Oct 26, 2015 / 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? Did you recently start your blog and could use some layout or design advice from your more seasoned peers?

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).

To help us make the Community Pool a productive space for discussion, here are some tips you might find useful:

TIP: 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.

  • 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!
  • 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.
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  • Please keep all comments civil and constructive. The idea is to have fun — it’s a pool, after all!
  • If you haven’t looked at our Commenting Guidelines in a while, now might be a good time.
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Photo by Brian Cantoni.

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  1. Hello bloggers!!
    I am a normal girl in her final year of school trying to reach the world through my thoughts. All posts of mine presents my thoughts in form of small write up, poems or paintings. I use colours to convey things when words do not support me. So welcome to my blog OPEN SHACKLES at http://www.salorocks.wordpress.com : A blog which is not shackled by any thing and is 100% straight from heart.

    Liked by 16 people

    2. Hi Saloni! Good job with your blog. I just started out with ym blog and I’m still trying to find my “voice.” Like you, I express myself through arts. I love how you shared your creativity. Just keep on writing from the heart and let your words take flight.

      Liked by 5 people

    3. Hello salon my name is Timblaze and am from Africa. I will follow your blog, I really find it interesting and innocent. Keep it up salone

      Liked by 3 people

    8. Loved it!
      Definitely enjoyed your blog. The presentation and layout is clean and concise. I love the contents of your posts as well. It’s always great meeting artistic people and so I’m glad I stumbled across yours 🙂 Definitely giving you a follow! Keep up the great work!

      Liked by 2 people

    2. Suicide is hard to talk about. However, you did talk about it and captured the emotional downfall that many go through. Wonderful writing and thank you for being brave enough. Your blog is wonderful and one I want to read. It was not only the post your shared here but others too! Great writing!!

      Liked by 2 people

    4. You’re writing is great! A lot of emotion is conveyed! My only suggestion is to add pictures in your posts to break up the test and make it more visual, and/or perhaps add a header image. But otherwise your blog is really nice!
      Happy Blogging!

      Liked by 1 person

    6. oh my gosh! heartfelt! Thanks to your blog. I am semi-secretly exploring the thoughts around suicide and I feel sad everytime I hear about an incident. And I am definitely one of those who would, IF IT WOULD MATTER at all, want to help by telling potential brave soul, let’s talk about this.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. I like it. I am partial to your theme because I have the same one. I think the fonts look good. It seems a little busy with all that is going on in each post on your main splash screen and down the right hand side. But, I don’t see any way around that without eliminating some of your functions.

      Liked by 3 people

      2. I feel your pain. Every now and then I want to change my theme but then it would be unrecognizable. And sometimes I want access to widgets that my theme currently doesn’t provide. But, I am stuck. For now I am staying with what I have. Great work so far!

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Personally, I’d rather see your Subscribe/Follow/Social Media widgets grouped together and oriented a little higher on the page. A lot of people are really lazy readers; if your follow options aren’t immediately visible people may be less inclined to scroll around looking for how to follow you and return on a regular basis.

      Liked by 5 people

    4. I like the font, especially for the title! You do have a lot of widgets, so perhaps cut down on a few (or make them smaller eg. show less recent posts). I do notice a few redundant ones, like at the bottom when you have Blog Stats and also a stats counter. Also, between Categories and the follow buttons your randomly have ‘Recent Posts: Effective Thoughts’ but there’s nothing there. Other than that, your blog seems very organized!
      Happy Blogging!

      Liked by 2 people

    5. It’s a nice clean theme, I think your like / share buttons etc. add a little too much noise at the bottom of each post, you could try to simple the formatting / presentation of that part. Depends on your taste of course.

      Liked by 2 people

    6. I guess I will be the odd man out here. The font is beautiful, but not very easy to read on a computer screen. It also doesn’t compliment some of your subject matter, such as the post about terrorism. I think your posts would look better using something more traditional.

