Aug 10, 2015 / Community Pool

Community Pool

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

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!
  • 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.
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  2. Hello everyone, I’ve been experimenting with a slightly different style of writing in my last couple of posts. Was hoping for some feedback. Thank you in advance!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Your writing is very direct, very blunt (but in a good way). I want to dig deeper into your writing so I can’t really comment on difference of style yet. Keep writing though, it is really great

      Like

      2. I think with that theme it is not possible to have a header and an image. I do not see one on the example and usually if you can have both an image and a header it shows both. This is just my guess.

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Dear Community poolists,

    Greetings to you all once again and thankx to everyone who has been visiting and commenting. The two posts i would LOVE for you to take a look at this week are:

    [1] My definitive guide to world peace – i know, i know, everyone else struggling to figure it out and i come up with not one but two solutions: https://brettfish.wordpress.com/2015/08/07/2-definitive-and-practical-ways-to-achieve-world-peace

    [2] The second piece was i think my first ever interview [and would appreciate some interview tips to keep it interesting] and was this fantastic pair of young guys, both ex-prisoners who are making the best use of their second chance by running an ice-cream business out of a caravan at different events – super inspiring stuff: https://brettfish.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/stories-of-hope-interview-with-the-message-affecting-the-community-and-changing-lives

    As always if you could pick ONE of those, or both, i would love to hear your thoughts and reflections and as always now is the time of the week i really enjoy when i get to take a look at a number of yours…

    Have a great one
    love brett fish

    Like

  5. What a fantastic idea! I have recently started a blog. I miss writing and wanted to start again. Some feedback would be amazing. Thanks in advance to anyone who helps me 😊 x

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Guys am completely new here..could anyone f you just help wit a brief idea that how do i manage my stuffs here and also how do i link it to my facebook nd instagram accounts..

    Liked by 1 person

    2. For information on linking your blog to social media, check out this support page on Publicize:
      https://wordpress.com/support/publicize/
      As for Instagram, you can learn how to integrate it into your blog here:
      https://wordpress.com/support/instagram/

      If you’re looking for a more structured introduction to blogging, I heartily recommend joining our (free) Blogging 101 course — more information here:
      https://wordpress.com/dailypost/blogging-university/

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Just started blogging again. I know my blog is bland for now, but just had to start you know? Wondering how categories works. Also what widgets do you find annoying and what ones do people enjoy? I want my blog to be a place I can share my journey in raising my step daughter with a disorder. I want people to share and learn. So do people really care who all the players are? The about pages … Maybe therapy notes or articles on the disorder?
    I want people struggling with the same issues to feel comfortable sharing.

    Fourjuices1doppio@wordpress.com
    Thanks …

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I applaud anyone’s effort to share their experiences in writing and it looks like you are on the right track. I’m still trying to figure out my own blog’s content but I do know that categories help if you write about different topics. Adding widgets will probably become more useful later but an archive widget is always helpful when you’ve been blogging for a while. I suggest you explore and experiment.
      What you put down in your blog is really all your choice. Like you said, maybe you can create a page of resources about the disorder so that you can keep track of them and help other who are looking for help.
      I hope you’ll keep writing and find people who you connect with you and your story.

      Liked by 1 person

      2. I agree with you Aye. It takes a special person to share personal experiences with others to help them. I encourage anyone to keep writing and don’t give up. There is always a trial and error period, but don’t let that discourage you. I looked at your site as well. I thought it was well written. You might want to consider putting the About me page as the Home page with the article you wrote underneath. I always like knowing about the author and why the are writing, but that is just me. Not everyone is the same. 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Thank you for the reading, and I am certainly looking to change the look and feel of my blog. I’ll definitely consider showing my “About” section up front, thanks for the input!

        Like

      1. Thanks! You’re blog is great actually. It’s honest like I can feel you talking to me, like you can connect to your audience really.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Hey everyone! Please check out my blog at https://agonyhope.wordpress.com/. I’m still trying to focus my content and build an audience who can appreciate and relate to my experiences. Recently, I’ve written about body acceptance since that has been a major focus for me in recent months.
    I would love any feedback as well as some words of advice for my writing. Thank you so much!

    Like

    1. I think your writing is great in that you go full steam into what you want to get across to the reader. No need to change that! Only thing I wondered is if your theme allows you to have your menu of categories “open” and visible without having to click the menu icon. For blogs like yours that have several categories like that it might get you more visibility if you saw the choices as soon as you land on your home page, rather than having to search for content.

      Like

      1. I have definitely been considering changing up my theme but I haven’t found one that encompasses everything I’m looking for: large featured images, minimalist style, and a navigation menu that goes across the top like you suggested. Thank you for the input and I really appreciate you taking the time to read my posts, I had been wondering if there was something that needed changing about my writing so it’s great to hear that I’m doing just fine.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. My pleasure! Just keep checking other people’s blogs out and you will find the right one to suit your needs. I only have one grouping I like to keep separate, which I added to my menu up top. You should be able to do that with most themes.

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      3. Thanks for your feedback, not sure if I can make the images bigger, will look into it though.

