RSS feeds and links to one's own hubs via tags

1. 80

   Trish_Mposted 12 years ago

   Hi
   
   I recently received a warning, which I did not understand, but which, it turned out, actually referred to links to my own hubs ~ unrelated ones. I eventually sorted it out.
   
   I wondered why RSS feeds to our latest / best / hottest hubs were supplied, if we couldn't use them.
   
   Then I was told that we should use our RSS feeds to link to our related hubs. To do this, we had to add a specific identifiable tag to each of the related hubs. I have done this with some of mine.
   
   I have just read in the forum that some people have been told about adding these 'nonsense tags'.
   
   So, what are we supposed to be doing?
   Using nonsense coded tags to link to related hubs?
   Not using these tags, and not using our own RSS feeds?
   
   If we are not to use our personal RSS feeds at all, then why provide them?
   
   Once again, I am confused

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   1. 78

      sofsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The latest RSS feed may not always be related links.
      You could use words such as Trishlovepoems or trishsonnets  which would link only those very appropriate hubs .
      You could use the RSS feeds for submitting feeds on feed submission sites or on your blogs. They would be more effective than having them placed internally.
      I have found that the scores on some of my hubs have improved after i have removed the feeds.
      I hope someone comes and adds more information to this.

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      1. 61

         Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         That is correct.
         
         RSS feeds were originally designed to be used off of HubPages. Using them in your own Hubs is OK if you use them properly.
         
         I would create, for example, an RSS feed for your Hubs tagged 'poetry' or whatever, and only use that feed in your poetry Hubs. That way, you'll know that the Hubs linked to in that feed are directly related to your Hub's topic: poetry.
         
         This is how you create a Hubber- and tag-specific RSS feed:
         http://learningcenter.hubpages.com/hubb … -rss-feed/

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2. 0

   Website Examinerposted 12 years ago

   That is an excellent answer, Sofs!

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3. 80

   Trish_Mposted 12 years ago

   So it is not true, then, that these 'nonsense tags' are not allowed?

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      Website Examinerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Nobody on this thread has recommended "nonsense tags" as far as I can tell. People have been suggesting using distinct tags that make sense.

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         Trish_Mposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         So 'trishsonnets' would be ok, but not, say, the code 'TMshsons', which could stand for 'Trish M's Shakespeare sonnets'??
         
         If that's it, then I have a lot more changes to make.

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            Website Examinerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Personally, I would prefer not to use tags that only made sense to me.

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         2. 70

            Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            Hey Trish, you seem to be making more out of this than needs to be.
            
            Your example of "TM" the shortened version of something larger would be flagged as irrelevant. Spell out the word.
            
            If you have a topic, use a main keyword of that topic to attach an RSS Feed to it. Don't use short-cuts in the keywords. The short-cut is most likely not related and not even the moderators would know the difference. Only you would know the difference and that is not acceptable.

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         3. 78

            sofsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            As long as you know what they stand for it should work, because you are concerned with the most appropriate links here... but I would think instead of having all the eight related links, using just two or three  most appropriate ones will be better for you internally.
            For which you may have to come up with specific tags each time ..Like trishsksprenaturesonnets or something that also specifies the subject of the sonnets.

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      Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'll have to investigate that. I doubt that ones used with challenges like 60dc will cause a problem.

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         Michael Willisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Making "Groups" properly titled would also be a correct to way to use the RSS feed would it not, Jason? Then you may use either the latest, hot or best?

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            Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I don't think so, if you're meaning "groups" like this feature:
            http://hubpages.com/my/hubs/groups
            
            Maybe I'm misunderstanding how you mean "groups".

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            1. 67

               Michael Willisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               OK, for example:
               I write a lot about NFL Football. I have 2 Groups. 1-NFL Football and 2-NFL Playoffs
               
               In NFL Playoff Hubs I would use the NFL Playoff Group RSS feed on the NFL Playoffs hubs to show either the latest, best or Hot.
               Same with the NFL Football RSS feed.
               --The content is related since all are about NFL Football.

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                  Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Those sound closely related enough to me to avoid any moderation for irrelevant links.

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                     Michael Willisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                     OK, thanks. I posted the last response while you were typing this one. lol

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            2. 67

               Michael Willisposted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Jason...here is one I have on a Hub. Let me kow if this would be ok or if it is not, I will have to change it. The RSS is at the bottom of the page.
               http://hubpages.com/hub/2010-2011-nfl-f … redictions

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                  Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

                  Michael - that RSS feed seems relevant so it's OK.

