Janice a fellow blogger and a very good friend of mine is constantly asking questions, the kind that get you to really look at yourself in the hopes of finding weaknesses and to identify areas of improvement. (Share in her journey while you’re at it)
I wanted to turn that process on its head as it were and ask you some questions so that I may improve both myself and my blogging with particular regard to WelshScribe.
Please feel free to be completely and ruthlessly honest. I’m an adult I can take it. Seriously, have at it. If for some reason you want to keep the feedback private you can use my contact form – I don’t rant at everyone that uses it 
General Blogging Questions
How do you normally read my posts; directly at the site or in a feed reader?
When you do visit the site what do you think of the design, the layout and the navigation?
What do you think of the name Welshscribe, what message does it convey to you?
What do you get from me? From my blog?
What’s your all time favourite post? Why?
Are the posts themselves too long, too short or just right?
What would you like to see covered?
What don’t you like about this blog?
Do you have any other suggestions on how I can improve this blog?
Topic Specific
Are you a freelance writer? What are you currently struggling with? Is there anything in particular you’d like to see covered?
Same applies to blogging and bloggers. What are your current blogging woes? Do you have any questions you’d like answered?
Thank you to everyone for your continued support. I’m now off to find my asbestos underpants – nah just kidding 
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How do you normally read my posts; directly at the site or in a feed reader? Usually in my Reader, until I come here make a comment.
When you do visit the site what do you think of the design, the layout and the navigation? I think the header could be prettier. As for the rest it is pretty standard and functional. To be fair, though, I usually pop in for a specific post for commenting purposes.
What do you think of the name Welshscribe, what message does it convey to you? You’re welsh and you write?
What do you get from me? From my blog? You posted that amazing poem one time and I put you in my reader immediately! I don’t really have any expectations; just here for the “you” – ness.
What’s your all time favourite post? Why? That poem! It sang to my heart.
Are the posts themselves too long, too short or just right? I haven’t really noticed, so probably just right.
What would you like to see covered? No preference since awesome begets awesome!
What don’t you like about this blog? Your header. (Don’t be sad!)
Do you have any other suggestions on how I can improve this blog? Header?
Hayden Tompkins’s last blog post..Candy So Awful It Puts Hair on Your Chest
Thanks Hayden. Yeah that header is very non-awesome isn’t it. It’s going to have to go.
I don’t want to echo Hayden entirely, so I’ll add that my favorite post is your meme answers. I thought they were fun and I enjoyed getting to know you a bit better. Everything else I agree with, along with one more addition. Besides the improvement to the header, I think a testimonials page from people you’ve worked with before would be awesome. I’m acutely aware of this as I know I need to do one for myself.
Sean’s last blog post..The Journalist’s Secret to Adding a Creative “Spin” to Any Product or Service
Thanks Sean. I know this is the kind of service you are offering with Dave over on the Inkwell so I really appreciate you taking the time to drop by and offer your words of wisdom for free
I could have sworn I had a testimonials page on here. I’ll have to for a rummage.
You are an inspiration – BOLD questions to ask us and really, really good ones!! (Sean – cringe at the exclamation marks all you like
; I’d be holding Marc’s face between my hands at this point and planting a smacking great kiss on the top of his head if I lived closer!
How do you normally read my posts; directly at the site or in a feed reader? Directly. I read all blogs directly; if people have gone to all that trouble to create beautiful blogs that express them, it’s the least I can do.
When you do visit the site what do you think of the design, the layout and the navigation? You’ve recently done something that annoys me in general. Half the sidebars on the right now disappear, even when it’s on full screen and I have to scroll left and right to see them. That never used to happen, and it doesn’t happen with anyone else’s Thesis site. Have you widened your main content section or something? The navigation is fine. Ah, the header, you know what I think of it; it was the first thing I ever contacted you about! Get this site prettified and make it scream MARC! but at the very least, change the font colour of the header so that folk can read it.
(Dave W, if you’re reading this, get a pound of Welsh leek flavoured flesh from Marc but please help him out. Your wit and skills would really help him express himself.)
What do you think of the name Welshscribe, what message does it convey to you? I love it! It says Welsh, a writer, a guy with Celtic roots and old fashioned values, someone who makes a living from writing. I told you; get a header with a cute, witty Welsh dragon holding a quill!
What do you get from me? From my blog? I get you-ness, wit, intelligence, courage, support, spirituality, a soppy heart and a genuine desire to connect and create a community in the boxes.
What’s your all time favourite post? Why? Can I cheat and have three please? Rhydian Roberts: so personal and passionate; I learned a lot about you and I liked how you turned something personal into both a resource for folk to check out (I loved listening while reading) and a universal truth that you weren’t pushy or preachy about. The meme reply: personal, funny, loyal, revealing, community building and generous – which you always are in your links. The poem: you know why, you soppy forwarder you
Are the posts themselves too long, too short or just right? I’d say mix them up. Just make sure they’re all the right length for what you’re hoping to achieve with them. It’ll highlight a range of you writing skills, too.
What would you like to see covered? Selfishly? More about Wales, the real you (how did you bag that gorgeous fiancée?!) and some seriously meaty but free e-courses on blogging for beginners. Now that the Blueprint is no more, we newbies still need a human contactable help source.
What don’t you like about this blog? The header and when you seem to keep the real you safely hidden sometimes.
Hope this helps – don’t hate me. And thanks for the link. Guest post soon, please!
janice’s last blog post..Sharing the Seattle Journey
Thanks Janice. I have indeed increased the column widths I shall go forth and remedy my mistake.
