May 16, 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? Are you redesigning your blog and could use some layout or design advice from your more seasoned peers?

The Community Pool is for peer feedback and advice. Looking for more specific information? Check out some of these resources:

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).

Looking for free, self-guided courses to help you get started with your blog (or revive a dormant one)? Check out our current offerings at Blogging U.

To help us make the Community Pool a productive space for discussion, here are some tips you might find useful:

  • 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!
  • 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.
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
  • No running on the deck.

Are you a new blogger looking to share your very first post? We have a special forum for bloggers just like you in our weekly First Friday posts.

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  1. happy Monday poolers. I recently changed the layout of my blog and I wanted to get feedback from you guys. readthelionsblog.wordpress.com

    Liked by 5 people

  4. Have you ever looked at a photograph you have taken and had a piece of music come to mind. Something that fits the mood, atmosphere, or the season of the photo? My blog Soundtrack Of A Photograph finds those connections. I love music, and I love taking photos. The blog combines those two elements together. My latest is about…not being able to write in awhile and finding some happiness again after a rough month. Have a look here, and all comments are appreciated!

    Put The Sun Back

    Liked by 5 people

  7. I´m bilingual (Spanish/English). i am writing in Spanish in my Blog relatosconfotos.wordpress.com – Can I get readers and feedback in the Community Pool?

    Liked by 5 people

    1. From the title of your blog, I was expecting more photos. There is a lot of text and it’s a bit intimidating. Breaking it up with more photos or using the “read more” tags so everything isn’t on your home page might be something to consider.

      Liked by 3 people

  8. Hey everybody,
    I just started blogging this spring and I update my site at least once a week. I cover a variety of topics. They range from literature, film&TV, travel and my home country of Iceland. I would love to get some feedback on my work and hopefully some followers.
    Cheers, thenightshiftguy.

    Liked by 5 people

  12. Hi all! I would appreciate feedback on some of my posts. I’m still new to the blogging thing and I’ve recently started diving into creative writing. I’ve been using the daily prompts as a form of inspiration. Some of my work I like more than others, but I want to know what you think too. I’m also debating about the layout of my blog so any feedback or suggestions on themes would be appreciated too!
    Thank you so much 🙂

    https://elizabethgail.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 8 people

    1. Hi Elizabeth,

      I read your Buddy poem. I enjoyed it. As for the layout, I think it’s nice and clear. However, I would always suggest inserting an image to accompany your posts. I get mine from flickr and photopin. An image just helps to grab the eye and attention a little more, which encourages me to click into the blog post and read more.

      I’d also suggest breaking up the block of text that is your ‘About’ section. Broken into 2-3 paragraphs will make it read better.

      I wish you the best,
      Aidan

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you so much for looking at my blog! I love your writing and how you use inspiration and concepts from your culture! There were terms and phrases used that I was unfamiliar with and once I looked them up, I became so much more connected with the writing. I love it and I’m excited to see what else you write!

        Liked by 2 people

  13. Hi guys!

    I’d really appreciate some feedback on my latest post: https://thehighheeledpapergirl.wordpress.com/2016/05/13/i-am-a-ticking-bomb/
    And would also love if you had any suggestions for my ‘Making A Difference’ series: https://thehighheeledpapergirl.wordpress.com/category/inspiration/making-a-difference-portrait-series/

    Plus, I have set up a monthly newsletter for those who don’t have time to read my blog regularly but who still enjoy reading it!

    Any other feedback is strongly appreciated and the favor gets returned with great pleasure!

    Giulia xxx

    Liked by 5 people

    1. You have a beautiful blog. Neat and well organized. My only suggestion would be to pay attention to font colors/sizes. There were a couple of places where I felt it could be a bit more readable. But really beautifully presented 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  19. Hello everyone! Anyone love Indian curry dishes or want tips to stay organized? Check out my new website here: http://www.twentyfiveoms.com. Please send in your feedback or suggestions, I would love to hear from anyone who has ideas on improvements! Thank you so much, I appreciate your time!

    Liked by 7 people

  21. howdy. i have been posting poems, daily, on my blog for a month and a half, with very little interaction. i am not yet sure if i want to start “talking”. i am tempted! this seems a good place to test the waters. this is one of my favorite poems of mine. https://clichetoucheblog.wordpress.com/2016/05/05/empty-bowl/ i hope you enjoy. i am also super open to recommendations of poetry blogs on w.p., looking to engage with others and follow poetry that speaks to and for me. ❤️ e.m.

    Liked by 6 people

    1. I absolutely love Game of Thrones. I didn’t like Sansa in the books, especially when she is in the Eyrie. I like that the show made Sansa more of a strong woman. The book of the Stranger is such a good episode.

      Liked by 4 people

    1. Hi Tania. I just had a very quick look at your blog. I love the way it’s all set out and the pictures of food look very enticing. It all looks very professional. I’m going to follow your blog and have a browse later. I’m all for political, so will read that post first.

      Liked by 4 people

  25. Hi everyone! I started a blog about names (baby names, character names, etc.) about two months ago. My latest post is about the many names used in the U.S. in 2015 that have a root meaning “noble.” I would love some feedback, on both the post and my site in general. Is it visually appealing? How can I improve things?

    My internet is acting up, so I’m just going to post the article link:
    https://wellinformednamer.wordpress.com/2016/05/16/the-noble-names/

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Hi Wellinformed,

      I read your post and liked it. A strange topic – I mean that as a compliment. If I see another ‘unique’ beauty blogger I think I’ll tear my eyes out.

      As for the theme? It’s a very popular choice and gives you all you need at this stage. You’ll probably outgrow it – I’ve changed my own three times in two years. It’s very easy to try on new themes and it’s nice to spruce these things up every so often.

      Best of luck,
      Aidan

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks Aidan, I really appreciate it! I’ve been thinking of putting up a featured image that’s more relevant to names since the farm picture doesn’t really fit anymore, but the reason I chose the theme was because the name had to do with Hemingway – someone I’ve been reading a lot of lately!
        One thing I’ve noticed with this name blog is that I’ve inadvertently focused much of my attention on the usage of names from Greek and Roman mythology, since that’s where my interests are really strong right now. My last post before The ‘Noble’ Names was actually about the decline of the name Isis (Egyptian, but worshiped throughout the Roman Empire) and the effects of global events on people who actually have the name.

        Liked by 2 people

  27. Hi, I’ve been doing the Blogging U Everyday Inspiration and just posted a new post on the theme “A story in a single image” I keep tagging my posts with #everydayinspiration but they never seem to show up in the reader for some reason. Would love some feedback?

    Blue Spaces

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Hi Thoughts. Why are you tagging your posts with a hashtag? I only use hashtags if I’m trying to be found on twitter. In those cases I sync my twitter to my wordpress and customise the specific message that will appear on twitter feeds, e.g. Top 10 #Health Fads, yet the title of my wordpress post will be Top 10 Health Fads, trying to get found for the tag ‘Health’ on peoples readers.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Hi Aidan. I only put the hashtag at the front because WordPress did. I don’t use it for the tags on my blog posts. Mind you I have seen posts in the reader where they’ve put the hashtag at the front but its still shown up. I seem to recall some time ago altering the settings on my blog to not show up on some WordPress public thing that I can’t remember the name of but I can no longer find those settings. I’m wondering if that is the reason why.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Cute blog name and great format – very easy to navigate! It’s nice to find another military significant other out there!

      Liked by 3 people