Nov 16, 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?

Did you just start blogging and you’re not sure how to get going? Has your blog been dormant for a while but you’d like to give it a jolt of life? Join our free Blogging 101 course (or any of our other offerings at Blogging U.).

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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  1. Hi people! I’ve been working on customising my blog
    amyloaded.wordpress.com
    and I’m having a little difficulty along the line. When you click on the posts page, the whole length of all the different posts shows. I think it can be burdensome for a visitor who wants a quick browse. I’d like that it shows in a way that only the first paragraph of each post shows and if the viewer wants to see more of any particular post, there should be a ‘more’ button attached somewhere to the post to help him do that. I really don’t know how that works. Does it have to do with the theme I chose? I’m using the independent publisher theme. I’m really looking forward to your advice, thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    2. In the post editor, there is an option to add a “read more” tag to your post. Everything before the tag will show on the home page, everything after will be behind a link to the post itself. I believe you have that option regardless of what theme you are using, but you need to manually put it into each post.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I understand your problem. Decide where you want to cut off the content on an entry, having a “continue reading” appear there, so that the full entry only shows on, for example, the specific entry or archive page. You will need to manually add the “more” button to where you cut the copy off; you’ll find it in the Visual Editor. Hope this helps.

        Like

  2. I’ve been blogging for just over a month for a class I am taking, but the posts are random, some about my experiences as a student of International Development and others are just what I’m thinking about, but I thought I would share and maybe gain some followers as well as start following some others! https://aclearerschy.wordpress.com/
    best,
    Schy

    Like

    2. Great blog! The layout is simple and clean. I get a very elegant vibe 🙂 I also liked your header subtitle haha. I also like vodka 🙂 I enjoyed reading through your About page and your actual content. Very interesting stuff. I wish you the best of luck! Cheers!

      Like

    1. It would be great to see some featured images in your posts… right now it reads rather like a blank slate to me. Check out your widgets, your footer widgets are duplicated. Good luck.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Abby! I just checked out your site. Great job. I left you a reply at your site but wanted to encourage you here too as well to keep up the wonderful work you are doing. Very informative and visually appealing! Kuddos!

      Like

    2. I like the style of your blog. Good first post. It would be nice to see some other posts now. I love the title of your blog too. Maybe add some more detail to your ‘About’ section so visitors know what you might be posting about. I’m still new to blogging but feel free to visit and browse from https://cultivatingtime.wordpress.com

      Like

    2. Hello,
      I really enjoyed going through your blog! I read a few of your posts and loved it. Especially the finding your identity one 🙂 I’m also a Christian and it’s great to meet fellow followers of Christ here on the wordpress community. You seem like an awesome person and your vulnerability and introspective qualities are definitely admired. I’m giving you a follow 🙂 I wish you the best of luck as you blog and may we continue to pursue Christ!

      Liked by 1 person

  8. Hello Community Pool Participants! I haven’t stopped by for awhile to dip my toes in the water but I’m hoping to be more consistent with my participation! (I may even buy a new swimmy-suit to wear!)

    I’ve joined in the NaBloPoMo challenge so I’ve been putting up a post a day for the month of November as the challenge encourages us to do!

    On Mondays my feature post is: the monday giggles and here is my most recent one

    jumping jacks & toe touches!

    Another feature is my Dancing Through my Head where I pair a musical selection with thoughts whirly-twirling through my head. This is my latest submission:

    Crashes Over Me…

    On fridays I leave you with a Weekend Thought to ponder:

    Which will it be?

    And I started, as part of the NaBloPoMo Challenge, to Reblog articles I have enjoyed reading to share with my followers (on Saturdays & Sundays) to expose them to other great bloggers:

    I’m just sayin’ … honesty isn’t always kind

    What Kind of Tree Are You?

    Check out any one of these recent blogs and I look forward to reading yours too! Perhaps you will be one of my Reblog features in an upcoming post!!

