Oct 5, 2015 / Community Pool

Community Pool

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

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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  1. Seeing so many people in Blogging U courses and here in the Pool asking for comments and feedback, I decided to twist that on its head and research and write a longread post on The Art of Commenting: what holds us back and how we can fix it.

    It’s for people who would like to comment more but feel awkward; are not sure of the etiquette or simply don’t know what to say.

    I added a vignette to try to highlight how conversations on blogs can feel much stranger than the ones we have in ‘real life’. I’d love to know if you think that works and if any of the points I’ve raised speak to you.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I enjoyed your blog. Very neat and concise. The pictures help bring depth to your posts. Really enjoyed everything 🙂 I think you’re doing great! I wish you the best of luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Fantasy literature in my opinion has the regular story elements, but human nature is tweaked by supernatural/fairytale aspects. It uses these abstract concepts to describe something about the nature or people and things.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I’d love to see an About page to figure out more about you and the blog. Currently it’s very stark, but it is pretty new. For such a long post, I would recommend adding Read More tags to give your readers a break from scrolling while looking through your posts. I would also recommend playing with your widgets, give the place some color. Good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Very informative content. Enjoyed it a lot. The only thing I’d suggest is if you made an About page so that viewers can better understand what your blog is about and they can connect with you on a more personal level. Other than that, you’re doing great!

      Like

  5. Hey there!

    Greetings.

    Hope you’ll are having fun!
    Community pool is great way to connect with fellow Bloggers. I’m still quite new to this and learning new things.
    Last time I asked few tips for my blog and got some real cool and genuine feedback.

    Have written few blog posts recently.

    Please have a look if you get a chance.
    I write about travel, fitness, photography and life in general.

    https://pinkpetals27.wordpress.com

    Thanks !:)

    Liked by 3 people

  6. Hi,
    I need insight. My guest author published a post on Tuesday on SEO that my readers didn’t understand. When I saw how technical the post was I predicted no one would read it. On the contrary, both page views and comments were extremely high. Even this morning, almost a week later, page views and comments are continuing to rise.
    My question is this. What is accounting for the success of this post? I can not replicate the factors that are making the post successful if I don’t know what they are.
    Here is the link:

    8 Backlinking Mistakes That Every Blogger Should Avoid

    Feel free to comment right on the post. Thank you.
    Janice

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I felt like it was very informative. Definitely helpful to anyone who is looking to improve their blogs. Perhaps that is the reason of its traffic. I think you’re doing great 🙂

      Like

    1. Your tag line reads like a bio, and then clicking it leads to a very messy page, so I’d suggest fixing that up. But I love the font of the title and the picture! 🙂

      Like

    1. I have just visited your blog and I particularly enjoyed your post on the brain cell – really amazing and inspiring. I am very new to blogging but I think your site looks good! My blog is: thebloggeronthemount.wordpress.com

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I loved it!
      The contents are great and the visuals are stunning. Only thing I suggest is if you made an About page so that viewers can connect with you more personally and better understand your work. Definitely going to give you a follow though 🙂 It would be great if you could take a look at my blog. Any feedback is certainly welcome. Cheers!

      Liked by 1 person

      3. Hey, John. Loved your blog and loved your story, I can’t wait to read part 2! I think as a visual person the only change I would like to see is a space between the dialogue between people. Personally, it helps me break them up in my mind a bit better. I know it makes the blog seem longer but it really helps visual people like me. Great stuff, love the simplicity of the whole blog, super organized and I love it!

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Hi, Everyone! I have just started my new lifestyle blog and was hoping to get some feedback about regular weekly topics, particularly ones that remain the same each week, ie. Wedding Wednesday, Monday Must Haves, Fashion Friday, Sweet Sunday, etc. I’d like to have some consistent topics that my readers can look forward to on a regular basis. Since I have a lifestyle blog, I am open to a wide range of topics. I’d love to hear what works for you or what you’ve seen popping up on other blogs you enjoy. Thanks in advance!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Hello! I have only been blogging for about two weeks now and I’m still finding my voice. Last week I got a lot of positive feedback from friends on posts, but today I tried something new and already feel like it was a misstep. My question for the seasoned bloggers is, how do you bounce back when you feel like you had a bad post or lost your footing? I’m still building my audience and don’t want to lose them so soon! I appreciate any advice: http://popcorninmypurse.com/

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Are you talking about your Oktoberfest post? I really liked it. When it comes to being unsure about your posts, it usually takes someone to comment positively about it before the uneasy feeling goes away. But you should always be proud of what you post.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you, Michelle! Yes, that’s the post I was worried about, as it’s the first time I hadn’t directly spoken about tv or film–I used some movie clips, but I was worried it wasn’t enough of a tie in. I appreciate your feedback!

