Jul 18, 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 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!
  • 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.
  • 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.

Show Comments

1,174 Comments

Comments are closed.

Close Comments

Comments

  1. Hey fellow WordPressers,

    I’ve taken to putting much more dedication to my writing and this wonderful platform offered here. Trying to make the most of the tools available. My blog doesn’t conform to one or two specific tag/category check boxes. Perhaps that’ll work out to be a detriment or a success. Nonetheless, I kindly ask for this wonderfully capable community to take a gander at my site. Let me know what works and what doesn’t (#IMO). I’m always open to notes as there’s always room for improvement.

    Thanks so much!

    https://angelamontijo.wordpress.com/2016/07/13/a-piece-of-advice-to-angela-from-angela/

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Good content. I think a lot of people can relate to this. My suggestion: use less tags. It turns out WordPress blocks your post from Reader if it has more than 15 tags/categories, so your post may receive more views with fewer tags/categories.

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

    3. Riveting stuff. It looks like you’ve addressed some of the mistakes, I guess just easy on the number of tags (I’m moving towards the same issue myself) and random people will still find you on their Reader somehow (if they know they can filter it to include anything tagged ‘childhood’, for example). Some of the tags may be redundant, come to look at it (‘Family’, “Family Violence’.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Predictably Opposite was fun to read. You do have some things on your site to address. There are places with place holder text. You might want to remove them or fill them with content. Your header graphic looks chopped off at the bottom. There appears to be a second line of text that is not completely visible. https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Yea, I went back on my blog and tried to figure out what you were talking about. I hope I fixed it. For some reason that “First Blog” post remains at the top. Haven’t quite figured out how to push it to the bottom yet

        Liked by 1 person

  5. Hi Everyone! I am starting my third week in the blogging community and just published my 5th post last night! I also worked had time over the weekend to really sit down and work on the look of my blog. Please take a look and let me know what you think. Any advice and suggestions are more than welcome! Thanks in advance! http://www.beautyonabudget123.wordpress.com

    Liked by 4 people

  6. Hi everyone, here is my latest post in response to today’s prompt word Emotionally frail no man’s land
    I don’t mean to sound all dramatic but i feel like I am incredibly emotionally frail at the moment. There were times last week when I was sure I was …
    real life,life story,Happiness,understanding,life,blogging,Mondayblogs,relationships,Blogger,blog,Inspiration-2,Love,fear,lifestory
    https://escapingperfectionblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/18/emotionally-frail-no-mans-land/

    I would love to know what you think. If you also write a real life blog let me know – I’d like to check it out!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Nice content, good post length. 🙂 I read Untold Saga. With such a short post, I don’t think you need any images, but if you want to add more color to your posts, you can always add an image.

      Would you be willing to check out one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  8. Hello lovely people! This is my favorite interaction with you all. I would really love if you go through my blogs and comment if you like.

    School nightmare!

    This is something tragic which happened with a very young girl.

    Indian and western fusion

    This is another of my recent posts!

    I’ll be the very happy girl to go and check out your blogs too!😁😁

    Love,

    Shonessa❤

    Liked by 3 people

    1. I like the picture that you used with this post. Seems appropriate for coffee shop readers (like me, although I read more research articles than fiction in my favorite duck-out place).

      Anyway, the blurb’s fine and kind of an interesting take since there’s a lot of WPers that would much rather review and recommend what they’ve read. So out of curiosity, why blurb?

      Like

    1. Just commented. Nice post! Good length, good content. My suggestion: add an image or two! You can use Flickr or another image site and use the search filter “creative commons.” These images are free to use as long as you credit the user who posted them.

      Would you be willing to take a look at one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

  14. Hey there folks — I write a blog about self-improvement. Quotes I’ve been looking at, new ways to view sadness, apps for sleeping better; whenever I learn something cool and read something interesting, I share the knowledge.

    My blog just posted a piece on sadness I’d love for someone to check out. And if you check it out and write me a comment, I’d love to see a few posts on your blog too 🙂 I never know where to start on finding new people to read so it’d be a win-win for everyone.

    Have a great day!

    Liked by 5 people

    2. Nice post. Good content — easy to relate to it — and good post length. Maybe add an image? Though in a post this short, I don’t think it’s necessary 🙂

      Would you be willing to take a look at one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

    3. I just read the post and left a comment. I agree with Natalie that a photo would add some colour and depth to the post. It’s really well written though with though and personality which I think is wonderful.

      Liked by 4 people

  15. FREE CHOCOLATE

    Ok, now that I have your attention, I would love it if you guys would give me feedback on a project I’m working on currently. It’s a short story, but divided up into individual posts, scattered throughout my blog. Here is the first post:

    the light has come

    And here is the second: adreamerslandscape.wordpress.com/2016/07/17/a-still-night/

    I need feedback and tips, so please don’t hesitate to read these! And be sure and follow the instructions!

