Mar 20, 2017 / Community Pool

Community Pool

Where bloggers come for friendly 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 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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    5. Great photos and blog!
      I am heading to Disneyland Shanghai next month and can’t wait! I last went to Disneyland over 10 years ago in Anaheim and loved it! I wish there was Disneyland here in Australia haha!
      PS love the bracelet

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Just a word of warning, I heard the culture at Disneyland Shanghai is quite different, coupled with how the locals behave, hope it wont be too much of a cultural shock for you. Hope you have a great time !

        Like

      2. Hi Pauline. I have heard that too! I have heard there is so much pushing and line cutting and a general lack of curtesy. I’m not sure I’m prepared and hopefully I won’t lose my temper lol. Thank you 😊😊

        Like

    2. I love this post, and especially the title. I have never ventured into gardening but I have managed to kill most (if not all) of the plants I have ever owned. I have a cactus right now and I’m trying my hardest to keep it alive!!

      Liked by 3 people

    3. I love your writing style, and your gardening style sounds rather like mine (best summed up as: just throw it in the dirt – either it will grow or it won’t). Gardening with cats is always a joy: my last cat’s favourite spot to go to the bathroom was always exactly where I had just planted something…

      Liked by 6 people

    5. I’m so glad I’ve found your blog! I just read your About and I could have written it word for word (minus buying a house… kudos!). Can’t wait to read your stuff!

      Liked by 2 people

    7. So I have been gardened every year that I could since I came home from the Army and still I learned from your post. Loved the light hearted feeling of the post. The one thing that personally I would suggest that I look for in every post I read (for info purposes) I would suggest at least make each item bold in example the all the numbered items like “Plant Seeds”, “Label Seeds”. I find it reads a lot easier and for some people that are looking for a quick list. Thanks for sharing such a fun and informative post 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Oh yay! Thank you for sharing. The best thing about growing veggies is they’re pretty durable, so they can survive a lot of the beginner mistakes you might make. Tell you mom I say good luck!

        Liked by 2 people

  3. Greetings fellow bloggers! Simon from To Cut a Short Story Short here. Well, looks like I missed the boat last week with the pesky time change in the U.S.A.! But I managed to jump in the pool quickly enough this time with a link to my latest post, published earlier today, a fully clickable contents list of all the stories/articles on my blog!

    https://simonjwood.wordpress.com/2017/03/20/contents-20th-mar-2017/

    If you have any difficulties in using it please let me know.

    Some of my personal favourites are: 100 word – 2, 6, 7; 200 word – 4, 11, 12, 24, 35, 52. 56; 300-600 word – 3, 4, 6, 10, 14, 17, 23, 26; longer stories – 7, 9, 10; TASWG – 4, 8.

    I’d be grateful for feedback on any of my stories. Also, you might check out 300-600 word – 26, if you’re interested in the case of Madeleine McCann (‘The most famous missing child in the world’), it’s had almost 2000 views so far, the most of any of my posts.

    Liked by 7 people

    2. Well, you just offered us something we all needed:) So thank you for that! It makes a lot of sense, and I love your analogy. By the way, best of luck with college!

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Excellent advice about promoting… and the analogy was novel, to say the least. 🙂 But regardless of the practicality of your brother’s advice, don’t go into engineering if you’d rather be a theoretical physicist. You’re going to spend a lot of your life working, you might as well go for what you’ve got a genuine passion for. That’s my just two-penny-worth, you can take it or leave it of course. 🙂

      But returning to the original topic of your post about promotion: a shame I can’t be bothered (too much like hard work). Not to mention some of us just want to share what we love whether or not people need it! 🙂 In my case that involves good books, nice places and an unhealthy dose of Herodotus…

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Haha, good one 😉
        I see what you’re saying. The truth is, I don’t really care whether I’m an engineer, physicist, or mathematician. I’m just studying these fields because that’s where the jobs are. If I wanted to do something I was passionate about, I’d be an English major, or Humanities/Philosophy.
        But thank you for the advice, I can agree. 🙂
        You’re right! You should share and promote your thing whether people want it or not! The point is that first, make people want YOU, and then they’ll want what you’re promoting.

        Liked by 2 people

  5. Good afternoon fellow bloggers!

    I hope you are all well and had a good weekend.

