Jan 18, 2016 / 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).

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  1. Hello all, not to sound too desperate but recently my views and likes on my posts have seriously declined and I’m not too sure why. I’ve not got a massive follow base but usually my average is 4-6 views. If someone would like to visit, I’ll link it below. If not, some advice would go a long way? I put my heart and soul into the posts so don’t expect anything half-arsed.
    Thank you kindly!
    https://mattydwo0d.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 3 people

    2. Looks great! Have you tried advertising? I post on pinterest, tweet, and instagram my posts to reach a larger base. Also, I find commenting on other posts helpful. Not sure what else you could try :\

      Liked by 2 people

  2. Hi everyone! I run a pop culture site and I’m looking for feedback on two posts: first, one about the oscars (here: https://popculturalstudies.wordpress.com/2016/01/17/snubbing-great-performances-oscarssowhite/ ) and second, one about older movies I’ve just seen (Magnificent Seven and Seven Samurai, found here: https://popculturalstudies.wordpress.com/2016/01/18/intertextuality-the-noble-heroes-of-the-magnificent-seven-samurai/ ). My concern is mostly with the first one. I worry it might ramble too much without arriving at an actual point. Let me know what you think. Happy blogging! 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Great post, thanks so much for writing about the terrible lack of diversity in the Oscars. I loved Straight Outta Compton and it sucked that it didn’t get any nomination for the performances which were the best part of the film.

      Liked by 3 people

    2. You write well, and what you say has merit. The Academy has some severe blind spots. So, your take and writing are solid.

      The only criticism that I can think of is that you might want to trim a few words and phrases here and there.

      For example, “Then, about a week later, several days before the Academy was to announce the nominations for the Oscars, we went to see Creed.” could excise the clause about it being several days before the Oscar nominations were announced. That, or you could re-write it to say you went to see the film about a week before the Oscar nominations. I don’t think you need both phrases to give us the sense of timing that you’re seeking to convey.

      Does that make sense, or am I off-base on this one?

      Liked by 2 people

  3. Hello community! I’m a school counselor and a write articles about mindfulness, spirituality, family, relationships, etc. I just started my blog end of November and would appreciate some feedback. Thanks 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  4. I just need something to keep my hope alive! Please, take a look at my blog and share if you like it (and understand Romanian 🙂 )!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Daniel. Took a look at your blog and right away liked the layout. You also did well with your About page, which is something I always like to check out when visiting a new blog. I’m sure that if you tag your posts well, get the word out and interact with others you’ll find your following. Thanks for sharing this

      Liked by 3 people

    1. I would add a section about your site itself – what is your purpose, what kind of things will you be posting? Are you displaying your art, trying to sell it, talking about your creative process…?

      The other thing is that you have a few typos and errors, like “exc” for “etc.” (et cetera) and “peruse illustration” instead of “pursue”, “two of the Detroit’s biggest art events” (no “the” is needed).

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Just in general I’d like to say I love your illustrations and sketches etc. I hope having a blog inspires more because I’d love to see it! Good luck

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Hi,
      The layout is very neat. You made a great choice on it. Everything looks clean and I had no problem reading text. Your writing is very interesting and engaging. Keep it up! The only thing I’d suggest is if you made an About page so that viewers can better understand who you are and what your blog is about. Goodluck!

      Liked by 1 person

      3. Sure-there may be others…I have done quite a few at this point so I may have missed something but this one is about Johnny Cash-https://robpatdoy.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/the-soundtrack-of-a-photograph-part-11/
        and this one is about Hot Club Of Cowtown-https://robpatdoy.wordpress.com/2015/01/

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks very much Ben. I’m glad the concept comes out in that way. It’s not always nostalgic, but I always aim for the music and the photography to work with each other so your comment is greatly appreciated.

        Liked by 1 person

  11. This absurd, if I can’t become instantly Internet famous with my blog, I should retire. JK!!!
    Although it would be nice to find bloggers in certain genres easier.
    Like on Pinterest, maybe I just have issues navigating this site.
    Anyone if any reads my blog, and has thoughts I greatly appreciate
    Erin 😩🙈😬

    Liked by 2 people

    2. I appreciate your raw and open honesty that you share with everyone! It’s very powerful, and empowering I’m sure! Keep it up! (And no, it’s been a year and a half now for my blog and I’m not internet famous yet, either! But don’t give up! We will get there one day!)

