Oct 17, 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 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 community pool! It has been a month since I’ve seen you. How have y’all been?
    My last post is about a situation I’ve been having on the liking-someone side. The problem is that she does not reciprocate the feelings, and not for the reasons you might think. It’s all very complex and I would like help on this matter. You can find out more here – I Love You. – http://wp.me/p7r8il-rS
    Please feel free to stalk and follow. Stalkers are my favourite people.
    Thank you!

    Liked by 4 people

  2. Blogging tips are BORING with a capital B. Yes, they’re helpful, useful balalalalalala. But they’re never fun 😦

    Blogging started out as a hobby, enertainment. Now, it’s kinda a chore and not as fun. Right? (please tell me I’m not alone 😀 )

    6 FUN WAYS TO SPICE UP YOUR BLOG is a blog post to help you spark ideas, give your blog the fun sprinkle of magic, and put a smile on your face.
    These blogging tips aren’t like any others.
    They’re fun, whimsical and easy.
    Head on over there now!

    https://mybookylife.wordpress.com/2016/10/13/6-fun-ways-spice-blog/

    P.S Just re-designed my blog, how does it look? Feedback appreciated!!

    Liked by 7 people

    2. You are most certainly not alone 🙂 Nice content! Good use of tags, good use of images. I believe I commented on your re-design last week, but if I didn’t, it looks good 🙂 For some reason, on my monitor, the light pink on this post’s graphic looks a bit too light. Might just be my monitor, so check it out — but if it looks light to you too, make the contrast between the pink words and the white circle a bit stronger.

      I know we already follow each other, but would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yes, thank you. I’m in the process of re-designing so there’s a new change every week (this time it was the theme ^^ ) I think it might be your monitor, because the pink looks fine to me, i hope! Will checka post out now 😀

        Liked by 2 people

    3. Hi, this is my first visit to the Pool and I LOVE IT !! I don’t get many comments so it makes me feel normal reading on here. It’s soooo funny you mentioned in one of your six ways to spice up your blog about an award/tag as I spent all weekend designing some to start myself. I realised after LOTS of research that there are not many awards for blogs that write mainly on Back Pain which mine is as I guess it’s a bit of a boring topic so thought I would spice it up a bit so thanks for those six ways to spice up your blog – I loved them all https://backpainbloguk.com/2016/10/16/early-to-bed-and-early-to-rise/

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Welcome to the pool, glad you’re enjoying it! Haha, and award for back pain, that’s definitely unique! XD Your award doesn’t have to be about Back Pain though, you can create it for anyhting else your interested in!

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Hello once again community pool! I’d like to inform you that bc of this place and my dear followers or as I like to call them, friends, I’m almost to 350 followers! Please help me get there? Stalk me and see if I’m worthy of your precious follow!
    This Ain’t A Fairytale – http://wp.me/p7r8il-qR

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Just commented! Nice content, good use of images, good use of tags. My suggestion: watch your dialogue formatting. I noticed that at the end of a bit of dialogue, the closing punctuation was sometimes missing! It looks much more professional when everything is grammatically correct 🙂

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Just stopped by! Nice content 🙂 Good use of images. You didn’t have any tags visible on your post — if you’re not using them, definitely do! They help new readers find your blog.

      I know we already follow each other, but would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Just commented. Nice content, good use of images, good use of tags. My suggestion: consider using a few more tags! You can use up to 15 tags and categories total; if you have more tags, more readers will find your posts. For example, you can add things like “education” and “abuse” to the post on trust, since you talk about both of these issues.

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Like

    1. Just stopped by! Nice photos 🙂 My suggestion: consider making your font darker. As it is now, it’s a little hard to read — the light gray clashes with the light green background. Altering the color to make the words pop a bit more will make your captions more effective.

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Like

    2. Hey, I really like your blog, I’d consider changing the background color or making the font darker (possibly both) because I feel like the vibrant color is taking away the focus from you work… And that is definitely a pity 😉
      Maybe Have a look at my works and tell me, what you think about it 😉
      Cheers, Mary
      https://brightpigments.wordpress.com

      Liked by 1 person

    3. I agree with Natalie and marysmirror, the brightness of the background distracts from your photos. You could make the background white and the font the light blue colour instead to keep the individuality and make it more easily read.

      It would also be nice to see a second picture in the blank space on your front page or a quote or some words from you.

      Also a minor point is your ‘it’s been too long’ post is misspelled which may deter readers and also ‘shenanigans’

      Really great and brave of you to have come back to it and put your artwork out there! Best of luck, it seems like you’re doing it anonymously and I hope that gives you an incredible amount of freedom and honesty in taking your photos!

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Just commented! Good content, good use of images, good use of tags. Awesome 🙂 My suggestion: this is a little nitpicky, but the only place where this piece could use improvement is its grammar. You had a few issues (something fell (felt) like eternity) and a few run-on sentences. Not a huge deal, but if you can eliminate those errors before posting, your work will be stronger than it already is!

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    2. I like the thoughts in your post. It would be easier to read with fixes to the grammar. For instance: “If the people who were supposed to be my family and support doesn’t see me in the light I see myself, then… ” should be “If the people who are supposed to be my family and support don’t see me in the light I see myself, then…” There are several free editing apps (ex. hemingwayapp.com) You might try one and see if it helps. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

  11. Howdy, fellow swimmers 🙂 Below is the link for one of my older posts — I wrote about tomboys and gender issues. Any suggestions or advice to help it get more views and likes? It didn’t perform nearly as well as some of my other posts.

