I would like to tweek my hubs, but not sure what to do.

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   Bible Studiesposted 13 years ago

   I have been playing with some different layouts as to where I have been putting the photos, amazon ads, and etc. I don't have a lot of traffic. I'm starting to learn about marketing, keywords, and SEO.
   
   Even so, I don't have a way to judge how people are perceiving the hubs as far as eye appeal.
   
   You don't have to read the hubs, but just scan them and see how things are placed. What layout you think is best, and let me know what I can do differently to spice them up.
   
   4 hubs to consider:
   1)Breaking Free Paying off Credit Card Debts
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Breaking-Free-F … -Card-Debt
   
   2)Budget Planner How to Create a Basic Personal Budget that shows a simple break down where you are spending your money
   http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-Create-a … h-examples
   
   3)Hair Remover Sally Hansen spray on shower off removal foam review
   http://hubpages.com/hub/Hair-Remover-Sa … oam-review
   
   4)God Jesus verses religion over coming power control of religions
   http://hubpages.com/hub/God-Jesus-verse … -religions
   
   I appreciate all comments.

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2. 70

   To Start Againposted 13 years ago

   I checked out the first two on your list and I didn't read them, I scanned them like you said. All I can see that might be harming you is that there is a lot of text. You did alright with adding in Amazon capsules and pictures here and there and also using headings to break it up a little but there was still a lot of text in the credit card debt hub. They both seem to have a lot of info that is helpful to readers but sometimes a lot of text can turn a reader off. For the debt one, I would suggest either editing some of the hub by getting rid of any un needed words or, better eyt, separating it into two hubs. I think that might be really good for that hub. For the budget one, I would just try to add a few more/different pictures, maybe add some color. Otherwise I think you are doing great!

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   lrohnerposted 13 years ago

   Hub 1) Like TSA said, there's waaaaay too much text without something to break it up. It's very intimidating to readers.
   
   Hubs 2, 3 and 4) Never, ever put any capsule next to your first text capsule. You should allow for the large AdSense ad there, as it's one of the most valuable pieces of advertising real estate on the page. And way too much unbroken text.
   
   I didn't read them, but other than that, they all look just fine.

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      wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      "Never, ever put any capsule next to your first text capsule."
      
      This is something I've learned.  Or so I thought.  I just finished my 100th hub and am going back to look at tweaking everything I've done to date.  It didn't take me long to find a hub with an Amazon capsule in that position.  That capsule has sold 4, $100+ items for me.  At 6%+ that's somewhere around $25 and probably makes it the single most valuable chunk of real estate on any hub I have.
      
      I'm having second thoughts about moving it.  Is it worth maybe losing a sale or two to get a few possible clicks?
      
      Thoughts?

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         Edweirdoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Placing an Amazon capsule in that spot on a product hub is a trick that I picked up from Nelle Hoxie, though I'm not sure if she recommended it or if I just noticed that she does so and then copied her
         
         This technique should be especially if you are targeting items whose Amazon commission would be higher than the potential CPC of an Adsense ad...

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            To Start Againposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            so for a techie illiterate, how do you know if the Amazon commision is going to be more? Is it based on price? I always thought it was a set comission for everything. And would it just be on hubs that are designed to sell one specific product?

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               Edweirdoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Amazon has 2 commission structures, one fixed and another that increases based on the number of units sold. I don't have the details at hand, but you can find them on your Amazon affiliate homepage. The progressive commission structure is the "Performance" one, and it starts at 4% and increases based on number of sales...
               
               And yes, it would best be used in hubs that are targeted at Amazon sales rather than Adsense revenue.

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                  WryLiltposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Sorry Edweirdo, I'm going to have to say that I TOTALLY disagree on this. As one top hubber said:
                  
                  "Placing an Adsense advert at the top gets the browsers to click and then the buyers will go down the page."
                  
                  Since many Adsense adverts are aimed specifically at items, I find that Sales hubs get a much higher CTR than Informational hubs. In fact my best Adsense earners are Sales hubs.
                  
