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. My blog is slowly but surely getting more attention and I’d love some advice on what I can do to keep that trend going. I’m not sure that my home page gives a good enough intro of my blog, but I think it’s because my blog doesn’t have one set direction. It started with photography but now also includes DIY and general thoughts.

    Here is a link to my latest post about a recent woodburning project. Enjoy!
    https://littlepicturesbigthoughts.wordpress.com/2016/10/17/woodburning-03/

    Thanks for reading.

    Like

    1. The post you linked was wonderful and you did an excellent job creating a lovely finished product. Maybe to hit a wider audience you post in-depth tutorial posts. That way, not only do your readers get to see your product, they see your process, learn something, and get a chance to try it themselves. Also, it gives you something to refer to, should you ever forget the basics.
      In general, just keep branching out with your hobbies and explore! Your about page is humorous and it gives people a sense of how wide a spectrum you have so far!
      Overall just keep exploring the possibilities and maybe ask your readers to interact and give some them some control of content so to speak!
      I hope that helps. Happy blogging!
      -Author S

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you very much, and I’m glad I could help you! Feel free to leave feedback on any piece and good luck expanding your blog!
        Happy reading, writing, and crafting!
        -Author S

        Like

  2. Hi. Just like almost everyone else here, I would really love to have any kind of feedback on my writing. Being a non native English writer already gives me a lot to improve and to work on, but any opinions on which are the exact things that you find disturbing could be really helpful. I Still need to do a lot more reading and studying to improve my grammar and vocabulary.

    Like

    1. Jahonnes, you are already writing at a solid skill level. I saw no major problems with your writing. You have a good plan in place to keep writing and read the works of good writers. Rather than take basic grammar classes (which I don’t think you need), consider taking writing classes for different types of writing. Depending on your interests, you could take courses on creative writing (novels, short stories, essays, poems) or non-fiction (memos, proposals, letters, research papers). https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you for your reply paminat0r. Your words mean a lot to me. I already feel a lot more confident in pursuing this goal of mine, because of you. It is so difficult for me to analyze my own work, and to find ways to develop my skill. You have helped a lot. Thank you.

        Liked by 1 person

    3. I agree with paminat0r. Though taking classes in grammar and mechanics can help create a good foundation, getting a sense of voice and style is wonderful. It’s what makes your writing truly yours. Don’t ever worry about being perfect because writing is never finished! Work can always be improved, and as long as you strive to improve yourself and your work, you’re halfway there!
      Good luck in all your endeavors and don’t be afraid to explore and experiment with different techniques and styles to find what works best for you.
      Happy writing!
      -Author S

      Liked by 1 person

    3. You have an eye-catching layout with beautiful photos and bold text that pops! You cover a diverse range of topics from study to food, so you can hit a wide audience.
      The only things I would say would be to find some organization and try some colors out. Organization gives readers a way to find their way around and latch onto what they’re looking for. Also, different colors in the header and background could bring the blog to life even more. Experiment with things and don’t be afraid to change it up!
      Happy blogging!
      -Author S

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Your home page is lovely and your posts are in-depth and personal! Always keep writing what matters to you, and don’t be afraid to branch out into new topics or styles to express yourself. Never say it’s too late to learn and always keep curiosity about you!
      Happy writing and blogging!
      -Author S

      Liked by 1 person

      2. Of course, and thank you for follow! Feel free to leave feedback on any piece!
        Happy writing!
        -Author S

        Like

    1. When you compare yourself to Anne Frank, you can take away from the fact that writing is your journey, and the only thing to base comparisons is the person you were the day before. As long as you strive to improve through exploration of yourself and your world(s), the pace means nothing.
      Always keep curiosity about you and improvement will come with experimentation. Writing is neither finished nor perfect, so there’s no need to worry!
      Happy reading and writing!
      -Author S

      Like

    1. Despite your name, you seem to have a darker view on the world. While completely understandable, people get enough negativity throughout the day to where they might not want to hear someone vent.
      Try relating your posts to masses by giving the information you want, then putting a spin on it, a call to action or a way to provoke thought or change. Otherwise, you could work on your titles and photos to bring more readers in.
      Otherwise, I’m glad you have a stated passion for writing and its practical uses, but don’t be afraid to mix it up and create something for the fun of doing so! I hope that helps, but if you have questions, feel free to ask!
      Happy writing and blogging!
      -Author S

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Dear S,

        Firstly, thanks a ton for your input.It really does mean a lot to me. Like you pointed out, I had plans of making it an positive post but then the it deviated from my intensions. I am sure I would be able to better channel my thoughts with helpful people like you.
        This was just a start and hope to hear more from you.

        Have a nice day

        Like

      2. I’m always happy to give feedback, so give me a holler anytime! Also, if you’d like to do the same, it’d be more than welcome and appreciated. I love hearing from readers, and it makes improving myself as a writer so much easier. I’m glad I was able to help you, and I wish you the best of luck with further posting!
        Happy reading and writing!
        -Author S

        Like

    1. You have a lovely mix of beautiful images and text to draw readers in. Your posts might be better suited for young readers if you could relate them to a story or experience. Otherwise, they’re left with new thoughts and no idea how to work with them.
      Also, branching out and experimenting with different styles and categories of writing is a wonderful way to improve yourself and draw a wider audience!
      Happy writing!
      -Author S

      Liked by 1 person

  10. I wonder if anyone is still here!

    If so, I would love it if you could give my latest post a bit of love:

    https://maggyliu.com/2016/10/19/girl-by-the-sea/

    It’s a poem about a very recent experience, it’s kinda cliche but that’s just my life, you know?