      Liked by 2 people

  4. Hi, I’m Leisel from Skill Up Skillet. For those who don’t know, I make geek culture-inspired food to keep my quarter-life crisis at bay. If it’s a video game, movie, anime series, whatever… I’m determined to make it edible. And you can ditch the ‘pearls and heels’ mindset now: You will get killer recipes, but you will also get unapologetic sarcasm and swearing.
    Brits beware: I made (and ate, and licked the **** plate) my first ever batch of scones last week! They’re my Nightmare Before Christmas themed Sally’s Blueberry Scones. Tear up the recipe you’re using, this is the only scone recipe you need: http://skillupskillet.com/2015/10/22/nightmare-before-christmas-sallys-blueberry-scones/. I’m actually fairly serious, but if you check it out I’d really appreciate it.
    I have a tricky question for you this week… I’ve been able to keep views fairly consistent since a leap in June, but I find the blog to be sort of stagnating: only a handful of new readers, fighting for every view and comment… it’s frankly quite tiring at times. What do you do to prevent this from happening? How do you bring in new viewers and generate a period of growth? I’m interested in your thoughts.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. First…yum! Second, I really love the way you take your recipes step-by-step. Many recipe or food blogs just kind of assume that people will do certain things, Total novices need to know that things that aren’t yet automatic. You may want to participate in a meet and greet if you follow any blogs that host them. I also share my links on Twitter.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Thank you! I’m a very visual learner and it helps to see things as I go. Like I said in the scone recipe, I stared at the forks not understanding the written technique until I gave up and dove in with my hands. I have no regrets.

        I try to do as many meet and greets and linky parties as I can. Usually I don’t get very much out of it but it helps to a degree. Sometimes it will net a dedicated reader or three and that makes my day. Thanks for stopping by and subscribing!

        Liked by 2 people

    2. Hi Leisel 🙂 I love your blog and recipes. Truly amazing! I can not answer your question about consistent as I am no expert and really too new to blogging. What I do know is from a reader’s perspective…you have that special something! There are many cook blogs out there but you have captured a unique style. I am very much looking forward to reading your posts. You got my attention! What you are doing now just keep doing it.

      Liked by 2 people

    3. Some of those things you make look really clever, well done on that.

      As for views etc, I’d like to know that answer myself, I am thinking it maybe down to tags and keywords, sometimes I just think that “this is how it is” I wonder if anyone gets more than 5% views/comments in relation to number of followers.

      Liked by 1 person

    5. Geeeez what nightmare inducing scones (in a good way, if that’s even possible) I think you’ve achieved what you set out to do perfectly 🙂 As someone who has dabbled with bakeware and ovens in the recent past, I can tell how much effort and sheer talent goes into your masterpieces.

      Sorry I’m not going to be much help with the issue about page views but I do hope you figure it out. Personally I think your writing is enough to keep me coming back for more 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Hello lovely bloggers and pool-swimmers! I’m Laura from ismithwords.com and I am seeking out writers to contribute to my fortnightly event, The Literary Lion.

    If you are ever in need of some literary inspiration, or you just fancy ‘hanging’ with some fellow story-tellers, have a peek at this week’s prompt…

    http://ismithwords.com/2015/10/21/literary-lion-step-away/

    Looking forward to revelling in your literary prowess 😉

    Laura

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Woah, kinda risque blog title isn’t it? You’re a quite decent writer and I’d love to follow you if I could just figure out HOW with your confounded blog design. (Sorry, I hate the theme.) I wasn’t able to find an About page, and I’d strongly recommend having one.

      Edit: I was able to follow your blog but I had to do it in a very strange, convoluted way that most people wouldn’t take the time to do. Make yourself accessible! =P

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Haha, I’ll definitely work on cleaning up the design as soon as I can! 😀
        Thanks for the feedback! And I’m glad you enjoyed the writing.

        Like

    3. Hey there! I just followed you!
      In terms of the layout, I don’t think it’s the best one for you. The images come up really pixelated and cut off the important parts, so perhaps look into other image-heavy themes.
      Also consider adding an About page so people can learn more about you and your blog!
      Happy blogging! 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Hey!
        Thanks a lot for the feedback! I’ll surely try to get to work on the layout as soon as I can. Thanks for the follow! 😀

        Like

      1. Hey!
        I’m really glad that you enjoyed reading the review. And even more pleased that you want to run out and watch North by Northwest, which you most definitely should do!
        Also I’ll try to change this layout over the weekend, or as soon as I can, think I most definitely should get down to it now 😛
        and yea, the follow button is at the bottom right corner, or at least it should be there.

        Liked by 1 person

  8. Good morning everyone… Happy Monday. Come fly away with me and visit Ashford Castle in Cong Ireland or Poulnabrone dolmen in County Clare Ireland for my two most recent posts. I am always looking for good feedback and my writing or my photographs. I am always torn as to whether or not I should make my posts longer (more written content.) I often get feedback stating that a shorter post is what people are looking for. What say you? Happy travels.

    Ashford Castle – Cong Ireland

    Poulnabrone Dolmen – The Burren County Clare, Ireland

    Always looking to connect with other bloggers who have travel or photo blogs or who just have a general interest in travel. Follow, like, or comment and I will gladly and happily check out your blog.

