Oct 3, 2016 / Community Pool

Community Pool

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 and guidelines 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, as well as for not starting numerous threads in a single Pool.
  • 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. Also note that including multiple links in your comment might automatically put it in the moderation queue, which will delay its publication.
  • 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. Hello there bloggers! Greetings from the Mediterranean, I have just changed my blogs’ theme, I would appreciate some feedback..
    Thanks 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I like your theme, and I especially like your about page — it gives your readers a good sense of your personality! 🙂 My suggestion: use fewer tags. When you use more than 15 tags and categories, WordPress blocks your post from Reader, which makes it tougher for new readers to find you. If you omit a few, you will likely get more traffic from fellow WordPress-ers 🙂

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

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for the advice I will use less tags, I think I have bumped into your blog a while ago, but, I would love to revisit your blog and give you some feedback 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  2. I’ve been around since March-ish, posting off and on. I find that I have a hard time bringing my posts…all the way? I always have an idea of what I want to post about, but as I write, I seem to lose it along the way (to the point where I feel they are unfinished). Any tips would be most welcome.

    https://lifebylinds.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 2 people

    1. One thing that helps me is to first decide on the key point I want to make in the post. Then I think about the best way to begin and end the post to make my point clear. After that, it’s a matter of getting from the opening to the closing in whatever way I can. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

    2. welcome to the blogging ‘verse. I find that it’s hard to start a post when the muse is missing, and it’s hard to finish it when…well, whenever I write. I love your post, and your blog

      Like

    3. Looking at your blog and reading ‘I’M HUMAN AND I MAKE MISTAKES’ you are good dear. But i understand what you are saying. I think with writing you need to have that peace of mind and a peaceful environment and I think everything will just flow perfectly.. What I first do, is scribble down words I want to write about on a notebook and when I start writing, as I look passed the words, my fingers don’t leave my keyboard. It just flows. I don’t know if it will work for you but it does for me

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you. And that’s a great idea. I always have some idea in my head, but sometimes fleshing it out seems almost impossible. I guess it’s time to try jotting things down first!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. I am rebooting my blog (which has gotten a little dark and dreary after a rollercoaster year) and would love some feedback on my newest post. Too long? too short? too full of nothing at all? and my theme. Does the reboot mean I should change my blog’s look?

    Hello World!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. For me, the length was good. The piece flowed well and gave me a good sense of where you are headed with your do-over. I enjoyed the understated humor. I did chuckle at ” * What is a dult, and WHY would anyone want to be one?” Since your blog is still centered around suburbia, I don’t think it needs to look different. Of course, if you are in the mood for a change, give in to whatever makes you happy. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Want to see what goes on inside a person’s mind? Then follow my blog! articulateobserver.wordpress.com

    I’d love some feedback on my layout and the style of my writing! Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Hi, Wonderfuls….oh, it is so great to be back…I can’t begin to explain how (nearly) 2 months went by before I got internet hooked up (after I relocated); and I have really missed connecting with this wonderful community we’re part of. It would really help me get back in the swing of things if you’d make your way over to my neck of the woods and check out one (or both) of my latest posts. The most recent on is titled “You’ve Got To Fight For Your Right To Part-ee”; and the other (written a couple weeks prior), is, “I’m Walking On Sunshine…And It’s Not Cool, Not Cool At All”. I’m hoping you find the topics relatable and encouraging in some way…and, that the posts make you smile. My writing style might catch you off guard, initially, but if you “follow the bouncing ball”, so to speak, you’ll catch on. Comments are so appreciated and I will definitely return the favour 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  8. Hey I love community pools and the picture you used really drove to my attention! I am amazed by your work. I am an awesome bloger myself(I hope) and I am looking forward to reading your next story!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Matea. Seems like we are doing much the same thing! Very nice photos. I’ve been in SEA for almost six months, blogging all of the way. A fascinating world of colour/ texture awaits you! I haven’t hit Cambodia or Thailand yet, so I am going to follow to live vicariously through you!

      Like

    3. Just checked your blog and really like it! Pictures are authentic and interesting. I have been traveling through SEA just for awhile and didn´t visit Cambodia, but definitely want to come back later and now, Cambodia is in my list as well 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    4. Your post was enjoyable. My favorite photos were the waterfall and the ones of the children. What a great opportunity you had getting to interact with the children. Please come back to the pool with your elephant adventures in Thailand. https://gracelead.co

      Like

  12. Hello everyone!
    This is my third time in the past few years attempting to start a blog. I was recently struck with the inspiration to capture some past memories in writing. I have never shared my writing on such a public platform. I would appreciate some constructive feedback.

    I’m challenging myself to post once a week.

