HubPages Writing Contest December Winners

Here are the winners of the HubPages "Grow the Pot!" Writing Contest, running from December 1-31, 2006. Congratulations to all of them!

To read how to enter the contest, visit the writing contest details page.

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Kicking off the winner's circle is the big winner from last month--Moonmaiden. Her winning Hub was:

Worry No More

With 2 eligible entries, the pot was $34 ($30 base + $2x2 eligible entries).

A first-time winner and veteran HubPages Author, relache, won with the following Hub:

How To Say I LOVE YOU

There were 11 total entries, but 2 were ineligible because they were not unique from other Web pages (a requirement for the contest), so the pot was $48 ($30 base + $2x9 eligible entries).

First-time winner GreyFox won today's drawing with the following Hub:

Make new friends today

Today there were 14 total entries, with one rendered ineligible because it was not unique content. Therefore, the pot (and GreyFox's winnings) amounted to $56 ($30 base + $2x13 eligible entries).

Moonmaiden was the lucky winner among 17 eligible Hubs today, with:

Conversation Starters

The prize pot was $64 today ($30 base + $2x17 eligible entries).

Tip: One component of HubScore is word count; more unique text will raise a Hub's HubScore. For more information on the type of content that raises HubScore, take a look at this Hub: Create Great Content.

Another component of HubScore is the amount of traffic to your Hub. Take a look at this Hub (Getting Visitors to Your Hubs) to learn how to promote your Hub for free, so that its HubScore goes up.

A note that Hubs must have their Ad Level (for Google ads) set to "High" for Hubs to be eligible for the Daily Drawing. This is the default setting, so for most of you, you don't need to do anything special.

Keep in mind that both you and us (HubPages) earn money when visitors click on Google ads, and targeted ads get delivered automatically without any setup. Be sure to open yourselves to income on your work!

Sith Penguin was today's winner, with the following Hub:

An Enjoyable Evening With Your Date

The pot even larger today. With 21 eligible entries, the prize going to Sith Penguin is $72 ($30 base + $2x21 eligible Hubs)

There were a number of entries that would've otherwise been eligible, except the Ad Level was not switched to "High" (default).

GreyFox was today's winner, with the following Hub:

How hard is it to become a doctor

Note that we've tweaked the HubScore algorithm today that will make it difficult for short, relatively low-quality Hubs like this one to achieve the minimum HubScore of 50 going forward.

The Idea Bank includes topics that represent an opportunity to answer, or answer better, questions that Internet searchers are asking. If you pick a topic that you don't know well off-hand, do some research, write useful, engaging copy, and consider including pictures and/or videos, if they complement the topic.

There were 30 eligible entries, making the prize pot for the day $90 ($30 base + $2x30 eligible entries).

Chuck was today's winner, with the following Hub:

A Christmas Present for Our Troops

With 9 eligible entries, the prize going to Chuch is $48 ($30 base + $2X9 eligible Hubs)

Excellent Hub, Chuck!

Relache has won another daily drawing, with the following Hub:

Tie A Necktie Easily

There 5 eligible entries on Friday, making the prize pot for the day $40 ($30 base + $2x5 eligible entries). Two entries were rendered ineligible because they did not directly address the topic, which is a requirement for the contest.

Note: There was one entry that did not make the HubScore cut of 50, so it was rendered ineligible. It was a high-quality Hub, but it was not promoted enough. Please visit the Grow Your Traffic Hub, to make sure your Hubs get a "fighting chance" for the contest, and search engine traffic in the future.

Chuck's won twice this month (and four times in November), and he reinforces the importance of submitting multiple entries when it comes to the laws of probability. Chuck had 3 eligible entries on December 9, with the following Hub the actual winner:

Saying I Love You with Actions

There were 7 eligible entries, so the prize pot was $44 ($30 base + $2x7 eligible entries). Two were invalidated because they did not answer the topic.

Sapheyerblu won her first drawing with the following Hub (one that is exceptionally useful for those also trying to come up with new Hub topic ideas, and how to promote them):

How to come up with new ideas

With six eligible entries for the day, the prize pot was $42 ($30 base + $2x6 eligible entries). Grow the pot by getting friends to join and create quality Hubs as well.

Back-to-back winner sapheyerblu won today's drawing with the following Hub:

How to start a blog

With only 3 eligible entries, however, the total prize pot was $36. There were five other entries that didn't make the minimum HubScore of 50 needed for the contest. The reason? Generally, quality. Make sure your Hub entries are descriptive, informative, well-written and useful for visitors.

