Need Help Understanding An Idle

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   TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years ago

   Please help me to understand why these hubs came out of "idle" then were put right back in within a day.
   
   I have changed the titles and a small amount of wording, but can't figure out what's wrong here and have had no help from moderators about this when I contacted them.  Thanks,.
   
   http://timetraveler2.hubpages.com/hub/D … nstitution
   http://timetraveler2.hubpages.com/hub/A … t-Number-3

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      This is my guess, as I don't really know about why things are popular and why they aren't.
      
      The first one about Obama violating the constitution.  The likely target audience for a hub like that would be someone who thinks that he did violate it.  If they didn't think he did, they wouldn't really be looking for this kind of information.  So someone who thinks he did reads this hub will be disappointed that you say he didn't.  They wouldn't be forwarding this hub to their friends.
      
      The second one seems to be an advertisement about a product I don't know.  Since I don't know it, I wouldn't be looking for it.  If this was my hub, I would change the focus to be more about the benefits of a foot massage, the qualities in a lotion that works best for a massage, and then make the recommendation for a particular lotion, so it seems more informative than commercial. That way, even if they choose a different lotion, they will have learned something from the article.

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      1. 74

         TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Millionaire Tips:  I've had excellent reads on the Obama hub, most very strongly responding that they feel he did not violate the Constitution.  I thought maybe the word "violate" was the problem, so I changed it.  The second hub was a contest entry attempt and I included "foot massage" not only because it seemed relevant, but also because it showed up as being a keyword that was popular.  I think this hub may, as you say, have come across as being too commercial and that may be why it was dumped.  I really wanted to write about the product, not the foot massage itself because that is just one use for the product.  I love your input and thank you for it.  Will be doing some reworking asap!

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   2. 93

      Judi Beeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      On the first one, just a guess, but perhaps about the searchability of the title (I typed "Obama and constitution into the search bar) and, as Millionaire Tips say, what the searcher is looking for - it's all anti-Obama.  Don't feel too qualified to comment though - I'm not in the US.
      
      On the second one, the title perhaps gives the impression the hub will be about foot massage with the product as incidental.  In fact, it's about the product with foot massage being incidental.  Why not go for "aloe vesta protective ointment review" or "benefits of using aloe vesta ointment" or similar.  People do search for "aloe vesta", so I'd use it in the title in preference to foot massage.
      
      I also wonder if you are getting marked down for layout under the new scheme.  During the Apprenticeship one of the criticisms I received most often was on the "curse of the white space".  Your layout seems a little gappy in places.  Not a major problem I know but if it is costing you a mark in the Quality Process, it's an easy one to claw back.

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      1. 74

         TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         Judi Bee:  Ironically, the Obama hub has had extremely good response, more than any other I've written recently.  On the second one, I originally had Aloe Vesta in the title but thought that might be the problem, that I was being zinged for being too commercial...so I dropped it off.  I don't know how you review an item without naming it!  The comment about "foot massage" could be the problem...that thought passed through my mind but for some reason I let it slide.  I'll take another look at it.  Thanks for your help.

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         1. 93

            Judi Beeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I saw from the comments that it had a good response - it doesn't seem fair, does it?  I had my favourite hub, the one which got some of my best comments, go idle.  I can understand why - it really wasn't search-friendly, just a personal piece.  It's now on one of my own blogs where it probably won't get any views, but then again, it wasn't getting them here either after the initial rush, so nothing lost!
            
            There's no problem with naming products in the title  - loads of people (including me) have done that for the contest.

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2. 72

   UnnamedHaraldposted 12 years ago

   Just a quick thought: I had several "idles" and every one of them was caused by keywords that weren't in the text (a "duh" moment to be sure). Double-check that every one of your keywords or key phrases are in your text (or captions for images)..

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   1. 74

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      unnamedHarald:  I always make sure that my keywords are repeated at the very least in the beginning and at the end of my hubs and also once or twice in captions of photos and subtitles.  Thanks for your input, though.

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         TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I just checked these hubs and both are now featured...this was before I took any of the advice given here.  However...I still went ahead and made some major changes because I thought what you told me was really helpful.  Thanks to all of you for your input.  It always helps to get more eyes on a situation when you are stymied.  I truly appreciate your comments and feel you've taught me a lot!

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         1. 93

            Judi Beeposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            That's good news

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            1. 74

               TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, it is.  I'm not used to having articles turned down!  This was upsetting, but all is well now.  Thanks again.

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         2. 82

            Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

            I'm glad your hubs are no longer idle. I was upset at the beginning, but now I have decided to look at the positive side of it.   I have a lot of idle hubs so I have had lots of examples to compare and contrast against!
            
            I hope your hubs stay alive.

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