    My name is Mark. I am a writer and author looking for as much support as I can get to join me on this literacy journey. I am currently working on my next novel, the first in a new crime series which I am very excited about.

    If you do have the time, please stop by and say hello. It would be great to hear from you!

    Take care,

    Mark

    http://www.markdraycott.com

    Liked by 10 people

    2. Hey Mark.. Thats a beautiful post.. I love the way u describe the power u have when you are telling a story.. Its so liberating to feel that u have control over the character’s life

      Liked by 2 people

    1. Good post. Very well thought out and rational, which seems to be a problem for some people from both sides lately. We don’t do discourse in general anymore, which is why I love to be here on WordPress because we do seem to have good conversations and interactions.

      Liked by 4 people

    2. That’s a really interesting topic, and it’s one that I’ve been thinking about for a while. I think that while it is necessary to write about Trump, sometimes people write about him too much, and media attention, good or bad, is what helps him. You wrote a great post!:)

      Liked by 4 people

    3. Well written! I think about Trump a lot and I feel like I´m constantly discussing something he has done.. and I live in Norway. It is just because it matters so much to the whole world all the weird things that he keeps doing, and you should write about things that are important. Keep it up!

      Liked by 2 people

    1. I just popped over at your site and oh my god. The pictures send a shiver down the spine but the writing is just as amazing. You just earned yourself a new follower. I’m obsessed.

      Liked by 2 people

  11. Hey Guys!! I’ve been enjoying reading and writing poetry recently. So I’ve been experimenting with it a lot. Go over to my blog and read some of my attempts and let me know what you think! Follow and give it a like if you find it interesting!!

    Me Again

    Liked by 8 people

    1. For me, your post was a good read. I’m not using WordPress as a social media tool; however, I see you and many others using it as a highly effective social media tool. That’s one thing I appreciat about WordPress. We can use it in a variety of ways. I can use it as a dual website/blogsite to share information on my topic of choice. Someone else can use it for a business website. Others can make it their dream social media site. 🙂 https://gracelead.co

      Liked by 3 people

    2. i liked this post. I use my blog to explore topics and to self help when things get tricky i don’t really consider it along side the rest of my social media maybe that is because i write anonymously?

      Liked by 3 people

  13. Hey fellow bloggers..
    I’m sure you have never read anything as dark as this blog!
    Well it’s not mine but a special friend of mine!
    Wanna know about her?

    The dark sky tag  – http://wp.me/p8aUsT-i

    Please do check out her posts!!
    I’m sure you would be amazed!
    You’ll never regret it!😁
    Happy blogging!!😊😄

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Hello Lost Astronomer! I stumbled across your blog and it blew me away. A males perspective on such a challenge is insightful for both sides. Thank you for sharing you and your wife’s journey. I’m sending good and healthy vibes your way. I will make sure to keep following ! Great idea and posts!

      Liked by 2 people

  15. Castlerigg is a six thousand year old stone circle set in a stunning amphitheatre of high fells. Wainwright described the Pike O’ Stickle as a “steep ladder to heaven” and declared, “no mountain profile in Lakeland arrests and excites the attention more than that of the Langdale Pikes”. The two are linked by an ancient Stone Age axe industry. In this post, I visit Castlerigg at sunrise and climb the Pike O’ Stickle via Stickle Tarn and the magnificent cliff of Pavey Ark. I’d love to know what you think.

    http://www.lakelandwalkingtales.co.uk/langdale_pikes_and_castlerigg/

    Liked by 9 people

      1. Thank you. I really enjoyed your story, the Beach and the song. I’ve left a longer comment on the page. Great imagination and skilful storytelling. Wonderful stuff.