    Liked by 4 people

    2. Eh. I think the whole post length thing is subjective. I personally like to keep mine around 1000-1200 words plus pictures and Read More tags. You do you. (And heck, I like your blog anyway. But you knew that.)

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks! How do you do your read more tags? #hashtags or just click here type things that lead readers to something related? Or both? I haven’t gotten in to the hashtags much yet. But, I have had good luck with the click here for more type links…

        Like

      3. OMG. Thanks for that link. I had no idea you could do that. I was actually talking about putting #tags in your tag feature or doing anything to help searches hit on my page. But, the tip you gave me is wonderful because I didn’t even know I needed it. Ha ha.

        Like

    5. You had me at travel and photography. A visit to your blog and I was delighted to find we even share a theme! 🙂 I know I don’t have dibs on the theme or anything but it still makes me ridiculously happy to find another Hemingway Rewritten blog 😀

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Hi,
      I loved your blog! Immediately, I get a very cute and homey vibe from your layout. Your posts about your son is very beautiful and heart warming. I think you’re doing great 🙂 Keep up the great work!

      Liked by 1 person

  10. Hello Community pool! This is my first time posting here. I recently did an interview with Lauren Reeder who created/writes/and stars in a web series called “Living With Models” I’d love feedback on the interview! I have done a lot of interviews on my blog and feel like I have improved a great deal but any new feedback is always welcome.

    My main issue is this interview was done through email. I tried to word the questions in a way that seemed like my point of view as well as the interviewee’s point of view was coming across. I don’t know that it flows as well as a one on one interview would but still feel like it turned out really well.

    I would like feedback in the comments section of the actual post. Thank you for any and all feedback!

    Link to interview:
    http://visualvictoria.com/lauren-reeder-living-with-models-isnt-all-she-does/

    Liked by 3 people

    3. Hi Emma,
      I love your blog! You’re very real in your posts and I sense a lot of personal emotions in your content. I think you’re doing great. I encourage you to continue to share and just be you 🙂 I wish you the best of luck!

      Liked by 1 person

    4. I liked the humour in your last post, not forced or overbearing, a funny read.

      Blog itself is easy to read, the font is clear and there is an about page, I’ve added you to my reader.

      Like

    1. I love the layout of your blog. I really like how quickly you are able to get your thoughts across in your writing.

      Like

    3. Its very nice to meet you! I read your about page and its wonderful and just the type of blog I like to find! 🙂 So glad I stumbled! You and I share a lot alike, I can’t wait to get reading on those 30 days!

      Like

      1. Megan will you be my friend? 🙂 I’ve only had a chance to read one or two of your posts but I feel like we could set down, have a cup of coffee and talk for hours ♡ Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Hell yes! (Too much?) Its not often, if ever, I find someone with SUCH a similar story to mine. I think we’ll have a good time chatting and reading! 🙂 ❤

        Like

    5. I loved your About page. I already know I want to read more. You’ve earned another follower 🙂

      P.S. I couldn’t find a place to comment on the About page on your blog so headed back here to drop you a line 🙂

      Like

    3. Lovely blog you have created. The Letter is unique, liked it very much.
      A tip: kindly add the More tag in you post after a paragraph or two, so that older posts can appear more quickly on the main page.

      Liked by 1 person

    4. Loved it. The story was captivating. As a fellow writer, I’m going to give you a follow 🙂 Keep up the great work! I also enjoyed reading your About page. You’re very honest and real with who you are to your viewers which is always an admirable thing. I wish you the best of luck!

      Liked by 2 people

  16. I found some good followers from last week so maybe worth trying again.

    Hi all. I am looking for a couple of things. 1: some general feedback on my site, (https://habitatforheavyhearts.wordpress.com/). I am happy with the layout so I am thinking more in terms of content, is it boring? Does it grab you? Are the posts too long, you know usual readability stuff.

    2: I am also looking for more blogs to follow, and when I say more blogs to follow I mean genuine personal blogs, not selling me something, not entrepreneurs, not authors promoting their new book, not 100% poetry (sorry poets I find it difficult to get into), just genuine, personal blogs

    Any feedback would be great, thanks.

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Hi there. I like the layout of your blog. I also like some of the strange and striking blog post titles. It makes me want to click on them to find out what the heck the post is about. I also like that you have a photography section because, well, I am a photog. I just gave you a follow. Looking forward to seeing what’s next.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi Bulldog, thanks for the follow. Most of the photos I find are ones I find on the web (although the Instagram ones are mine). And I tend to write something to that photo I find, a short story, feelings from it, just something to keep me writing.

