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. you have an incredible blog and I sincerely hope it brings you some measure of comfort to write. I share that particular journey you are on now..and it does eventually get better. we each have to go through an intense amount of crap first though. wishing you well.

      Liked by 3 people

    2. First of all, LOVE your format and theme! I also enjoy the eclectic content you post. The only criticism I have (which is probably based on personal taste) is that I find having to scroll through all the posts a little overwhelming. I typically prefer an archive or menu of some sort. Great job though, definitely a blog I’m going to follow!

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Also about your constructive criticism: when you’re on the home page on my blog, you can see the menu on the right, and as you click it and scroll down, you can find a little button that says “categories” and you can press it and scroll to find a post fit for your topic!

        Like

  5. Every week I am finding new blogs, new stories, new reviews, new greatness. I’m loving the world of blogging and thank everyone who loves sharing their personal tales and thoughts.
    I myself am a bit stuck at the moment…too much to write down I think!!

    I’m a bit stuck…

    Liked by 5 people

      1. To be honest, I don’t quite remember! I am USELESS with technology…computers in particular!! I think I changed the format, or maybe it was the layout…if I have a play around and it jumps out at me I promise I will let you know!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Great layout…the only thing I find sort of distracting are the pictures that move behind the text lol, but really unique!

      Liked by 2 people

  7. TO ALL BLOGGERS & BLOG FOLLOWERS, NOW HEAR THIS: I have published a new post this morning, and I plan to bring many more to come, all for you at http://www.j2w7.WordPress.com!-JW 📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣📣

    Liked by 4 people

  8. Monday already…unbelievable….but hello fellow bloggers nevertheless and I hope the week has started gloriously 😁 If not soon be Friday 🤔 As per usual I am after feedback, comments, likes, follows or…failing that, folk running for the hills to the tune of an Irin Maiden track of similar name. One of my latest posts was a blog battlers challenge using six words from previous battles…a bit of a wheel if you like but given its a first attempt at fast fiction I’d like your thoughts….likewise on the theme of the blog which I am still head scratching on.

    Thank you all in advance 🙃

    https://fictionisfood.wordpress.com/2016/05/14/the-god-strain/#more-600

    Liked by 4 people

      1. Thank you 😊 I’m always looking for a theme that really pops…just so flipping many it’s all quite bewildering…like being in a proper sweet shop and not knowing which sweet to have 😁

        Liked by 3 people

      2. Hmmmm .. feels like you have same trouble like i had. .
        Don’t worry.. just check out and try themes you want you can also filter and check according to your requirements… I have checked almost all free themes 😀 and finally found my current theme…visit my site and tell me about my theme

        Liked by 2 people

      3. I guess it’s common at the beginning. What do I want and not quite knowing until experience bites and then you actually know what you are looking for. Just been to yours and you should have a comment in your moderation queue. I love the layout..and as per comment…is it a home page?

        Liked by 2 people

      4. Ops… you are so right. I have searched and worked over my blog to make it the way I wanted. . And yay I made it!!! You can also do it.. 🙂 I’d like to help you

        Liked by 2 people

      5. You are already…theme searching and a post to get me thinking….my problem, in,I me yours, is I’m just not arty enough to visualise what I want yet…either that or haven’t hit the them with the wow factor 🤕

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Just followed you.. don’t worry…try create a prototype to get any idea about what you want and start working over it .. and if you need help do let me know

        Liked by 1 person

      7. Thank you so much…follow and assistance offer…🙃 Hope to get onto deeper thinking on it next week….I’m running out of hours in the day at the moment 😊

        Liked by 1 person

      9. That fits entirely within the remit of the kindness challenge I’m doing at the moment 🙃 Oh, and the kindness clause my post was about!!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you so much for liking my layout. Yes I have created the home page used HTML and CSS. .. if you want to learn how to do this. Then i am working quick layout tutorials . I’ll post them in this week.. . I am sure it will help . 🙂

        Liked by 3 people

      3. Cool…I shall look out for that and have a think about presentation. This is the bit about bloggers I love…they are so helpful and generous…it’s brilliant 😊

        Liked by 4 people

  10. Hi,
    My brother decided to take over my blog yesterday
    I had no idea what he was going to post so I handed my blog over- just for the day, don’t worry, i’m not stupid!!
    He wrote a post about how he’s improving his lifestyle and his tips and tricks. This includes health and well-being aspects and I and he would love some feedback on the post or tell us what you think!
    https://mybookylife.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/self-development/

    Liked by 7 people

    1. You have a great blog there! I specially like your book reviews! 😀 But I have a question, why doesn’t your brother get his own blog? He’s a good writer and obviously has something to say… so… why doesn’t he have his own blog? 🙂

      Liked by 4 people

  11. Hey Guys I must say that the connection on Community Pool is just amazing!! Great place to meet like minded bloggers.. and in BULK.. It’s a blessing to be together even when we are far away, connected by our thoughts and writings.. Have a great week ahead and in case you must find some time — http://mysestina.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 5 people

  16. Happy Monday! If you would take a few minutes to check out my blog, comment, like, and make suggestions, I would appreciate it. I will definitely return the same. Thank you.

    Liked by 7 people

    1. Yes! If you click on the elipses next to your blog’s name on your “my site” page. Click on that and they’ll flip vertically. Then click on the arrow to the right of your photo and it launches a ‘general settings’ page. Click on posts, click on categories, and you can manage them from there.

