Why isn't this Hub featured?

1. 88

   SimeyCposted 11 years ago

   This exclusive title became unfeatured recently. I changed the headings to more searchable headings and it went into pending - then to my shock it went back into unfeatured.
   
   What exactly is wrong with this article? Is it so  bad that it cannot pass the Mturk test.
   
   http://simeyc.hubpages.com/hub/What-is- … ware-Suite
   
   It's getting so frustrating that I spend time wondering what the &*&^ is wrong with my unfeatured hubs rather than working on new hubs - there needs to be far more feedback is we are going to fix our 'bad' hubs like this one!!!! I also point out that I have had a visit from yahoo and bing this week.....
   
   The only thing I can think of is that it is missing a few question marks - I will add them now but still don't expect it to become featured any time soon...

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   1. 91

      Millionaire Tipsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's not you SimeyC.
      
      I think the main problem with the hub is the topic.  Most people by now know what office software is, and won't need to look it up. It's been around for many years.   I'm also not thrilled with the title - I don't think I would use "software" between office and suite to look up this question.  I have found that many exclusive titles are outdated and won't do very well.
      
      To improve your hub, I would add brand names of different suites and maybe provide a comparison. Help people figure out which one to get - the Apple version, Microsoft  and maybe the free ones that are online.
      
      You can also consider adding a short history of office suites to help the younger readers (by adding names and dates)

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      1. 88

         SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         MT: I totally agree that it can be improved as you suggested. However it is still far better than the top sites on Google when searching for 'What is Office Software Suite?' and "Office Software Suite" - the latter actually 'supposedly' has decent traffic too.
         
         I'll add some comparisons and notes about other suites - thanks for the feedback! Now if only there was a little blurb on the hub stating that as the reason it is unfeatured....

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      2. 59

         missoliveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Great suggestions by Millionaire Tips. I like the idea of describing the different types like Microsoft's and Apple's office software. Perhaps continue that expansion and have a section on 'productivity apps' for iPads? I've used the Google keyword tool for finding new sub-titles. As you know, the sub-titles are searchable and this may give the hub the edge. Some of my sub-titles do better in the search engines than the main one. Ok by me, as long as they find it.
         
         I have an exclusive that has been un-featured. I'll be editing soon and hopefully get it featured again. Housekeeping, not my favorite activity, best of luck.

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         1. 88

            SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I think I'm just getting frustrated with the whole process and venting - I appreciate all the tips - and yesterday actually said that this hub could be improved.
            
            I just would like to see more feedback on why something gets unfeatured - this one had to have gone to Mturk or some other reviewer to be assessed after I made some changes yesterday....oh humbug!!!!

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            1. 59

               missoliveposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Totally understandable, I have to admit I would freak if I edited a hub and it didn't get featured. I like the idea of some sort of blurb on the reviewer's part. Give us something to nibble on....anything...right?
               Gotta run, time for my day job.

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   2. 86

      agvulpesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      G'day SimeyC !  I am no expert but I see that you are in the 'a' program and I thought that in that program you were assigned a 'mentor' to help you with all of this?
      Having said that here is my idea on your problem!
      I can't see anything in the text side of things to get you unfeatured!
      Having looked at some of your other hubs you have an image placed first!
      Also on this hub you have an Amazon block first and no adsense showing up for me!
      I work on the theory if it ain't broke!  don't break it so you can fix it! So stick to a tried and tested format ?
      And yes I also agree that we should be given a clue to why we are unfeatured, I have a few myself
      I hope that this helps in some small way:)

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2. 72

   AMFredenburgposted 11 years ago

   I'm new here, but my understanding is that in order for a Hub to be featured it needs a photo at the beginning of the article.

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   1. 88

      SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No - not quite true - HP do advice that a hub should have a picture first - but I have many hubs where it's not right for that hub - and the hub is still featured.

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3. 88

   Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

   Hey SimeyC- it looks to me that, as luck had it, your human and automated raters looked upon this Hub somewhat harshly- unfairly so, in my opinion. I'm bringing it up with the team later this morning to see what went wrong and what we can do to address this.
   
   Of course, keep in mind that, even with our special tools to track and correct for human raters' harshness, and even with all of our automated checkes, and even with our higher threshold for pushing Featured Hubs out of a Featured state for quality reasons, there will be inaccurate moves like this one. There's no way that we can be 100% accurate with ratings as complicated as these.
   
   That said, we can always do better, and we shall strive to do so!

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   1. 88

      SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Simone - thanks! I did agree that it can be improved - and I have added a comparison chart and changed some of the titles - I think my biggest frustration is not understanding why something became unfeatured - I have no problem with hubs being made unfeatured -  I just want more feedback!!!

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   2. 74

      WriteAngledposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      So how many other unfair (your word!) ratings have caused hubs to be censored from the search engines?
      
      Does this mean everyone with an idled hub has to throw a tantrum in several forum threads to get justice?

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      1. 88

         SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Duly noted - no more tantrums.

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         1. 59

            paradigmsearchposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            .
            @SimeyC
            
            In my opinion...
            
            You did not do a tantrum.
            
            You did a rant.
            
            Rants are good!

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               Sarra Garrettposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Amen, I saw no tantrum, I saw a rant of frustration.  This can be a very frustrating place.

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            WriteAngledposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            SimeyC, you are at perfect liberty to throw tantrums if you wish.
            
            The point I am making is whether we are going to have to see the forums flooded with detailed complaints and references to specific hubs by thousands of other hubbers, who have been treated equally unfairly, when they see you are being given redress and they are not.
            
