Two Quick Questions From A HubPage Newbie

1. 69

   Kent Merrittposted 14 years ago

   Greetings, all!
   I just opened my account a few days ago and have a few hubs up and running.  I was going to write a review of a website I recently discovered, but before I started, I did a search on the name of the website and discovered that one other person had already written an article on it here on HubPages.
   
   I understand that HubPages only wants original content, so does that mean I can't write an article reviewing that same site?  Like I said, I'm new to the place, and don't want to break any rules or ruffle anyone's feathers.
   
   My other question: how do I post a widget from eBay on this site?  I have an Amazon affiliate account already, and they make it very easy to create those cool little Amazon ads to copy and paste, but for the life of me, I cannot find anywhere on eBay where to create those widgets to place in my hubs.
   
   Any help is greatly appreciated.

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   1. 68

      lrohnerposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. You absolutely can write original content even though someone else has written a hub on it. Just hope that you're keyword research is better than theirs!
      
      In your hub, you use an eBay capsule just like you would an Amazon capsule for Amazon.

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   2. 84

      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Kent, when HubPages says "original content" they mean not copied from anywhere else.  It doesn't mean the subject matter!  So yes, you can certainly write another review of the same website.
      
      As for eBay widgets - you can't use eBay or Amazon widgets on this site.  If you look at the capsule list, you'll find there are capsules for Amazon and eBay - that's what you have to use.
      
      Tip:  split your text up over several capsules so you can spread your eBay and Amazon capsules between them and floated to the right opposite relevant paragraphs.

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2. 69

   Kent Merrittposted 14 years ago

   Hey, thanks for the speedy reply!
   
   My problem is, I don't know how to find and create those eBay capsules! Does eBay have an affiliate program to join?  I have an account with eBay, and I clicked on everything I could click on, but couldn't find anyplace that taught how to create those capsules!

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   1. 84

      Marisa Wrightposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I'm wondering how you've managed to create a Hub if you don't know where the capsule menu is!  It's in the same place as your text capsules, news capsules, photo capsules etc on the right hand side when you're writing your Hub.
      
      Darkside has an excellent Hub on how to use Capsules.

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3. 72

   livewithrichardposted 14 years ago

   Hey Kent, like Irohner says you can write whatever you want as long as it's yours. You will find that many people here write on the same topics...just do a search for how to make money with hubpages...lol
   
   Second, unless you are already a member of the Ebay Partner Network EPN, I wouldn't even worry about placing ebay capsule here.  That is, unless you are an ebay seller and you want to write and promote your own items.  You should know though if you go that route, you will always need to keep things stocked on ebay or your ebay capsule here will be empty and worthless.

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4. 69

   Kent Merrittposted 14 years ago

   Okay, that's probably the thing I'm looking for, Ebay Partner Network!  Thanks, livewithrichard!  I do offer some 'email templates' on eBay that I was going to promote here on HubPages, so I would be in control of whether they stay in stock or not.
   
   Much appreciation to everyone who replied! This is a great community of writers, I love it!!

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5. 69

   Kent Merrittposted 14 years ago

   Actually, yes I do know where the capsules are. 
   As far as the Amazon and eBay 'capsules', I didn't realize it at the time, but HubPages pretty much does all the work for us by supplying those capsules, which is a fantastic thing!
   
   My experience with the Amazon 'capsules' (or widgets, as I know them) is by actually creating them on the Amazon site, then copy and pasting the HTML code into my other websites.  I was assuming that HubPages worked the same way.  I have since discovered that all we have to do is click on these 'capsules', enter the URL for the items we want to promote, and voila, HubPages generates those cool little modules for us.
   
   Like I said, I'm learning.

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6. 84

   Marisa Wrightposted 14 years ago

   Well done Kent, you're learning!  Like I said, make sure you split your text up over several capsules - it makes it easier to change the layout later as you learn more, and enables HP to optimize the Adsense advertising.  Plus it enables you to place your Amazon and eBay capsules in more places.

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