What is a Hub?

And why have our writers created over half a million of them?

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

Hubs are just like web pages. Each one contains an article you write that's filled with insight, advice, information - whatever you'd like to say on your favorite topic.

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

• Produce all kinds of content with easy-to-use tools. Our non-techie tools allow you to easily load your hub with the text, pictures, links, videos, polls, and quizzes that interest you most.
• Reach a large online audience who shares your interests. The technology behind our hubs gives them the power to reach thousands of people interested in your favorite topic.
• Enjoy HubPages rewards. In addition to social and community plaudits, 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 royalties over time simply by writing about your favorite topic is the icing on the cake!

Now that we've explained a hub, let's move on to picking your topic.

What do you want to write about?

Just like everyone has a talent, everyone also has interest.

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 topic, 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 hub.

What different tools can you use to explain your topic?

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 posting 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.
• Links to other related Web pages.
• Polls and quizzes that you can design easily.

Adding these elements to your Hub is a breeze, thanks to easy-to-use capsules. A capsule can include text, links, pictures, 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?

The beauty of the Internet is that it allows people who share a wide range of interests a common meeting ground.

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.

You have the option to allow readers to leave comments on your Hubs, or to interact with other Hubbers. Comments can include:

• Praise
• Thanks (if your Hub helps them out)
• Expressions of agreement or disagreement
• Follow-up questions
• Related information and/or links
• Invitations to visit their Hubs, if they've written any

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

How do you and HubPages promote your Hubs?

Not only does every writer want to be published, but you also want to be read...

Widely read. Because HubPages is a highly-trafficked site—over 20 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 bookmarking and other-page promoting tools, including Twitter.
• Your fans and loyal readers will receive a notification every time you publish.
• Behind the scenes, HubPages technicians use state-of-the art technology to ensure Google, Yahoo and other topic search engines find our writers.

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

Hub writers earn rewards writing about their passion?

It's great to be published on a topic you love. It's even better to earn a variety of rewards for it.

The HubPages platform allows you to quickly publish interesting and useful Hubs, giving potentially thousands of readers information and other content that they will treasure. Happy readers will enjoy your Hubs, give you valuable feedback, and even join your fan club!

Additionally, the HubPages Royalty Program provides you with an easy way to take advantage of the Internet's top ad revenue and commission generating tools.

• You can set up affiliate accounts with Google, Kontera, eBay, and Amazon. This simple process is lightning quick and costs you nothing.
• Google and Kontera automatically displays ads in your hub that are relevant to your topic.
• You can decide which products to list in your eBay and Amazon capsules.

HubPages earns its revenue from these ads, so we split the impressions with our writers. An impression occurs whenever an ad appears on a hub. You, the writer, receive 60% of the impressions, while HubPages receives the remaining 40%. Any revenue generated while your ad is displayed is entirely yours. So if a Hub is visited 10 times, 6 of the ad impressions are yours, and 4 are HubPages. You keep all the revenue generated from those 6 ad impressions.

Keep in mind that the key to earning royalties and commissions is to write quality content that new readers will discover every day.

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

60 seconds to sign up!

It takes approximately a minute to sign up.

All we need is your email address. There is no charge. HubPages is completely free! You'll never spend a dime to write to your heart's content.

After the easy sign-up, you're ready to create a Hub on the topic of your choice. And if you need a little jump-start to figure out what topic really revs you up, we've provided you with a convenient topic Idea Bank.

Start writing, publish online immediately, and become a part of the Internet community today! Right this way to sign-up:

Haven't read enough yet? Check out the comprehensive guide to HubPages. It contains almost everything you'd ever want to know ...