Please - no more "related hubs".

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   Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years ago

   I fail to see the need for the "related hub" section on each of my hub pages. Sometimes these hubs do not really relate to mine.  Readers come to our pages to read the hubs we wrote or because they like to follow us. Pulling our readers away to other hubs is not quite fair.
   
   There are plenty of other places on the site where every hub / author / category can be found - why put them where they distract from our hub and often take a reader away before they reach the voting and comment sections?
   
   I think we should do away with "related hubs" and just have our own "previous and next" hubs showing that are in the same category.
   
   What are your thoughts on "related hubs"?

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I agree 100%, Phyllis. I have noticed that many of the hubs do not even remotely touch on the subject of my hub. Yes, they could very well take readers away from our hubs before they vote or comment!  However, we never know if that is exactly how some readers may have found their way to our hubs as well.

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      lions44posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I like the related hub feature. They list them at the bottom and for my hubs at least, the topics are very related. Granted my hubs are not as diverse as others.  But the feature has led me to find some great articles and authors.  I read the article first then I take a look at related material. It's sort of HP is all about.

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      csmiravite-blogsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I like the "related hubs" as I get traffic from it. I happen to be a "related hub" to one popular blogger,  and I get the click rates because my link is  on her site.
      
      Since I write on one or two niches only, most "related hub" are from the same niche. I have no problem with it and I am happy being linked with the more popular hubbers.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well, Phyllis, there are a lot of good reasons stated here as to why the related hubs are good for traffic to our hubs. Plus, now that I think about it, some of my own hubs show up as related hubs on my own hubs at times.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         You are right, Faith. This is why I have not yet replied to any comments - I actually wanted to see some positive thoughts on 'related hubs" and that is what I got.
         
         I agree that there are benefits to the related hubs, as long as they truly are related to the featured hub.
         
         Thank you everyone for your thoughts on this topic.

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      Rachel L Albaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I really never gave them a thought before.  They never bothered me so I guess I'm not against them.  Maybe our hubs are on someone else "related" hubs.

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         J - R - Fr13m9nposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         That could possibly be the case where our hubs have appeared on other ones. Anyway I can also see the opinion that they can also distract any reader from leaving comments. A different system should be set up.

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            Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I can see the good and the bad in "related hubs".  I think you are right in setting up a different system. Maybe if that section came after the comments ... ?

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   RonElFranposted 9 years ago

   I recently had a couple of hubs that had a great run on social media. Because of them I also picked up many views through the "related hubs" feature. In my case, I got a lot more traffic from related hubs than through the "more by this author" or the prev/next links. That was true on both the hubs that were getting a lot of social media traffic, so I don't think it was an anomaly. "Related hubs" has been very positive for me, and I wouldn't at all want to see it eliminated.

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   Paul Maplesdenposted 9 years ago

   Personally, I like the related hubs feature. It keeps people on the site, exploring hubs, and people reading another author could click on your hub and you'd get a view from it.
   
   Around 25% of all my traffic is internal referrals from other HP hubs, and I am certain it's a (relatively) important part of traffic for a reasonable population of hubbers,

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I do believe some traffic may be getting to my hubs from my hubs being related hubs under other hubbers' hubs.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         hmmmm - are you "key word stuffing" here, Faith?  LOL

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            Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            LOL, I don't know how to do that or exactly what that is, but should I learn?  Hahaha Dum dum

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               Venkatachari Mposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Faith, I also want to know what it is- the key word. If you learn please let me also know about it..
               Regarding related hubs, your replies are reasonable and I also support it.

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                  Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  hahaha - key word stuffing is using a word that is one of the main words in the title of a hub - in this case the word "hub".  You (Faith) used the word several times in one sentence.  This is no big deal and rather amusing the way you did it.  If a sentence like that was used in a hub, Google would see it as "key word stuffing" and downgrade the hub.  In the forum thread, it is no problem and I was just teasing you.
                  
                  The sentence was: "Yes, I do believe some traffic may be getting to my hubs from my hubs being related hubs under other hubbers' hubs."

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   calculus-geometryposted 9 years ago

   Since HP is unlikely to change this feature to your liking, the best thing you can do is write several hubs on the same topic.  That way the related articles section will be populated with links to your own work rather than other people's. Next time you think of something to write about, think about how you can make 3 or 4 hubs out of it.