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Great content! 🙂 My suggestion: add some images. Your post is long, which is fine, but it might look a little intimidating to readers. A few images will break up the text and add some color — both good 🙂

      Would you be willing to take a look at one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 3 people

      1. thank you for your feedback and comment 🙂 yes I normally add images but have been a bit tight for time recently so haven’t been making my own content but I will do that! of course 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

    2. The biggest tip I can give you, (which at least kinda worked for me), is to make yourself seen, just like you’re doing now:) Commenting, liking and showing other bloggers some love makes a huge difference!
      We’re a community so we might as well support each other:)

      Liked by 2 people

    1. So sad! I think your letter is beautiful, and I look forward to seeing more from you. The only change I would potentially make is to add a photo of Dad to the post, if you felt it was appropriate. It might make the loss of him stronger for the readers, who don’t have all the memories and images of him that you do. But I wouldn’t change a word of your letter!

      Would you be willing to take a look at one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

    2. I took a quick peek at your blog, and it takes a while to scroll through. I suggest when you are writing your posts, you can insert the “Read More” tag. Just go to your toggle bar and hover your mouse over the options and you’ll find “Insert Read More Tag” Click it, and you’ll see dotted lines under your post. Keep writing the rest of your post under the line, and there will be less scrolling on your blog! Hoped that helped!

      Liked by 3 people

      2. I first heard of it when an Editor to the Pool replied to a comment I put on someone’s post about the large number of tags. He told me the limit is 15 Tags+Categories. Then I looked on wordpress.com under Support and searched for Tags. It said, “… we limit the number of tags and categories that can be used on a public tag listing. Five to 15 tags (or categories, or a combination of the two) is a good number to add to each of your posts. The more categories you use, the less likely it is that your post will be selected for inclusion in the topic listings.” https://gracelead.co

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I like your blog and your poems. But I suggest turning on likes and comments on your About page because people might want to learn more about you and want to like that page, or want to nominate you for a blogging award, and want to comment there. Overall, love your blog. Could you check out mine? http://josmith1845.wordpress.com

      Liked by 2 people

      2. So go to your site, then go to your About page. You’ll probably see in the bottom right corner, and “Edit” button. Click it, then you are now able to edit your About page. See the left side of the screen, and click the drop-down arrow that says “More Options”. Now scroll all the way down and you’ll see “Allow comments and pingbacks” and “Allow likes” and check both of those and you’ll be set!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi, I tried to comment on your actual blog, but couldn’t find the comment field. I took your survey on the tiny house post. Your blog is so beautiful! I love your use of colors. I voted “No” that I would not live in a tiny home, but I love the Lego home you created.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for checking out my blog! And about the comments, I just logged out of my WordPress account and checked my blog if someone can comment, and it seems you can comment. This happened to me before with another blogger, and the problem eventually past. I could double-check or it could just be a bug. Please let me know if you can comment on my blog..Thanks for letting me know!

        Liked by 2 people

    3. Loved the tiny house post 🙂 One suggestion: your header is a little tough for me to read. Might be my monitor, but if you could outline “The Inquisitive Writer” it might show up more clearly!

      Would you be willing to take a look at one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks for checking out my blog! And the thing is, when I was changing my theme, it comes with different “palettes” you have to follow. But I wanted my blog to be colorful, instead of having dark green and black combinations. So, if I change the title “Inquisitive Writer” to black, the other mini titles will be turned black ,too. White was really the most visible and looked the best with the theme. But thank for the suggestion though! Of course I’ll check out your blog.

        Liked by 1 person

  25. I’m looking to expand my circle to include reading more health/fitness/weight loss blogs. IF YOU WRITE one, please respond to my comment 🙂 I am a proud obesity survivor and am looking for added inspiration on my own journey and to have discussions with other individuals going though theirs. I am 31 and have lost 142 lbs naturally.

    Liked by 2 people

    3. Nice blog. Good content, good post length, nice color scheme. My suggestion: looks like you don’t capitalize letters that should be. I recommend changing that! It looks more professional with proper grammar 🙂

      Would you be willing to take a look at one of my posts? Click my name and choose whichever one appeals to you most 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  28. Hey guys! I started slow in April and need help expanding! I’m already averaging a VERY good chunk of visitors daily but it’s coming from people coming in to see an open letter I had written and I really doubt they stick around to read my other content.
    I had recently written 2 articles about finding a fake blog here and uncovering it, here’s the link to part 1:
    https://bluevibesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/15/exposed-exposing-a-fake-blogger/
    Here’s part 2:
    https://bluevibesblog.wordpress.com/2016/07/16/exposed-exposing-a-fake-blogger-continued/
    And here’s an open letter I had written addressing some of the people here in Community Pools and why they’re sometimes flukes:
    https://bluevibesblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/27/open-letter-to-wordpress-community/
    Thanks, I appreciate every piece of feedback.

    Like