosted website as long as you get the Jetpack plugin. It’s no big deal either way. If you’re happy with WordPress hosting for now, stay there.

        Liked by 1 person

  24. Here’s my site: jonathanwrogers.com. I am looking for a new theme but I haven’t found anything that’s resonated. I want a navbar that spans the top with my widgets on the sidebar. Something simplistic and not distracting. Eventually I plan on making my own, but I want something besides Twenty Fifteen in the meantime. Let me know if you have any other feedback regarding my posts.

    Like

    1. I think it looks great! Your photo edits are cute but simple, just the way I like beauty-related photos. I’ve been out of the North American beauty items scene for three years so I like finding new bloggers to follow so when I go back home, I can make an informed binge purchase at Sephora. I’ll be following you!

      Liked by 2 people

    1. hey Leela, i really love the heart of your piece [one small note is that book one you start as part one and then everything else is book two etc so i would change part 1 to book 1 so it is consistent] and would suggest that if you went back to it and gave it a little more time [i know it’s tough when it’s a challenge] you could make it even stronger – i love how you have pulled a life lesson out of each book and your end question – still think it’s a kids book? feels like it has a bit of a wink to it – really great – i could never write a post that covers so much in such a short way as what you did so well done…

      the one thing i would change if i was going back and trying to tighten it up is finding lessons that are more applicable – something like some sports tournaments involve mortal danger is relevant to the story but not so much to the reader [unless they are involved in cage fighting] whereas ‘a single misjudgment could cost you’ is applicable to everyone and thus more helpful – so i would just go through it again and find a lesson from each story that your reader can personally learn from cos then it would be even stronger.

      But already it is a great post – i would take out the apology at the end cos then you are basically inviting people to think your piece sucks when it doesn’t. If people are going to think it’s not that great a post let them think that but don’t suggest it to them.

      Keep on, you have a great thing going
      love brett fish

      [urgh see even my response is longer than your blog]

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Wow. Thanks a ton for the long feedback ( which I absolutely love). I’ll make the changes you have suggested. And yes, I’ll think of something else for the sports part. Again, thanks a lot for taking out the time.
        -Leela

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Really looks great Sarah – nice mix of words and pics and great that you interrupted the flow of pics to share a personal story about your experience there – really looks like it was an amazing day

      love brett fish

      Like

  29. Hey there beautiful people,

    i would love for you to read this piece i wrote on ‘the cellphone/mobile phone box’ experiment we did over the last week which was really successful: https://brettfish.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/lay-your-phone-on-me

    More so i would love for three or four of you to volunteer to try the same experiment with some friends or family and then blog your experience and we can link the blogs together… would love to see how that works so let me know if you’re interested and send your link to brettfish@hotmail.com when you’re done.

    love brett fish

    Like

  30. Not sure if we’re allowed to double post but am currently doing the National Poetry Writing Month posts [NaPoWriMo] and wrote this one on day four which was a Love poem devoid of the typical love phraseology and symbols and would love [ha!] to hear how people thought i did:

    NaPoWriMo: Day 4 – Love

    Hope you enjoy
    love brett fish

    Like

    1. I really enjoyed this poem and all that goes unsaid (besides the love!). Liked the subtle details that tell us our love-stricken man is struggling with more than just being able to tell someone he loves them. Thanks for sharing!

      Like