• How to read a fellow hubbers' hubs
• What to read
• Things you should be noticing
• What to navigate
• How and when to comment
• How and when to become a fan

I'd like to start off by saying, "Welcome to HubPages from all of us hubbers.  We're glad to have you and hope you are enjoying yourself so far." 

Getting started on HubPages may seem overwhelming, but HubPages is really super simple to use, and provides easy to access and excellent information on how to get your very own, shiny, new hubs on their way.

While you’re concentrating on getting your hubs fine tuned, choosing topics that excite you to write about, gathering your info, deciding when and how to sign up for Google, Kontera, Amazon, eBay, Analytics, all the while amazing yourself and your friends and family…

You’re also reading other hubbers’ hubs. It’s probably why you decided to join HubPages in the first place. If you’re not reading others’ hubs, you should be. And you should be doing more than just reading them.

One place to start is the topics section. You can link into it by clicking the topics tab at the top of the page. Click ‘n pick. It’s that easy.

Join a “tag fan club”. Choose from preset, general, popular tags. You can get there by going to your “my account” page and then clicking on “tag fan clubs”. Choose tags whose topics may interest you. ALSO choose tags that may correlate to the hubs you may be writing; they will probably be one and the same, however in the event that what you write is not necessarily what you’re in the mood to read, choosing a tag to favorite which corresponds to your writing is important.

You will also want to check out Hubnuggets finalists. One way to find them is by searching “hubnuggets” in the search box on HubPages. There are ten new ones each week, which are subsequently voted on by the public and other hubbers, and narrowed down to five finalists.

Of course Hot Hubs and Best Hubs and Best Hubbers are fabulous places to search for hubs to read.

Obviously hubs are made to be read. So by all means read them.

• If the topics interest you, read them.
• If you like a hubber’s style of writing, read.
• If the hub looks aesthetically pleasing to you, read.
• If their name or avatar interests you, have a read.
• If any or all of the above apply AND the hub or hubber’s score is high, read and read close.

• Were they a Hubnugget finalist? Read and read close.

Read to find what it is they are doing right, so you can apply that, relatively, to your hubs. A good hubber gives you something to compare your hubs to. Something to strive for.

Read the content of the hub. Content is ALL that is contained in each particular hub; its packaging, its extras, and its embellishments. It’s what gives each hub its own special unique look and feel, as well as the opportunity for the hubber to add extra information that readers may be interested in, may find useful or entertaining, that brings something to the topic, and/or emphasizes an opinion or a hubbers information. Content also includes extra bits of information that may not be directly related to the hub subject, such as scores, when the hubber joined, number of fans, etc.

This includes (but is not limited to) the following, and should be noted with each read:

• Hub score (located in red, at the end of the hub title): What is it? Is it high, is it low? If you really liked this hub, but it has a low score and it isn’t a new post, look for reasons why. The more familiar you are with scores and scoring, the better idea you’ll have of possible answers. For more information on scores you’ll want to start off by checking out the forums (by clicking on the forums tab at the top of your page), or the help section (by clicking on the help tab on the top right). If the hub score is low, but the hubber's score is high, it's possible that the hub is new, and that checking back in a couple of days or so will prove it to be a higher scoring hub.

• Hubber’s score: What is the hubber’s overall score? This can be found in the top right 'about the author' box under the hubber's hubname, along with where they are from, how many fans they have, how many hubs they have published, and when they joined HubPages. If a hubber has a high score, chances are it’s because they are doing the right things. All of the “content” you see in their hubs accumulate to one final fluctuating score. Compare that to the score of the hub you are reading, how many hubs they have written, and when they joined, and you’ll have an overall feel for how to utilize their overall hub content. Again, a closer look at how to understand and utilize this information can be found in the forums and help sections.

• Joined: When they joined will tell you how new or how seasoned this hubber is. Compare this to a high score, and chances are they know what they are doing, and therefore you should be paying attention. If you are reading a hub from a seasoned hubber with a nice decent score, who has also written quite a few hubs, then know that this is possibly a good opportunity for you to check out a wide variety of topics and hub types (which you can find by clicking “Read more hubs by” in the upper right 'about the author' box) so that you can get a feel for some of the possible ways you can utilize hub pages.