Continuing her reign as the most frequent winner in our daily drawing, Moonmaiden won today's drawing with:

Archery Projects for Science Fairs

There were 4 eligible entries for the day, making a prize pot of $38. Two other entries were ineligible, because their HubScore was too low. Remember to:

1. answer the topic directly
2. make your content high-quality
3. promote your Hub

bradwrage was a first-time daily drawing winner for his unusual Hub:

How to make Wine in Prison

Hopefully we'll never have to put what we learned from this Hub to practice!

With 6 eligible entries, the prize pot was $42. Four entries were ineligible because they did not achieve a HubScore of 50 by the time of the drawing. Be sure to create quality content and promote your Hub (for free) to make sure it achieves a minimum HubScore of 50.

GreyFox is a 3-time winner, with the following Hub:

How to install Google Toolbar

With 4 eligible entries, the prize pot is $38.

Our most frequent winner, Moonmaiden, has won again with the following Hub:

Handmade Gifts That Are Practically Free

With 4 eligible entries, the prize pot was $38 for the day. 3 entries were rendered ineligible for having HubScores below 50.

Newcomer GeeMarie was the December 16 winner with the following Hub:

Interior Decorating with Lattice

With 2 eligible Hubs, the prize pot was $34.

Prize winners should thank jimmythejock, who continues to grow the pot with his Idea Bank Hubs, even though he is himself not eligible to win. Many thanks to jimmythejock's generosity! (Of course, he will earn his share of ad revenue, and Idea Bank topics are chosen for their search-engine attractiveness!)

GreyFox was again the sole winner...and the only eligible entrant!

How long can you live without food

As this was the only eligible Hub for the day's drawing, the prize pot was only $32. Two other entries were ineligible, for having HubScores below 50.

Are you doing everything you can to grow the pot? Tell your friends about the contest, and watch the pot grow!

GeeMarie has won for a second time this month, with the following Hub:

Beyond Babysitting Home-based business ideas

There were 3 eligible Hubs, so the prize pot was $36. Congratulations again, GeeMarie!

Moonmaiden has won today's daily drawing with this Hub:

Maple Leaf Arts and Crafts

With 4 eligible entries, the prize pot is $38. Congratulations, Moonmaiden!

Moonmaiden won for the second time in a row, with the following Hub:

The Knifty Knitter is Great For Mothers

With 5 eligible entries, the prize pot was $40 for the day.

With two eligible entries today, Chuck was also the lucky winner with this Hub:

Online Guides for Naming Babies

There were a total of 3 eligible entries, so Chuck's prize winnings were $36 today.

The lucky winner for today's drawing was GeeMarie, who won with:

Hamamelis the All Purpose Beauty and Health Aide (Witch Hazel)

With 5 eligible entries, the daily prize winning was $40. Congratulations, GeeMarie!

Although we had 9 entries (loosely speaking), none were eligible for the day's drawing. What rendered the entries ineligible:

1. not addressing the topic directly--only tangentially addressing the topic doesn't count
2. addressing a completely different topic than what was chosen through the Idea Bank
3. duplicate content (i.e. text lifted from another Website)
4. not a high-enough HubScore at the time of drawing (minimum of 50)

So no winner for the day!

With only one eligible entry for the day, Chuck was the winner with the following Hub:

All About Jennifer Love Hewitt

The prize pot for the winning Hub was $32.

Four other entries were rendered ineligible for not addressing the Idea Bank topic, or not having a high-enough HubScore at the time of drawing.

With the sole eligible entry for the day, Moonmaiden won with the following Hub:

Making Gourd Jewelry For Unique Holiday Gifts

The prize pot for the winning Hub was $32.

There were 4 eligible entries for the day, 3 of which published by Chuck. Luckily, the rules of probability played in his favor, with this winning Hub:

Tenancy in Common

The prize pot for the day hit $38. Congratulations, Chuck!

Chuck edged out among some worthy contenders with the following Hub:

Ten Types of Part-Time Job Options

There were 4 eligible entries (2 submitted by Chuck), making the prize pot $38.

With 4 eligible entries for the day, Chuck was today's winner with the following Hub:

Negative amortization

The prize pot for the day was $38.

The contest will not continue until 2007, so you have until the clock strikes twelve (PST; we're in California) to publish your contest-eligible Hubs. Good luck!

The winners from the final 3 days of the contest: GreyFox (December 29 and 30), and Chuck (December 31).

December 29 pot: $32

December 30 pot: $40

December 31 pot: $34

Congratulations to all the winners...and to all the submitters, as well. As Chuck's recent Hub attests, there is substantial, long-term value in creating high-quality Idea Bank Hubs, beyond the contest winnings.

Be sure to visit the Idea Bank and create Hubs using topics within it to get visitors. Also, follow our recommendations to get more traffic, in these Hubs:

1. Publish great content
2. Promote your Hubs (for free)
3. Publish multiple Hubs around each topic