Written on August 9, 2010 at 11:35 am by

Have You Been Reviewed?

Filed under Blog Maintenance {18 comments}
4430859000 8d39fb37b4 m Have You Been Reviewed?
Image by koocbor via Flickr

In the forum of the Tribal Blogs community there is a board where members can ask to have their blog reviewed. It is a great way to get constructive criticism on your blog. I haven’t yet offered up my blog Redhead Ranting for review but I will soon. I know there are many things wrong with the design of my blog and I mean to redo it but it seems like such an overwhelming chore that I put it on the back burner.

Several Tribal Blogs members have courageously offered up their blog for review and results have been stunning. Not only does the end result look fantastic but the process was painless. Any criticism given was supportive and with suggestions for improvement rather than simply stating some aspect of the blog was disliked.

Like revamping your blogroll from time to time, asking for the opinions of others is a great way to keep your blog fresh and up to date.

You can go to other places to have your blog professionally reviewed and I suppose they might include a lot of back end suggestions, but those reviews are expensive and usually geared only toward monetization. Having your peers review your blog gives fresh insight into what your readers are looking for and would like to see.

I don’t usually see the forest for the trees so I am looking forward to having some suggestions from others who can see my blog with unbiased eyes.

If you have had your blog reviewed, what did you think of the process?

Have You Been Reviewed?
pixel Have You Been Reviewed?
Jennifer Brown tagged this post with: , , Read 155 articles by
  • http://www.tarheelramblings.com Tarheel Rambler

    Are you double dipping for pats on the back, Jenn? :0) I was one of the “early adopters” and asked for suggestion. Jenn and Cardio Girl offered some suggestions that really improved the look and feel of my blog. For one thing, there is some organization in the sidebars which were a jumbled mess.

    There were also a couple of things that I didn’t realize until they were pointed out to me. Such as having the menu bar above my header graphic, which, in effect, hid it from view.

    I left a message in the forum about how much I appreciated the suggestions. And I sincerely mean it. It’s nice to get help from peers and know that there are no ulterior motives. It reinforces my opinion that the blogging community is made up of a lot a friends I haven’t met yet.

    • Jennifer Brown

      Of course not, you just started a good thing and I wanted everyone to know about it.

  • http://www.weworkforcheese.com nicky@wwfc

    Mike and I recently celebrated our first year anniversary and started talking about maybe making some changes – after all, we’ve changed since we started! Mike has been working hard at some of the backend stuff you mentioned, I believe he even wrote a couple of posts here about the process, but I decided to ask for some opinions on the front end stuff. I got feedback really quickly and it was fantastic! Nothing judgemental, all really positive and meant to help us make improvements. All in all, an experience everyone should go through!

    • Jennifer Brown

      It’s important to keep a fresh eye and sometimes that’s impossible to do when you look at it every day. Calling in others to be critical can be very helpful.

  • http://www.junkdrawerblog.com Kathy

    I’m too afraid to ask for suggestions because I think I already know what needs fixing. I consider it like asking “Do these pants make me look fat?” I don’t want to know the answer to that.

    • http://www.tarheelramblings.com Tarheel Rambler

      Not sure, Kathy, stand up.

      • http://www.junkdrawerblog.com Kathy

        Stop it.

        Hey, one thing I’m going to try and do is increase the font size and maybe even the type of font used in my comments. I’ve always thought the font was too small. i want the font to match what I use to publish posts.

        Baby steps, you know….

        • http://www.cardiogirl.net cardiogirl

          Amen, Kathy. Amen I say to you. I have been giving feedback and yet I am afraid to submit my blog. How lame is that?

          Think skin, large pants over here. But I might have to do it after all. (Takes a deep breath then runs away from the pool.)

          Should we hold hands and jump in together?

          • http://www.cardiogirl.net cardiogirl

            That was supposed to say THIN skin, large pants…

          • http://www.junkdrawerblog.com Kathy

            No! I ain’t jumpin’ in that pool, holding hands or not. I prefer to sit on the sidelines and watch all the other people play.

            I shouldn’t be so worried. Everyone’s got really good constructive criticism and bloggers are taking it well. But when has anyone known me to take anything well?

          • http://feeds2.feedburner.com/cardiogirl/jkaK cardiogirl

            I did it! I did it! And it wasn’t terrifying at all.

            It was like going to the dentist and squeezing my eyes shut while fearing the three foot needle sinking into my gums.

            Finally I opened my eyes and asked when are you going to do it? And the kind dentist said, “It’s done!”

    • Jennifer Brown

      I need to know but haven’t done it yet. Actually, I do know, it needs work, lots of work. I’m throwing my hat in the ring.

    • http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com CatLadyLarew

      I’m also a wuss when it comes to asking for suggestions. Would you be gentle with me, Tribal Bloggers, if I asked for help?

  • http://lisa-griffiths.com/blog Lisa

    Yeah, I’m with Kathy on this one too. I’ve got so much to learn yet about blogging and monetizing that I don’t want to get critiqued as yet. Got Jen’s book though and hope that will fill in some holes. And yes the ones in the head too!

    • Jennifer Brown

      If you figure out how to fill in the holes in the head would you please let me know?

  • http://freakyfrugalite.com Rebecca

    Just wanted to pop in and say hi. I like the new look. I really love Tribal Blogs, and I get your newsletter. You have some fantastic posts and ideas here!!! I feel left out, because this kitchen renovation has consumed me entirely. And now that we’ve discovered a bat in the house (which means he will soon invite all his friends and relatives), we’ve upped the ante. :(

    I really do hope to get my life back someday, and participate here again.

  • http://thinkspin.blogspot.com Lauren

    I’d like to be reviewed. I really hate my 2 column template but am too afraid to change the template and lose all the html fixes. I think I recently found my groove in going strictly satirical but would love the feedback. Before getting my groove, I felt like I was all over the place.

  • http://twitter.com/moooooog35 moooooog35

    I’ve had mine done twice by iwillfuckingtearyouapart.com (real link). As expected, they are mean and cruel and BRUTALLY honest. That said, I can’t argue their points and the changes I made DID improve my site.

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