The Vagaries of GOOGLE and their constantly changing standards

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   Don Bobbittposted 10 years ago

   
   OK! I have been writing on HP for over 3-1/2 years, and this morning it looks like Google has done it again!  I have been getting a steady readership for over a years now, but this morning I went to "0" from all Google sites for the last 24-hours.
   Am I upset? Actually, NO!
   You see, I have accepted thee fact that the HP RICH-MANS CLUB is a myth, and actually, I stopped chasing the Golden Ring long ago.
   I made a concious decision, to keep my best writings to myself, and just place an occasional "commercial" Hub out there for others to read.
   It has become obvious that HP is a site for "searchable" writing and not truly Creative writing. In fact, HP tried to make this a clear goal for everyone when they implemented their "Idle Hub" criteria for everyond.
   Oh, I will get back into th graces of Google and HP eventuially, I guess, but I amnot going to waste my time jumping through their elusive hoops.
   I think that I will just WRITE!

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      My numbers dropped significantly today, also, so I'm glad you put this out there.  It's discouraging, that's for sure!  BUT...things always seem to balance out sooner or later.

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   2. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Ah!  Sweet Symbol of LOVE!
      Dozens of pretty Blue Triangles,
      All pointing down!
      
      So, be Still My throbbing Heart!
      For thy Pain is but a Fleeting Thing!
      
      This terrible and costly Hurt?
      it too will Pass!
      
      Just as an Enema cleanses the body,
      So shall our writings be cleansed
      by the Gods, Google and HP!

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   3. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      After 24-hours ...... No Change.
      So my Hubs must be the perfect example of the newest Google Sin?
      I have, over time, formatted and structured them to be as much alike as possible.
      Eventually, someone will write something about what this NEWEST SIN happens to be, and I will probably fall in line and modify my Hugs to comply.
      I am such a Whore!
      Until then, I guess I will just watch as my Hubs fall into the great HP IDLE HUB abyss!
      Best wishes, fellow Hubbers!

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   4. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Something happened? Something didn't happen?
      I don't know.
      But, what Google took away, is now partially back ( about 25% over the last two days) with absolutely no effort. ( changes) on my part at all.
      
      Jeez I hate software algotythm writers. I was one a Long time ago in another part of my life when
      I was a code geek.  The job itself makes you crazy, and I eventually moved into management ( the control of people like myself. a really strange lifestyle).
      Anyway, instead of pennies a day, I am now in the quarters a day mode. Who knows, maybe one day the Google pendulum will swing totally in my favor and I could be a dollar-naire. ( I just invented this measure of a writers riches, LOL!
      
      Still watching for the other shoe to drop though.

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2. 81

   Wayne Brownposted 10 years ago

   Something must be up, Don...my readership is off on the daily by about 25% as of this morning and I have done nothing different.  I did a Yahoo search yesterday just for grins and found that much more of my stuff comes up than I find through Google.  I am guessing that the elimination of the "key word tags" from HP just might have something to do with what we are seeing.  One thing I have learned about HP over my two years here....they can't leave well enough alone.  What a shame, they have thrown out good stuff and replaced it with worse all in the name of change and progress....no doubt the place is run by liberals.  ~WB

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      Bill Yovinoposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      and how exactly did you equate low readership with Liberals? Jeez, this country in trouble.

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         psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Seriously.

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      SimeyCposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      The TAGS were never use by Google - so removing them had nothing to do with the plunge. There was an 'alleged' Google Update on December 10, 2012 - if you look at your google analytics there is an instant drop between 18:00 and 19:00 that supports the theory of an algorithm change.
      
      http://www.im3.co.uk/blog/google-algori … ember-2012

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         prettydarkhorseposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I thought the update was only about Knowledge Graph Expansion
         and functionality to non-English queries last December 4 http://insidesearch.blogspot.com/2012/1 … dge_4.html
         I don't think it will affect HP.
         I didn't know about the December 10 update.

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      2. 88

         Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         So?  It is the elimination of tags by HP?
         And a google Update?
         As I said, this is just a nother in a long list of the corporations (HP and Google) driving change through punishment.
         They Love us, They actually Need us, but, they do not respect us!
         Jeez! I just realized, I was describing Congress!
         We are truly Doomed Now!