        Thanks for your comments on the names too, a while back I used to call all posts “once more with feeling” with a number at the end and I felt it was a bit tedious so now most of those blog posts are called the title of the picture (wherever I found it from), from your comment it is working as intended.

        Thanks very much, ill give your blog a look over too.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Checked out your blog. It is definitely not boring, don’t worry. Though some posts seem lengthy, I don’t think that they are too long.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Hi, Yes I am worried sometimes on post length, as you say I don’t think that they are too long (mostly), those that are it is probably done to poor editing :).

        Liked by 1 person

    3. I enjoyed your blog enough to follow you, and I’m picky and more antisocial than I let on. Love your About page. Not so keen on the Stuff page, but I’m sure you have your reasons. I thought it was also really cool that your Instagram tab takes you directly to your account, that’s a really nice touch.

      Like

      1. Thanks Leisel, Ill re-read my stuff page (I’ve not visited that for a while), I liked the instagram touch too. and thanks for the kind comment son the about page.

        Liked by 1 person

  17. hey team

    For the most part this last week was spent blogging about the South African universities #FeesMustFall although this one with mainly pictures and cartoons would relate as much to Americaland and other places represented here – tell me what you think:

    Some Pictures to help you Walk through #FeesMustFall

    Hope you have a good week – will be checking out a bunch of blogs as per usual…

    love brett fish

    p.s. For those outside of the #FeesMustFall frame, check out this ohter post i did challenging people to seize the day out of every day of this week:

    5 Suggestions to help you Carpe each Diem out of this week.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Loved your About page. Such neat, refreshing wiritng 🙂

      My only comment would be that the font size is a bit small. Not unreadable by any means but after browsing other sites with way bigger fonts this can be a sudden and uncomfortable transition… Just a suggestion 🙂

      Like

      1. Thank you very much. I agree and am busy in the process of moving my blog to a website where hopefully it will be simpler and more straightforward and easy to read. Thanks for stopping by and the kind words.

        Liked by 1 person

  18. I am a psychology major who recently started a blog with advice and stories about life and love. Most of the information I have on there pertain to girls because I am one, but I would love to get some feedback and followers on it. Who knows maybe some of you could give me some advice or ideas of what to put in my blog. check it out https://allthingslifeandloveblog.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 3 people

    2. Great blog. I like the post about the importance of respect, and I also liked the advice for gutting soda out of your diet. For me, even cutting back has helped a great deal.

      Liked by 1 person

    3. One thing I would suggest is to consider using images in your posts. You don’t need them in all of them, but sometimes seeing a large paragraph of text can be a little off-putting (I’m guilty of doing this too). I would especially recommend it in posts like your one on fashion as it is the ideal time to include a photo of your outfit or of the items individually if you don’t want to be in the photo yourself. I followed you and look forward to reading your future posts!

      Liked by 1 person

    1. And I guess any feedback on whether this is a remotely interesting read to someone not connected to the cause would be appreciated. I want to periodically include these types of post without making them too boring to those who don’t necessarily share my loss experience.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. “What, and why, in the actual eff?” — I like you. I like you a lot.
        I read through it. All of it. It was very well written,
        Personally, it’s not a topic I’m interested in, but I’m not a fan of kids. Period. But I’m sure that it would interest anyone with an interest in kids.
        I kept reading your posts- several of them. I kept laughing. I gave up. I hit the Follow button. We’d make good neighbors with our sense of humor and selective filter.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Awww! Thanks so much for reading and for your feedback! So glad to have you as a follower. And that’s my goal – to keep it interesting to anyone – fans of kids or not! And, yes, I love random humor and selective filter 🙂

        Like

  20. Hi fellow bloggers! I’ve made changes to my posts – decided to add a feature image to some. Though what I don’t know if it suits the feel of the theme, I’m having doubts because I think it adds much color to a laid back feel. I’d really apprecite a few tips or so.

    Also, my latest post is about decisions and choices. I think this may serve as a good reminder to some. 🙂

    Here’s the link: https://riddlesandpens.wordpress.com/2015/10/26/cheetos-and-decisions/

    Liked by 4 people

    1. This is what I love about the blogosphere. I get so bored with the news. I want to read someone’s interesting and funny post about cheetos. Cheers to you for most random and entertaining post read this morning!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. That actually means a lot. Yes, I think the blogosphere offers a different world, a different reality than the one we live in and yet they coincide. 🙂 Glad you liked it. It’s past 12 midnight here though. Have a good day!