                  I've tried having Amazon boxes immediately top right and then taking them off and I haven't seen a major difference in Amazon sales - except my Adsense obviously drops for that hub.

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                     Edweirdoposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Fair enough, WryLilt!
                     
                     When I've use this trick on my hubs, I made my first capsule large enough that Adsense still appears top right, with the Amazon capsule just above it.
                     
                     And as I said, I learned this from Nelle, who certainly knows what she's doing
                     
                     It could also be true that different types of products are more/less suited to this approach. If I'm targeting high-dollar items, even a 4% Amazon commission can be more valuable than the a click in some cases.
                     
                     We all hub in our own ways, so there is no right or wrong way to do anything - if it works, then do it! I didn't mean to imply that hubbers should ALWAYS place an Amazon capsule first, but rather that it is a potentially viable tactic...

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                        wildernessposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        The two of you have convinced me to leave that Amazon capsule there.  In the case I mention it would take a $6 click to equal the amazon commission and that is unlikely.  I like Edweirdo's thought, though, to make the first capsule large enough to contain the both of them.

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                        WryLiltposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        I like the idea of a compromise with having both Adsense & Amazon top right!

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                  To Start Againposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Oh yeah, I actually did know that. Thank you very much ed for the explanation. I remember some of that now. Its one of those things you don't really pay any attention to when you sign up. I guess I'll have to try it and see what happens

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   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   I looked at just your very first hub on that list and 'breaking free from credit card debt' is not mentioned in your first sentence or two. You have used other words that say the same, but not those exact words. Go back and change it to say those words, then with you having them in your url and title too, you are better optimized for the search engines.

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5. 68

   lrohnerposted 13 years ago

   @wilderness and @edweirdo -- You both are so right. I usually see folks put link capsules or pictures there, so I guess I just didn't think my response through.
   
   What I meant was that the spot to the right of the first text capsule is one of the best advertising spots on the page. That means it's a good placement for AdSense, Amazon or eBay. Thanks for righting a big misstep on my part.

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   rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

   very true, especially if you look at some of the top hubs in the Hubs category- everyone does it how they think it will work best for that particular hub.
   
   I try to think like someone searching, if they're looking for information or a product, if all they see are ads, they may click off the page.

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7. 63

   Bible Studiesposted 13 years ago

   Please keep the comments coming. Everyone has given me some things to think about.
   
   I was originally thinking of putting the credit card debt into a part 1 and part 2, but didn't know how well that would go. Would people want to click to part 2 even if it is informative?
   
   By the way for me to edit to get rid of unnecessary words, I'll guarantee that I would add at least as twice as many. Yes, I usually have more of a problem reducing than increasing.

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      Bible Studiesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I'm breaking up my reply.
      
      I agree that the top right section is the prime real estate. Rebekah did have a point that if all they see is ads, they might click off. The picture at the top is more eye appealing. Then again isn't the point, besides having a good informative hub, is that they click off so we can get money?
      
      Another thing I notice, is that when I'm interested in a hub, I read all the way through it. I would be more likely to click the ad at the bottom after reading and voting. Because we don't have control over where adsense is placed, it stays at the top, and after the next text capsule placed. I never really think to go back and click the ads at the top.
      
      At the same time, we need a break up of the text, which can only be accomplished with adding text capsule.

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         To Start Againposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Readers will click on part two if part one was good enough to get them to do so. I have noticed that "part two's" are harder to draw traffic to as many readers will want a break before diving into part two. That's not to say they won't get there eventually but put links to part two throughout your hub and at the bottom. Those hubs will contain a lot of info to digest but I think it is an important topic that readers are looking for so they are pretty likely to want to continue on to the next part if they felt the first was helpful to them. So make sure you have helpful info in both parts. And if readers are going directly into part two from part one, don't expect many comments on pt one.
         If you are interested in cutting out some text but worried you might end up adding more instead (I hear ya!) then don't do the cutting yourself. Ask someone you trust to help you out. You don't have to use all their suggestions but it could help to have a third party look through it.
         Also breaking up of text can be done many ways, with pictures, videos (which might also be a great idea for your hubs), amazon, polls (which might be good to), news etc. Using the background color option on those capsules is a good idea too.

