Sep 18, 2017 / Community Pool

Community Pool

Where WordPress bloggers support each other with feedback and advice.

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 more information about custom domains, advanced design options, and other enhancements for your blog? Find the WordPress.com plan that’s right for you.

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.

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.

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.

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  1. Over past 3 years I’ve been changing plans for my blog multiple times. After all the tinkering I think what will remain is this Monday @ 8:30 post every week and posting here on Community Pool. Like with my latest motivational post:

    http://howtoaddict.com/motivated-need-solid-foundation-otherwise-impulsiveness-will-destroy/

    Now after few months of your support here I am pretty much in rhythm of writing on Sunday @ 9:00 PM and than scheduling post. I am curious – do you fellow bloggers also have schedule like this? Or you are writing when inspiration strikes? Something else? I a curious to hear what works for you – especially if you are blogger with track record – regularly posting for 6 months or more.

    Looking forward to your responses!

    Liked by 26 people

    1. I’m a writer by trade so I plan to write at least two hours a day, six days a week. Sometimes I write blog posts and sometimes I’m writing books. At first I was trying to post almost every day, but now I’m aiming for 3 to 4 posts a week.

      Liked by 13 people

      1. So, you don’t switch gears? Your daily work is two hours a day of writing? I.e. – you don’t need to go to some other work for 4 or 8 hours?

        I guess this is also something we can discuss in detail on SIBA Facebook group (to anyone insterested – feel free to Google for link and join us).

        Liked by 6 people

      2. The short answer to the question about other work:

        My goal is to write for at least two hours a day, but sometimes it’s a lot more. When I’m not writing my own stuff, I might be editing an anthology or working on marketing or operations for my publishing startup.

        Liked by 9 people

    2. For me, I prefer to write and/or edit every day as well as when inspiration strikes, although that may mean just listing down some points for the next day. Then I’ll schedule my posts ahead every five days. I’ve kept that system going all year and find that I’m more relaxed when I know I’ve got several posts ‘in the pipeline.’

      I used to post whenever I wanted some views/likes/comments but I would now personally recommend the regular schedule approach.

      Liked by 21 people

    3. I love your posts, you know this! However, I still believe it needs to be stated. Your posts are well written and relatable. You’re such an asset to this community! Truly.

      I’m glad to hear you’ve found a time that works for you. I haven’t given much thought to mine. However, I post daily and roughly hit the same timeframe during the work week. Weekends I truly to get it within a couple hours of that. Do you reblog your posts? I personally don’t but have contemplated.

      Let me know if you’d like more information! Cheers. 💫😁

      Liked by 8 people

      1. (blush)

        Yeah – I have no idea how I would catch up with someone like you. Daily publishing seems so impossible to me. But maybe it also has to do with the fact I need to write code daily. It’s hard to switch gears.

        So – you have like standard time of day when you post? Like you come back from work at 5 PM and then by say 9 PM you’ve finished writing and you are posting?

        For rebloging – I wanna try it. Especially with older posts that haven’t got much traction. If you do it, message me on my email so I can join in and observe how it works.

        Liked by 9 people

      2. I think what helps me with my daily posting schedule is a bit like cheating: so I started my Brit Wits as a bit of a joke with a friend. She told me I needed to share them. However, it took me eight weeks before I felt comfortable enough to share and then I created my blog here. Basically, I write a new one every day, but that one isn’t the one I post on the blog; it’s the one my friend gets. Did I explain that well enough? So I have them all written down and check them off as I go. I write them the night before and try to read them over before posting for errors etc. the next morning.

        I could imagine the switch in writings would be difficult. I think your posting schedules works well for you! Honestly. Also, if I do give the reblogging thing a go and find it useful or not, I’ll let you know!

        Liked by 9 people

      3. I actually do the same thing – I have this stash of posts… and the one I write is not the one I post. Although I don’t have that one person I message it first to… that’s actually something I can try doing.

        For reblogging – definitely let me know – if you don’t have my direct email just drop me a line through Contact page: http://howtoaddict.com/contact/

        Liked by 4 people

      4. It helps to have someone give you feedback. She’s sweet because she doesn’t edit it so much as keep me motivated and points out the occasional inconsistency. If I want more, then I’ll ask. I don’t know where I’d be without her!

        And sure thing! 🙂

        Liked by 4 people

    6. I am pretty terrible at scheduling posts. I’ve been blogging for 8 months(!) but my blog isn’t very big, so it might be good to do the opposite of me!

