Aug 1, 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.
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  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
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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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    3. I cover music too, as well as play a bit. I’m not generally a modern metal fan but I did read a few pieces and your writing is really solid and reflects a certain level of listening and I like that you are descriptive enough without simply using comparisons.
      I have a couple of blogs:
      Main:
      https://alphastare.wordpress.com/
      My band Blog:
      We’re a woman fronted power trio operating on the fringes of acidrock in The Bay Area/SF
      https://andalusiaroseblog.wordpress.com/
      Come visit and say hey! Following you as well!
      Cheers!

      Liked by 9 people

      1. Thank you for your support! I really appreciate it 😀 I love the aesthetic of your blogs, and I wish your band all the best!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you! 😀 I’ve had a look at your blog and I think its great- but I can’t find the “Follow” button XD can I have some help?

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks! I’ll try to keep my content as broad as I can 😀 I read your “Goodbye Before It Ends” piece- it was very hard-hitting and thought provoking 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    6. Hi thatdjentyfool,

      From reading your first post, I see that you know your stuff, and you know the bands that you’re reviewing. Could I suggest something? You can use Spotify to gather the best tracks into a playlist for the week. That way, readers can pick off their own favourites, and it also gives an added incentive to follow your blog for interesting content. Are you already using Instagram and Twitter? These platforms have lots of music fans too!

      By the way, congrats on your 500 views! 😀

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for the feedback! 😀 I definitely will be looking into other platforms in the near future to go with the Facebook page I’ve already got. With Spotify can you make a playlist and it will automatically upload to WordPress? 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      2. There’s no way for auto sharing to WordPress yet, but you can right-click on the playlist in your Spotify program, copy the playlist link, and then paste it into your post – and it will show up as a proper playlist 👍

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Thanks 😀 well I’ve found the best way is to be proactive- don’t wait for followers to find you, make yourself seen/heard. The best way is to keep posting regularly, visit the community pool frequently, find other blogs and comment on their posts, try the Branding and Growth course on the blogging uni, and try to use other platforms like facebook/twitter/Instagram. I hope that helps!

        Liked by 2 people

    8. I like your blog a lot. I would appreciate it if you would take a look at mine and like and share my posts with others. Thank you.

      Like

    2. Your blog is AWESOME! Your ‘About’ section has me going ‘Me too’ at every other sentence and the layout is fun too!
      Just did a quick glance through and came back to right this but I am so going to go back and read the other posts.
      Would you like to check out my blog? I write about my obsession with books and TV shows, random thoughts and a lot of fiction.

      Let’s Slip Into A Rêverie, Shall We?

      Stay coolbeans 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you!
        You’re the first person to mention the colour, and it’s good timing because lately I’ve been considering changing the colour slightly. I’ll be playing around with settings shortly!

        I did check out your blog, I love the background! I would suggest making your logo smaller, or adding something so there’s less white space. Plus, you have your logo and then right below it your title with the same words, so perhaps consider removing the title?

        Liked by 1 person

    4. You have a nice theme and really creative stuff out there 🙂
      However, I would suggest you could photograph your work in a better way. It would enhance its beauty. For starters, use a plain and clear background and photograph the top view with roughly an equal amount of background showing on all sides(like a border).
      Happy blogging 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I’ve just started out and I’m learning on the pictures. Needs a lot of improvement. Thank you for your constructive feedback! It really means a lot. I’ll definitely work the photographs. Have a great day!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed being on my blog. Also, I’ll work on your feedback. I’ll try and incorporate more images.
        I checked your blog and even followed you. You’re doing an amazing work! Keep smiling!

        Liked by 1 person

    4. Hey Mac, loved the personality, writing style and the theme.

      Everything looks real organized and adorable which totally fits your personality so that’s good 😉

      Though I noticed that you got no archive section- is it not there or am I not seeing it because I’m reading your blog via my ipad?

      Either way, I’ll just put this here in case it’s not up there for your reference.
      Archives allows your readers to check out your older content more easily so It’ll be nice to include it for ease of navigation for your future readers 😉

      Hope that helped!

      Your pal
      Benjamin
      http://www.projectbiy.com

      Liked by 6 people

      3. Hey Igwynn, nice post there. Left you a comment but it’s a long one lol so take your time, grab a cup of tea or something before you start 😉

        Anywho, I noticed your blog has no “about” page and I strongly suggest you add one because most new visitors go there first before anywhere else so that they can get to know you. Always a good thing to introduce yourself to new people, no?

        Talk to you soon bud and keep up the good work man!

        Your pal,
        Benjamin
        http://www.projectbiy.com

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I really like you blog! I love to travel and I hope you have lots of fun on vacation. If you could, I’d check the weather to make sure you don’t need a rain jacket. I’ve made that mistake more than once!

      Liked by 2 people

    3. I really like your blog. I can’t actually explain it, I’m just really fond of it now!
      D’you think you could maybe give me some feedback on mine? I’d really appreciate it :). Thanks!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hey 🙂 I have checked your page several times before in fact and I like it 😀 but most important I like your content.
        I would suggest more vivid colors and some more pics. But it’s just a matter of personal taste. As for the pictures, I am struggling, I lost my archive a while ago and now I am doing what I can with my back up.

        Thank you for your feedback 🙂

        Like

      1. Thank you Mac! It needs a bit more content for binge reading, I will work on that 🙂 There is one more post scheduled for later today – I am still figuring out how to do this whole blogging thing 😉

        Liked by 3 people

    2. Just had a quick look and liked what I saw and followed. Much admiration and respect for your new blogging journey. I know you will be a source of strength to those who are facing the same journey.

      One thing I always look 1st at is an “about page” and would be something you might want to add in the future.

