Dec 11, 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.

Show Comments

1,361 Comments

Comments are closed.

Close Comments

Comments

    2. Hi, I have just checked on both PC and on my phone. You’re right. You have to tap on the post for the title to appear and then a second later you are taken to the post. I would think that this is a problem as it might deter readers from entering your site as they don’t know the content. I tend to read the blogs on my laptop rather than phone so I don’t know how much it would affect the readership who use their phones.
      The other thing is that your background picture is quite dark and busy. Because each post already has a picture it is a bit distracting. If it were me, I would choose a more subtle header pic to not detract from your posts – as they are the stars of your blog! 🙂
      Hope this helps 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    1. What a tough thing for you to go through. I’m trying not to offer platitudes but real advice. From someone whose husband has been redundant twice and laid off from various labouring jobs (did those after the redundancies), you do get through it. Your children are small so it’s easier to budget Christmas presents. When it happened to us I set a limit for the children (with a little bit of contingency movement) for presents, £50 each I think. Husband and I did £10 presents – one year nothing, it’s the being together as a family that counts.

      Like

    2. Thanks for your post, Dad! I am a PhD scholar and a husband… I can relate to how miserable it can make one feel when it seems like your family depends on you during the festive season and your superiors (and the world!) does not seem to care. However, I appreciate that family means a lot to you and I think thats important. Anyway, here is my blog and you may find it related in a complete different web of complexities: https://abravenewscience.wordpress.com/2017/12/12/realities-the-girl-child-and-retinoblastoma-treatment-in-india/

      Like

  5. Hi!
    My latest blog post was about the steps I’ve taken towards becoming a financially healthy adult in my early twenties. I honestly think everyone could benefit from studying their own finances and taking those steps. To me, I’m completely fascinated by personal finances, but I could see why it might be boring to others. But it’s important! I would appreciate a quick read regardless of where you fall on that spectrum, and if you have any critiques, I welcome any feedback, on the post or my blog in general!

    Am I The Only One Who Doesn’t Feel The Crushing Weight Of Student Loan Debt?

    Liked by 9 people

    2. You seem to have a pretty good blog. Nice variety of topics, and well laid-out page. Maybe it’s just me, but it felt a bit flat without a main picture for your whole site (I believe it’s called a “header” picture). Still, even without such, your blog is pleasant to look at–you got me to look around a bit! 😉

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I will make sure to read these books. Thank you for the list of Christmas books !

      Like

    3. Welcome to the blogosphere! You should edit your About page! And while I LOVE that shade of pink, I worry its brightness may make reading hard…consider lightening it a little?
      Happy Blogging!

      Like

    2. Oh, and also, just fyi, it wasn’t easy to spot the weird logo in the top left corner and guess that it was the home button. Maybe add it next to the Contact and About categories so people find it easier to navigate your page?

      Aside from that, your blog is entertaining.

      Like

  8. Hello dear bloggers, would love to have your feedback on my last blogpost, (your feedback should be on my blog and not here in the community poot). I will be more than happy to return the favor. And feel free to follow me, as I always follow back. 🙂

    Liked by 6 people

  13. Hello Friends,

    I have just now published a new take on Aywriteslife. While numbering it I found out that this take is my 20th!

    One more thing: Next week, Aywriteslife is going to a complete an entire year 😇

    I am really happy that we are about to complete an entire year! Will post about Aywriteslife in my next interaction with you all!

    Last week, I came across some amazing art and poetry. I hope to read some great stuff from all of you again this week!

    Take 20 of Aywriteslife-

    Take 20: A Bond that Nature Created !

    I hope you all will like it 😁

    Love

    Aywriteslife

    Liked by 8 people

      1. Thank you. Good to hear that the site in general is pleasing to the eye. The research I’ve done on this topic has been quite eye-opening for me! It’s really helping me to feel confident about NOT running around for the lowest sticker price!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Good to know I’m not the only one struggling with tags. The system won’t let you use too many, and I also don’t want to be misleading, either. So, I guess we’ll trust integrity to ultimately work in our favor! Thanks for replying/commenting!