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8. 74

   Davorunnerposted 13 years ago

   For one it's 'tweaking', and before anyone points out that I seem to be pointing out a simple typo, let me tell you the real truth.
   
   You will be able to write good hubs when you know what you are doing, when you have a good grasp of the English language, and know how to write in a way that will appeal to a lot of people.
   
   Those are two very important things in any kind of writing, not just on this site.

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      Bible Studiesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That is perfectly all right to point out. I already know I have a problem in that area. Most of the time it is getting letters reversed, or seeing the spelling of the word the correct way when it is actually wrong. That is why I use spell checkers heavily most of the time. I know they are not 100% accurate.
      
      Embarrassing is when I called the wrong number three times. I didn't see the correct sequence of numbers until after the gentleman on the other line told me his number. Then I saw which numbers I switched, and was able to call the right number.
      
      That is why I'll never be able to get a job as an editor. I always loved to write. The only place I feel like I can write is online. I hope people are a little more forgiving when they run into the occasional misspelling, than they would be when reading their favorite magazine. They usually have 2, 3 or more editors go over the article before it is ready to be published.
      
      I always loved how you can change the words ever so slightly watching them slip into a new variation of the original sentence, and still keep the meaning. It is the difference between putting on cotton socks, and sliding into silk stockings.

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         Davorunnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Ah, I did not know that. Still it's important for fluidity and to maintain coherence.
         
         It's good to have someone to go over your stuff, or a tip that I've learnt is to read your document out loud, sometimes your ears will pick up what your eyes don't. Also read the document backwards, and by that I men read each word normally, but start from the end of your peice. That helps picks up mistakes you'd otherwise miss.
         
         You'll probably find that more often than not, changing a word slightly will have a big impact on the rest of what you're saying. After all EVIL and LOVE are only one letter different, and are completely different in meaning
         
         Cheers, and hope I've said something of use to you

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            To Start Againposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            you never know when you are pointing out someone's mess ups why they messed it up until you've gone and brought it up. Yes, typo's can disrupt a person when they are reading and several of them can turn readers away but the forums are a little different. Not that good spelling and proper grammar aren't always an important skill to implement but it's a little more lenient here.

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   Davorunnerposted 13 years ago

   Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Don't get me wrong I wasn't in any way trying to be mean, just adding my 2 cents to a question you were asking. Sometimes one letter difference can change the whole meaning of the sentence.
   I remember when a friend of mine was describing a war and he accidentally wrote "the pheasant corps" instead of the "peasants' corpse" Well a chicken army is very different to a dead civilian

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      Bible Studiesposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      LOL, it sounds like a stupid mistake I might make. I try my best to watch out for things like that. Thanks for the chuckle.

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10. 63

    Bible Studiesposted 13 years ago

    Ok, I went ahead and broke up Breaking Free Paying off Credit Card Debts into 2 parts.
    
    I edited the title to say:
    Breaking Free Paying off Credit Card Debts Part 1
    Breaking Free Paying off Credit Card Debt Part 2
    
    To start again: Thank you for your input. I believe you are right that if the reader is interested, they will click to part 2. Not to expect much of any comments in part 1. I have a comment in part 1 because I separated my article after wards.
    
    I did put a link at the bottom of part 1 to part 2 with a poll asking if they will read part 2. I put a link in part 2 to part 1 at the top big, bold, and beautiful.
    
    Besides people saying the hub itself was too long and could be intimidating, there were a couple of other factors I considered.
    
    One, I will have more adsense ads with two hubs than I do with one hub. Double the exposure so to speak.
    
    Two, I wonder how part 2 is going to compare with part 1 as far as hub ranking. Part 1 is in the high 70's low 80's. Part 2 is considered new, so will be ranked 50. It will be interesting to see if part 2 catches up to part one, surpasses, or stays under part one.
    
    Only time will tell.

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