      Liked by 4 people

    2. hey.. It’s fun to play with widgets 🙂 Your blog is superb!!
      but one suggestion your font-size is too small.. Rest is cooll//
      CHeck my blog, I have customized it all .. 😀

      Liked by 3 people

    1. Hi Suze,

      I had left a few comments in the past on your blog but they seemed to have been swallowed up by the recent changes your blog has gone through.

      Great to see you still alive on this forum – you’re always dishing out helpful advice and I felt it only fair someone responded.

      Things I would suggest changing (just my opinion) – I would drop some of the clutter from your pages to make the experience a little more streamlined for people. I would drop the live feed on the sidebar – Although it is interesting, I’m not entirely sure what purpose it serves me, the visitor.

      The text could be shaped better around your images in the blog posts. There is quite a bit of blank white space which means more scrolling for me, and kind of takes away from the experience. At the risk of blowing my own trumpet, have a scan at my site – I deliberately simplify it so people can find what they need without scrolling and digging deep.

      Tags – best practice on wordpress is using between 8-12 words to communicate to people’s readers what your post is about. I’ve checked a few of your posts and you are using only 3 or 4 so you’re severely limiting your ability to get found by strangers. I suggest using a mix of broad terms and specific terms, e.g. for Luckiest Girl in the world – spam, fake email, humor, funny, money, finances, scam…etc.

      Your comment box requires 4 pieces of information before I can say something. That might turn people off.

      Anyway, I don’t want to be too critical because you’ve been a great supporter on this community and I think that’s a big reason why you’ve managed to build your own loyal little tribe that regularly comment on your blog.

      Best of luck!
      Aidan

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Thanks Aiden! That is exactly what I was looking for. Do not have a clue why the comment box is acting that way, but I bet it is the theme. Am still looking for just the right one. I know what you mean about that white spacing too just haven’t found a way to get rid of it. am printing out your comments now so I have a template from which to work. Thanks my friend! You are greatly appreciated!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. live feed dropped. clutter hopefuilly cleared. have gone back to a theme that worked well and was clean to begin with! lol..is it possible to go back and tag posts after they have been thrown into space 9so to speak) hate to republish stuff so I have never tried to make changed .

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Much better!! The old tags you used will still be there. You can go back and add a few more of course. I wouldn’t consider looking more than a week or so back though. Old news on peoples readers.

        Liked by 1 person

  25. Hi friends! I recently just updated the layout and theme of my blog in hope that this one would suit a photo blog better. It would great if you could check it out and let me know what you think (does it feel too cluttered?).
    Aside from layout, any other critiques/suggestions are always welcome 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  26. Hello All! I’m new to the blogging world and here to bring INDIA to you! I love sharing tips about my culture and how to cook some creamy delicious curry recipes! I also am a professional organizer and share tips and tricks on this category as well. Please check out my website for great Indian recipes, beautiful imagery of India & EASY ways to stay organized. http://www.twentyfiveoms.com. Also, any feedback or suggestions for improvements/send them my way! I want your help! Thanks!:)

    Liked by 4 people

  27. I am curious about tagging. Can you only use at at time or a plentiful? Also, How do you know if it is a tag? Is there a list somewhere?

    Liked by 4 people

    1. tagging is good for SEO, always try to tag relevant (as much as required) keywords in your tag section ..
      List?? in blog ? didn’t understand this question!

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Go into the Reader, click TAGS and then ADD. Try adding different topics and see if other people are using them. For example, add VAN GOGH and you will find other posts on that topic. Then use that tag if it applies to your post.

      I think you are limited to 10 tags per post.

      Liked by 2 people

      3. I’m fairly content with my .com life right now, but .org has definitely been a little thought in my head, so it was good to read your experience with it. I’d suggest adding more pictures, just to break up the text a bit more, but honestly your writing was captivating enough and you did have some images, so it’s fine!
        Happy Blogging!

        Like

      2. You are welcome!!
        I need a little help.. I have customized my site and also added some customize pages using (HTML/CSS). I want people to check my layout and give me feedback about it’s usability..(user-friendly)

        Liked by 2 people

  30. https://automaticema.wordpress.com/

    Absurdism, experimental fiction and poetry, stream of consciousness.

    If this niche little corner appeals to you, I’d adore it if you read “Hello” ( https://automaticema.wordpress.com/2016/03/10/i-hello/ ), as it is the piece I’m most anxious about.

    Or read anything you want. Any words at all are appreciated, of course. Anything at all. Even if you just want to tell someone how soft your hair is, I’d love to be told how soft your hair is.

    If it doesn’t appeal to you, that’s no issue. Maybe someone else’s blog will.

    Danke schön.

    Liked by 5 people

      1. Thank you for your feedback!
        In all honesty, my blog began steering towards dark and gross, but…
        Either way, I really appreciate you looking at the first part of Hello. It means a lot to me.

        Liked by 3 people

      2. It’s about how a person feel for your blog, I didn’t feel it
        dark and gross ..

        For me they layout was cool + the your text aliments ..

        You are welcome to visit my blog…. and give me some feedback on my blog layout 🙂 I have customized it all //*excited*

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Have you read House of Leaves? In a vague sense, some of your poems reminded me of the book, with the way the text plays with format and shapes.

      Your stuff makes a reader physically look at the piece in a different way, which opens their mind up as well. Very intriguing.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Not yet! I was told about it, and I aim to get it very soon.
        I’m really glad you see similarities though, because what you’ve described is exactly the feeling I’m going for.
        Thank you!

        Liked by 3 people