            This is not your problem of course, but the problem of those responsible for an idiotic and, as has just been confirmed by a staff member, UNFAIR system that is stopping many people from investing further time and effort on this site.

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4. 69

   Daniel5posted 11 years ago

   SimeyC, that is just one of the many reasons why I have stopped writing hubs here. Why give hubpages a percentage of adsense money when I can create my own blog and it's all 100%? That's why I don't understand why people that make a living or part time income on here continue to write here. The money to make while blogging is much more in my opinion.
   
   I stopped writing for hubpages about a year ago and my blogs are doing very well.
   
   (P.S) I haven't seen a single hubpages article in any of my searches in 2012, they are not ranking well)
   
   Daniel

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   1. 69

      Daniel5posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      There isn't any money to make here, just a couple elite authors taking the cash for themselves.
      
      If it sounds like I am mad, well I kinda am. I wasted plenty of hours writing here for it to amount to mainly nothing. And that was when hubpages was still ranking good in Google.
      
      And think about it. What better way to build up a reputation by writing for your own blog? If you put on your resume that you write on hubpages, and they see that their are thousands trying to achieve that false dream, it isn't going to matter to them.
      
      But by creating your blog, you gather much more experience, sure it might be a harder way but you get so much more out of it than just writing in plain text on hub pages all the time.

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      1. 88

         SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Daniel,
         
         My biggest problem is that I simply don't have the time to create articles and then do all the necessary SEO and marketing to promote them properly - while I know that a blog or website would be far more lucrative for me if I could spend a lot more time on it, with the limited time I have Hubpages is good enough for me.
         
         However, I think it is the next logical step for most hubbers - I;ve learned a lot (and still am learning) on Hubpages and once I get more time I will branch out and work on a dedicated website....

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5. 88

   Simone Smithposted 11 years ago

   Hey again SimeyC- just as an update, I've submitted the Hub for further review by our Gold Panel, which sets the standards for ratings, but keep in mind that if you ever think a Hub has lost its Featured status (for quality reasons- i.e. right after being edited) unfairly, the fastest recourse is to edit it, as that re-submits the Hub for more reviews via the QAP.

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   1. 88

      SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Simone - that's what started the rant - I amended some of the headings (and left three question marks out) - the hub went into idle status and then became unfeatured again.

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6. 89

   jellygatorposted 11 years ago

   There were a couple things that were... ahem... off-putting for me. "What is Office Software Suite" sounds stilted and doesn't ring a bell with me. I think of "Microsoft Office" or "an" office software suite, but as it's worded doesn't register with my brain at all.
   
   The other thing is that your subtopics were so elementary and dated that I imagine you're competing with MANY other, older pages that would have a ton of advantage for having been established so many years before HP was a twinkle in anyone's mind. I really can't imagine an adult who doesn't know what those things are to at least some degree. You might do better with tweaking your subtitles to something along the lines of "What a Database Can Do for You" or "How to Evaluate Database Software" and adjust your text accordingly.

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   1. 88

      SimeyCposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Suprisingly "What is office software suite" or "office software suite' have a lot of searches according to Adwords. I agree that perhaps I could change the sub-headings - however - maybe what would be better is to leave the sub-headings as-is and then add an extra sub-sub-heading as you indicated - with an answer - at the bottom of the section.
      
      I didn't really want to go fully blown into this though - as the page would really be way too long - hence the simplicity of the sections - perhaps an even better idea is to take each of the sub-headings - and have a link to a new hub - so for example I'd have a new hub title "What a Database Can Do for You".....

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7. 95

   leahleflerposted 11 years ago

   SimeyC, I am having the same problem with a few of my hubs. They are well written with original photographs, etc., but have become unfeatured for no particular reason.
   
   One is about Activities on the American Side of Niagara Falls - it is a decent hub and was written when I was in the Apprenticeship Program.
   
   It is beyond frustrating.

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8. 81

   Mark Ewbieposted 11 years ago

   I have deleted over half my pages in the last few months - well over 100.  Some of them were awful, some less so.  Those that I couldn't bring up to the standard - I got rid.
   
   Standard means searchable content I guess.  It doesn't mean anything else - in my opinion.  I mean - adding a poll or a table of contents to what is supposed to be a bit of wit... well you fill in the answer.
   
   Anyway.  My latest to get the idle was written just before Xmas.  This Xmas just passed.  It's a Xmas page.  Obviously it isn't going to do anything now until next Xmas.  What to do?
   
   I am not against tweaking and improving content but there is a sensible limit.  OK, my Xmas page isn't wanted.  Given that I put some effort into it I think I'll move it to a blog.  You never know.  Someone might like it one day.
   
   On balance I support the idle. It has helped me refocus on pages that might have a chance - rather than just a mass of variable content.  It's tough though.
   
   edit:  My idle page has 964 words, 12 unique hand drawn pictures and a comment from Paul E!  The mystery of the curse of idle.

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   1. 0

      Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      New avatar!  Yay!

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      1. 81

         Mark Ewbieposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Hey!
         
         I am trying to make a serious point.

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            Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, shit.  Sorry.
            
            Well said, good man.

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               Mark Ewbieposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Now I have to do that "only joking" thing.

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                  Motown2Chitownposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Don't do that.  If you weren't joking, that is.  Your original point was intelligent and well stated. 
                  
                  I know you were only joking in response to me.  If someone else doesn't, that's on them.

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9. 57

   lenboogie03posted 11 years ago

   wow

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