How many hours do you spend on a top-quality Hub?

1. 0

   promisemposted 9 years ago

   By a top-quality Hub, I mean one that is more than 1,000 words, contains original or carefully chosen photos from other sources, gets a Hubscore at least into the 80s if not the 90s and is Featured. It may or may not be an Editor's Choice. By hours, I mean research, writing, editing and promoting.

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   1. 91

      lions44posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      2-3 months.  I use the last 3 weeks to edit down.

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      1. 78

         TIMETRAVELER2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

         I mostly write from experience, so have to do very little research for most of my hubs.  I'll put a hub online usually in less than 2 hours, but then I spend time every so often pruning, refining, updating and correcting.
         
         My overall scores range from a low of 75 up to the mid 90's but I also have had several 100s.  Those seem to change with time even though I do nothing to change them!

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            promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Congrats on the scores. I've been been able to get one of mine all the way to 100.

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   2. 95

      eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Probably a day or two, but that includes taking and post processing photos, creating graphics, promoting etc. Then I constantly modify layout, improve grammar and text so that the hub "reads" better.  I add new content as I think about it and keep trying to improve everything, so a hub is never quite finished. I could probably put together a hub in a day, but it would be rough and ready.
      I think if possible we should try to generate our own photos/illustrations/graphics. Of course this isn't always feasible, and not everyone has the skills or flair for doing this, but they can learn the basics and improve. Our textual content must be original, so why not photos also?

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         promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Eugbug, I just saw this post and have to agree, especially now that I'm spending more time on photos.
         
         I wonder if spending more time on photos pays for itself with more page views and ad revenue.

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         1. 95

            eugbugposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I don't know Scott, and I still haven't figured out why one of my hubs has been immune from any of the Google Panda updates, beginning with 4.1 last September. It has lots  of photos, 43 in fact, but hasn't been penalized for loading time. It also has 4700 words and 7 Amazon ads. Another hub seems to have increasing traffic, has lots of photos and hasn't been affected by Panda either. The only similarity is that text and photos are somewhat evenly interspersed, so maybe Mr. Google likes that.  Another hub had a similar number of photos and about 6000 words. It used to be the second result on page 1 of a Google search, but has now moved to page 4 since the Panda update in April. This is another of my "How To" hubs with more lengthy, comprehensive text blocks, but  I reckon Google doesn't like these and the ranking algorithm favors more snappy happy pages with minimal text which won't bore readers.

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   3. 60

      NanahoChanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Well I have a few featured hubs but I haven't yet written anything super top-quality, most of my hubs are 800 words or less and so far the longest I've taken is probably 3-4 hours. I guess I should start writing longer and better quality hubs from now on

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         promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Length helps as well as the quality of the photos and what kind of off-site promotion you do.

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         1. 60

            NanahoChanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Yes I use quite a few photos and try and make my hub as visually appealing as possible but writer's block always make sit hard for me to make certain hubs longer

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               promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               I used to run into the same thing and found that coming back to a Hub after several weeks or months gave me a fresh perspective. I found it easier to add content.

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   4. 93

      MarleneBposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I spend all day, at least 8 hours researching. Even if it is something I'm writing from experience, I'll do some research to validate my experience. Then, I'll spend another 8 to 16 hours writing, rewriting, and editing. I let the finished hub sit for a day before publishing it. I probably only spend about 5 minutes a week promoting the hub to Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, and Facebook. Sometimes, I market a hub on my writing website, but that's rare. I probably should spend more time marketing.

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      1. 0

         promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Your efforts seem to have paid off with HP. Congrats on the 100 score!

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         1. 93

            MarleneBposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Thank you promisem. I can't say that I know how I got 100, but I'm enjoying it while I have it. It fluctuates, as you know. Tomorrow is another day!

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2. 76

   Valeantposted 9 years ago

   Around 2-3.