    But You’re Not a REAL Tomboy!

    If you leave a comment for me, I’ll be sure to return the favor. Swim on! 😀

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I did see some grammar errors. For instance: “When things change it doesn’t hurt much but when people changes, it do. It really do.” should be “When things change, it doesn’t hurt much, but when people change, it does. It really does.” Have you tried an editing app such as hemingwayapp.com? Even the free versions are helpful. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you. I will surely look forward in trying the app and try not to make mistakes. Thanks again.

        Like

  20. Hello friends! I am relatively recent to wordpress but thought I’d branch out a little! My blog is a short story series, relatively young adult and sci-fi/fantasy. I’m updating every Thursday, and any feedback on the writing or layout would be well-appreciated! Here’s the beginning of the story: https://kpwritings.wordpress.com/2016/09/15/the-beginning/
    The first installment is completed and the second part of the next will be posted this Thursday! Be sure to come and check it out!

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Just commented. Nice content, good use of images. My suggestion: consider adding a few more tags. You can have a total of 15 tags and categories, and adding a few more will help new readers find you. For example, on the travel piece, tag the names of the places as well to find readers who are interested in those locations!

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you very much!!! I will take that in mind, thanks for the tip. I love the name of your blog!! I really enjoy your most recent one called comfort zones. I think its great and I’m glad you stepped out of your comfort zone and enjoyed it.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. Just commented. Nice content, decent use of images. My suggestion: consider adding more tags. You can have a total of 15 tags and categories, and adding a few more will help new readers find you. For example, on the beauty piece, add tags such as “society” or “beauty” or “love yourself”.

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Just stopped by! My biggest suggestion, I think, would be to change your header image — though the baby is cute, the picture is mostly white and the words “The Garden of Eden” are also white, making them a bit hard to read. I like your sense of humor on the “My name is Eden” page!

      How old do you expect her to be when she reads this?

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  25. 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:

    https://emmasguidetothegalaxy.com/2016/10/12/what-am-i-doing-with-my-life/

    https://emmasguidetothegalaxy.com/2016/09/28/scattered-4-0/

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

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Loved the what am I doing with my life post. Just commented! Fabulous content, good use of tags. Consider, perhaps, adding an image or two to break up the text and add a bit of color. But overall, awesome — I’ll be following you. (and connecting via social media as well, if you’d like!)

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Like

    1. Just commented. Nice musings! Many bloggers write about their fervent faith or their certainty in atheism; I enjoyed reading your struggles and musings, how you lay out what you think but don’t necessarily have the answers — and that’s okay! Very cool. I’ll definitely be following you for more 🙂

      My suggestion: maybe add a few more tags, like “theology” to bring in more readers. You can have a total of 15 tags and categories.

      Would you check out one of my pieces? Click on my name and choose whichever one looks most interesting🙂

      Like

  27. Hey everyone,
    I am relatively seasoned here on wordpress, blogging about photography and traveling. I’d love to hear your feedback on my new layout, especially regarding navigating my page through the (new and fancy) drop down menus 😉
    In case you feel like commenting on my photography as well, I would be genuinely happy 😉
    cheers, Mary

    https://brightpigments.wordpress.com

    Liked by 4 people

    1. I love the drop down menus. I think they organize everything in a compact way — I found it very easy to navigate. Woohoo! 🙂 I LOVED your shot of the wolf — so beautiful. I’ll definitely be following your blog for more! 😀

      (and also, thanks for the super lengthy comment on my post earlier!)

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you 🙂 I am trying to restructure everything and get back into a routine – medschool is eating away a lot of my time currently… Thank you! This one was so amazing (so fluffy!) and you definitely found one of my favorite pictures 😉
        Sorry for writing that much ( I am always so insecure about writing comments, because you either way say way too little or talk too much… there s seemingly no in between 😉 ) and I loved the view you described in you post 😉

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Yikes, med school is tough. Best of luck! 🙂 And no worries, I like reading long comments (and replying to them!). I think your blog looks awesome. I’ll definitely be following to see more of your work in the future. Rock on 😀

        Liked by 1 person

  28. Hi I I’m a fairly new blogger and could use some feedback from all you seasoned bloggers out there. So here’s a shout out to all of you to read and comment on my blog. I’ve used some good advice from other bloggers from last fridays community pool. Please please tell me I’ve improved. Here’s my latest post. Let me know what you think.

    Liked by 5 people

  30. Hello! I am having issues with my layout – I cannot get the pages to load. I have tried all the tricks to get the pages to work on the Rowling theme (which I love), aside from going in and messing with the code. I have looked around but haven’t found one yet. Does anyone know of a blog theme that keeps the same layout as the Rowling theme (short blurbs of the posts, right margin for widgets) where I can load pages across the top, too? Here is my blog:

    http://www.autismfamilypower.com/

    I like the theme, just would like to add pages – is there any similar theme someone knows off the top of their head that they use or have used that is similar? Much appreciated for the feedback!!

    Liked by 4 people