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      2. Just visited your blog, Liked your article “Staying Focus”. You know, we all get side tracked from time to time. I try to write down my goals and keep the list with me. It seems to help. Good luck to you.

        Like

  12. I have just recently started blogging, I don’t really have a theme its mostly just thoughts that come into my head and/or things I like to rant about if I’m honest. Any feedback would be great on how to promote it also, I have about 20 followers and would really love more. Thanks 🙂 happysnarf.wordpress.com

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Hi! I started my blog while I was travelling for a year. I’m now home and wanted to keep going with the blog but am feeling a bit lost. I wrote a new post the other day and would love any feedback on what direction I should go with. Thanks for your time.

    Liked by 1 person

  15. I write a small travel blog – and have completed Blogging U’s Blogging 101 and 201. Still working on the format, but would love some feedback on my most recent post. It is a topic with which many people may be unfamiliar and so I’m wondering if it is clear. Sometimes I tend to understand things in my own head and forget that everyone else doesn’t live there! Thanks in advance for feedback! http://theamblingblog.com/2015/08/pursuing-thoroughbred-royalty-claiborne-farm/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Great article and very informative. I struggle with the same concerns when it comes to people understanding what I think is so clear in my mind, but you can rest easy – I thought the writing was very easy to follow. Great pictures too!

      Like

  16. Hi everyone! I just came home 2 months ago after having travelled for about a year and decided to start my blog. It’s all about food, healthy food 🙂 especially french recipes that I translate in English to share with my friends all over the world. I just hope that my blog will also interest the blogging community and people from everywhere. Let me know if you have some advices and what do your of my debut!
    Cheers
    http://unpetitoiseaudanslacuisine.com

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Love the idea of your blog! ❤ Do you have the follow/subscribe widget because I couldn't find it 😦 Maybe a post about food? On how to take advantage of different sources to maximize the quantity of your buy that keeps within you budget? Feel free to check my blog at http://camelliasentry.com

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Love the concept – perhaps because it seems to be birthed out of a desire simply to help others which is how my blog came to exist too! As for ideas, I think you could tackle each one of the situations you yourself have faced and if you dedicated a month or more to each you would be set for well over a year. When you have a moment check out the latest post on my blog at http://www.pinkheelsandpolkadots.wordpress.com and let me know your thoughts.

      Liked by 1 person

  19. I have been writing for a long time, but just started this official blog. I like to have a theme. Right now I am writing about old sayings and the history behind them, but I like to apply them to personal stories and prefer to make them a amusing. I’m not really sure how to get people to read my blogs though. Even though I am just doing this as a hobby, I still want people to read what I write and offer feedback. You know….like my dad does on all of my blogs. Haha! He is my biggest fan. This is my site: https://traciruffner.wordpress.com/ and would love feedback and honest criticism.

    Liked by 2 people

  22. Hello Community! I am glad we have this opportunity to help each other. I am trying to bring National Attention to the abduction of my two children. I created a website in hopes to do this. Any help on how to improve it or to bring attention to it would be so much appreciated! I am here to offer you help as well! The website was created here and can be linked to at http://www.hunkskids.org . Thank you so much!

    Liked by 1 person

  23. Hello everybody I’m new to this and I would love to get more friends and everyone reading my blog if you can. It’s for adula eyes only . I have skills in fashion as well to…check me out at juceepleasures.wordpress.com

    Liked by 2 people

  24. Hi, Ever’body!

    Still workin’ on description of my Daddy’s ol’ time tales.
    If you have any thoughts, let me know! More’n anything, I want to improve!

    Thanks!

    Belles and Whistles
    bellsandwhissles.wordpress.com/2015/08/11/tween-a-crock-an-a-hard-space-3/

    @Belleswhissles

    Liked by 1 person

  25. Hello,
    I am brand new to the blogging world. Filled out a few things made a post. Hoping it is a good start. Would love if I got some feedback on it. So far no views so hope someone has advice on best way to getting my blog viewed.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Just visited your site and the first thing I saw was your post on “Everyday Jesus”. I’ve had it on repeat for a couple of days now. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on, but alas, the post was real. Never been to a listening party but I thought the same exact thing when I first listened to the album. I was thinking, “Man, I should definitely let the guys from church know about this album.” Also, was going to comment on the post, but comments are closed – that’s on purpose?

      I clicked follow and I will check out some of your other work.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Yes that album is such a blessing – it plays non-stop in my car everyday:) Thanks for stopping by, for the follow and for lettingme know about the comment issue. Still getting use to all the ins and outs of wordpress and apparently I had them set to close after only a few days. I’ve fixed it now. Looking forward to checking out you blog later this morning. Have a great day!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thanks – I’m new to this but will definitley keep it in mind. Enjoyed what I’ve read so far on Nathan’s Blog – very inspiring! Looking forward to reading more and sharing it with others:)

        Like

  28. Hi guys – 2nd time in the community pool. I’ve had a couple of posts since that last time around. Please check out the blog and leave a comment and/or share with your friends. Any and all feedback is welcomed. Be blessed.

    Like