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2014-10-08

When and how should you add products?

Amazon and eBay Product Tips

Things to Consider Before You Add Products

With the recent Google Panda update, we think it's more important than ever that Hubbers take a second look at Google's Webmaster Guidelines and be sure that Amazon and eBay products are only included in Hubs when and where they add significant value. In Paul Edmondson's recent Forum Post, he and Marina give great in-depth examples of proper product use. Here are a few key points to keep in mind before adding a product Capsule:

  • Always keep products under 5-10% of your Hub's total content. Products in your Hubs should be very minimal.
  • Only use products that are directly related to a Hub's content. Does the product belong under your Hub's title? Someone reading a Hub on "How to Litter Train a Kitten" won't want a mug with a picture of a kitten on it, a stuffed kitten, or a kitten collar, but she may be interested in a litter-training kit for kittens, since it's exactly why she visited your Hub in the first place.
  • Only use products that significantly enhance a Hub. Would your Hub be as useful and informative if it didn't include that product? If yes, leave it out. Try reading your Hub without the product and see if it still makes sense and completely fulfills the reader's expectations. If it does, you probably don't need to add products.
  • Think about the reader's intent. Is a person who is searching for your Hub's topic likely to be shopping or simply looking for information? If she's searching for information (instructions on "How to Bake a Yellow Cake," for example), only include products that are absolutely critical to that recipe, and that she is unlikely to already have. If she's searching for a yellow cake recipe, she probably already has a cake pan, a mixer, and other common utensils (otherwise she'd be searching for "Best Cake Pans," "Mixers Under $100" or something similar).
  • Is there a cheap or free alternative? Remember, it's important to do what's best for your reader. Helping her save money is a huge added bonus in most situations. Before trying to sell her products, consider cheap or free alternatives that will add value to your Hub. Instead of pitching an expensive egg separator to your yellow cake Hub reader, for example, consider teaching her the turkey baster trick.

Christy Kirwan
Editor & Web Content Manager

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Pro Tips

Goodbye for now!

HubPages iPhone App Retired

I have a quick announcement this week for Hubbers who use iPhones; the HubPages App no longer works on IOS 8, so we made the decision to retire it and remove it from the iTunes Store. There's a chance we may revisit the app again in the future, but for now, we want to work on improving the mobile web experience for both readers and Hubbers in a way that will benefit all mobile platforms. Farewell, old friend!

For more information, check out Paul Edmondson's Forum Post:
http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/125597

Rising Stars

This Week's Rising Stars

Below you'll find this week's   Rising Star winners. Our candidates showed off their skills in the Religion and Philosophy Topic.

Since Hubbers are only eligible for the Rising Star Competition during their first 60 days at HubPages, our winners represent the hottest new talent. Why not read their Hubs?

Christy Kirwan

      Religion and Philosophy
50% TessGilesMarshall

What is Benedictine spirituality?

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Meet Your Spirit Guide

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  Alexander the Great was never defeated in even a single battle: http://ramymehelba.hubpages.com/hub/History-Greatest-Military-Commanders
working

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