      Liked by 2 people

    3. I suggest personalizing your blog with a header. And while your short About blurb is oddly compelling, new readers who come to your site usually go right to the About page for info on you and your blog, so consider adding to it.
      Happy Blogging!

      Liked by 1 person

    2. I love how clean your site looks. Everything seems to have its place. And your photography and edits are gorgeous! I think if you would want to add categories based on your travel destinations, that would make your site easier to navigate. But this is totally up to you!

      Keep up the good work!

      Liked by 2 people

    6. Really enjoyed your blog – not the least because I’ve visited and blogged about many of the places you cover. I think the layout is classy and the images are clean and topic-appropriate (and a little bit poignant). Very nice job and thanks for sharing

      Liked by 3 people

    2. What a lovely site! I would suggest adding category pages to your menu so that your readers can find specific DIY or designs easier. If you’re looking to expand, I would definitely use tags, and perhaps consider branching out into social media. But I think you have a wonderful site! I don’t know how anyone could think that it’s not interesting 🙂 Good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    3. Wow! That first image! Wow! It’s captivating! You should definitely add a way to link your photos/blog posts to Pinterest because with these visually stimulating images, you are sure to get a ton of hits/visitors by advertising with these amazing interior designs!

      Liked by 2 people

    4. Your site is very neat and clean, which is great. My only suggestion is to rearrange your widget order. Bring the Follow button and your categories up as those are what readers would most likely go for first. 🙂
      Happy Blogging!

      Liked by 2 people

    5. Just wow! These pictures are amazing! Definitely eye catching. You have a very stunning blog. Perhaps though, you can add some categories? I’m not exactly sure what kind, but perhaps you can make your content more interesting by adding a category of some sort. I wish you the best of luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I agree, the slang and grammar and writing as if you were texting is distracting. The content would be much more valuable with proper usage of grammar! Most people would stop reading after a few sentences, which could be why you haven’t gotten much feedback thus far.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. okay !! thanx for ur valuable feedback, i will try my best to improve .i know that i can do better. its just that while writing m so involved that i don’t pay attention to grammar , rather its on just spelling mistakes.. i really wanna improve and i can do better n i will , i promise 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    3. I agree with andreating, your blog has good content but a lot of typos which makes it hard to read. Stick with it, you’ll get better with time. Your layout is lovely, don’t stress…just follow your dreams. 🙂 Good luck

      Liked by 2 people

    4. Hi there – I’d agree with most of the comments here – lovely photos but it’s hard to find you in your prose. It’s a bit of a tangle. I’d guess that English isn’t your first language? I think that’s why the mix of text speak, slang and ordinary English don’t sit comfortably together. It feels a bit as if you’ve borrowed somebody else’s clothes.

      I’d say – keep writing, but stick to the words that you keep closest to your heart. Be who you are. Be clear. There’s a Mark Twain quote that I like: “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.”

      Keep writing and clear the weeds from the path.

      Liked by 2 people

      2. Clear is a good idea. Reading a lot will feed your mind with useful language so that you have more choice. Text speak and slang are fine and useful in their place, but they live on phones, Facebook or conversation with friends. Words are like astronauts – they get uncomfortable in the wrong atmosphere! Keep reading and keep writing!

        Liked by 2 people

  18. Hey everyone, I just published my first blog Food Matters. Not sure what to expect, but hoping to create an open food forum for sharing all there is that we love about food. So send me your thoughts 🍷🧀

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hey there! One piece of advice I would suggest is to update your About page. To me, your blog seems like a personal discovery page, but I’m not sure if that is your intent with the site. This isn’t a negative piece of criticism, but it would be nice for new readers to know what they are about to experience when they first approach your blog. You mentioned in one particular post that you hoped to build a space for discussion. I think that’s a great idea! If you want to go this route–especially in preparation for a future podcast–then I would make this a constant thread to bind all of your blog posts together. Hopefully this helps, and good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    3. All I can do now is imagine the delicious food you describe! I have to agree with the previous comment about you About page. I would love to know more about you and your purpose for writing! I would also like to know your purpose for your “Just a Common Girl in the City” tab. But, I think you have a great start, and now I’m super hungry. 🙂 Good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

    4. Cool post, I find it so nice when people love their hometown enough to want to share it with others. I’d love to visit Delhi one day soon, and especially to try an authentic golgappa – I’ve tried one or two in London, would be cool to see what they’re like in India.