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3. 84

   Chriswillman90posted 9 years ago

   It depends but it could take from a couple hours to as long as 8 or so with editing and formatting. I'm sure there are some Hubbers that take a few days to gather all of their research and sources to produce a top quality hub.

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4. 97

   littlethingposted 9 years ago

   It depends on what I'm writing about. If it's a travel hub, where I have all the pictures and information already, maybe 2 or 3 hours. A history hub, where I need to find legal pictures and do research can take me more than a day. I also work full time, however, and write in the evenings.

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5. 94

   Thelma Albertsposted 9 years ago

   I have not counted the hours. When it´s a travel hub, I have to do a research and if possible go to that place and take photos. Just like the last hub which I wrote about the Cologne cathedral in Germany. It took me a week to complete it and of course with breaks.

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6. 66

   lisavanvorstposted 9 years ago

   I haven't written a new hub in awhile. Sometimes it just comes to me and I start to write and edit afterwards. However, some of my previous hubs; especially the mystery ones I've been known to spend a day or two on them. This is usually the case when it is part 1 and 2 type of series.

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7. 90

   Suzanne Dayposted 9 years ago

   A few of my hubs took 4 weeks. Most take about 2 days until completion.
   
   The actual writing bit takes a few hours where I write madly, then edit with a fine toothed comb. It is the promotion, images, keyword checking and transferring it to HP that take the longest time for me.

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8. 82

   Jason Marovichposted 9 years ago

   Two to three days before final edit, if I keep at it.

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      promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Do you mean two to three days from the time you start until the time you finish (with time off for other things) or do you mean you take two to three full days?

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         Jason Marovichposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Twelve hours, over two to three days, would be a good estimate of actual time.  Some of that time is spent thinking.  Some of it writing. 
         
         To write a hub from start to finish in one sitting is selling myself short.  Other ideas will spring up after I've started, particularly with short fiction.  Even my informational hubs are better if I take breaks between writing time to let some ideas form in my mind.  I do, however, have an ending couple paragraphs in mind when I start. 
         
         A good start and a good ending are important to our readers, even with an article on HubPages.

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9. 0

   promisemposted 9 years ago

   I find I have to spend 3-4 hours to produce ones with enough words and enough photos to get a score above 80.
   
   Mine usually require some research. The ones that don't take less time. How much I promote them also matters.

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10. 95

    mary615posted 9 years ago

    I don't write as many Hubs as I'd like, because I take way too much time!  I write, rewrite, check and recheck, I'd say on average it takes me two to three days to complete a Hub.

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       promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       That sounds like an impressive amount of effort. Do you spend that much time on them for the creative satisfaction or because you think it's necessary to get the largest possible audience for them?

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11. 94

    jansharesposted 9 years ago

    Depends on the hub and what busyness is going on in my life. But on average I would say 2 to 3 days writing a draft in Word, researching photos, pulling all the pieces together and editing the final. Actually writing and formatting the article within the hubtool takes only a few hours of those 2 to 3 days.

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12. 92

    Elderberry Artsposted 9 years ago

    Around 4-5 hours if I can just write from my knowledge. If I need to research or check to confirm things then it will be longer. If I don't have my own sometimes finding photos can take time, depending on the subject.

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    1. 0

       promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       That's more than the average I see being posted. What motivates you to put in that extra effort -- income or creative satisfaction?

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       1. 92

          Elderberry Artsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          A bit of both. My writing is my only income and I want what I write to be accurate and done well. I have dyslexia so so the writing and editing maybe takes longer than it might another person. I tend to write notes first, probably on paper and then go from there to write a draft and then the final piece.
          
          On another site I write jewellery making tutorials which are pretty time consuming as I have to work through the creation process, while taking photographs and also writing out the directions.

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13. 87

    Sherry Hewinsposted 9 years ago

    The actual writing rarely takes more than a couple of hours. If I am taking photographs specifically for the hub, it could take days. Once I did a craft hub that took a month, between doing the actual craft, taking the photographs and formatting the hub.

