Rejected... for niche site

1. 91

   Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years ago

   Over half of my 47 hubs have already been moved, and every hub I've submitted (until now) has been accepted. With the new policy allowing us to submit one hub every two weeks, it's not SO bad. Still, I'd like to see if there's something I can do about this hub.
   
   http://hubpages.com/technology/The-Powe … s-Went-Out
   
   This is what the email had to say about it:
   
   Thank you for submitting your article, What Happens in a Long-Term Power Outage?, for consideration on Soapboxie. Unfortunately, your article was not selected. Since you already confirmed that your article is free from content and structural issues, it is possible that it was not selected due to the nature of its topic. Perhaps your article:
   
   is about a current event and written in a way that won't be relevant to readers in the future. Perhaps you can expand on your topic and offer historical analysis or additional insight beyond covering the facts of the story.
   
   is about a very general topic that is already extensively covered on Soapboxie or elsewhere online. Perhaps you can add a new spin on the topic to make it your own. If your article is a popular (e.g., chocolate chip cookies) recipe, adding gorgeous, original, step-by-step photos is a great way to make it stand out from the rest.
   
   is unlikely to satisfy readers for some other reason. Your article might be deeply valuable to you, your friends, or your family, but not be written in a way that is useful or accessible to a wider audience. Or perhaps your article could be useful to readers, but it doesn't convey your experience or involvement with the topic.
   
   is about a YMYL (your money, your life) topic. Articles on these topics need About the Author biographies to showcase expertise. If your article already had a bio, then it probably doesn't sufficiently demonstrate the level of expertise we are looking for.
   
   I didn't really find any of them helpful, except maybe the last one. Before I submitted it, I was more worried that my article was too personal (like a blog post) Perhaps I should eliminate most of the more personal parts and beef up the factual parts, but then they speculate that it might not convey my personal experience.
   
   What do you guys think?

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2. 59

   Mills Pposted 7 years ago

   I liked the piece, but as the old saying goes - You can't win them all. I don't pretend to be the best writer here, but their decisions sometimes baffle me. I've gotten heads up notices for pieces with so-called spammy elements - even after I removed all of the photos. Whenever HP gives me a niche spot, I will take it. I am not going to take the lead. I do hope other articles will find their niche for you.

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   1. 91

      Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Mills P - Since I have had quite a few moved, I feel like I have a pretty good idea what they are looking for. At this point, I am getting down the the ones I was less sure of. I guess I will have to try to take a really objective look at this and decide if I can make something of it or I just need to let it go.

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3. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 7 years ago

   Well done for getting so many of your Hubs transferred, that's quite an achievement!
   
   Two issues strike me about this Hub.  Firstly, what are people searching on Google for?   You title seems too vague.  Probably something like "How to Cope with a Long Term Power Outage" or "Long Term Power Outage Tips" or "Long Term Power Outage Survival" etc. 
   
   Then you go on to talk about past experiences and past outages - not something people are likely to care about.  I would rearrange the Hub to provide information on what to expect and how to prepare.  They should, obviously, be based your own experience so that's where you can use your personal stuff.  You can then finish off with examples of past outages and how long they lasted, consequences etc. 
   
   However, I'm not sure it would belong on Soapboxie anyway.  A power outage may be related to environmental issues but preparing for and surviving one is more related to home and garden, perhaps?

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   1. 91

      Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for the advice Marisa.
      
      I guess I kind of have two points with the article. One is how to survive a power outage, the other is how vulnerable our electrical grid is, and how devastating it would be if we did have a long-term and widespread blackout. That second one is the Soapboxie part. Perhaps they should be two separate articles.
      
      I thought my article on Colony Collapse disorder would fit better in DenGarden, but HP decided it belonged in Soapboxie. It seems like, if they like them, they put them where they think best no matter what site you submit to.

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      1. 82

         Venkatachari Mposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Your thinking approach is very good. You can yourself make some appropriate changes in it on your own and get it approved again. Reading your own comments here, I believe you can do it perfectly and get approved. Nothing to worry.

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         1. 91

            Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks for the vote of confidence.  I am passionate and knowledgeable about this topic. I think I can make it work

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      2. 86

         Marisa Wrightposted 7 years agoin reply to this

         Hmm, maybe two articles is an idea.  However, my main point was how to make it more appealing to search engines which might make it more appealing to the editors as well - so not necessarily changing the content, just re-ordering it so the more practical advice comes first.

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         1. 91

            Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years agoin reply to this

            Right, I think it needs better organization. It's unfocused, and I have struggled with the title. I have changed it several times.

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4. 68

   simplehappylifeposted 7 years ago

   what about a title like "What to Do During a Long-Term Power Outage"  or "How to Prepare for Long-Term Power Outages"

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5. 84

   psycheskinnerposted 7 years ago

   To match it it soapboxie it needs to lead with how the grid got so screwed up (politics), not what to do in an outage.

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6. 92

   Chriswillman90posted 7 years ago

   The fact that you had so many accepted and moved is a huge accomplishment. I was just able to get one moved after being rejected a few times so it's an uphill battle.

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7. 86

   DzyMsLizzyposted 7 years ago

   Congratulations on so many Hubs selected for niche sites! 
   
   I read your article, and I liked it (and left you a rather lengthy comment...)...LOL.
   
   I do agree with Marisa, though; put the advice part first, and then the historical facts, and finish with your own experiences.  Marisa is one smart cookie, and her advice is always spot-on-target.

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8. 91

   Sherry Hewinsposted 7 years ago

   I still have not gotten around to editing this hub. Oddly, it has been moved to Owlcation. After the fact, I did make a couple of minor edits.

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