        Liked by 2 people

    2. As for the images, it depends on whether you vision is more important than views. You will do better with images in views, but I see your point about them not fitting the feel. As for Cheetos, poofs only, please.

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Found you blog the other day after you replied to my post. The posts I read I enjoyed for various reasons, not too long etc. I did find the font a little small but then my eyesight is on its way out.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I don’t know what’s with me, though I’ve noticed that the font is quite smaller than the normal size, I seemed to like it that way. But I’d change it if the text isn’t that readable.

        Like

      2. I would say stick with what you like. As I say my eyesight is getting bad so it may just well be me, or it maybe that it is a serif rather than sans-serif font,

        Liked by 2 people

    1. I love your blog. I am also a photographer. I wish I read German but the photos I understand! I like the look of your blog. The theme is well suited for photography. I gave you a follow. I look forward to your future photos.

      Like

  23. I did this a week or two ago and I found some really good feedback and some good followers so I thought I’d do it again. My blog is pretty new and it’s my first time blogging so I’d love any feedback that anyone might have about anything. My blog is mostly about my story of being a Navy girlfriend and advice and tips for other girls who are in the same position as me. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I’m a fan of poetry, maybe that’s why your blog appealed to me. I’ve followed it already and I’m looking forward to more poems. I hope you find more time to write 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    3. I enjoyed the read and I’m also looking forward to how the Fett movie would turn out. Have you considered that perhaps Boba thinks of himself as superior to all the other clones since he is an unaltered clone? That could be an interesting route as well.

      Like

    4. I just read your post and I think you’re correct with the fact that it’s going to be nice if Boba Fett could actually encounter one just like him. It would show a real light to his character.
      Anyway, because of your post, I’m about to rewatch the trilogy.

      Liked by 1 person

  26. Hey Guys! I enjoyed the feedback I received the last time I commented in the Community pool, so I figured I’d try again. So if you don’t mind, check out my blog and leave any opinions you have. I’d also love to follow more blogs and read more of yours! Don’t be shy and leave your blog link under this comment and I’ll be sure to check out yours too! Have a great day and thanks for the support! https://abbyyang2017.wordpress.com

    Liked by 4 people

    2. I love your enthusiasm. And I think it is great you are writing about your life in school. Keep up the good work. It is fun to see what you are thinking and feeling. There are probably a lot of us out there that remember what it was like to go through what you are going through from when we were there! (For me a long time ago!)

      Liked by 1 person

    3. Hi. You’re quite young and I love the fact that you’re starting young. For all I know, writing truly helps anyone especially the youth in their budding years. I hope you progress in life as you do in your writing 🙂 I can see that you have so much potential in you. Keep it up. Explore your gift and your talent. See the world in your own light. I really hope you find a good time here in WordPress. 🙂

      Like

    4. I love the font you use for your header and title! I also enjoyed reading your posts and the pictures you use. You’re doing great and I urge you to keep up the great work 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  29. Hello world! I recently started my blog and would love some feedback and advice. I added some sidebars but want to make sure that the simplistic look is maintained and not cluttered. I hope you also get a chance to read my latest post(s) and share any comments you have if you feel inspired to do so. Thank you for your help!

    http://livemementomori.com

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I do like the layout, and really liked the post about wearing your seatbelt. How hard is it? I don’t understand people who don’t.

      Like

      1. Thanks for the feedback. It’s so simple that I just don’t understand why someone wouldn’t. It sucks to be reminded the way I was, but I hope it’s something we can pass along. Stay safe.

        Liked by 1 person

  30. I just started my first blog… A place to unleash my inner thoughts, struggles and frustrations of every day life as a college aged, single mother, who just so happens to suffer with a panic disorder… I would love all feed back as to how to get my blog fully up and running so I can stop talking to myself and obtain some followers ! 🙂 Thanks!

    Liked by 5 people

    2. Well, if I could give you advice on your Monday routine, I would. but that is well out of my area of expertise. Your thoughts are clear and concise though, and I’m sure as you get more posts you will make a network of bloggers who can offer up tips and will read your own.

      Liked by 2 people

    4. Loved it. Your layout gives off a very elegant and simplistically clean vibe. I also enjoyed reading your contents. Stay strong. You’re doing great. I encourage you to continue to push forward despite everything that’s happened and the things you’re going through even now. Best of luck to you. Cheers!

      Liked by 2 people