Aug 8, 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.

Show Comments

1,225 Comments

Comments are closed.

Close Comments

Comments

  1. Hello wonderful people!

    I write about books, TV shows, fiction and all that goes on in my head!
    And I make it a point to drop in here every week to discover more fun people and blogs!

    So… what do you say to “Check out mine and I’ll check out yours, eh?”

    Let’s Slip Into A Rêverie, Shall We?

    Sending positive vibes and inspirational thoughts,

    Happy Blogging 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

      2. 🙂 ha, your blog is great the content is very relatable in particular ‘The Binge’ so funny. also love your book list there is a couple on there I haven’t read. Followed! 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Thank you for the follow!
        You know, The Binge is my one of my favourites! I totally experience all of those stages when I am binge-watching a show and as exaggerated as it appears, its all true! Which I think makes it funnier 😛
        I hope I can quit being lazy and dash a few more book reviews that are on my list soon!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Yay! Picture me as Tom Cruise hitting a red button and saying “Mission Accomplished”!
        Thank you for dropping by and all the appreciation 🙂
        I would love to know which posts/topics you enjoyed!

        Liked by 1 person

    4. Took a quick tour! There is a lot of interesting content going on over at reveries…!!! I saw The Alchemist, Atticus Finch, and Bing Bang were among your favorites list…so I know your opinions can be trusted!! Look forward to seeing more of your work…write on!

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Do you ever look at a photograph you have taken and had a song pop up in your head? Something that fits the subject, mood or even the weather of the photo? It was this idea that led me to writing my blog, and finding connections between the music I love and my own photography. Occasionally I write short fictional pieces as well. Any thoughts and advice are welcome. Here’s my latest one, inspired by a recent trip to Ireland-https://robpatdoy.wordpress.com/2016/07/27/irish-noise/

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Robert,

        Your site is beautiful!!! It is really well laid out, and your pictures are really fantastic. I loved your post. I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit Ireland, and your writing really captures the beauty of the nature there. I like how you include plenty of pictures.

        🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Thanks so much! Off to check out your blog as well but I very much appreciate the comment. Glad you enjoyed this. I am biased because my mom was born and raised there, but Ireland is really special. As to the photos, the amount I use sometimes depends on the post, but this one certainly required a gallery of some of the best. I post more on my other social media as well. Thanks for the comment!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I think your layout looks great 🙂 One suggestion — in “Ramble Scramble Bramble” it looks like your image isn’t working right.

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you for telling me, I’ve been having quite a few problems with my photos recently. I’ve just read your community pool post which is quite ironic as I am talking to you from it, Honestly I haven’t got much to say Your post was good and it influences people to go and check out the pool, Your blog layout is nice and simple, easy to navigate. Keep up the good work! 😉

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Just commented. Nice post, good content, good post length. Consider adding an image to break up the text a little and add some color. Blogging is a very visual medium, after all! 🙂

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Hello Wonders In The Wind,

      I think that your site is quite nice. The photos are beautiful, and I like the use of color in the background.

      Your post was very interesting. I tend to think that when people think something is ‘the best’ – they are just really, really enjoying it. It doesn’t mean that they literally think it is the best ever. I also think people are aware of other situations even when they say something is ‘the worst’.

      I appreciate your view point. I wouldn’t have thought of it that way.

      Thanks for sharing.

      🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for stopping by! I agree, when people say ‘the best’ or ‘the worst’ they typically don’t mean the actual best or worst. In this post I just want to point out a danger in using those words too much and not thinking about what they really mean. Thanks again for your comment.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Nice layout, good color scheme. 🙂 I don’t know much about beauty products, but your blog has a great look to it!

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. So kind, thank you! 🙂 Just read a couple of your posts, they are very interesting. The structure is easy to follow due to the paragraphs and sub-headings such as What, how and why. Great blog!

        Liked by 2 people

    1. It’s very professional, and maybe if you wanted to get more traffic, make use of Reader. It will help you find other sites that may have similar material that can help you find other readers that may be more for your audience.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Hello,

      I think that the header photo is lovely. I also think the layout of the site is nice – the way the posts are organized. You may want to play around with the color schemes to find something that compliments that header photo.

      🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hey… Thank you so much for such a beautiful feedback.
        It’s my own picture 🙂 and thank you for the compliment. I’ll surely work on the colors… When i get enough time.
        Thank you once again. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    3. I think your blog has potential. The about page and the homepage could use some work. To make your site more visually pleasing, I would play with your complimentary colors. The purple and green don’t really compliment your header photo. Also you write really well. Love the post star catchers and moonless dreams.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hello touch of fresh air,

      I really love the header photo you have chosen – it really drew me in.

      Your writing is very interesting, very creative.

      It might be easier to navigate the site if you used the ‘read more’ button in your posts so that the reader can see multiple posts on the main page. Also, it might help to be able to click on archived posts on the side bar somewhere.

      Thanks for sharing!

      🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Just commented. Nice post, good post length. Consider adding an image to break up the text and add a bit of color — it could be an image of something you consider relaxing 🙂

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Hello life hostage,

      Wow – what a great post!!! Very powerful. What helps me to prioritize and focus on what is important is an exercise I do regularly. I draw a flower with a core and petals. The core is my rock. The petals are the things I have or want in my life. Then I write about each one. I write about whether I am happy with the state of it, whether I need to focus more on it, or get rid of it. I identify specific things I will do to bring it more in my life. Then I order my petals to prioritize. I revisit this every few months – and it really focuses me.

      I love your site! It is very clean an bright, and your theme really pops out.