        Liked by 1 person

    2. For two weeks, you’re doing great. Your blog is very concise and easy to navigate. In my opinion, I don’t believe there is such a thing as misstepping posts because the blog should be for you and about you. Sure putting things up that viewers might like is great, but ultimately, allow yourself to dictate the blog and not the blog to dictate you. Your honest self expressions will draw people. Patience is key 🙂 I wish you the best of luck!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you so much, John! That’s a great reminder of it being for me–that’s the reason I started it and I like your words on not letting the blog dictate me.

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Hi all – my blog Sasieology is about visiting new places and trying new activities. Until now, I have challenged myself to at least one of each per year. However, in 2016 I want to accomplish one new destination and one new activity for each month. With that it mind, I’m looking at how I can improve the format and layout of the blog. This week I have written a post about a massage workshop that I took, and I have included a Q&A session with the instructor for the first time. Does this work? Anyone got any other tips on content/format/design for these types of posts? Thanks in advance 🙂
    http://sasieology.com/2015/10/05/the-art-of-self-and-peer-massage/

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I loved it!
      I also immediately fell in love with your blog. Your goal to visit a new place and do one new activity each month is awesome as well. It’s so refreshing to see people like you challenge their comfort zones and tackle life experiences. I myself recently became inspired to travel as much as possible and it is a new chapter in my life. I’m definitely inspired by you and your blog. Certainly giving you a follow 🙂 Keep up the great work!

      Like

    1. Try to keep a regular schedule – write daily, 3 times a week, something like that. That way, people will come more often. As well, use tags and categories – if you use fewer than 15 tags, you’ll be seen in the reader and people will be able to read your post!

      Liked by 4 people

      4. Generally, yes. As I understand it, the fewer tags you have the better. So one or two is better than twelve tags. If you have more than 15 tags, you won’t be shown in the Reader at all.

        (I might be incorrect, experienced bloggers correct me please!)

        Like

    2. I tend to use categories for more general subjects and tags for more specific, for example a category maybe music, a tag maybe Radiohead. Also try and keep your tags relevant to the content, ie down put the tag easter agisnt a post about halloween for example (pretty obvious really)

      Liked by 1 person

    3. To get more readers, you have to be a reader first! Go read other people’s blogs, leave comments and likes and interact with bloggers, and chances are they’ll check out your blog back! Blogging is about community, so go participate! 🙂

      Like

    2. Absolutely loved the “lookthroughmylens” blog. Immediately gave you a follow 🙂 Everything is super informative and your photography is stunning. It motivates me more to work on my own photography. I’m excited to see more! Cheers!

      Like

  15. Hello there, thanks so much for creating a pool like this!

    I started my blog a few months ago and didn’t really commit, and now I’m trying to post daily. However, I’m worried my blog is a little to spread-out in terms of focus. It’s a personal blog, so I want to write about my life, with a focus on religion (see the blog for a better understanding of what I mean), feminism, my cat, and random insights. I think a lot, so I kind of expect I’ll be writing about many different things, but those are what I’ll probably focus on. I’d love it if someone could take a peek and tell me if they think I’m doing all right, or give feedback to improve – especially if you can see topics within my work that I might need to focus more on!

    I haven’t written too many posts yet, so it might be a little hard to see a pattern… hope it’s enough though!

    Thanks so much!

    Liked by 1 person

      2. Thanks for the link! I found your posts really interesting. My blog is a religious one, but i have never experienced the things you described in your posts at my church! Please check mine out at:
        thebloggeronthemount.wordpress.com
        I hope you find it interesting to see a different viewpoint 🙂

        Like

      3. Thanks! I’ll definitely check yours out soon.
        Do you have any feedback for me in terms of making my blog more focused, or whether or not it needs a main topic or a few? Thanks again for reading!

        Liked by 1 person

      4. No problem! I really liked the way your blog was laid out. I think that your posts focus on really good topics which are interesting to read – maybe you could make it clearer what you beliefs are so people don’t get confused? Also maybe think about some main topics, but have a couple for variety… only something to think about – I thought it was really good! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Thanks very much! I really appreciate your feedback. I’ll work on making my beliefs clearer with regard to the religion topic… though my beliefs aren’t totally certain, honestly… :p

        Again, thanks so much! Are you looking for feedback on your blog?

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Would love some feedback on my blog, particularly this posted yesterday: The Tale of Small Paul
    There is no greater invention than online shopping, in my opinion. It’s amazing how you can just order a load of stuff one day and then a couple of days later, or even the day after, it appears at your door. It blows my mind. I don’t get out much. This week I ordered quite a […]
    funny, girl, amazon, online shopping, opinion, story
    https://emmasguidetothegalaxy.wordpress.com/2015/10/04/the-tale-of-small-paul/ 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I actually really enjoyed it. Your blog is great. Very concise and easy to navigate. Stay confident 🙂 You’re doing great! I’m also into writing and so as a fellow writer, I’m going to give you a follow! It would be awesome if you could also take a look at my blog and give me some feedback. Anything is welcome. Looking forward to seeing more from you 🙂 Cheers!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hello,
      I’m sorry but I don’t know how to quite publicize a blog either but I couldn’t help but find your blog amazing. I’m also a Christian as well and I found your blog to be quite encouraging. Definitely going to give you a follow. May our pursuit for the Lord be steadfast in His strength and grace.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Loved it. I was captivated the entire way through. More than the post though, I enjoyed your blog. It’s very neat and easy on the eyes. As a fellow writer, I’m going to give you a follow 🙂 Looking forward to seeing more from you! It would also be awesome if you could check out my blog as well!