    Curious for some feedback and like always, very happy to reciprocate the favour and maybe make some new friends 🙂

    Like

    1. Your piece has wonderful emotion and imagery. With the photo to draw readers in, they’ll get lost in the waves (pun intended).
      Keep up the good work!
      Happy writing!
      -Author S

      Like

    2. I think it would be interesting if you would write another version of this poem.

      In the second version, write about the specific experience(s) that you had in mind in the first version. Use specific details.

      When I read your poem, I got the feeling that you were dancing around your experience without actually conveying it….. without letting the reader experience what you did.

      Good luck with your writing.

      Like

      1. Ooooh interesting, I’ll give that a try later. This is already way more specific and story-like than my usual style but I’m definitely open to experimenting more and letting the reader in more concretely, thanks.

        Like

  11. You have a lovely piece with a twist ending, breaking the fourth wall so to speak. It draws readers in with flashes of horrific images only to bring them back to your reality. The references might seem obscure to new readers, but it encourages them to find out more. Keep experimenting and writing!
    Happy reading and writing!
    -Author S

    Like

  12. Hello, everyone! I’m looking for some reader interaction, so feel free to drop by the blog and check around.
    Navigation will get you to every post categorized by type, so that’ll be your road map. Otherwise, Scribble the Path will drop you down to Interactive, Challenges, and Ongoing Series. I encourage you to drop me a prompt or to read my series Imagination Leaks!

    https://hailangeliccreation.wordpress.com/navigation/ -Road Map

    https://hailangeliccreation.wordpress.com/ongoing-series/ -Imagination Leaks

    https://hailangeliccreation.wordpress.com/category/interactive/ -Drop a prompt!

    As always, feedback is welcome and appreciated on any piece, so don’t be afraid. I promise I don’t bite! Explore around, and let me know what you think!
    Happy reading!
    -Author S

    Like

  13. Hello hello! Feel free to drop by the blog and leave feedback on any piece. I’d love to hear from you so feel free to let me know what you think or even drop me a prompt. I’d love to get some feedback on my Imagination Leaks Series!
    Scribble the Path and Navigation are your two major road maps to all the posts and ways to interact!

    https://hailangeliccreation.wordpress.com/

    I’d love to hear from you and see some new faces!
    Happy reading and reviewing!
    -Author S

    Like

  16. Hey everyone! I have been blogging for a while now and really enjoy it; however, I am sometimes discouraged when looking at my statistics and page views. I guess I am looking for a forum of blogging support/feedback; I figure this comment area is a good place to start. Anyway, my homepage is linked here:

    https://hazmattblog.wordpress.com/

    Like

    1. I read Citizen Zombie and enjoyed it. A stronger closing could be to add something such as, “I don’t want to look around and see a horde of citizen zombies.” Have you tried using the WordPress Reader to find other bloggers with similar interests? If you comment and/or like their posts, that will increase your visibility and likelihood of getting visits to your site. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I have started to use the WordPress Reader a little bit and have found it good for certain topics. I will have to start reading and commenting more on some other posts; I have not really done that very much. Thanks for the feedback.

        Like

    2. I read your post about Citizen Zombie (great stuff) and checked out the rest of your blog. I would say that one thing you might want to consider is making it more visually appealing. In this day and age people respond more to things that “catch their eye”. You could either try some sort of feature image, different colors or layouts. There are so many options with WordPress. Also, to help drive traffic make sure to practice good SEO habits. It can be hard at first if you aren’t use to it but eventually it becomes part of the process and second nature. I’m in the middle of getting that into my routine as well. Finally, get involved with other bloggers…read, comment, like and follow others and usually it leads to them following you and giving you reach to the people that also follow them. Good Luck and Happy Blogging!!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for the advice. I have tried commenting on some blogs, but never really felt like that accomplished much besides an occasional like…Maybe I just didn’t comment enough. I try to tag key topics for search engine optimization, but I’m sure there is more I can do there. I rarely have hits/referrals from search engines. I also like your point about the visual appeal; maybe I can try adding some more of these features in some posts. Thanks for the feedback!

        Like

  17. I’m a first time blogger and I’m pretty sure I’ll get the hang of it ..It’s nothing like expressing your craft and sharing it with the world whether you get likes or not ..Please drop by my blog and comment your thoughts .would love the feedback ..Thanks in advance!

    Like

  18. Is anyone else who’s signed up for courses with Blogging U having problems getting their emails? I seemed to have stopped getting mine, and I’m wondering if I accidentally changed some settings to cause this or whether there’s something else going on.

    (I’ve checked: I’m still signed up and the emails aren’t in my spam folder.)

    Like

    1. I think you are right that people don’t think before they speak. Another problem is that many people assume that we all think alike. We surely don’t. Then, we open our mouths and hurt others not even knowing we’ve done it. I appreciated your post. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m unsure of the “correct” answer to the question; therefore, I’ll waffle. Perhaps, it’s true for some people, especially to those who were not personally involved in the tragedy. There may be humorous aspects associated with the tragedy, as in the reaction to the iron in the bear trap. The humorous part was not the bear trap itself or loss of a leg, it was that the reason (reaction to the iron) was the unexpected cause. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Hello all! One of my fellow bloggers had an interesting idea regarding this post, but I need your help because I’m terrible at making decisions!

    Her idea was to pick one or two of the quotes I used in this post and write a new post and reflect on what the quotes mean to me from my perspective.

    If you’d be so kind as to read the following post and leave a comment telling me which ones you choose as your favorites, it would be greatly appreciated! AND it would help make my decision easier! Lol

    Once I have a few popular quotes to choose from I’ll write a new post.

    Thank you in advance! K

    Quote Challenge…Day 3 – free2bme27
    https://free2bme27.wordpress.com/2016/10/13/quote-challenge-day-3/

    Like