Jun 8, 2015 / Community Pool

Community Pool

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

Photo by <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/63057306@N04/5734415538">Beachfront Solutions</a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(CC BY-SA 2.0)</a>

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! We tend to delete duplicate comments asking for feedback on the same post.
  • On the subject of duplicates: please don’t repeatedly share links to your blog or your blogging event. Duplicates will be removed. It’s a bit spammy, after all.
  • 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!
  • When leaving comments, please remember not to add your blog’s url as your signature. It’s kinda spammy: after all, your handle links directly to your blog.
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • No running on the deck.
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  4. Hi! So for starters, how do I increase the readers on my page? I’m not overly fond of spamming peoples accounts with links.
    Also feedback on my writing is very welcome. I’ve only written two articles so far. They are a little heavy but I do intend to write some lighter pieces.
    https://velannia.wordpress.com/

    Also I had put colours on the page but everything appears white.

    Like

  6. Hi everyone,
    I’m new to the blogging community but would love some perspectives on my writing/blog aesthetics/general comments! Any recommendations on who I should be reading would also be great! I’m not sure what category I fall into but would love your input!

    www,seriesofadjustments.wordpress.com

    Like

    1. Your blog looks lovely! The colors are bright enough to be memorable, but still look professional, and your writing is so easy to read. Great job!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. I’ve noticed that a number of people in their blogs ‘copyright’ their work. .. is this necessary? Cheers Heid

    Like

      2. You go to the dashboard (YOURBLOGURL/wp-admin/ ), and in there to ‘Appearance’. When there, click on ‘Widgets’, and drag the widgets you want to the area you want them in. Make sure to click ‘save’ on each widget you want.
        Best, Matt

        Like

    1. Hi mishopeshi,

      Welcome to the Pool! Please don’t post duplicate links to your blog — it’s a bit spammy and we have to delete them. Thanks for understanding!

      Liked by 1 person

  14. Hi, i’m looking for filmmakers bloggers. I want to start a blog about filmmaking for beginners/indie directors, talking about anecdotes and experience in the field. This is a project with educationals intentions, and is not profit. I’m from Argentina and i write in spanish, but i look for english writers and others languages

    Liked by 1 person

  16. Very worthwhile conversation to have. I’ve recently started my blog, Solstice Stories for non-fiction slice of life posts. https://emilymarciel.wordpress.com/ I am curious how often y’all post. I’ve categorized my posts to break-up the themes of writing/feel for the day: Sunday Sweet Sunday, Man Cry Monday, Woman Crush Wednesday. I have a few other working categories but nothing has been posted in addition to these yet. So yes a discussion on frequency of posts would be nice to see, if anyone wants to weigh in.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hello:)
      Your blog looks really good:)
      I have a weekly schedule for my posts, which helps me be on track but it helps my readers to find the posts they are interested in and follow my blog!
      There is a new feature on WordPress, called Insights, where you can see what day and hour you have the best traffic, you can take that into consideration too:)
      As feedback, I would create an About page, your readers always want to know more about the author:)
      It’s really good you are categorising your posts:)
      Hope it helps,
      Julia

      Like

  19. Hi, Cunningeisele ‘author’ of Monday Mornings here. I’m a fairly new blogger, posting here just over 15 months now. I’ve managed to gain 300+ followers, but the goal is to continue growing. On days that I post a new piece(s) and even on the days I haven’t. I understand on social medias such as, Instagram, twitter and facebook. Anyone can promote their page by purchasing ad-space. I have looked on here for something similar, but found nothing. Help me promote my page, please.

    Like

  21. Hey, I just put up a new post and I would love to get some feedback. Also, any feedback on the aesthetics of my site would be great. Is to too bland or does it feel cluttered? Thanks for any suggestions or comments.

    Like

  22. Hey guys! A fresh new post is up, please don’t hesitate to check it out and like away, will return the favour! Thanks lovelies, x cyberqueenb.

    Like

    1. You have such a lovely blog! 🙂 I love the simple layout and the conciseness of your writing. However, you can have a widget for the populart posts at your blog, right? 😉

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oooh thank you so much, really appreciate it. Very kind! 🙂 That’s an awesome idea, any chance you could tell me where to find it to encrypt one onto my blog? 🙂

        Like

      2. Go to your blog. Click on “My Sites” at the top left
        *Then Click on Customize
        *Then Click on Wodgets
        *Then on Primary Sidebar
        *Click on Add Widget Button
        *Click on Top Posts and Pages
        *And then click on “Save & Publish” which is the blue button at the top of this menu.