    Until then…

    Hugs n’ Blessings to all!
    Dawn Marie
    hugsnblessings.com

    Like

  10. Hello all,

    I would appreciate any comments and feedback you may have on my first interview. This was the first time I had ever conducted an interview and I transcribed it for my blog. The discussion is with the Producing Artistic Director of a local theatre. Any recommendations for improvements or suggestions for future interviews would be greatly appreciated.

    http://gbconspiracy.com/blog/2015/9/4/acting-thank-you

    Thanks,
    Wes

    Like

    2. Hi Mark I like your post. It did get me thinking and it did inspire me to want to write in different ways. You cover some interesting points. As a WordPress user I prefer to comment on blogs without having to put in name, email etc. Just for ease of use. It’s your blog and your choice but it might encourage more comments from readers. From https://cultivatingtime.wordpress.com

      Like

  13. I have just published three new posts in my blog this morning, and yesterday I have got nothing but zero, zero, ZERO in my views!! Now, Dream In Music is three years old, and it has not suffered such a low in views as it is right now; If it continues to be low in views, well, who knows what might happen! All I want is a whole lot of feedback and a whole lot of views for my troubled blog; Please visit http://www.j2w7.WordPress.com and please give my blog the kind of push that it so desperately needs; And also, please tell your own family and friends about my blog as well, as well as for the fact to visit it each and every day! Please give my blog a birthday present, if belated, of giving it higher views and all of the feedback it so urgently needs! Thank you so very much!-JW 😟📰

    Like

    1. You do need to be patient to build up a following for your blog. Keep at it and it will come. These tips should help:

      1. Make sure you only use 15 tags and categories combined or your post will not appear in the Reader.
      2. Think like a reader not a writer when choosing tags. For example, on a recent post ‘Dream in Music’ some of the tags used are very vague, eg: Anybody, Blog Post, Day, Page, Photo, Sign. Ask yourself why someone would search for words like ‘Anybody’ or ‘Page’. It’s a good idea to search for tags you’re considering using to see what kind of posts come up. The more relevant the tags, the more likely you are to reach someone who will love your post.
      3. In the post I mentioned above, you seem just to link from one post to another one, (perhaps to add some tags?). If you wanted to add tags and republish the post, you could click the calendar icon to edit the date and time of the original post to the future, then reschedule the post to be reposted when the time comes. I hope this helps and good luck!

      Liked by 3 people

    2. Hi, so I checked out your blog. You post a lot, but perhaps you should consider quality over quantity. Write posts that people want to respond to and share. Some posts are just a single URL.
      Also, your theme is very bold. Perhaps lighten the colour, because the font is sometimes hard to read on the sidebar.
      I hope that helps.
      Happy Blogging!

      Like

      1. Thanks! I gave your piece a like as well. You discuss some very valid points. I hope society comes together rather than letting these events divide us. We have been through so much to create our identity of tolerance and multiculturalism it’d be a shame to let it go down the drain because of ignorance.

        Like

  17. I have two posts I’d like to share. The first one I published Saturday. It was fun and eye opening to discover how big a deal the issue is to people. I really enjoyed the comments readers made.
    https://livinglearningandlettinggo.wordpress.com/2015/11/15/over-or-under/

    The second one I published a few minutes ago. The experience I shared is still very fresh and close to my heart.
    https://livinglearningandlettinggo.wordpress.com/2015/11/17/and-so-it-begins/

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Very good post. Also thanks for liking my post. Where I’m from, there’s not a lot of positivity going around. But through this I’m inspired to rise up again. #NOTHINGMatters

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Hi Seb you have some interesting posts on your blog. I’ve commented on your blog. I’m more interested in the personal subjects posts than the business ones so I’ll have a look at those in more detail. It would be useful if you could put them into categories. From cultivatingtime.wordpress.com

      Like

  19. Hello all, I posted on a different community pool and got a lot of feedback about the content and how to spread my blog through social media. I’ve been messing around with the layout of my blog and was wondering what people thought about it? I think that it’s clean, and easy to find everything…but I would love to know what other readers think? Thank you in advance 🙂 also, if you love dogs, you should consider following me – I post on Monday’s and have wrote a lot about separation anxiety but am expanding to different topics such as product reviews, other behavioral problems, and the humors of owning a pet.

    anyways, here’s the link. Any feedback is more than welcome. https://elizabethcollie.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 2 people

    3. Hi your dog looks adorable. As someone who adopted a rescue dog over 12yrs ago now, I like the subject of your blog. I hope together you have lots of wonderful times. The anxiety will reduce as your dog learns and gets more settled into their new life. The layout of your blog is great. Well done from https://cultivatingtime.wordpress.com

      Like

    4. Hi Elizabeth… I checked out your blog and loved your latest post. My husband and I rescued a dog and have also struggled in the past with his anxiety. Ironically, the “cure” was when he found a little kitten in our apartment complex and adopted it. Since then, he will have anxious episodes every now and then, but we have gotten to a point where we can leave him outside of the kennel all day. I am looking forward to your posts!

