Answering hub requests with an existing hub

1. 64

   WeddingConsultantposted 15 years ago

   I know that hubpages really pushes for new hubs to be created, and rightfully so. However, I'm thinking it would be nice to be able to "answer a hub request" with an existing hub.
   
   So if someone does a hub request for something I've written on (revver videos, for example), I can simply click on "answer this request" and rather than create a new hub, I could answer it with an already existing hub of mine.
   
   The hub request would still be there, but the one inquiring might have found a good answer from an already created hub. It would serve to build up the community...
   
   Just a thought!

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2. 66

   relacheposted 15 years ago

   This feature gets requested every few months.

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3. 64

   WeddingConsultantposted 15 years ago

   haha yeah, I looked back a bit and couldn't find it suggested.
   
   So is there any support for it amongst hubbers? I understand that hubs = added content, increased SE visibility, hubpages exposure, etc, but I think this idea could really contribute to the community here and would even stimulate further hub ideas!

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4. 83

   Whitney05posted 15 years ago

   I like the idea, and in a way it could help with the new hubs that are written for the requests. For example, if your older hub is already getting good traffic and someone from a search engine goes to your hub, they may see the request and 'oh wow there are 3 more answers, let's see what they have to say.'

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5. 64

   WeddingConsultantposted 15 years ago

   Whitney, I guess it's just you and me supporting the idea! Maybe that's why they haven't implemented it yet...there are tumbleweeds breezing by in here.

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   1. 79

      Sally's Troveposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I agree completely (so I'll be a tumbleweed).  If there's already stuff out there on HP, then point people to it.  Why duplicate what's already there?  Better yet, give the request responder a way to see what's already been done and the chance to improve on it.

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6. 89

   gamergirlposted 15 years ago

   I'm all for this!! If there were a way to link a pre-existing hub to a request that pops up, or even condense the requests together (like the numerous "How do I make money on Hubpages" requests) that'd be freakin' awesome.
   
   On a side note, it would also be cool to have a suggestion tool in requests so that if you see a request and know of a Hub that's been written that answers it you can click a Suggest A Hub button and the requestee could approve or reject hubs that are suggested as fitting their request or not.
   
   And, what about tag filtering for requests, so if I want to answer a request that falls in a certain topic I could only see the requests for that and nothing else?

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   1. 84

      Marisa Wrightposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      I like this version of the idea.  That way we could suggest either own Hub or someone else's.

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7. 80

   ProCWposted 15 years ago

   I like the idea! I get in the mood sometimes to request, request, request...
   
   I know that at least one of my requests is #1 out of millions of results for a pretty highly searched topic... I'm just sayin'...
   
   If this is a possibility HubPages, I think it could be great!
   
   ProCW

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8. 66

   Bob Ewingposted 15 years ago

   makes sense

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9. 82

   kerrygposted 15 years ago

   I think the idea makes sense, too, especially with something like what gamergirl suggested, so the requester can moderate suggested hubs a little if he or she chooses. I'd be concerned about spammer abuse of the feature otherwise.

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10. 74

    AEvansposted 15 years ago

    I also like the idea, that would be perfect!!!

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11. 67

    funrideposted 15 years ago

    Add me to the list .
    
    If one has a hub which can be considered a good answer to some request why should that hubber had to write a new one on the same subject? I´ve ran into this situation a couple of times.

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12. 59

    EspianScrollsposted 15 years ago

    I like the idea too. I'd love to see a vareity of answers to a request. Especially if the first didnt answer my question. There should be a rating to it too. For example, which ever page has the most people saying yes it helped it would receive a higher rating. This would encourage hubbers to create more detailed and exiting hubs all around.

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13. 78

    SweetiePieposted 15 years ago

    I think that would be a good feature for those who like it.  Personally, I have found writing a new hub to answer a request is also beneficial because you can explore an aspect of the topic not discussed in the first hub.

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    1. 83

       Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       As much as I like the idea for adding an existing hub, I agree with you on this point SweetiePie. You can always go an a different angle for a topic that you've already written about. Say your current hub is for a particular thing, you can write an another hub answering the request against the topic, and of course linking to the other hub you already have. Plus, it can get you thinking outside the box, trying to find a different angle to answer the same question.
       
       The suggestion works for hubs that are built like flagship hubs, or even flagship hubs themselves, that try to answer all possible angles. In these cases, it can be hard to write a whole new hub, if you already have one that explores all the angles at least a little. The only thing  you could do, is more research to further develop a few of the angles that you touched on, which again is another option for more knowledge on your part and more hubs. :-)

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       1. 78

          SweetiePieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

          I see what you mean.  This is why I said adding old hubs as a new request would be a good thing since most people seem in favor of it.  I will probably never write a flagship hub, so I guess in my experience I have never had the need to add old hubs to new requests.  However, I do see the use.

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          1. 83

             Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

             Understandable.. :-) I still like the idea of getting people to think outside the box in hopes that more quality hubs are written from different angles about a topic they may already have a hub about... I think for that alone, is a good reason not to implement the feature, but that's just me as I am both for an against it. (A lot for, but still a little against, as it's like a cheat for not thinking about other possible angles or even a deeper, more researched hub from the same angle.)

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    2. 89

       gamergirlposted 15 years agoin reply to this

       If the meat of your hub has answered a request posted - like my example of the dozens of "how to make money on hubpages" requests, but they insert a bit of an angle that you didn't cover, then that's a great time to make adjustments to your old hub, refresh the content of it and give it a nice facelift!

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       1. 59

          JYOTI KOTHARIposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            I am voting for this idea. it will save readers from lot of duplication. Hubwriters can modify their existing hub to suit to the answer.
          
             Jyoti kothari

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14. 56

    Dame Scribeposted 15 years ago

    then I wouldn't have to delete a hub because the topic been done already, lol ... hope you have a safe Happy New Year huh

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15. 64

    WeddingConsultantposted 15 years ago

    So there seems to be some support of this idea. Has anyone from hubpages answered this suggested improvement in the past?

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    1. 83

       Whitney05posted 15 years agoin reply to this

       Not that I recall, but they do have a long list of things they're working on. It may be on the list, I just don't think that anyone from the team has said anything official about it.

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16. 72

    Shirley Andersonposted 15 years ago

    I vote yes.  It would also serve to give new life to some existing hubs, bring them back out into the sun and blow the dust off them, assuming they're relevant.

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17. 69

    Kind Regardsposted 15 years ago

    Add me to the list too.  I think it could be the way it is, plus add a box to check for a hub that already exists and a place to input the URL.  By checking this box, it will bypass creating a new hub.
    
    Kind Regards

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18. 85

    Zsuzsy Beeposted 15 years ago

    I think this is a great idea so add me to the list
    greeting to all Zsuzsy

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19. 63

    bgamallposted 15 years ago

    Add me to the list. Relache is always railing against duplicate content so she should be for it. She has hubs that she doesn't want to write over with another not very different angle. There are angles and there are angles. Some are so thin they almost look like straight lines. Lol.

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20. 71

    William F. Torpeyposted 15 years ago

    I would be in favor of anything that brings attention to old hubs. Old does not necessary mean outdated.

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