        Liked by 2 people

      1. Thank you for reading. I checked out your blog and you seen really cool. Looking forward to more of your posts ☺️

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment. 😊😊😊 I saw your blog and it seems like a really interesting concept. Looking forward to more.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. I really like the layout of your blog! It’s clean and organized, and the different colored elements look great! I also find your posts really unique and interesting:)

      Liked by 1 person

  21. I would love feedback on my latest post (and other posts)! Trying to establish a theme for my blog. It’s all based on an upcoming jaw surgery that will have my mouth closed for quite a while. I’m a talker, a social butterfly! And now I will be forced to shut up and start listening. What an adventure! I’m beginning this journey as “The Girl Who Listens” and even before the surgery, I’m already noticing so much in the world around me as I focus on this listening. Thanks for the read and any criticism!

    https://whileshelistens.wordpress.com/2017/03/15/the-inevitable-crash/

    Liked by 11 people

    5. I thought this was lovely…. a neat way to think …because how many people really pay attention, especially in a thoughtful way when we see people falling off their bikes. I had to stop chuckling in my head while I was reading about these people falling too, so I’m glad you were able to check in on at least one of them.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks for the feedback! I was chuckling when I wrote it. Sad but true! Thankfully they both were fine. I appreciate your insight!

        Liked by 2 people

  26. Hey all!

    My friends and I started this blog about 9 months ago, and we’ve had a ton of fun doing it and have gotten a few followers, but we’re having some trouble breaking into the “next level” in terms of readers. It can be a little demoralizing seeing blogs that have existed for half the time ours has with 10x the number of followers.

    Anyway, here’s our most recent post. We’d love any feedback or constructive criticism you all might have! Thanks!

    https://finestbagelsblog.com/2017/03/19/baltimore-city-school-funding-following-the-money/

    -John

    Liked by 6 people

    1. Perhaps I’m missing something, but couldn’t see any ‘Subscribe’ button in your blog. You will hardly get any followers if you don’t allow them to follow you in the first place. Good luck!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Thanks for the tip! I will definitely say that I can tell we aren’t getting as much out of WordPress’ capabilities as we could be, I’ll add this to my list of things to figure out.

        -John

        Liked by 1 person

    2. That post was really well-researched! All of your articles are well-written and informative. As for gaining followers and readers, maybe you want to interact more with other bloggers that blog about news/politics like yours, or promote your blog (especially your most recent post) through social media. Promoting it within your community might also be helpful. Good luck!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. Thanks! To be perfectly honest, we were a bit reclusive until about a month ago. I genuinely didn’t even know the community pool was a thing until then, but being part of the community is far more enjoyable, haha

        -John

        Liked by 2 people

    3. What is the ‘next level’ you want to reach? And from what level? I had a look at your blog but you don’t put your follower count there. 🙂

      Although it’s good to have a goal to work towards, I think it’s very easy to get suckered into the statistics and lose the will to carry on. Seen it happen to loads of people! So I wouldn’t focus too much on the number of followers… In any case, as the others pointed out, you need to make it easier for people to follow you. Personally, I can’t be bothered with promoting my blog but I did at least put a sign up form there for people who randomly bump into it!

      Liked by 2 people

      1. So that’s a pretty good question, and I can’t say we have a very well defined goal. I got a few recommendations to make better use of the WordPress tools, so I added some widgets to our blogs to make it a bit easier to follow, ect. Thanks for the input! Appreciated 🙂

        -John

        Liked by 2 people

  27. Hey everyone,
    With my exams going on, I had thoughts about some of my unforgettable memories, in high school.
    I thought I could easily share it with you guys, would be of immense pleasure.
    here’s the link :

    The Backbenchers

    Feedbacks and suggestions will be highly appreciated, I hope you enjoy reading it!
    Have a nice day! xD

    Liked by 8 people

    2. You are very creative!
      If I could suggest anything, personalize your theme more. You’ve had the blog for ages, but you’re using a default look. It’s just a suggestion.
      Your posts are perfect.

      Liked by 2 people

      1. You are so kind – thanks for popping over and having a look and commenting! I really do appreciate it. I haven’t actually considered the theme at all, to be honest! It just seemed to fit with what I was doing, and I really liked it – but you are right that I should freshen it up with something more personal! It simply didn’t occur to me, haha! Cool, thanks for that – I shall play around with it in the morning. 😀

        Liked by 1 person

      1. Thank you! Yes the street artists have just started around town and there are a couple of other pieces that I’m going to post at some point. The bird was interesting to see take form over the month it took to paint.

        Liked by 2 people

    1. I don’t think that it was too preachy at all! What you wrote about is important to hear. I think that it was a great post, and a lot of people would relate to it. Thank you for sharing!:)

      Like