        Although these are top posts from the last 48 hours but I keep it as well 🙂

        Like

  23. Hello.
    Although my blog is quite old, I still consider myself as a neophyte blogger. I still have problems with my consistency in making blog posts. Anyway, can you head on over to my blog and give me some comments for me to improve my blog? Thank you. 🙂

    Like

  24. Hi! I’m Callie and on my blog, Imaginationem, I post about beauty, fashion, music, etc. If you could take a minute to check out my blog and provide me with some feedback on my layout and quality of posts that would be amazing!
    Thanks!
    http://imaginationem.com

    Like

  25. Hello bloggers! Do you believe in equality for all? I keep a weekly blog, regarding the ups and downs of an everyday marriage. It just so happens that were two guys. The blog is meant to illustrate that all marriages share similar happiness and problems. Stop by and please let me know if there’s a topic you’d like to hear more about in the blog! Thanks in advance,

    J
    Gaysinthelife.wordpress.com

    Like

    1. These are just impressions, you may disagree with me and that’s fine:
      *I’m not sure what a ‘seasoned reader’ is
      *In your section on pictures, you may want to mention attributing them (as you yourself did)
      *I don’t think you can change font size without purchasing a premium plan, otherwise you only get a preview and the font stays the same on the site, similarly with font
      *With tags and categories, you may just want to make it clear that 16 is the maximum of tags and categories combined-otherwise posts may not show up in the reader
      *I’m counting 9 categories?
      *Lastly, congratulations on the popularity of your blog!
      Yours are all good and sensible points, I’m just nitpicking, and I really enjoyed the post.
      Best, Matt
      P.S. You may want to upload a higher resolution of your header image if you can find one, it looks a little pixelated.

      Like

      1. Thank you so much, Matt! 🙂 OK, I made changes to my blog. Could you maybe drop by my blog again and see how it is now? It’s OK if you don’t have time, you have given me tons of help! 🙂

        I think before we could make the font size bigger/smaller. I think it has become a part of the premium plan now?

        By attributing, you mean describing the photos or crediting them? 🙂

        Again, thanks! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. *Re attributing pictures, personally I think it is best to link to (thereby crediting) where the image is from, and I just thought that it would be a good tip to include in that section
        *I’m not sure when font was made unchangeable without payment, but on one of my private blogs I get around the issue of font size by making all the text heading level 6 which has a similar result
        All the other changes look great, and I look forward to reading more from you! If you have any other questions, please just ask and I’ll try and help.
        Best, Matt

        Liked by 1 person

  29. Hey everybody, I’m Gaurav, and I’ll love to get your feedback on my latest post: “Perfection of fiction”, I’ll like to know if my thoughts are accurate or they need improvement and would love to get your opinion on my writing and how I could improvise.
    Thanks!

    Like

    1. I really enjoyed that, it was a topic (the perfection of fiction against the mundane and definitely non-perfect everyday world) that I was thinking about recently. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that all books need to go like ‘The Fault in our Stars’ (which I think your reference was to), sometimes people just love an underdog hero-‘Harry Potter’, ‘Lord of the RIngs’, and ‘The Hunger Games’. If an author uses a disability too much, it can be seen like they are using it as a cheap way to garner pity for their character rather than being able to evoke it themselves, but as a one off it can make stories very moving.
      Lastly, it is always a good idea to attribute images (if you can’t remember where they came from, right click on them on your blog and click ‘Search Google for this image’).
      Best, Matt

      Liked by 1 person

      3. It depends what kind of book you’re after. The best non-fiction book I’ve read recently was ‘Agent Zigzag’, about a spy in World War II.
        I feel that ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ is one of the best Conan Doyle stories with a combination of crime and thriller. Lastly, if you’re looking for an unusual take, ‘The Book Thief’ was profoundly moving. (There are full reviews of all three of those on my blog if you want to read a bit more about them.)
        Best, Matt

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I thoroughly enjoyed that! I personally see fiction as complete escapism so happily read about ‘perfect’ worlds, but I think you make really interesting points. Looking forward to reading what you write next 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  30. Hi, everyone! I’m pretty new to WordPress and blogging in general, so some of the terms still elude me! For example, how is a featured image different from just plunking an image into the blog post? And if I make edits to my post after publishing it, do my followers get an email with each update? (As an avid over-editor, I really hope not!!!)

    Finally, any feedback on my blog would be deeply appreciated! It’s a reflection of my life as a newbie massage therapist and the life-lessons I get out of my experiences. Is this sort of thing at all interesting to non-massage therapists? I hope so.

    Thank you so much! -Joanne
    http://www.joannethemassagetherapist.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. A featured image is the one that will be featured if you share the blog post on Facebook or other social networks, also if you see my blog, the image you see in background of the title is the featured image and all the other normal images are inside the blog post.
      And no, your readers don’t receive an email every time you do an edit.
      As for your blog, I’ll advise you to change your theme, the current theme looks really uninviting (no offence) and you know the saying, “the first impression is the last impression”.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I agree with him.
        Also customize it up a little with widgets. You can do that by clicking on your My Sites. Scroll down until you reach the Look and Feel. Click Customize. Click on Widgets.
        Hope that helps.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. I’m sorry, the theme is beautiful actually, but when I saw it before, it was all mumbo jumbo, I guess it was some kind of bug.
        I’m sorry, my mistake, your theme is really beautiful!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Phew!!! I like this feedback even more. 😉 thank you, Gaurav! And yes, WordPress seems buggy today. I’d like to thank the person who suggested widgets, but I can’t comment or even access the comment now.

        Liked by 1 person