      Liked by 2 people

  22. Hello everyone! I posted last week, but would still like some more feedback. My website tries to take a more analytical look at pop culture, such as Game of Thrones, Batman, Harry Potter, etc. Please let me know how my website is in terms of content and layout. Thanks everyone!

    popculturalstudies.wordpress.com

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Hi Andrew! I am new to blogging, but I like your site very much. I love the analytical views of pop culture. I wish I had more insight, but to a newbie, it looks great!

        Liked by 1 person

    3. You. I like you. Your content is intelligent, well written, and incorporates stuff I’m into. If anything, I’d like to see you do more with your widgets; give people more visible options to follow you, connect with social media, stuff like that. Great stuff. Following, hoping to see more killer content.

      Like

      3. I can’t seem to find where you add it… Look around in your settings, find things to change and experiment with. That seems like it would be the best way to spice up the layout.

        Like

    2. I like it. The idea of your blog is great. It makes me intrigued to find out more. The only thing I’d suggest is if you update your about page so that viewers can better understand what your blog is about and who you are personally. Other than that, I think you’re doing great 🙂 I wish you the best of luck!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks a lot. I will do that. To be honest, I really don’t know how to update that. Haha. I will explore a bit and learn quickly. Thank you for your help. I really appreciate it. xD

        Liked by 3 people

      2. You’re welcome 🙂
        When you’re on “My Site”, on the left there should be options to do things. Under the “Publish” heading, there are two options. “Blog Posts” and “Pages”. Click on pages and there you go 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    4. Hey there! Your first post is good. I love HP too! I do however think your header (though a nice image) is a bit large, so perhaps consider making it smaller?
      Happy Blogging!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you so much!
        I also enjoy that sort of atmosphere as well. That actually sounds good to try soon. I gave you a follow because I love your work. You have a way with words and I enjoyed reading a few of your posts. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more of your work. Cheers!

        Like

      1. Thank you. Some of the drawn artwork isn’t mine as I have a few artist friends who contribute but you can find most of them credited on their artwork either in the captions or if you hover over the image. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Only as a hobby – I like doing illustrations to stories I’ve written to help me with the characterisation. I was wondering if you had any feedback on my blog:
        thebloggeronthemount.wordpress.com
        Only if you want, no pressure! 🙂

        Like

      5. No, I’ve been having a poke around your blog already. I’ll admit, I’m a little apprehensive about commenting on it because of the topic matter. My own complicated relationship with religion leaves me hesitant to pass judgement on religious based work.
        However, you appear to have a strong grasp of structure and prose. Your poem ‘Innumerable as Sand’ is well written even if the topic its on isn’t my preferred cup of tea.
        All in all it’s a solid collection of writing.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Thank you for looking. No problem – I respect that it is not necessarily going to be relevant to everyone! It is obviously a specialist topic – thank you for your honesty! Thanks for your comment on my poem – most of my poetry isn’t religious based so it is nice to hear positive things about my poetry! 🙂

        Like

    2. Hi, I found the text a little small and had to magnify the page a little to read it comfortably. Apart from that the layout looks pretty clean ad nice. I like the use of images which add nice colour splashes to the blog too.

      I was wondering about the layout in terms of the sections, at the very top you have a number of headings and then you get recent highlights, followed by a section on the novel and then another section on drawing a doodling. Do these update their respective posts on the home screen as you post a live post in the respective section?

      Like

  28. Hello,
    I have not been very active member of the community here, but I love to read blogs and find interesting reads- Any time I have, I’m trying to devote as much time I have on reading. I’d love to read your blog. I also just posted a post in my blog, not able to update it very often, but any feedback from you would be precious for me. I am pretty ne in blogging-

    Antarctica

    Thank you!!!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I really liked your blog and your recent post. It’s very adorable 🙂 I enjoyed the visuals because it brings more depth into your content. I’m looking forward to seeing more. I gave you a follow and would love it if you could also take a look at my blog. Any feedback is definitely appreciated! Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Hi guys,
    I’m new to blogging and have just posted my first two blogs on WordPress. I am hoping to spread awareness of my condition, Functional Neurological Disorder.
    Any hints or tips would be much appreciated.
    Thanks
    Charliew82

    Liked by 1 person

      2. No problem! Just looked at your site and followed – keep posting and spreading awareness! It looks really good so far and your writing is very honest and sincere.

        Like