    I am asking for feedback on my first and only post thus far. Here is a link to the post!

    https://thevoiceofthelovelyladyp.wordpress.com/2016/10/05/becky

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hello, I have realized that many reader enjoy less text but you know what, write how you enjoy. I also like a dip in the pool. But I try not to exceed 500 words on each post i write. So if you have that target, maybe you can minimize your thoughts….hehehe, if that’s possible.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi there. Thanks for your thoughts. It’s something that I will try to maintain. Some of my posts have blown out to more than 2000 words. I had hoped that humour would carry a reader through, but an essay length post requires quite a commitment of time. Thanks again for yours

        Liked by 2 people

    2. This post seemed good in length to me. Thanks for opening my eyes to Singapore. It’s far more beautiful than I imagined. I did notice that you have several incomplete sentences in this post. For example, “To think that Singapore is a small tropical island, little different to any of the others in the archipelagos around here.” could become complete with a change such as, “Think about it. Singapore is a small tropical island, little different from any of the others in the archipelagos around here.” https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for your help. I agree that the wording could be better on some of those lines. Just had a look through your blog. There really is a huge variety of themes in this pool

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I agree about the variety. I was oblivious to all that until I dipped my toe into the pool one day. Now I regularly swim a few laps, just to see what fun things I can find and perhaps be helpful while I’m there.

        Like

    1. LOVE your writing style (and name of your blog). Your blog is original and creative. One thing you can do is add an About page to help the reader know generally about you. Great job!!

      p.s. C.S. Lewis quotes rock

      Liked by 1 person

    1. What was I doing at 14years old? Definetly not blogging. First, Your blog is beautiful themed and I love your little stories you’ve written. Keep up the good work and don’t stop at nothing. Not many of 14 years old would think like you.

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Hello! I’ll start with my blog address: http://www.letmebefrankwithyou.com and an invitation to all of you to spend the day reading all of my posts (which I know need to be categorized better) and laughing at some of my observations of daily life in these United States. I purposefully stay away from religious and political talk because both topics generally seem to bring out the most disrespectful and angry feelings in people – so I just try to find wonder in the mundane.

    Anyway, I’m struggling with keeping up on the blog and although I may reach more of an audience here, I find more pleasure in posting similar stories on Facebook because it’s easier to have a dialogue with people there. I think that most of it is due to my relative lack of technology comfort in WordPress vs. the comfort I’ve developed with using Facebook in the 8 years that I’ve been posting. Does anyone else feel this way? How did you push through it? Coming up on the end of my WordPress subscription next month and not sure if I’ll continue with a paid subscription for another year or retreat to the comfort I find in Facebook. Although I’m leaning towards challenging myself and pressing on with a renewal.

    I’d also like to repeat something that I’ve said here before, some of the best writing that I read is from the blogs I’ve found here. If you haven’t done so already, find and read the blog Sleeping on the Diagonal. She is so funny and witty. She makes you wish you were her friend with every post she puts out!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I don’t have a Facebook account. For me, WordPress provides better visibility for my target audience than I think I could get with Facebook. Like you, I have found some amazing blogs from visiting the Community Pool. Best wishes, whatever you decide. BTW, your exercise equipment story is hysterical. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You are always so helpful with your reviews and commentary in the Community Pool; it is very much appreciated! I’m reluctant to give up my Facebook account because I truly enjoy seeing pictures of everyone’s families and hearing about their current situations – especially those who are no longer near. Maybe the solution is to find a better mix of Facebook and blog? I’ll have to give that some consideration. I don’t really want to give up the blog but don’t want to keep doing a halfway job with it either. Thanks for your input, it’s always appreciated! (And stay off the spring-loaded exercise equipment!) Frank

        Liked by 2 people

  29. Hello.

    I am having a little trouble connecting to the blog I created specifically
    for this class (gardenblogclass.wordpress.com). Instead of being connected to that blog, the class links send me to my writing blog (
    katerussell010.wordpress.com). Can anyone help me figure out how to change the class email link to the correct blog?

    Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It seems like both these blogs are listed under your account, so they share an email address — which is perfectly fine / normal! One account can have as many blogs as you wish.

      You can always switch between sites by clicking on My Sites at the top-left corner of the screen, then selecting “Switch sites” and choosing the correct one.

      It sounds like you might also be interested in setting your new blog as your primary site — if that’s the case, you can change that from your Account Settings page (look for “Primary Site”), here: https://wordpress.com/me/account

      I hope this helps!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I enjoyed your post. Our church encourges people to write their personal faith story of how they came to know Christ, then to develop good relationships with people to earn the right to share their story. We recommend asking for permission to share their personal story rather than forcing it on anyone. For us, the key is to share because we care. https://gracelead.co

      Like

      1. I find it inspiring that your church teaches people the way it does. The fact that you encourage people to write their own testimonies and share it with others.

        Like