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      csmiravite-blogsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      True, I write on one particular niche and all my related hubs are my own blogs. But mine gets linked with other hubbers since they write on different niches. So on that particular topic, I would most likely appear on their site as a related hub!  Alleluia! That's additional click rates for me! 

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      colorfuloneposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Aw, so it is not a time to think outside of the Related Hubs Box, but to think inside of the box and make it work for us?

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Yes ... I think that is what he said ... good catch, Susie.

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Good thoughts, Calculus - Thanks!

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   paradigm searchposted 9 years ago

   I've also been totally pro Related Hubs for the reasons the others have stated; Related Hubs have sent much traffic my way. However, what with the EC label thing now in effect, and the low-hubscore banishment situations; my opinion has gone to undecided for the time being.

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      Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, it's not the Related Hubs section that should be done away with, but the labeling. It makes the whole thing very unfair for reasons already discussed in other threads.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         The EC labeling is unfair, but this is off topic for this thread and should be discussed in its own thread.

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            Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            What I'm basically saying is that Related Hubs is a very good thing, if only it weren't for the labels. I don't see how this is off topic. You ask in your original post for hubbers' thoughts on Related Hubs, and that's what I think. I also mention in my post that there are other threads discussing the topic of labels, which is why I didn't go into it further.

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               Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               I understand, Jayne. Thank you.

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   Colin Quartermainposted 9 years ago

   I like the related hubs section, and they always seem to be connected to the article I have written.
   
   When I have paid attention, the related articles also always contain at least one of my other articles, although this might be because I only write in two or three areas.
   
   They also offer me the chance to read others' hubs on subjects I am interested, which I might not necessarily find in a brief search of hubpages.

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      That's true; I've seen some of my own hubs under related hubs on my on hubs.

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         Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I also have seen my own hubs listed in related hubs on several of my hubs. This is good - yes, it is.

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   Peggy Wposted 9 years ago

   Most of the time the related hubs are on similar topics and quite often several of mine show up there as well so overall I am happy.

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   The Examiner-1posted 9 years ago

   Suppose the related Hubs were only yours?

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      Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I have actually seen that on those you have a series going.

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         wildernessposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I've got a set of hubs like that, where all the "related" links are my own hubs. 
         
         Not sure it's a real good idea, though - I interlink the hubs via textual links, the "more by" leads to another of the same set, the "group" links are all the same set and then the "related" ones are added to the list.  A lot of links all to the same small set of hubs.

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            Faith Reaperposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, good point there, wilderness.  That is for sure a lot of links!

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            Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Very interesting ... and creative !

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         The Examiner-1posted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Which ones Faith?

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   J - R - Fr13m9nposted 9 years ago

   True. Related hubs can distract. Good suggestion: Previous and next hubs seem like a good idea if the reader desires to do further reading on a similar subject.

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      Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I think the "previous and next" is a very good feature - mainly because readers are drawn to not just a particular hub, but a particular author.  I have a lot of topics I write on and make sure each category has at least three hubs in it, so I activate the previous and next feature.

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    firstcookbookladyposted 9 years ago

    I personally feel that it is quite interesting to see what fellow hubbers are doing. Write on!!!

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       J - R - Fr13m9nposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Good idea! I find it interesting also.

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    MizBejabbersposted 9 years ago

    I've always kinda liked them. Since my notifications seem to be limited to the last few writers whose hubs I read, it has led me to some new writers on subjects of interest and to some new friends. I never thought about a downside. Now I'm thinkin'....

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       Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Well ... you do have a good point there, MizB. It does lead to reading new POV s and new friends.

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    RanaKmposted 9 years ago

    I somehow agree with you but I think that this is a good step to help other hubbers with the traffic of their hubs..
    Some are just not lucky enough or capable of getting their hubs shown in Google search, while others might..
    This has never disturbed me actually but I do agree with you though..

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    Jodahposted 9 years ago

    I am for 'related hubs' as when I am reading someone elses hub I often peruse the "related hubs" section and find others that interest me, often by hubbers I am not already familiar with. Hence a new contact.

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