      Liked by 2 people

    6. Your blog looks great! The layout is very clean and concise. It gives off a sense of elegance to everything. Your post was well written and well organized. It didn’t feel cluttered at all. Great job 🙂 The only thing I’d suggest like some people have already mentioned is your About page. I think you should update your About page so that viewers can better understand who you are and what your blog is about. Secondly, perhaps adding categories to your blog will definitely bring depth and make things a bit more interesting. I hope that helped! Goodluck!

      Liked by 2 people

  21. Hey there, Nerds! My name is mckelodeon, and I run the geek lifestyle blog, Nerd•ily! Though it is two months away, I am preparing for my favorite convention, C2E2. You can check out my preparations here: http://nerdilyblog.com/2016/01/18/preparing-for-c2e2/
    There are also links to other convention/cosplay-related posts! Interested in seeing more related content? Give me your suggestions! I will explore various con-themed subjects to make this convention season your best one ever!

    Also, I am still looking for help from comic lovers. If you have the time, please take a few moments to complete this survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1a-2gqgfwh8CiW5gvbRkMsK9X3ks80JRpLplqefR4QmY/viewform

    Have a great day!

    Liked by 2 people

  23. Dear fellow bloggers,

    It’s that time of day on Monday afternoon, where we all come together under the moon.
    I’d like to tell you of this vision of mine, where my fictitious world begins to shine.

    My debut novel is on its way, what’s it about I hear you say?
    A story of thrills and delusional lust, to follow is an absolute must

    Please jump on board this train with me, this roller coaster of literacy.

    Take care guys and thank you in advance for your support

    Mark
    http://www.markdraycott.com

    Liked by 4 people

    1. In the top command bar when you begin a new post, there is a button with a double quote (“). I think that’s what you use to block quote.

      But usually you indent block quotes half an inch from the left-hand margin. Hope this helps!

      Liked by 2 people

  25. Funny story, I recently started a simple tech blog where I comment on topics like social media, technology, and photography. I’ve tried using other writing platforms like Medium/Facebook Notes but neither really gave me the control I wanted over my writing. Medium is amazing for reading but just felt a little off in the writing department. WordPress was the best choice in the end.

    My blog on WordPress turned out to be exactly what I needed. I found the perfect minimalist theme to put emphasis on my writing as well as logically organize my posts.

    Anyway if you dig tech, social media, and photography you should definitely check out my blog, if not its all good.

    //averykorn15.wordpress.com

    Liked by 3 people

  27. Hello, everyone. I’m still a bit new to the whole blogging process but would like some ideas to make my blog a bit more visually pleasing. If anybody could help me out with that it would be awesome!

    Liked by 2 people

    4. Hi,
      I liked how your blog is styled as if you’re ranting post-to-post. Which isn’t a bad thing. It just makes it that much more personal and intimate rather than a professional blog. Keep it up!
      I noticed that you’re planning to change things up with your blog which is always good. I believe there is always room for improvement. If you don’t mind me suggesting a few things.

      1.) I think updating your About page would definitely help. Going through your posts and reading your About page wasn’t enough for me to get a “feel” for your blog. So perhaps making your About page a bit more detailed will help bring you more followers.
      2.) I’ve come across many blogs that share the same layout as yours and so perhaps changing the header image and making it more personal would definitely make you more original and unique compared to all the other hundreds of bloggers with the same layout.

      I hope this helped 🙂 I will certainly follow for a follow! Goodluck!

      Liked by 2 people

      2. You’re welcome! Perhaps as you start blogging more and more, you can create categories to spice things up haha. As for your About page, it’ll develop through time. So no worries 🙂

        Liked by 2 people