      Welcome to the blogging world. I’ll stop over later this week to have a better read of your blog! 🙂

      ~Carl~

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you Carl! That’s really helpful, the about page is there I just now have to make sure it can be easily found 😉

        Yeah, the journey has just started on all counts. I hope it will get to be interesting!

        Jo

        Liked by 1 person

    1. You’re writing style is good. Your linking is good. I like reading that post.
      As a feedback, I just want you to make your blog’s name little shorter.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Check out my blog if you fancy something a little different (maybe) to what you’re used to, it’s a mix of things that happen to me and things I’m annoyingly opinionated on, here’s a couple of recent posts, both very different from each other:

    https://emmasguidetothegalaxy.com/2016/07/13/fields/

    https://emmasguidetothegalaxy.com/2016/07/31/where-did-it-all-begin/

    There’s also links to my social media profiles on there too, would be awesome to get to know more of you.

    Liked by 9 people

  12. Hi everyone! Hope you’re having good Monday. 🙂 I’m a name blogger…baby names, character names, etc. Recently I changed my blog’s image header to one with cooler colors for summer (had very autumnal colors before), and with a new set of names. Would love for y’all to take a look and provide feedback on the header. More general feedback about the site is also appreciated. 🙂

    Link: https://wellinformednamer.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 9 people

    1. When writing a movie review, it’s important not to give too much away. If you just write out the movie, people may not feel inclined to watch it after reading. So instead, focus on some points (basic info, things you liked, disliked, themes, cool things) to loosely mention and give your overall impression. Also, add pictures. Show us the cover of the movie and/or stills.
      Just keep practising, and try reading you posts from the point of view of someone who hasn’t seen the movie. You’ve done a good job analyzing the movie, as you note, but it’s not really a review. Let me know if you need help or want some links to movie blogs to peruse!

      Like

      1. This was my concern too but as i stated its more analysis than a review. I think it comes closer to Roger Ebert’s great movie reviews wherein you analyze the movie assuming that people have watched it. I guess you can do something like this with older films.Probably there is a balance somewhere in between i have to yet find.
        Including stills is a good idea. Will keep that in mind.
        Yes please share any movie blogs. Will check them out.
        Thanks for taking out time to read and for the feedback.

        Like

  18. Hi everyone! Fairly new to blogging. My posts so far have been inspired by the daily prompts. I’d really appreciate it if anyone checked them out and gave me any feedback! 🙂

    wanderlustandcoffeelover.wordpress.com

    Liked by 8 people

      1. Haha thank you so much. Though the one you saw on my about page isn’t mine! 😦

        Like

    3. I don’t use prompts, but I have done a few challenges. Whatever works to get you out there and writing, which you are, and it looks great in your format, and your writing is solid. Keep going!

      Liked by 1 person

    4. “*Trying* to write.” Don’t worry – you’re in a community that understands that trying is half the battle. Doing it is the other half, and you look off to a good start.

      Love you choice of images (and imagery), but there’s got to be more you can tell us about yourself. Sure, your writings give us a glimpse of what you are, but there’s got to be more to you than the glimpses you offer in your words, am I right?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yeah, I’ve been trying to decide how to manage the categories. Even if I set something to have a “parent” category they’re all still listed on the sidebar. I might have to fiddle around in the settings and see if I can choose to only display some of the categories.

        Liked by 1 person

  24. hey everyone

    Hope you are well and bloggering away.

    This week i put together a two part piece looking at advice from non parents to parents – for some reason there is an unspoken law in the world that parents know absolutely everything about being parents and non parents absolutely nothing…

    Community Parenting: Advice from those who don’t have children. [Intro]

    Whereas many people without their own children have worked with children, babysat them, studied them and more and sometimes have picked up a useful thing or two. What do you think?

    love brett fish

    Liked by 7 people

    1. I really enjoyed your post. My feedback isn’t about the post. I wanted to see your whole blog and whenever I clicked on JustACountryGirl it took me either to the WordPress Reader or to a page that said nothing was found. I finally found one place that took me to the blog https://justacountrygirl24.wordpress.com/. I suspect that your gravatar link may be wrong and some things are hooked up to a webpage that doesn’t include the 24. Hopefully you can figure that out. If not maybe WordPress can help.

      The other thing is that I recommend you put an about page on your blog. That is always the first thing I look for when I go to a new blog.

      I’m glad I was able to find it eventually. I love the header picture you are using!!!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hahaha. This definitely made me chuckle. Your blog is funny and informative. Never knew there was such a thing as tubeless toilet paper so I will keep an eye out for that in future.
      You have a great writing style which I am slightly envious of.

      Please check out my blog 😄
      Womens Health and a Cup of Tea – MedicalStudentorStudentDoctor
      https://medicalstudentorstudentdoctor.wordpress.com/2016/08/04/womens-health-and-a-cup-of-tea/

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you for your kind words! I visited your blog and found it really interesting. It must have been an indescribable feeling when the baby breathed. I also enjoyed reading about Hot Tubs and Comfort Zones. Thanks for sharing!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Great post. Awesome content, good post length, and good use of images. My only suggestion: the first image of the white roses blurs into your white background a little (or, at least it does on my monitor). Depending on how technologically-savvy you are, you may be able to add an outline to the image to give it a better-defined border, so it doesn’t disappear into the background too much. But your blog is awesome!

      Would you be willing to read one of my posts? Click on my name and choose whichever appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I love your site! Your pictures are beautiful, and your site is really clean and organized. I think your posts are really insightful.

      Will you write more, or stick to the focus on the visual?

      🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you 🙂
        I will write as well as post photographs, as my blog title says “A lil but of everything”.
        Just going through yours. loved the pics. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person