"Style Tips"

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   DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years ago

   I was editing my hub on boating terminology, and found this message at the top:
   
   "Uh-oh! It looks like you have a large number of Amazon or eBay products grouped together. We recommend placing one relevant product next to the text where the product is mentioned."
   
   This message is in error.  There are not a "large number" of Amazon products; only 3.  Also, they already are placed exactly next to the relevant capsule.
   
   If it is not possible for the auto-bot to detect these things, then perhaps it is rather a useless mechanism for offering "helpful tips."

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      wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The most likely cause is that all three are in the same capsule - you will see that message any time there is more than 2 products in a capsule.
      
      And if you're going to change it, suggest that you consider reducing it to one: that will be the new standard (not required) very soon if it isn't already.

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         DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Pfft!  Offer an affiliate program to help us earn more money, then limit what we can offer to accomplish that!  WTG, HP!

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            wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Thank Google, not HP.  They didn't put much, if any, limit on it until Google began playing games.  HP may or may not be right in what they think the latest version of Panda wants, but they are trying to match content to that.

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            1. 85

               DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Wow--I think "the Big G" needs to put the wild animals back in the wilds where they belong, and stop the "monkey business."

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                  wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Fully agree.  While their stated goal - higher quality - is admirable they don't seem to have a clue how to find that after 2 years of massive work and damage to millions of writers.
                  
                  They'd have far better off to direct their focus towards eliminating duplicate articles.  Which they have also said was a goal and which they also haven't made a dent in.

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                     tillsontitanposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Not to mention plagiarized articles that contain the real author's name!

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                     1. 95

                        wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        Or their copyright notice, including name.  No, Google makes very little effort to reduce duplication (meaning primarily theft).

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                        1. 93

                           Jean Bakulaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                           That "Style Tips" thing that comes up really bugs me too. I've begun taking products out of Amazon capsules, little by little, hoping that it's worth it for me to make the change. I was doing OK before the last huge drop in traffic, and was beginning to write here again. So I'm not at a point where I can stop, I usually write hubs in groups.
                           
                           I never made much money from Amazon anyway. The pictures on many of my hubs were the wrong size when I tried to Feature them in the 6 we are allowed to highlight, so I missed the boat for any Amazon money during the holiday season. I'm hoping things pick up in Fall. In a way it's not so bad to choose one Amazon item, it forces you to think of one relevant thing.

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                           1. 85

                              DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                              As for Amazon--I've never made a dime from them, anyway--at least, not enough to reach their payout threshhold.  I think I may have a whole $4. in there somewhere.  Not worth my time to bother picking products to "match" my articles.  I will probably just deleted ALL the Amazon capsules!

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                              1. 93

                                 Jean Bakulaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                                 I was considering deleting all the Amazon capsules too. I wonder if it is really worth it to think of one item per capsule. I actually make more money from Amazon on my blog. I think the people at Google are losing their minds, but I don't want to lose mine making a bunch of stupid changes. Or at least what little is left of it .

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   2. 73

      Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My understanding is now only 1 is allowed in a capsule. I wonder if they realize how much of our time they are wasting when they keep changing the rules.

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         DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Oh, boy, you hit the nail on the head, Barbara Kay!  All this fiddling around is a colossal waste of time that could be better spent on actual writing.

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   ehowitsdoneposted 10 years ago

   yup do that

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   1. 93

      Jean Bakulaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The "Tip" about Amazon Capsules didn't have to be in bright red on our pages. It's insulting enough to make these stupid changes which will in no way help Hubpages. I decided to comply, and was already deleting some products. It's time consuming and ridiculous. I have a review of Stephen King's Tower Series, 7 books he wrote. Now all I can display is the first four (they come in a package of one). This is a change which does hurt us, and I resent the huge red lettering, like I couldn't see the warning--Oh excuse me--"TIP" the first time. This site doesn't even deserve any writing.

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3. 32

   Writer Foxposted 10 years ago

   I can't imagine why the staff believes it is better to have three Amazon or eBay products in three different capsules rather than one.  Three products is three products.  One really bad thing about this is if a product is no longer available, text appears on the screen to that effect.  Visitors see this.  With three products to a module, the chances are slim that all three will cease being available.  So, not only to you have to change every Hub, but you're going to have to monitor your products every day!  Seriously, who has time for that?

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      wildernessposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Reading between the lines, I believe the thinking is that groups of ads are bad.  If we can't put multiple products in one capsule we'll probably just advertise one product.  Probably.
      
      Not good for me as I have several hubs with a selection of amazon products (4 or 5 maybe) next to similar or identical ones from ebay.  Give the reader a choice, I figure, as some are partial to amazon, some to ebay.  Plus the price usually varies as well for those that don't care which one they buy from.

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      1. 93

         Jean Bakulaposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I was trying to conform to this latest change. But as I began going through my hubs, many need at least 2 items. They come in different sizes. Or like Stephen King's Tower Series, I'd like to be able to offer the whole set of books I read and recommended to other readers. This site is going to hell in a bucket. My scores have never been this low, and my EC hubs are losing readers, not gaining. Why can't they just leave things alone?

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