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Hi guys, I’m hoping to redesign my site for the new year. I think my blog is too bland and maybe doesn’t match the contents. Could any of you offer some advice? I don’t really know where to start!!! This is my blog: https://gemmamcloughlinburke.wordpress.com.
    I post mainly long articles, I don’t do photographs and the content is mostly satire. If any of you had advice for a layout which would suit that style I would love to hear it!!

    Thanks so much!!! 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 10 people

    1. Hi, I took a look and read your Trump post (liked btw).
      I’m looking to change too, but I think I have a bit of an identity now and I can’t see another theme that I can settle on. In your case, maybe the yellow is a little acid, do you think? You could update the header image for 2018 and change the colour to start with. I like the style of your blog, the 3 columns, and did try that out for me.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I definitely was thinking the colour scheme might need a change. Though it’s good to hear that the general style is okay, i think I’ll have a look at changing the header and colour and keep the column style the same! Also, thanks so much for sending feedback, no one I know blogs so I have no one to give me feedback !!! 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

    4. Your theme is also my theme, so I’m partial to it. But I have to admit that I was planning on changing it just last week. I went through ALL of the free themes and put them in a “No” or “Maybe” column. Most landed in the “no” side. There were a few for the maybe, but in the end, I stuck to what I had. It’s true that a lot of people use it (which bugs me), but it works for me. Sorry for not being of much help…

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Haha that’s okay, it actually is helpful! A lot of people seem to be saying that the general style is good, maybe just needs a change in colour scheme, etc. I really love your banner and generally what you’ve done with the theme, I might mess around with aesthetics a little and see what happens! Also, how do you make your whole page snow?! You may have guessed that technology is not my strong point….

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Thank you for visiting my site and enjoying it. Of course, I wish I had access to customize more things, but it is what it is and you gotta make it work with what you got.

        As far as the snow is concerned, go to “My site”->”Settings” and then find “Holiday Snow” option and turn it on. Because why not, right? Have a good Tuesday!

        Like

      1. Thank you very much! I think the general consensus is keep the layout and maybe make header changes, etc. Btw I like your use of images and gifs, your blog is very entertaining just to look through!!

        Like

    6. All, thanks so much for messaging me with feedback!! It’s so helpful to have people who actually blog sending tips and critique!! I’m not great with design, etc so having some input and seeing different styles of blogs was very helpful! Thanks again!! 🙂

      Like

    1. Nice work. Commented.
      Btw, there is a widget at the bottom of your Contact, About, etc, which is empty/ default. You might want to look into deleting/ editing it.

      Like

    1. I’m no writing expert, but I have a few thoughts. As a commenter suggested, breaking up your story a little would help make it read easier. Also, consider indenting new lines if it’s possible on WordPress. In terms of your actual writing, make sure that you put punctuation inside the quotation marks like so:
      “I’m kind of hungry,” Peter said. “Can I have an apple?”
      Also, don’t be afraid to use ‘said’ more often. Trying to use a myriad of words instead of ‘said’ can make it feel busy and over-the-top, and it makes the neat words you use instead less powerful.
      But an interesting story, and welcome to the blogosphere!

      Liked by 1 person

  24. Hello! Happy Monday! My name is Kara and my blog is theupsideksb.wordpress.com. I blog about beauty, travel, local stuff and more. My posts mostly consist of face mask reviews. Today marks 5 months since I started blogging on here. Hope you enjoy!

    Liked by 6 people

      2. Yes, we all do that. But then I sit back and re-evaluate. As much as I appreciate my Followers and the interactions we have, the blog is ultimately mostly for me.
        If you just care about the amount of followers, start blogging about makeup and fashion. Follow those in that field (that is pleeeeenty) and they might follow you back.

        Liked by 1 person