URL/Title Creation: Second Chance, Please?

1. 96

   jansharesposted 11 years ago

   I just noticed a "glitch" today after creating my latest hub when writing in a title. The title is the first thing I write when I open the hub tool. As I'm writing the hub, making many additions and changes to my original, I look at the title to see if it still fits. In most of my hubs, I end up changing the title as I write and add capsules.
   
   Today, after the hub had been published and featured, I noticed in Google Analytics, that the URL was my original title that I thought I had changed! I now realize whatever we type in the title box first, remains as the title in the URL! Only the actual hub title changes. This is not fair as I always tweak the title before I publish the hub.
   
   This discovery inadvertently answered some questions that have confused me as well, like the time I discovered that the URL for my hub on Women's Public Restroom Behavior had "Pubic" and not "Public" or another title I found that had a minor typo. Apparently, I thought I made corrections in the title during creation of the hub or in subsequent editing. But now I know the mistakes stay once you put those characters in the first time and hit "continue" or "done editing." Maybe it becomes permanent after the first time we hit "done editing" or "save unpublished."
   
   I already knew that URLs are permanent and cannot be changed. This is not my issue. I'd like to know if it's possible to look at this "glitch" to see if any changes can be made so that the URL is not permanent until we have actually hit "published."

   replyreport
   1. 93

      drmiddlebrookposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      One thing you can do, to change the URL, is to delete and then re-publish the Hub using the corrected title/URL. You start by saving your Hub copy in a Word file, plus any visuals you may have published with the Hub, and then, delete the Hub. In other words, "un-publish" it, and then create the new Hub with the new URL. I've done this at least once, so I know it works. It's a lot of work, but if you really want the URL and the title to match, at least there is a way you can do it.

      replyreport
      1. 96

         jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks so much for that alternative, drmiddlebrook. I will keep that one in mind for the future.

         replyreport
         1. 39

            Writer Foxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Why didn't you do that with the 'public restroom' Hub?

            replyreport
            1. 96

               jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I know that's what you suggested before, but I decided to leave it alone for now. I gets a few views here and there. Maybe after the new year I'll fix it, no rush. At least I have options.

               replyreport
               1. 39

                  Writer Foxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  I understand.  I don't think most visitors will notice, but Google does. If you do a search on Google for this: "pubic restrooms", you get over 4,000 results!

                  replyreport
                  1. 96

                     jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     Ha ha, maybe we have to account for searchers entering typos, too. :-)

                     replyreport
   2. 85

      Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      It's not a "glitch", it's the way it's always been I think.   The URL is created with whatever you first type in.  I remember noticing it a long time ago.

      replyreport
      1. 96

         jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, it's an after-the-fact discovery. Now I know.

         replyreport
   3. 70

      Matthew Meyerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      As others have explained, the URL cannot be changed once it is selected.
      http://hubpages.com/faq/#Name-Hub

      replyreport
      1. 96

         jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         So noted, thanks. I will select final title earlier from now on.

         replyreport
         1. 85

            Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            The other thing to bear in mind is that it's not important to have the title and URL match.  In fact, some writers make them different on purpose!   That way you can use a greater variety of keywords.

            replyreport
            1. 96

               jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Writer Fox explained the same, will definitely keep that in mind. Great tip, thanks Marisa.

               replyreport
   4. 83

      mikejhcaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I made a hub just for my rough drafts. That way I don't need to worry about getting the title exactly the way I want it before I write the hub. It is usually easier to figure out the exact title I want to use after I have written most of the hub. It also lets me see how the title fits. I can see if I want to make it longer or shorter. It is not difficult to move the content to a new hub.

      replyreport
   5. 91

      Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Jan, one of my best performers with over 44,000 views has a typo in teh URL...lol. If the keywords are related to the hub then it doesn't matter. As a matter of fact a different URL may work in your favor (so long as it's related). Is the hub published. Can I see it?

      replyreport
      1. 96

         jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Cardisa, yes the one with the mistake has been published for months. It has a lady applying red lipstick: Women's Public Restroom Behavior I think is the name. Sorry for not getting the link for you. I'm squimish about doing that. Thanks.

         replyreport
         1. 91

            Cardisaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I'll find it...lol
            
            Found it. i have to admit the title is kinda funny...lol but I don't think it will hurt it much. However, you may need to find strong keywords for that hub. Yes, back to the keywords thing.

            replyreport
            1. 96

               jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, ma'am. Always appreciate your advice because it works! I have LOTS of work to do on my hubs, will add keywords to the list.

               replyreport
2. 61

   The Examiner-1posted 11 years ago

   I believe that once you click on 'continue' on the title page that it cannot be changed anymore. Perhaps you should write it in Word (or somewhere) and check it until you are sure it is to your liking.
   When it is, then you can copy/paste it to the new Hub page to make sure that you get it correct.
   If you want you can also check it word for word against the other one which you just typed.

   replyreport
   1. 96

      jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, The Examiner-1, I appreciate your help. I see now that I will have to settle on a title earlier than I realized and stick to it. Bummer. My hubs, as well as hub titles, always morph into something else as my writing process moves forward. It's just how I work. But I will make the adjustment.

      replyreport
      1. 39

         Writer Foxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         You can change the Title, even after a Hub is published.  But, as you discovered, the URL will remain the same.  The URL doesn't have to exactly match the Title and most of mine don't.  I prefer a short URL and a longer Title, so most of mine don't match on purpose.

         replyreport
         1. 96

            jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Oh, now that's an idea. Now that I know, I can use it to my advantage. Thanks so much, Writer Fox. What is the advantage of a shorter URL?

            replyreport
            1. 39

               Writer Foxposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               It looks better to users.  URL's that go on and on and on don't look professional and are less likely to be linked to by other people.

               replyreport
               1. 96

                  jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks for the tip.

                  replyreport
               2. 93

                  MsDoraposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks from me also for this tip.  We keep learning, don't we?  I knew that I couldn't help with the answer to Jan's problem, but it pays to read anyway.

                  replyreport
3. 61

   pocono foothillsposted 11 years ago

   I agree, I think it would be nice to have the ability to change the URL.  That would be a lot easier than starting from scratch again, because even copying and pasting all the content from an old Hub with a bad URL into a new one with a good URL is time consuming.

   replyreport
   1. 96

      jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, pocono foothills, time is of the essence when producing hubs in our otherwise busy lives.

      replyreport
4. 67

   JRScarbroughposted 11 years ago

   You can delete the hub but I wouldn't. If you delete it after it is already indexed by Google you will need to wait out the indexing again. Really, your link doesn't matter, eventually Google's bot will return and the index info will change even though the link remains the same. Basically, as long as your title contains the keywords you are aiming for, you are fine. The link does add value like that but the way a link is formed, it is not providing you anything in the way of keyword aid.
   
   For example, this link http://jrscarbrough.hubpages.com/hub/5- … to-Die-For
   adds nothing to my rank in Google through the keywords at the end. That word would be a long one "5-Mexican-Dishes-to-Die-For". BUT my actual title heading does ad something. I change my titles about 3 months into their Google indexation sometimes and it does nothing to hurt the page to have the link remain the same as the first title choice.
   
   Hope this helps.

   replyreport
   1. 96

      jansharesposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, this does help, JR. I appreciate the example.

      replyreport
      1. 67

         JRScarbroughposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         No problem Jan. These were questions I did a lot of reading on before I messed with my own Hubs, I noticed this too. The reason they keep the link is so Google or other search engines will not lose your hub and then you have to wait to appear in search engines again.

         replyreport