User Commenting on Niche Sites (and on HubPages!)

1. 68

   Kent Merrittposted 8 years ago

   Hello, fellow hubbers!
   
   I'm new here (even though I joined back in 2009, then left for some unknown reason - but now I'm back). I tried to find something about this topic here in the forums, but really could not find anything that answers my question, which is this...
   
   Why does HubPages require a person to create a HubPages account in order to post a comment?  It seems like this is counter-productive to getting more traffic.  I understand that most of the people making comments on the various hubs on HubPages are other writers, but now that a lot of these articles are being migrated to niche sites, it just seems like a good thing to help build traffic would be to make it easier to post a comment.  If I go to the Tatring or Pethelpful websites to read an article that I'd found through Google, and would like to comment on that article, and suddenly I'm taken to a page to sign up as a writer on Hubpages, I would probably just forget about writing that comment.
   
   These days, a lot of online communities are using services like Disqus, or even allowing their Facebook or Twitter logins for posting comments. This just seems like it would help all of the niche sites to be more user-friendly and would generate more traffic, and isn't that what the niches are all about?

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2. 94

   Glenn Stokposted 8 years ago

   Kent, It's an option that each Hubber can chose for controlling comments. You obviously have stumbled upon some hubs where the Hubber does not allow comments except from signed-in users. Others have it set to allow anyone to comment but then requiring moderation before the comment appears in the hub. Then there are those who allow anything from anyone without moderation. But the latter is dangerous since spammers have a free-for-all in those cases.

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3. 68

   Kent Merrittposted 8 years ago

   Thanks, Glenn.  So, you're saying we can select the type of comments ourselves? 
   I've completely missed that option.  Is that available on a per hub basis?  Where do I select those options when I'm creating a hub?

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4. 94

   Glenn Stokposted 8 years ago

   Kent,
   
   You can set them globally or make specific settings in each hub to override the global settings.
   
   ✔️ To do it globally go to your comments moderation page and click "show settings".
   
   ✔️ To set in an individual hub (not recommended) - edit the hub and open the comment capsule. There you will be able to override the global settings.

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5. 68

   Kent Merrittposted 8 years ago

   Hey, thank you again, Glenn Stok!
   I never knew that feature was there!  I did see those options in the Comments capsule under Edit.  The wording was a little confusing to me, though...
   
   Disable any further comments from being posted           
   Comments must be approved before they appear           
   Only signed-in users may post comments           
   Display most recent comments first
   
   I suppose I was looking for a 'Let non-members post comments' option. 
   I didn't realize that selecting 'No' for 'Only signed-in users may post' would basically do the same thing. 
   Good to know!

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6. 92

   Susan Hambidgeposted 8 years ago

   I have thought the same thing about posting comments. I have one hub about getting into a car when the battery is dead, (something I learned the hard way and wanted to pass on) - and it gets a handful of viewings a day but there are never any comments. I am sure that I would have helped at least one or two people over the time, but no 'thanks for that' comments left.  I could understand people not wanting to sign up to leave a comment, however.
   
   I didn't know we could change the setting so I will look at that.
   
   I will see what happens about spammers. I have already had one 'hmm shall we say 'slightly perverted' comment left on another hub by a 'registered' user so you have to watch out for strange comments anyway!

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7. 68

   Kent Merrittposted 8 years ago

   Well....I thought it worked!
   
   After changing the settings like Glenn suggested, I went back to one of my hubs, and it looked like it was going to allow anyone to post.  However, I was still logged into my account.  So, I logged out, then went back to my hub, and lo and behold, it was still stating that I would need to sign in or sign up through Hubpages in order to leave a comment. 
   
   Right back where I started from.

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   1. 94

      Glenn Stokposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      You didn't select the right option. I know it works because I am allowing anyone to leave comments on my hubs. They don't need to create an account. It works.  But for protection I also have the other option selected that requires me to moderate new comments before they appear.  That's how I avoid spammers  while at the same time allowing organic traffic to comment as well.

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8. 68

   Kent Merrittposted 8 years ago

   Well, I stand corrected (actually. I sit corrected), Glenn.  I went to one of your hubs and posted a comment while I was logged out. It did allow me to post, even though it shows that same information next to the Name box, namely 'Sign in or Sign up using Hubpages, etc.' that shows up on my hubs.
   
   I posted on your article on alliteration, btw. It didn't show up, but I'm assuming you have the hub set to moderate the comments.
   
   I guess I'm just used to websites where people are allowed to post comments without all of the rules, regulations and moderation.  But, I do understand the need for it.

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9. 94

   Glenn Stokposted 8 years ago

   Kent, I just approved your comment in that hub of mine. As you saw, you were able to post the comment without being logged in. Of course it gave you the option to sign up with HubPages but you didn't have to. Notice that most Hubbers are using the same settings I use. That is the safest way.
   
   One other thing, if you haven't been following the new rules about comments that HubPages has made clear, most of us are deleting comments that simply say things similar to  "nice hub" without adding any value for the reader. This is because Google is getting tough with that and they consider comments as part of the hub. Anything that does not add value is considered fluff and seen as spammy. Just so you know.
   
   Those other sites you talk about, that don't care about what's left in comments, may not do well under the new stringent rules as time goes by.  You see, Google is struggling to stay in business too. They realize the need to send people to sites that don't have useless fluff that waste the time of the people searching for results. That's why HubPages is trying to give Google what they want.

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10. 68

    Kent Merrittposted 8 years ago

    Thanks again for the helpful info, Glenn.
    
    Feel free to delete my comment, if it's considered too 'fluffy'. 
    We certainly wouldn't want to upset the almighty Google!

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