      I just post when I have time and when I am inspired to write something. I normally post things straight away because I am so excited to share them! I have not found a massive difference in my stats when I post at different times/days, so I am happy with my haphazardness for the moment.

      Liked by 15 people

    7. I write about a few specific subjects which occasionally makes it hard for me to come up with new ideas so I try to post regularly on Mondays at 9:00 am but that doesn’t always happen. I originally thought I was going to post on Mondays and Fridays and I might go back to doing that eventually but it was just too much at the time. So to answer your question for the most part I do post on a schedule. I also feel like it’s better to do so because then your loyal readers can get a better idea of when they can expect new blog posts. I haven’t seen much improvement in my readership so I don’t know if it actually works though

      Liked by 9 people

    8. I am a new blogger but am finding it easier to plan posts ahead so that I always have a few in the pipeline. I’m only posting weekly at the moment as my schedule is pretty busy but will hopefully post more regularly in the future.

      I enjoyed your post and I will look forward to more.

      Kristina

      Liked by 13 people

    9. I’m a working mom so I blog in my spare time. I have so much of ideas whilst in traffic or even at work but I unfortunately can’t always put pen to paper. I think it’s important to have a schedule, just to have some balance in life. On the other hand, when creativity is there…you should take advantage of it. My blog is a few months old and I’m learning along the way…no previous PR/Marketing/writing experience. So I have a long journey ahead of me

      Liked by 10 people

    10. I have two weekly features that keep me posting regularly. I did try to post daily one week but stressed myself out pretty bad trying to fit some imaginary self-imposed deadline so I don’t think I’ll try that again. I write on my phone and just let little bits trickle out during my day as they pop up. I was inspired one afternoon and wrote like five posts in a row, but that hasn’t happened again. Just going with the flow.

      Liked by 11 people

    15. That’s an interesting question! I have been blogging for four years and I’ve had a variety of schedules over the years. I have gone from regularly posting every Sunday, and also have gone through a few periods of time where I just wrote when inspiration hit me. Currently, I try to post at least once a week but I also allow myself to write when I feel inspired to do so. I like this schedule the best!

      Liked by 8 people

      1. Wow, I thought your blog is way older than 1 year. Now I feel like an old geezer with 3 year old blog that got almost no traction for 2 and half years.

        I think you really have a knack for these detailed guides – first Kindle self-publishing, now these useful tips for bloggers. I hope you considering doing these every few months – they really communicate lots of useful advice!

        Liked by 5 people

      2. Hi….I was not at all knowing the abcd of blogging when started it. Now I feel as if have become addicted to it. I write as something inspire me at that moment. I can’t write if I have time boundations. Sometimes I write twice a day and schedule the post. I have never tried guest post. What’s your opinion about It??

        Liked by 9 people

      4. Hi Doc, I’ve done three. One on writing flash fiction, one on self-publishing, and one on general tips. They came about when I’d accrued knowledge on the subject and wanted to share it with fellow bloggers, in the hope that they could use the information.

        Right now I don’t have any plans for any more, although I’ll probably update all three in October. They’ve all been very popular so I’d like to do another, just not sure what about. I’ll have to wait for inspiration to strike 🙂

        Liked by 5 people

      5. @susurrus Thank you. Yes it’s far more useful than I thought it would be, and with a little practice it’s not hard to do, just finding your place in the HTML can be tricky sometimes in a long article. Unfortunately, to switch between Visual and HTML there’s only one way. Go to the top of the page and click on the tab. So you lose your place for the next time!

        Also, I will just mention that I’ve found drop down menus very helpful for quickly locating posts, especially now there are over 160 on the blog. There’s a great video embedded in the article that shows how to install them!

        Liked by 4 people

  7. Hello everyone, ever wondered if something socially good could come out of large corporations? Chances are you haven’t, yet, there’s a dedicated wing for such actions in large companies.

    I did a write up analyzing the issues and implications of such wings and the laws regarding them. I’d love it if you could pay the post a visit and give some much needed reviews. Thanks in advance. 🙂

    Corporate Social Responsibility

    Liked by 18 people

    2. I always love your posts Winta! I was slightly confused for a second when I didn’t understand it, but scrolling down fixed that (doh!)

      Anyway, I left you feedback directly on your blog.