      Liked by 1 person

  20. I love dogs, that’s why my blog is about adopting my dog, and all the irritating, funny, good, and bad things that have popped up along the way. I feel, when you have any type of pet, you get a plethora aspects; not just one or the other.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Very impressed with your post. I’m new, but I’ll definitely be checking it out. I think you might like my blog if you’re free. #NOTHINGMatters

      Liked by 1 person

  22. Writing isn’t new to me, but having “my own blog” definitely is! It’s always been the case of writing for others and obviously getting approved in the process. This blog is specially a venture born out of the life where I chose to leave my job to pursue my passion for dance. I’d wish this blog to turn into a space for artists to nurture and churn their art forms through words. My first ever piece delivering this thought. Really need hard critiquing and sound feedback. This a beautiful community here and thank you so much to have stimulated the idea. Here’s the first post guys, https://mindsneak13.wordpress.com/2015/11/16/capture-your-every-thought/

    Liked by 2 people

      1. Well more than tips I am definitely looking at various artists and that includes writers getting featured up there like yourself, do follow or share my work if it has made a difference to your heart! It is so very motivating for me to hear, thank you !

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Well its taken a me a long while to put this out there and to hear your views right after, it is a much sigh of relief! Thank you for following, my blog is a canvas for the various artists I believe have the power to change the world! Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I loved ‘CoopedUp’ and I am also reading Marlon James’s novel! I think you have a great length with enough detail, punctuated by the photographs. As a reader, perhaps breaking up your post with headings might be useful! Otherwise, it was beautifully and eloquently written and I have no further criticisms apart from selfishly wanting more photographs!😆

      Like

    1. I like how vibrant your blog is in terms of colours. I found it a little difficult to read at first but your genuine enthusiasm and passion for reading sucked me in!! In terms of layout, consider spacing , so avoiding large blocks of text? Keep up the blogging!! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Jam I like the style of your blog. I’ve added some comments to the posts I found interesting. Tea and Books – great subjects for a blog. Keep it up.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Your blog is so lovely! The layout that you chose gives off a very elegant and cute vibe. It’s super clean and concise. I had no trouble navigating around your blog. I also really enjoyed reading your content. The visuals you use are great as well. Keep up the great job 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I like the simple look of your blog. What I missed were pictures. As I scrolled down your blog, I did not see any photos. I am, like many, like looking at pictures. Pictures want me to read something. I would love to see pictures on your blog. Keep working on your blog though. It is really very very nicely done. Yaz

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Yhealthy, I will definitely work on images in my posts and blog overall. I really appreciate your feedback! Ironically, I love photography, though am wary of picture heavy posts. I’m heading over to your blog now! 🙂

        Like

  29. Hello Fellow Bloggers I have written a few different posts now and I would really appreciate any feedback on the range and style of the posts and my blog in general. I am also looking to connect with like minded Bloggers with similar interests. So please get in touch. Thank you x

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Really awesome blog you have! I really like the layout and what you did with it. Your About page is very well written along with your actual writing. You’re quite good and I found myself engaged to your posts. Great job. I really mean it haha. I wish you the best of luck 🙂 Keep it up!

      Liked by 2 people

      3. Thank you so much John. I really, really appreciate your comments. Still early days, I’m hoping to develop and improve over time. I’m grateful that you took the time to visit.

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Just been checking on your blog John. It looks great. It’s really nice to navigate. I’m particularly interested in your musings section. I’m following so I can have a look at these posts properly when I have more time.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I really liked your blog. It is your blog, so it should reflect you. Like my blog is mine…I want to just put what I want to. I love the pictures in your blog. One of my favorites is the match burning photo. Keep on it. It’s looking wonderful. This winter will be great to work on your blog :), as you work on loving winter time. Great work! Yaz

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you so much Yaz. I really appreciate you taking the time to visit my blog. Just been having a look at your blog. I love your blog title. Your dog is truly adorable. Keep it up.

        Liked by 1 person