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4. 78

   sofsposted 12 years ago

   Thanks Jason and WE I am learning well then I guess

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5. 70

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   There is no reason for making "super" special tags for RSS Feeds. It's a waste of time and the keyword would be irrelevant.

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      sofsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      That is absolutely true...that is what I am finding out now.. for external site just some clear tags are enough.

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6. 80

   Trish_Mposted 12 years ago

   Hi
   
   It's not that I am trying to make something big out of this; it's that I read this advice, set it in motion and now need to know ~ for certain ~ whether I need to go into a number of my hubs and make changes to my tags.

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      Website Examinerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Trish, I think you have asked a very relevant question, and I've been interested to read. I'm just tagging along.

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   2. 78

      sofsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Trish ..you may realize from Cagsil's posting and my response.. that Rss feeds inside of hubpages is useless.  For use of feeds outside of Hubpages you just need fewer and general tags.. More keyword based tags  I hope this helps

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   3. 70

      Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I didn't say you were making something big out of it. I said you were making more out of it than there was to it.
      
      Relevant tags/keywords inside RSS Feeds should be tags, at least one of the major keywords of your other articles that you are planning on linking to.
      
      If you have an article about something specific, then a keyword or tag from that hub, should be used in an RSS Feed.
      
      The relation is not to be filled with ambiguity, but should be directly related. If someone has to guess, like a moderator, then it will be flagged or you will run into problems.
      
      I have several hubs on "character" education. The relevant keyword/tag would be "character+education" inside the RSS Feed.
      
      I'm just trying to help.

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         Trish_Mposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks
         I appreciate the advice.
         
         My only concern is that I have already added these tags, and I wanted to check whether I need to remove or change them, because I have rather a lot

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7. 61

   Jason Menayanposted 12 years ago

   Completely relevant question, so this is how I'd explain it.
   
   Tags are ways searchers can find your Hub; they are descriptors understood by people who don't know you, but who might want to read what you've written in your Hub:
   http://hubpages.com/faq/#tags
   
   Therefore, tags really should be ordinary types of words that make sense to everyone. Especially since you can narrow in an RSS feed to your Hubs alone, I would recommend only using tags that are normal words, like: 'poetry' or 'sonnets'.
   
   The exception for this are tags used by the HubChallengers or in some of the contests, because it's a way of aggregating Hubs for a different purpose. Our moderators try to keep abreast of most of the most common ones, but esoteric, "nonsense" tags that aren't widely used could be mistakenly moderated.
   
   On the other hand, groups can be named whatever you like, since the actual name of the group itself won't be seen by anyone but you.  EDIT: As Website Examiner mentions, you can choose to have the Group name display, if you like, in which case an intelligible group name might be preferable.

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      Website Examinerposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Manage Groups gives hubbers the option whether to display the group's name publicly or not.

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         Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         You are absolutely right. Let me amend that post.

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8. 96

   Peggy Wposted 12 years ago

   I just hope that they give those of us with many hubs time to make these changes.  I am going back in to my over 300+ hubs and deleting the RSS "latest hubs" link and adding ones better related...but this is obviously taking time to accomplish.  I think that ultimately it will make for a better hub...especially when similar topics can be mentioned.  In some cases I am linking all hubs from one state together...in other cases national parks, etc.  Lots of work to do!!!

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   1. 61

      Jason Menayanposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Peggy,
      
      Technically, unrelated RSS feeds are an "old" rule that we've just begun enforcing a bit more stringently post-Panda update. Therefore, there is technically no deadline for them, but any Hub you have with unrelated RSS feeds could be flagged and then moderated at any time.

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9. 87

   Simone Smithposted 12 years ago

   Hey! I've added more details on RSS feeds (as well as tags, summaries, and warnings) to the end of that Recent Changes thread: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/74274
   
   And Peggy W- I know that's a lot of work, but I do think your Hubs shall be all the better for it! Thanks for being so on top of things.

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10. 96

    Peggy Wposted 12 years ago

    Am working on them!  Anything we can do to improve our hubs is always welcomed.  Thanks for being patient.  Back to work now...huff and puff! 

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11. 80

    Trish_Mposted 12 years ago

    Thanks, everyone, for the information.
    
    Again, something that a respected Hubber advised, and which seemed like a great idea at the time, but which is turning out to be more trouble than it's worth.
    
    I think that I shall just get rid of the RSS feeds and stick to good old fashioned 'links'. They may take a while to type, but they seems like the best option.
    
    Now I have to go and remove all of those feeds and all of those tags.
    
    We really do need a clear set of rules.
    
    Thanks for the info

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