Oh and you can guest post anytime you want
1. I visit when I come across your comment on another blog, or my RSS reader shows you’ve updated.
2. Everyone’s already mentioned the header. I’d say make it clickable please. Also add some color to the website. But that could just be me. I love color
3. WelshScribe tells me that you’re from Wales and it reminds me of all the historical novels I’ve read
My favourite post will have to be the ‘5 words guaranteed to leed to freelancing success’.
Your posts are fine. They’re scannable and they’ve got excellent hooks that keep the reader interested. I gotta learn that still!
As for topic specific questions, I’d love to see you do some posts on the business aspects of freelancing instead of the writing.
Hope this helps you Marc
Samar’s last blog post..Productivity Hack: PrintWhatYouLike
Thanks Samar those answers are indeed a great help
Kudos to you for having the strength to put this out there. It can be so hard to ask for criticism and to take it in a positive spirit.
1. Email RSS, then come over if I want to comment. I receive feeds from around 20 blogs, both business and private, so there’s no way I can visit them all each day to see if they’ve been updated.
2. I think you may need to invest in a professionally designed graphic, to be honest. I agree with Samar on the need for some colour. Your tag line could probably be a bit punchier too. The nav is great, easy to get around and everything is clear.
On your sidebar where you have some products for sale it says “You need these” and my mind automatically says “Do not!” I think that could be better worded, maybe ‘I recommend’, or ‘Tools to grow your business’, something not as in your face.
3. I really like Welshscribe, because it describes you exactly. You’re welsh and you’re a writer. Also, you need to buy the .com and redirect it to here.
4. Your personality (cheeky bugger!) shines through. I really enjoy your writing, your tips and articles on the how to of writing. Also, your insight into people, such as the Rhydian Robers post.
5. The one’s you guest posted on my blog!
6. I like longer posts, 400 words +, because I feel that short posts don’t cover a topic in enough detail. Having said that, sometimes a topic lends itself to a short post, or it could just be a ‘have a look at this’ post. I’ve never read one of your posts and thought “that should have been longer/shorter”
7. More on SEO and blog building. You’ve got those listed in your services so write about them.
8. I’d like to see a more regular posting schedule. Maybe twice a week regularly, possibly a few guest posts if you’re feeling overwhelmed. I understand your difficulties in this though Marc, so take it with a grain of salt.
I really enjoy reading your blog, it’s one of the one’s I always read through rather than skim.
Melinda’s last blog post..Routines – Not as Scary as You Think
Thanks Mel. I appreciate the comments especially as you are one very busy bee this week.
I agree with Mel – you are a cheeky bugger! You know I meant please may I have a guest post from you for my blog. I’d be happy to do one over here any time you like.
Have you changed the width? It seems different but it’s still about four letters too wide for me to be able to read your recent posts titles without scrolling, but it’s better. (And do they have to be ‘killer’ posts? You’re a sweetheart Aikido black belt; why such violent imagery?)
So when can we expect to see more colour and a new header, then? How about “Helping you breathe fire into your writing” as a tagline, seeing as folk love the blog name and I keep seeing dragons?
janice’s last blog post..How to be Successful by FLIRTing More
I am in discussions with a very talented guy regarding my logo and I’m going to try out some colours offline or I will do when I get my blasted web server working again.
What do you think, red, white and green like the flag?
If you’re going to go Welsh, you may as well go the whole way and see how it works out! feel free to run any drafts by me. (Any chance of the odd daffodil, or am I chancing my luck ?
)
I was trying not to mention this, but I hope your readers don’t think I deliberately make them look for what’s wrong…I swear I don’t! How about this: “Janice, a fellow blogger and a very good friend of mine, is constantly asking questions, the kind that get you to really look at yourself ….”
janice’s last blog post..How to be Successful by FLIRTing More
There you go assuming the worst again. Stop trying to please all of the people all of the time
What’s so wrong with looking for what’s wrong anyway?
How do you normally read my posts; directly at the site or in a feed reader? I’m guilty of reading in my reader first, then popping over to make a comment. I have too many blogs in my feed to comment on each one, but if I feel the need to comment, I have no hesitation.
When you do visit the site what do you think of the design, the layout and the navigation? Thesis is a great theme and you’ve set it up well.
What do you think of the name Welshscribe, what message does it convey to you? When I first saw the name, I thought you were a Welsh writer.
What do you get from me? From my blog? Every blog I visit, I learn something new, and need to learn is large and varied. From you I learn writing, graciousness, and smiles.
What’s your all time favourite post? Why? I never have favorites because when I read, I can’t remember a post from one day to the next. I read each one as an individual.
Are the posts themselves too long, too short or just right? I must confess, I do tend to skim, so as long as there are headings, the length doesn’t matter. Only when I read fiction, which isn’t often, do I read from the top down. If I find something of interest in the middle, I’ll go back and start all over.
What would you like to see covered? I always like to see covered what the author wants to cover. Oh, I’m a reader, but the passion of a blog comes from the writer. I would never want to step on the writer’s toes and tell them what to write. For me, passion comes from what you love, and how can someone else tell you what your passion is.
What don’t you like about this blog? I have to agree with several of the other comments, your header.
Do you have any other suggestions on how I can improve this blog? I haven’t visited here enough to answer this question. However, I’m going to try to change that.
You’ve made a great home for yourself here, so keep doin’ what you’re doin’.
.-= LisaNewton´s last blog ..Los Angeles Historic Walks =-.
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