      My blog is about my life, my adventures. I can’t say whether it is interesting or not, but it is based on real travels, challenges and experiences.

      🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Just commented. Great use of images, good post length, good content. Awesome! 🙂 Don’t change a thing.

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Was drawn in by the word “gamer,” lol.

      I notice you use a lot of tags on your posts. WordPress prevents any post with more than 15 tags from entering the Reader…which can majorly reduce traffic. If you’re aiming for more traffic/readers, you should work on keeping the tag-count relatively low.

      Liked by 3 people

    2. Just commented. Nice post, good content, good use of images. Rock on 🙂

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    3. First off, the name of your blog is great! I was immediately drawn by it…

      I don’t dabble in fiction a whole lot, and your question is one of the main reasons! I’ve always wondered how the great writers sketch out their characters and maintain consistency through a piece of work. Do they keep notes? Do they create character profiles? Etc. etc. So, I don’t have an answer, but I share your curiosity!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Your site is interesting. Your About page is helpful. I enjoyed the woodpecker post. Your bird list is certainly extensive. One duck that might be nice to add to your list is the Muscovy. I’m unclear on the purpose of your bird list. Also, it might be helpful to make the Order name be a larger font and bolded. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks so much for dropping by and having a look! And Muscovy Ducks are very cool. My bird list details all the birds I’ve personally seen. It’s a point of pride for all birders. When I get lucky enough to see a Muscovy Duck, you can be sure I’ll put him on my list.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Thanks for letting me know about the list. That makes sense. I’m not a birder, so didn’t have a clue. As a child, I raised Muscovy Ducks. I’m uncertain how they behave in the wild, but I enjoyed interacting with them.

        Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks so much! I’m really grateful for the compliments and for your time! And with a handle like “biologyyak”, I’m certain you’re a seasoned, cool nature nerd! 😀

        Liked by 2 people

    3. A fellow science blogger!

      If you want to get more views, make friends with Reader. Find some tags that you want in your feed and check out some potential readers there. Jumping into the Pool helps too, as well as First Fridays.

      If you’re really adventurous, science your way into a Daily Prompt. Can’t let the poets have all the fun, right?

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey Matt,
      I enjoy the variety of subjects and the frankness with which you write. Best of luck. Any advice on how to get your blog out there and get more followers?

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I honestly don’t know how it happened! I am part of Millionaire’s Digest which had a couple thousand followers, but I only have one article there so far. I guess it had a bit to do with the “#relatable” thing. I am also active in the community – I like others’ posts, comment, and try to help out!

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Thanks for the info. I’ve been kind of reclusive and blogging in my own little world but I’m just beginning to realize what a large community this really is. Not for the sake of exposure but for the sake of collaboration and community I will definitely try and be more active.

        Like

    4. Your nap post is funny. The tone was friendly and conversational. I’m guessing many people can relate to your struggle with naps. Your second and third paragraphs don’t seem necessary to the point you are making. Removing them would make your post more appealing to those who like short posts. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Nice blog! Lovely images, and nice blurbs 🙂 I like it! In posts where you write more, it might be a good idea to break the text into paragraphs more — one post had a huge block of text, and that’s a bit intimidating for readers.

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Thank you 🙂 I can definitely relate to that and will definitely break down the texts a littl, to make reading more comfortable 😉 I’ll definitely have a look at your blog!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Your blog is very lovely, by the way. I like the way you write, especially the post about your pause from writing and everything was quite elaborate and impressive, I really liked it.

        Liked by 2 people

      1. I like your blog quite a lot, though I find it somehow weird, regarding onblog navigation… It is nice to end up at an ‘about’ page but as far as I recall, there is no clear way to reach a page with all of your posts or is there?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yeah, the about page is a relatively new addition and i am not sure it works that well either, though the recent blogs are listed on the right hand side. I maybe liked it better when they were all just there. Thanks for your feedback

        Like

    1. Just commented! Nice posts, good use of images, good content. Maybe move the images around, so that some are centered and some are right-justified, or maybe a different size. Right now, all the images are in the same place and nearly the same size. Consider changing things up! 🙂

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    3. It’s a nice blog – since there’s a lot of white in your page, the pictures really stick out and add a lot of color without being overwhelming. It’s a nice contrast to the red that shows up in a lot of pictures regarding China, so those pictures really pop.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Nice blog. Good content and good post length. Consider adding an image to break up the text and give your piece a little color. Blogging is a very visual medium, after all 🙂

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Just commented. Nice content, good post length. Consider tagging/categorizing your posts to get more views — not sure if you’re looking for suggestions, but by doing this, more readers will be able to find your posts 🙂

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever post appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    2. You’ve got something good going here, but perhaps you can collapse some of your organization to save you the headaches of figuring out what post belongs where. “Love and Relationships” makes the “love” category redundant, and “Uncategorized” just has to go – you’ve already got categories anyway, so why not save that for things you really don’t know what to do with at the time?

      https://scicasual.wordpress.com

      Like

  28. Hey everyone. Simple question for you. I have always used the “justify” option on my posts, because I am seriously OCD and like straight lines. But, I’m wondering how this looks to you?? Do you think I should “justify” my posts or allow them to post from the left indent?

    https://rosschellis.com

    And, leave a link to your site so I can check your work out, as well!

    Liked by 3 people

      1. Thanks so much for sharing your thought. I took a quick look at your site. It’s really well organized…so, I feel even more encouraged by your opinion. I look forward to reading more of your blog!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. This was a fine read! And your joy is infectious! Well done. How lucky you are. I’ve been so busy with work, but I really need to pick up that play and read it for myself, too. Great pictures, too!

      Liked by 2 people