      Liked by 5 people

  14. Hi everyone! 😃

    My blog is a flash fiction and poetry based, as well as things in between, that focuses on daily updates. More specifically they are British English words and phrases! I hit the 150th post milestone this weekend! Here’s the link for that: https://britwitblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/16/saucy-happy-1-5-0/

    If you’d like to poke around inside, feel free and here’s the main link.

    https://britwitblog.wordpress.com

    All the best! Happy blogging friends! 💫

    Liked by 15 people

      1. Thank you so much! This means quite a lot to me! 😄 i tried to look at your blog by clicking on your name but it didn’t work. I’ll have to give your link above a try. 💫

        Liked by 3 people

      3. Hey! I gave your blog a look over: it’s very neat, nicely organized! I think you’ve got a wonderful new thing going for you! How are you enjoying it? 😃

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh wow. *blushes* thank you so much for your honesty and for following my blog! When I get more free time later on today hopefully, I’ll be sure to check out your blog. Cheers! 😁

        Liked by 1 person

    3. There was a quote, something along the lines of, ‘no captain ever became great by sailing calm seas.’ It’s the ‘downs’ that help us appreciate the ‘ups.’

      Ever since doing The Magic by Rhonda Byrne, gratitude has been part of my life. Like Rhonda, I thought I was grateful, but I wasn’t grateful at all. Now before going to sleep I’ll think of ten good things that happened that day and mentally say, ‘Thank you, thank you, thank you …’ for each one.

      And if I’m feeling a bit down I’ll say ‘thank you that I can walk’ (we all know someone in a wheelchair or with a stick), ‘that I can breathe easily’ (without coughing), ‘that I can see’ (there’s a blind lady three doors away), ‘that I can swallow without choking,’ (something I had a problem with) etc. etc. A minute or two of that can really pick you up!

      Feeling and expressing gratitude for the good things in our lives really helps us to appreciate how lucky we are and keeps us in a more positive mindset.

      Liked by 5 people

    3. Ooh that is really useful! I’ve made falafel from one of those dried packets, but I should try to make them properly like you! 🙂

      Just a quick comment – have you thought of adding a wordpress “like” button to your blog? I would have definitely pressed it if you had one! 😀

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Do try making falafel from the scratch. They are delicious.
        It did cross my mind initially to add like button, but then I thought I would rather have satisfied visitors to my blog. If they have anything to say they can comment . Like button is just like a statistic. Do you suggest I should add one?

        Liked by 4 people

      2. I guess it depends on the person. I find that some folks are too shy to leave a comment, or don’t really have anything to add BUT they still might really like your blog. I think the like button is just an easy way for people to show their appreciation for your recipes.

        But, at the same time, you are right, it is just a statistic. You should only add one if you like the idea!!

        Liked by 5 people

      1. Thanks for the encouragement. I hope you will try some recipes from the site. Apart from the recipe I occasionally post health benefits of fruits, and other food related stuff. Please have a look whenever you have time.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I like the layout and user friendly-ness of your blog! The beautiful pictures speak for themselves, but I think your layout works tremendously to bring it all together. 😃💫

      Liked by 3 people

      4. I worked it out. You can’t see the comment section if you go to the homepage, but they show up perfectly if you click on each post individually. 😀

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Can’t say I’ve ever heard of naked hiking before. I’m so sheltered, I guess.

      I thought the number do pictures was fine. I like pictures. My biggest concern with too many pictures is load time for new visitors, but that didn’t seem to be a problem, at least for my phone.

      Happy hiking!

      Liked by 5 people

      1. Thanks James!
        I’ve been trying to batch edit the photos before I upload them so they are not too massive. I am really really glad if that has worked and made it easy to load. 😀

        Liked by 2 people

  25. Good Monday morning! Glad the Community Pool is back open and ready for swimming. 🙂

    My newest post, just out today, is called A Simply Successful Day in Pictures. It’s a quick read with mostly photos just to take a step back and realize that not all success has to be measured in money, major accomplishments or work related milestones. Finding small successes in the every day help us to find our happy.

    https://www.lazysundaysblog.com/successful-day-pictures/

    Thanks for reading!

    Liked by 14 people

      1. It looks good to me too.

        Sometimes posts just receive less love for no particular reason… or maybe it was something like the time you posted it/ or if you shared it less than normal?

        If you can, ignore the stats and just write for fun. It’s easier said than done though!!

        Liked by 4 people

    1. I don’t know how I haven’t bumped into your blog before, but I am oh so ecstatic I’ve found it now! 😃 Your poetry is lovely, full of fascinating imagery and lovely language. If I had more time, I would take more time to provide more in depth analysis. Wow. I’m blown away and you’ve gained a new follower in me. Cheers for sharing! 💫

      Liked by 2 people

  30. First off a massive THANK YOU to anyone who has come from this pool to the smaller confines of my own personal creative waters! Incoming traffic was so sleepy last week with no Community Pool or First Friday. Secondly, a question on Facebook blogging groups. I’ve joined a couple recently but have not found them to be all that useful. Most bloggers I’ve seen on them are operating at a totally different level than I and I have a hard time even following the convo threads because they’re so full of techno-jargon. What’s your experience with Facebook groups? Have you found any good ones? Do you have any tricks for driving traffic to your blog? Thanks and have a nice swim!