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14. 97

    RonElFranposted 9 years ago

    I've spent most of the last three days researching my next hub. I'll probably spend another day going back over that material and deciding how I want to present it. Once I start writing, it usually takes another day to get a decent draft. Then maybe half a day for photos, videos, and formatting. My target for publishing this hub is three days from now.
    
    You've asked why spend that much time. I do it because I write about what interests me. I enjoy the research, which, BTW, often turns up related ideas that eventually become hubs in their own right. I'm picky about getting things right, from facts to grammar, so I don't mind spending the time to craft a hub I can be proud of.

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15. 69

    clivewilliamsposted 9 years ago

    don't know...never written one

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       sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       It can take me several days as I have to do all the photography and make the items I write about.

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          promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Which probably explains why you have a 99 Hubber score. It's a pattern that keeps showing up. The more work that goes into a Hub, the higher the score. That's not the only reason for a high score, but  effort does seem to make a difference.

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             sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

             Thank you, you saw it on my lucky day.  I woke to a 99 score today after a 98 or 97 which I seem to have had for so long, so tantalizing, just a point away from your straight 100 and I guess after publishing another hub today, it may go down again before I look away.  Very well done.

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             1. 0

                promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                And now I'm back down to a 98 despite new Hubs and other efforts. 

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16. 61

    Mark Ewbieposted 9 years ago

    I have recently been editing my hubs - many of which were created four or five years ago.
    
    They were dreadful.
    
    Not much better now but it's a start.
    
    I guess the answer is - the editing never stops.

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       paradigm searchposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Exactly right. I've been following that philosophy for years.

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       promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       And not just the text. Photos too.

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17. 52

    janderson99posted 9 years ago

    3-5 hours for my hubs

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       paradigm searchposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Been meaning to talk with you...

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18. 53

    paradigm searchposted 9 years ago

    If you wish.

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19. 53

    paradigm searchposted 9 years ago

    Regarding your awesome traffic that is.

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    1. 52

       janderson99posted 9 years agoin reply to this

       1274 hubs helps?

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          paradigm searchposted 9 years agoin reply to this

          Ya think?

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          TIMETRAVELER2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

          How do you keep track of so many articles?  I would think that many would create a ton of work for you on a regular basis.

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             promisemposted 9 years agoin reply to this

             A spreadsheet helps with data points on each article. Use multiple tabs to organize them by category.

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20. 96

    Phyllis Doyleposted 9 years ago

    For a top quality Hub I initially spend a minimum of four days, most of my hubs take a week on average. It is a never-ending task, though, since I often edit down the road if new info has come up on the hub's subject. All my hubs are evergreen, but even evergreen hubs need revision once in awhile.

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21. 52

    janderson99posted 9 years ago

    I spend a lot less time now that Hubpro Basic looms and Hubpro will probably become compulsory in the near future. What's the point wasting time puting your heart and soul into an article, when a foreign editor, who probably know very little about the topic, will arise and change your article. This changes everything and ruins the sense of ownership and pride for your own style of writing in your subdomain.

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22. 88

    Jodahposted 9 years ago

    In hours I don't know but generally around two or three days to completion. I have taken as long as a week especially for each hub in my series of "The Convicts" which took a lot of research.

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23. 68

    thumbi7posted 9 years ago

    I don't claim I have super quality hubs. But since most of my hubs are on health education, I take time to give the correct information out there. Most of my hubs take one week to prepare; and that is also because I spent a lot of time doing other things; other than hubpages

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24. 60

    Mukherjee Rudrabhposted 9 years ago

    Sir if you are giving 2-3 hours at one sitting it will days 2 days to complete. (Keeping this fact in mind if one is not any pro)

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25. 94

    Faceless39posted 9 years ago

    The low end is 10 hours, the high end is 20+ hours.

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       Mukherjee Rudrabhposted 9 years agoin reply to this

       Don't you think it is very high? Like 4 hours are good enough. Isn't?

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26. 80

    passionatelearnrposted 9 years ago

    around 12 or more hours

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