Ad placement: Note types of ads that appear on the hub you are reading, as well as ad placement. You don’t see them as you’re setting up and arranging your hub, but once you hit publish, they’ll be there. Looking at other hubs with various formatting will give you a better idea of various looks your hub can have, than the preview option, where you will see possible add placements highlighted in green boxes. (Note: You can "preview" your hub on HubPages at any time while in editing mode. A preview will not effect your hub and will open in a new window or tab and will give you the option to refresh the preview as often as you need to without having to save -- though saving frequently is a good idea to ensure you do not lose any information.)

Related videos: Are there related videos? How many? What size are they? Where are they placed? Do they work (If so, how so)? Are they relevant?

Photos: How well do they work in the hub? Are they relevant? Where are they placed? What size are they? How do they effect your mood, attitude, reading, of the hub?

Note that everything in the "Add More Stuff" box is at your disposal. While reading other hubs, look for how and where other hubbers use and place their capsules. It will save you time and help you get a better idea of what you may like to do in your hubs.

• · What is this hub about?
• · What is its purpose?
• · Does the title match the mainframe?
• · Is the hubber consistent?
• · Does this hub make you want to read on?
• · Does the hubber bring in fresh information on the topic?
• · Does the hubber bring a fresh voice to the topic?
• · Is the information easy to understand?
• · Is the information well formed?
• · Does this hub feel complete?
• · Is the hub sectioned out nicely?
• · What stands out most after reading the hub?
• · Does the hub satiate you? Make you want to respond? Set you off with ideas of your own? Make you want to find out more?
• · Would you read this hub again? Why?
• · Would you pass it along? Why?

HOW TO COMMENT AND HOW TO READ COMMENTS

You would think that commenting is a simple thing. And you are thinking you could probably skip over this section. "I can read. I can write. What's your beef?"

Think again. This is the spot in which you may be making your first impression. Not just to the hubber, but other hubbers, and the public, who stop by this hub for the duration of this hub's existence. So ask yourself how good of a first impression you are wanting to make. Probably a very good one; so read on.

The comments section is a place to get more information. In most good hubs, this section will solicit at least one of the following:

• questions
• answers
• further information and ideas
• other related places
• other hubbers with related interests
• reasons why the readers enjoyed the hub
• general banter

All these things add to a hubs quality, mood, flair. You will also get a taste for how particular hubbers and readers comment, as well as a taste for the hubber himself or herself. By all means, if you're going to leave a comment, read the comments that are going to come before yours. Do not disregard comments, ever. Especially if you are wanting to leave a comment.

Did someone else already say what you wanted to say? If so, you may want to say, "so-and-so, I agree that..." or, "as so-and-so mentioned," or, "I agree with so-and-so when he or she said..."

Are people in the middle of a conversation? If so, you may want to find a way to ease your comment in. Not always possible. Sometimes you just have to get it out. But other times you can say, "yeah, blah blah blah... by the way, (your comment here)."

You will look like you care (which you do), and you will give yourself an approachable quality.

Make substantial comments as often as possible. If someone likes what you have to say, they just may click on you. If they've seen you around a bit, they just may click on you. First impressions count, and so do second ones, and third ones, and ...

Note: Be sure you say what you mean and that you mean what you say. And by all means, please don't be rude.

*Looking for more good reads? Check out the hubs of some of the people who commented. You just may find some gems you would have passed up otherwise.

HOW AND WHEN TO BECOME A FAN

So you really liked what you read by a particular hubber? Read more. Get a good feel for the hubber. Check out his or her profile. Browse around a bit. Still a fan? Show some team spirit and let them know.

But don’t let your avatar hang around on their fan page like it's loitering. This is another chance at a first impression. Real fans proclaim their “fanship”. You’ve done your research; now let the hubber know why you’re becoming a fan. What about his or her hubs do you really enjoy or admire? Is it their topics? How they write? Do they make you laugh (appropriately, in other words, be sure they mean to)? Did you learn a lot from reading their hubs? Do you think they have great looking pages? Think of these, and other things, and comment. Make your voice heard. Make yourself noticed.

This extra effort on your part will make all the difference in the world.

While you there, check out other fans of the particular hubber you are "fannining" [ =D ]. As in the comments section, you just may find some gems you would have passed up otherwise.

Note: It is NOT a good idea to fan someone for the simple sake that they became your fan, and then say so. This only makes you out to be pompous (maybe you are, though this is not the point).  A hubber's fan pages are like their walk of fame. No need to put your hand-prints under their signature.

Well, this hubber hopes you had an enjoyable read and learned something useful along the way. Wishing you the best of luck, and hope to see you around. Don't be a stranger.

--F.B.