    Liked by 17 people

    1. Social media really is the key because you control it. I am in a small one on FB, but it has been fading in terms of conversations. I have been on some of the types you suggest and they either had too many rules about posting, or were full of blogs purely driven for business content. Which leads me back to using all tools at my disposal. By popularity on social media best to worst, I link to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr. That is where I get my content noticed the most.

      Liked by 6 people

      1. Thanks for your perspective, Robert. I agree with your assessment. Too many rules for posting and too many business focused things in the groups I have found so far. I’m going to keep looking though, as it sounds like there are some worthwhile ones. I don’t have any other social media than FB, so I’m contemplating branching out. Not sure where to start. So many choices. I’ve heard good things about using Pinterest to drive traffic and wonder if it would be a good fit for me as my writing is very image based and I often write of crafting and art. I appreciate you taking the time to comment.

        Liked by 4 people

    2. YEah I mean, I’ve never been interested in SEO and marketing and all that sort of thing so the facebook groups took a little time and error. Finally found a couple that are just simple, chatty groups and they’re the only ones I visit now. Not sure they do anything for my blog, but still nice to drop in there are read other people’s blogs! I guess it’s a bit like a larger version of this community pool.

      Definitely think it takes a bit of searching though to find Your People, if you know what I mean…

      Liked by 5 people

    4. I’ve been contemplating that now is probably the opportune time for me to get into more serious social media communities instead of my own personal group. It seems like you’re struggling at least on Facebook. Are you having better luck elsewhere? So you joined communities? I was contemplating creating my own FB page and linking it to my blog. Did you do something similar?

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Facebook struggle is mostly due to the algorithm. Even in my personal posts, I got sick of no one seeing or liking them so I backed off my FB use. I’ve joined “Pro-Blogger”, “Adventures in Blogging” and “Blogging Mastermind”. Nothing negative to say about these groups. Just seems most of them are monetized bloggers competing in a very cut-throat environment. I’m not interested in monetization, but I do love people coming by to read my blog.

        There is definitely an expectation that you have a Facebook page for your blog, but for the reasons described above this nauseates me.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Yes. Cut-throat worlds aren’t my cup of tea: my tea of ANYTHING, basically. Yikes. Thanks for leaving some suggestions!! 😌 I’ll have to check them out. Best of luck to you, friend!

        Liked by 2 people

    5. I’m a member of one big-ish one that I love (Big Up Your Blog). Although, maybe you’re not keen as I thought you are in the same one!?

      I find that it has given my posts a boost BUT maybe less of a boost in the last few months as there are sooo many more members that it is easier to get lost the looong lists.

      When I first started I asked questions there about adding social media buttons etc, and folks were sooo helpful. If you are ever unsure of techno jargon, you should ask! Seriously! If they are a nice group, I am sure people will explain what they mean for you. 🙂

      I also find that lots of the lovely bloggers from there are the most chatty folks on my posts, even when I don’t share the post with the group.

      Liked by 6 people

      1. I just thought of something else.

        It might take a while for you to be noticed within any new group. I have found the more I contribute/chat/share other people’s posts, the more they seem to do the same for me.

        Having said that, I am pretty sure I always share more posts than folks share in return. It’s fair enough – some people might not be into my blog even though I LOVE theirs.

        Liked by 4 people

      2. Thank you so much for chiming in Josypheen! I’ve only been experimenting with them for a week. A couple struggles I’ve had include telling them apart from each other once joined, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t joined that one yet. I gotta say, I was put off by how many of them had rules AGAINST promoting your own content. I will join “Big Up” and let you know what I think.

        Liked by 4 people

      3. Oooh, I wonder how I found you if it wasn’t from there!? It must have been here (oops!)

        I think Big Up Your Blog might be closed for new members at the moment, but they open it up every so often. They do have rules for posting (like ThrowbackThursday, or SundayBlogShare) but they are easy to follow rules and super friendly people.

        Liked by 3 people

      4. I do believe you found me here. Or I found you. Lol. Hard to keep it all straight in the head!

        Hmm, okay. I’m sure I will forget to check back for it being open to new members, but I will check after work and see. Thanks again. 😀

        Liked by 3 people