Your HubPages Profile is Your Public Face

Want to make the most of it? Check out your new customization options!

We are in the midst of rolling out a new Profile design, which features your Hubs in a more attractive format and gives you more room for customization. Have you switched to the new design yet? If not, go for it!

The new design features elements such as custom backgrounds (you can leave your background bare, go with one of HubPages' backgrounds, or upload an image of your own), a special place to showcase your presence on other social media sites, and a carousel on which you can display a curated set of featured Hubs.

For pointers on using these elements to your greatest advantage, check out the Pro Tips below.

Happy Hubbing,

Simone Haruko Smith
Head of Outreach

How to Make the Most of The New Profile Design

New HubPages Profiles leave much more room for customization. We encourage you to make the most of it! Here's how to utilize the greatest new features available under My Account > Profile > Edit Profile.

• Upload a custom background image. Abstract images, closeups, and patterns tend to look best. When it comes to image size, so long as your image is larger than 1024 by 768 pixels, it will appear whole on most screens.
• If you username is different from your real name, consider adding your full name to your profile in the "Real Name" box.
• Using the drop-down menu, select Hubs that you would like to feature on your profile's carousel. Consider switching these featured Hubs out periodically- it might help your readers discover buried treasures within your online writing portfolio.
• Make it easy for fans and followers to follow you elsewhere online by adding the URLs of your personal site and social media profiles to the "Links" text fields.

Remember, to access these new options, you must first apply the new Profile design to your subdomain.  To do so, visit the profile of someone who has it (all HubPages staff do) and click on the "Upgrade My Profile" link (a more detailed how-to can be found on the HubPages Blog).

Want Hubbing tips that you can listen to on the go? Check out our Online Writing Insider podcast archive!
http://blog.hubpages.com/category/podcasts/online-writing-insider/

This Week's HubNuggets

Being new in a community isn't easy; sometimes one can feel lost in the crowd. Our  HubNuggets Program helps Hubbers feel more included by nominating them in a friendly competition that may result in special Accolades or a prominent position in the HubPages Newsletter.

This week,  Enelle Lamb rounded up Hubs from the Politics and Social Issues, Travel and Places, and Gender and Relationships topics  amidst a magic lamp-inspired adventure. The winners below were chosen via popular vote from the HubPages community. If you haven't done so already, check them out!

Simone

Greeks, the financial crisis, and being ridiculed by the Europeans

I am a Greek. All Greeks are proud to be Greek, because amongst all our other achievements, we have given birth to Democracy, collectively and retroactively. We have also single-handedly invented philosophy, mathematics, physics, navigation, and...

The Bout of the Century: Republicans vs Democrats

Political parties in the United States of America have been around nearly since this country was founded, but have they really made this a better nation? Where could the U.S. be if there were no party affiliations?

Which Polling Company has the Most Accurate Political Polls in the 2012 Presidential Election?

See which polling companies and polling organizations will most accurately predict the 2012 Presidential Election. Compare political polls from past presidential elections.

Jeani's Top 5 ~ "Other" Things to do in Fredericksburg, VA

A no-brainer for any Civil War buff, Fredericksburg is a city that has a wealth of history and attractions to offer. Check out my hub for activities the "other" members of the traveling party will enjoy while visiting Fredericksburg.

Columbia River Gorge Oregon

The Columbia River Gorge is a must see if you A live in Oregon or B plan a trip here. You'll never regret it. Best times for a CRG trip. My favorite time is in the early spring when the falls are running with winter runoff. Enjoy the pictures

Muscle Cramps on the World’s Longest Zip Line

The morning broke crisp and clear as the Radiance of the Seas quietly slipped into the deep waters off Icy Strait Point in Hoonah, Alaska and dropped its anchor. Quickly tender boats began ferrying passengers to the on-shore pier to begin their...

Five Annoying Facebook Friends (You have them all!)

Facebook can solidify the friendships you have. Unfortunately the price we pay for this privilege is we get to deal with the five most annoying friend types. If you have 50 friends or more, I can almost guarantee you probably have at least one of each of these Annoying Facebook Friends.

What Does LGBTQI Mean?--Learning Your Alphabet Soup, and Moving Beyond Tolerance

Having trouble finding the right language for a friend or yourself? Searching for an identity that fits your gender, sex, and sexual orientation? This quick guide will tell you the basics of the LGBTQ community and our language! Be a great ally in the fight for all in the queer community.

Sexual Communication and the Building of Intimacy in Relationships

My name is Sarah, and I am a trained "Goddess" with Athena's Home Novelties. This is a company that specializes in the distribution of adult toys. I have been doing this for nearly five years. Over that course of time, I have put in many hours of...