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            SimeyCposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            No - just Google. The Tags really haven't been used by Google for a long time and were even switched off internally for about a year - they were simplt cosmetic. As far as I can tell, the downward plunge is entirely due to Google mucking things up again!

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   3. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Wayne, so, we are being "tweaked"again?
      WTF, I have really grown quite tired of chasing these slippery "improvement Pigs" called HP and Google.
      So, Maybe I will sit back and decide on our future together. 
      Perhaps it will be best to just turn into a reader and then my Commenter ranking could go up to 7 or even 8? Who knows.
      I wonder, though, if there is  another young and budding HP out there just waiting for real writers, and commenters with creative skills?
      I feel that today, all they want is a long list of writers of "research type" articles that they can eventually put into their own WIKI-HUB site?
      Depressed now, so I think I will go open a cold Beer, walk out into the back yard and Piss on something! I see the cat is asleep!

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3. 79

   Crystal Tatumposted 10 years ago

   I don't use my best work here either. It's not so much about the fact that it won't earn money, but that no one will ever see it, because you're right, the more creative the writing, the less exposure it generally gets on HubPages. I understand this now, and am trying to work within the parameters that work best. There are other writer's community's that provide more of an outlet for creative writers. HitRecord.org is one of them. I did a hub titled "Five Hubs That Can Improve Your Life" and this was one I mentioned. I'd recommend it if you're interested in posting more creative pieces. Cheers, Crystal

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4. 81

   Wayne Brownposted 10 years ago

   I've been looking, Don...I will let you know if I turn up anything significant. ~WB

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   1. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Wayne! I will do the same.

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5. 81

   Wayne Brownposted 10 years ago

   My viewship is off by almost 35% today.  Amazingingly, in the readership that I have retained, one hub accounts for almost 50% of the total traffic.  I may as well throw the rest of them in the gutter. ~WB

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6. 80

   psycheskinnerposted 10 years ago

   My numbers are down a bit but I am putting it down tot he holiday season effect.

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7. 91

   cperuzziposted 10 years ago

   I guess that's good... in a way.
   
   While I'm not actually blogging on anything with this site.  I have had my philosophical revelations and share them with my audience.  Plus, I get to write about what I know best.
   
   I'm not entirely sure that I can turn around and say, "I feel like writing a barely adequate article, today."  That's not the way I roll.  If what you're saying is that you're using hubpages as a writing testing ground, that works. 
   
   What I do want is actual circulation and if either Google or hubpages is making this more difficult, I have a problem with that.
   
   I remain hopeful that this will work.

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      mackyiposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I am beginning to wonder if this excellent writing platform is gradually loosing its prestige. I sincerely hope better days are ahead!

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8. 59

   paradigmsearchposted 10 years ago

   I write when I'm inspired.
   
   I tweak when I am bored.
   
   And Google does what Google does...

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   1. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Great Perspective! I guess that's where I'm heading myself.

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9. 81

   timorousposted 10 years ago

   Unfortunately (or fortunately), the nature of the internet is what it is, and people can only find what they're interested in by searching. The search engines use this to try and deliver content that meets the criterion.
   
   This means we can't simply write only about what interests us, and hope people show up to read it. We need to do a bit of research before we render our thoughts to the web page. Still, that doesn't mean pandering to the masses. There's plenty of varied interests going around the internet. We just need to keep the known search terms for our topic in mind as we write what is on our minds. Anything that's well-written and fairly unique will get noticed sooner or later. Especially if you go about promoting it some.
   
   Yeah, my traffic is down a bit right now, but it's the weekend and closing in on Christmas at that (think parties and such). In spite of all that, my earnings are not slowing down any. Go figure.
   
   Cheers everyone.

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   1. 88

      Don Bobbittposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Good points timorous. A little off from what I was asking, but still a good answer. Thans.

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10. 61

    Zhao Yongposted 2 years ago

    Is this post still open?

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    1. 95

       theraggededgeposted 2 years agoin reply to this

       You've been here 17 minutes and already posted a spam article.
       
       Reported.

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          Misbah786posted 2 years agoin reply to this

          OMG Bev G look we found another doctor here

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