What is a Hub?

Part 1 of 7

And why have our writers published over a million of them?

Let's start the tour with the obvious question. Just what is a Hub?

Hubs are one-page Web articles you write that are filled with insight, advice, information—whatever you'd like to say on a particular topic that piques your interest.

While there are other methods to create a presence on the Internet, you'll be hard-pressed to find an easier way to:

• produce a gorgeous, professional-looking Web page with easy-to-use tools. Our non-techie tools allow you to easily load your Hub with the text, pictures, links, videos, maps, polls, and quizzes that make it look complete and impressive.
• reach a large online audience that shares your interests. The technology behind our Hubs gives them the power to reach thousands of people interested in your favorite topic, for years after you publish your Hubs.
• enjoy HubPages rewards. In addition to social and community feedback and praise, HubPages provides you with easy access to the Internet's top income generating tools: Google ads and eBay and Amazon offers. The opportunity to earn more and more money over time simply by writing about your favorite topics is the icing on the cake!

Now that we've explained what Hubs are, let's move on to picking your first topic.

What do you want to write about?

Part 2 of 7

What are some topics that excite you? Chances are, there are other people who would love to read what you have to say about your favorite topics.

Is there something that fascinates you? Or do you have a specific area of expertise that you'd enjoy sharing with others?

HubPages allows you to share your passion and your knowledge. By publishing your own Hubs, you can connect with people who are at this moment searching for information on your topic.

And if you think there might not be enough interest in your favorite topics, you'll be surprised. Remember, the Internet knows no bounds. If a topic moves you, chances are very good that there are countless people who feel the same way.

Let's take a closer look at all the things you can include in your Hubs.

What different tools can you use to explain your topic?

Part 3 of 7

Interesting written content makes for a great Hub, but HubPages expands your ability to explain a topic.

Take a look at what other Hubbers are embedding in their Hubs, making them more attractive and drawing in more readers:

• Photos, either from a computer, digital camera, or the Web.
• Favorite YouTube or Google videos.
• Google Maps with markers for locations described in the Hub.
• Links to other related Web pages.
• Polls and quizzes that you can customize easily.

Adding these elements to your Hub is a breeze, thanks to easy-to-use capsules. A capsule can include text, links, pictures, maps, videos, polls, even quizzes. The capsules are simple to set-up, change, and move around however you'd like. We've made it easy, so you can focus on publishing and not on the technology.

Now find out how you can interact with your Internet readers.

How do you interact with people who share your passion?

Part 4 of 7

The beauty of the Internet is that it gives people who share interests a place to meet and interact.

HubPages allows you to interact with people who share a common passion, or are interested in learning more about the things you know and love.

Readers of your Hubs can leave both comments and feedback on your Hubs, giving you important feedback on how your information and insights have helped or inspired people. You can expect all sorts of comments on your Hubs, including:

• Praise
• Thanks (if your Hub helps them out)
• Expressions of agreement or disagreement
• Follow-up questions
• Related information and/or links

Let's now look at how to attract readers to your Hub:

How do you and HubPages promote your Hubs?

Part 5 of 7

Once you've published your Hubs, let's make sure they get read.

Widely read. Because HubPages is a highly-trafficked site—over 30 million people visit HubPages every month—and because you're publishing high-quality content, you're going to find plenty of readers. Here are some tools that will help spread the word:

• You have access to social networking and other-page promoting tools, including Facebook and Twitter.
• Hubbers who follow you and loyal readers will receive a notification every time you publish.
• Behind the scenes, HubPages engineers use state-of-the art technology to ensure Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines find our writers.

That's the promotion, now let's learn about rewards:

Hubbers earn rewards writing about their passion

Part 6 of 7

It's great to be published on the topics you know and love. It's even better to earn lasting rewards for it.

The HubPages platform allows you to quickly publish interesting and useful Hubs, giving potentially thousands of readers something that they will treasure. Happy readers will enjoy your Hubs, give you valuable feedback, and even follow your new Hubs!

Additionally, HubPages's affiliate partners provides you with an easy way to take advantage of some of the most effective ad revenue and commission generating tools.

• You can set up affiliate accounts with Google AdSense, Amazon Affiliates, and other programs. The process is simple—we help guide you through it—and it costs you nothing.
• Google AdSense automatically displays ads in your Hubs that are relevant to your topic.
• You can decide which products to list in your Amazon and eBay capsules.

HubPages earns its revenue from these ads, so we split page impressions with you. Let's explain what this means. An impression is each time one of your Hubs is read. 60% of the impressions are yours, meaning any ads that are displayed on your Hub at that time generates money for you; the other 40% of the impressions are ours, so we earn from the ads displayed. This generally works out to about 60% of the Hub's revenue go to you, and 40% to us.

Keep in mind that the key to earning for the months and years ahead is to write quality content that new readers will discover every day. Take a look at some of our success stories to see fellow Hubbers who have done just that, and that are earning impressive money every month on what they've already written.

Now that you understand the earning potential, let's find out how to get started:

60 seconds to sign up!

Part 7 of 7

It takes approximately a minute to sign up.

Signup is simple, and is absolutely free. You'll never have to pay a penny to use HubPages.

After the easy signup, you're ready to create a Hub on the topic of your choice. You can publish your first Hub within just minutes.

Start publishing online, and become a part of the HubPages community today! Right this way to sign up: