Ethics of Writing a Sales Hub

I feel the same way as you do about this. I'm amazed though, at just how many different products I've got around the house that I do love, and should write a product hub for. What I struggle with is knowing that even though I know next to nothing about guns. . . .that the articles that I've wrote about the firearms in the house probably generate more cash than my acoustic guitar hubs. . . .which I really do know a whole lot about.

Now, I don't have to actually own all of the guitars that I talk about to write great hubs full of good info about them. . . .but the temptation is to write more hubs about guns that I really DON'T know much about, but I know that those will get huge traffic despite my faked expertise. . . . .

I dont honestly think people who are hoping for a quick buck actually do very well anyway so their results are pretty punishing. But I dont know if you can blame anyone who lives in HOPE and tries to make a quick buck albeit with rather clumsy sales pitches especially since life can be pretty damn harsh and many would like to win a jackpot to escape their lot. When I started online I found all these offers that sounded like they could be genuine. I didn't know, I hardly understood what I was getting into/being told but I gave things a go. Sales pitches sounded convincing but it takes a while (and a lot of money) to find out it is very different to offline/opening a shop with what people want anyway. You just do your dough with a lot of the stuff online. But if I'd never tried I would never have known. I agree with you, it's better to do a SERVICE to your readers rather than just a money grab. But writing probably does not come that easily to the majority and it's a hard sales road - extremely time-consuming and poor results though passive income and progressively less time-consuming so we're told.

I love the philosophy of morals. I have worked in sales often and each time I enter loving the product and exit feeling horrible about what I had been selling people

You make shortcuts sound like a bad thing but I'm not sure that is always the case - it is also about efficiency - invest this much time and effort in A might get you $100/hr, invest it in B, might get you $200/hr for example. You might be putting a lot of effort into A and think you are working hard but are you working smart doing A instead of B? Ideally you also would want to weigh up what you like doing/what is ethical and hope there is something to be made from that!

I'm big on ethics, and I've written a few sales hubs. I'll keep your article in mind.

I am beginning to write a few sales hubs and finding it harder than expected, mostly because of the ethical ramifications. I refuse to write a review about something I know little about, merely looking at reviews from others and compiling them. At most I might point out that reviews are generally good or bad.

Rather I will research the product line and point out options and features (or lack thereof) that might be important to the reader. I may make general observations about appropriate use that the reader might not think of. It is up to the reader to evaluate the actual product and manufacturer they choose - I merely make observations and compile a convenient list of similar products for their perusal.

I have done reviews, but only on products that I use and like or dislike and both views are reported. In these cases I may use terms like "great", "wonderful" or such, but without actual experience I shy away from such language. I also make it clear that observations are from personal use.

I have just joined hubpages about a week ago (even though it says I've been here for 5 months). However, I have seen a lot of those spammy-looking, churned articles (all over the web) that you describe.

I've been writing on another website for a while and I've earned a small following by being HONEST and giving people KNOWLEDGE.

One writer (on this site and the other site) is a good example of writer BS...however, she doesn't say anything duplicitous because she says nothing.

Spam is spam. Knowledge and honesty will get you much further in life than spam.

Great article SimeonVisser. I wish I had written it. It's a well-written politically-worded analysis of a very real problem.

This is an important topic. Sellers and buyers both need to be aware!

Very inspiring hub and I learn much from you. I never thought about this before. This is a road to success. Actually there are many options in HP we can do. Just never give up and do the best. We must promised to our heart. Thank you very much. Happy New Year!

Blessing and hugs,

Thanks for writing this article. I've been wondering about those sales hubs and if I should be writing them or not. I think besides the ethical concerns, buyers/readers are smarter than most people give them credit for. A good review is likely to make more money in the long run because of that. Sooner or later I expect Google to get smart enough to recognize the difference too.

I think this is a very important topic.

Blatant spammers and unethical marketers populate Hubpages like the T Virus.

What these cockroaches don't realise is that their selfish sales copy can be spotted a mile away!

My pet hate is the 350 word hub with 56 Amazon products on it.

What these jungle monkeys don't realise is that having so many products on your hubpage overwhelms the reader to the point where they start to have an anxiety attack.

At which point they just click off.

Also any link juice they provide in the way of promotion or backlinking gets diluted over way too many unrelated links which makes their hubpage an impotent, unrelated mess.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not against selling, but the key is to be sincere in trying to help the consumer or at the very least try and faint sincerity.

I have learned that if you want to focus on making money on hubpages you really have to do your research, find products of superior customer value which have flown under the competition radar and learn about that product's niche, inside out.

If you have some really cool and useful information about a product's niche people will be that much more likely to purchase from your links as you become an authority source, 'people aren't stupid'!

If you are just trying to make a buck selling rubber dog s&*t, people resent the fact that your basically assuming their stupid and there is no way they will purchase from your hub.

It's one thing that I have learned from a really kewl internet marketer called Frank Kern is that....

if you offer something of real value for 'nothing', most people feel the need to give something back!

A very powerful concept.

But what really takes the cake is that Amazon is the least profitable avenue to take to make money on Hubpages.

This is because a buyer has to purchase the product from your link on the same day.

If they buy in a day or two and navigate directly to Amazon you don't get didly squat!

Also many browser setting have cookies disabled which makes tracking for Amazon all but impossible, once again didly squat commissions.

The best way to make money from Hubs is basically from adsense in my opinion and from doing thorough keyword research identify high traffic/low competition keywords and having great high value content that leaves your audience wanting more.

Anyway thanks for bringing up this topic, it has been much needed.

Cheers on a great hubpage!

I honor your philosophy. I agree with you, product based hubs should have good information. I am among those who love writing good hubs not for earning only. Though my writing skill is not so strong, but try to put in my best effort to make it better.

I have two grand children, so I have more interest in baby related topics and started creating websites on baby topics. I love writing on Hubpages because of its Fun and Magic.

However, I have learnt many things in 2010 from hub elites and encouraging hub friends. Still I'm learning and sure that your other related hubs will be helpful for me.

Happy New Year.

Thanks simeonvisser. May need your guidance and hope you will cooperate.

Don't worry. I'm not going to ask about money making.

I enjoy writing real reviews for books, movies,and music.

When I put one of them on Hubpages, I put links to Amazon. If I make a sale, fine, but I'm not writing to make sales. It's not too hard to tell when someone is trying to sell you, especially a rookie.

Very well written. I believe only honesty sells today - people are too smart to be "sold". I love the Amazon capsules because they provide information.

Yes, I too, started out banning Amazon and then after reading awhile I realized the service of the information.

I love to read so just adding capsules with books I think is helpful.

When I write for fitness I am frustrated because allot of great equipment is not on eBay or Amazon and I wish to show the item and the price.

Information about value is also about price and these sales capsules provide that much needed information.

Great Hub - great information and thought provoking - we all need to be reminded of the real focus here - to serve. Thank you!

Very interesting article. I have never been a great salesperson because I am usually selling something I am not totally sold on. I think you do have to have plenty of experience with a product to really be able to give a convincing testimony about it. That is why I haven't written too many sales hubs yet. Thanks for the thought provoking hub.

You make some very good points, and thank you for taking the time to stress quality. Taking the time to honestly review a product and provide useful information (both the good points as well as the bad) should be the goal of anyone who sets out to write product reviews.

I think wilderness sets out a reasonable path to follow when writing such hubs. Research is the key. Point out both the high and the low points, and how the consumer will benefit from using the product. Provide something useful.

I think people sometimes just get in too much of a hurry to make a quick fortune online. They read some of the Amazon or Ebay earnings from some of their fellow Hubbers, and think "easy money", not realizing there is a tremendous amount of work involved. Throwing up a quick "review" Hub and hope the traffic flows is probably not sustainable path to success.

If you need proof that quality sells, take a look at one of my favorite review sites, dpreview.com. They made their mark by writing well written, extremely detailed reviews of the latest digital cameras and photographic equipment.

Most of their reviews take up 15 - 20 pages and cover every facet and feature of the product in question. To call their average review "In-depth" would be an understatement. Comprehensive would be more apt.

Now search Google for almost any digital camera. Chances are, their review will be listed on the first page, most often in the top 3 or 4 results. Oh, and they are now owned by Amazon. Imagine how much taking the time to write quality reviews has paid off for the owners.

I think the lesson we can all learn from this is to not take shortcuts. You undercut your potential and your reputation when you do. Quality does matter.

Thanks again for this Hub. Some good thoughts here.