Losing faith in hubpages because of Google

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   TessSchlesingerposted 6 years ago

   I'm so tired of Google and their algorythms. It seems like just when I get things right, they change something and I have to start all over again. Obviously hubpages is affected by this, and while I have the greatest of respect for Paul and Robin, it's discouraging for me.
   
   I haven't written anything for a few months. I just can't bring myself to keep investing in something that seems doomed to fail over the long term.
   
   I just don't get why HealDove would have been penalized. I don't get why articles that are really good and get good traffic all the time should be suddenly receive less traffic.
   
   Good work and good effort should be rewarded.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I looked at your profile and noticed that you have numerous articles...a series apparently...about the Second Civil War.  It has been advised many times that writing a series is not a good idea, so this may be one of the reasons why you're having issues.
      
      Don't blame HP for what Google is doing, because all sites across the board are impacted by Google.  It's just how things are, and unless you are willing to update and change to meet new requirements, you'll continue to have issues.
      
      You have to remember that this stuff isn't just about good writing...it's about what sells.  We are, after all, a business that exists to make money.  The only way to do that is to have your work well rated by Google, so you have to dance to their tune.
      
      You're not the only person here who gets discouraged, but I know from personal experience that what I just told you is the truth.  I almost lost my entire site three summers ago, but I got to work, made major changes and saved it.  I'm sure you can do the same if you are willing to be realistic about what is happening to you.
      
      Best of luck.

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         earnerposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         "You have to remember that this stuff isn't just about good writing...it's about what sells."
         
         Yep ... else I'd never make a penny

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            Ashish Dadgaaposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            @earner
            
            Very well said.

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         TessSchlesingerposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Actually, while I was writing the series, it upgraded my traffic about 20%. And as my traffic comes from keywords on multiple topics, that's not it. If I lost the traffic from a fictional series, I couldn't care less.

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      chef-de-jourposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Please keep going. Find a way. Many of us are climbing a steep learning curve and whilst Google keeps and will keep knocking us off, the majority of us I hope will climb straight back on. HP I sense is becoming healthier, albeit slimmed down and not so generous.... if it encourages you... with the introduction of the niche sites some months back, my figures have improved dramatically. If Google knocks some of us off again, with the help of HP staff and fellow writers, we can keep working towards better quality and realistic goals. I wish you well.

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      gmwilliamsposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      +1,000,000,000,000,000-this behavior on the part of HubPages  will result in excellent writers leaving the site & creating their own site where it is more profitable.

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      1. 88

         TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Maybe those writers who left know something I don't, but my blog hasn't earned butkus compared to what I earn here.  It doesn't work for everybody.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            But what is the traffic like on your blog, TT2?  The lack of earnings is because HubPages has a sophisticated strategy for showing ads, whereas on a blog, you have to DIY.   
            
            On my own blog, I don't put Amazon ads in my posts at all - instead, I have separate "Shopping" pages where I list all the products, arranged logically.  I'm not sure why I never suggested that to you.  There is some evidence that Google likes that better than ads in posts - putting all the products on separate pages makes it look like a shop, and Google likes shops. 
            
            It might be worth checking what your blog template looks like on mobile.  All your Adsense ads are on your sidebars, and on some templates they just disappear so people browsing on a mobile don't see them.

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               Maina Ndunguposted 6 years agoin reply to this

               On my blogs and sites, I use links to Amazon. Do you mean I could be penalized by Google for doing that?

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                  Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  It is possible.  There is a lot of debate about whether affliiate ads affect your ranking.   
                  
                  I have used affiliate ads for years on my sites and their earnings have been remarkably steady, especially considering I rarely add any new posts.
                  
                  However, it's been suggested to me that the reason I've never had a problem is that I put all my product recommendations on dedicated "shopping" pages, and not in my posts.

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                     TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     Marisa:
                     
                     I don't use ads on sidebars in my blog posts.  I place them within the text because it seems logical to me to talk about the necessity of having a product and then show it right there.  Obviously, this isn't working.  On the other hand, views are absolutely pitiful.  Some days I get none...and that's with more than 42 posts.
                     
                     I don't do a lot of ads...only when they're appropriate...but when time permits, perhaps I'll try a "store".  With so few people viewing, however, I'd be surprised if I get anything.
                     
                     I tend to put my efforts where they'll earn me some money...HP is where that's happening.  Adsense continues to do well for me...so I'm pretty happy about that. 
                     
                     Frankly, I can't even tell if anybody is buying anything from my blog or not.  They don't make it easy on Blogger to get such info...and I don't know how to view my blog on mobile either.  Sigh.

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         Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Behaviour on the part of HubPages??  Tess is pointing out that the behaviour is Google's.   HubPages is trying to respond to that.

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      weezyschannelposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      TIMETRAVELER2  I am right there with you! I am so disgusted because I just feel like my work, that I have put my heart and soul in,  is it worth it. I've shared a part of my life with my health issues to the world,  I even felt  it was worthwhile;  as soon as I start seeing an increase in earnings that lets me know my hard work is paying off a little bit, it just  drops out the window! I'm lucky to make $.25 a day for 53 articles.
      
      I was never making a ton, but I was making enough to feel like writing and updating. I don't wish to write another article because the earnings are drastically falling and don't want to put any more effort in or even write more articles.  It seems when articles were moved to niche sites it just bottomed out.
      
      When I first started  writing for Hubpages several years ago,  I was literally making four and five cents a day… and then I started to really dig deep into my soul and write.  Unfortunately, I've been blessed with several health problems and surgical mishaps… I choose to write most of my articles on  those issues. I'm just as devastated and disgusted as you are.

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   Andagueda88posted 6 years ago

   Read your comment, it fills me with many doubts, especially for being a new person in this, I invite you not to stop writing and publish, I think this medium gives us the opportunity to express ourselves freely about what we think of things that Are to our around, I think my articles are a complete disaster, my native language is not English I make the effort to translate and improve, that is the propositi, do not be discouraged, forward a strong hug

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3. 88

   Butterfly67posted 6 years ago

   You are right, it is not only Hubpages. For the last 6 months I have seen the traffic and income on my sites steadily increase until suddenly this month it is all taking a big drop! It is really discouraging, just when you think you are getting things right, Google keeps you on your toes. I guess we have to just keep on updating and adding and hope that Google comes to like us again :-)

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      TessSchlesingerposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      Yup it isn't only hubpages.
      
      In a way, it's Google constantly having to adjust in order to keep black hat SEO off its pages.
      
      I've known for a while now, I'm going to have to adjust, so I'm looking at writing ebooks again, am in the process of getting my own website, and various other stuff.
      
      I hope I get it right.
      
      Just so much work. The trick is to do something that isn't affected by Google too much.

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4. 88

   Kenna McHughposted 6 years ago

   I see it as a game. Though, I don't play often. However, I want to master this and make a worthwhile income to support myself. Writing for other websites pays but there is no future compared to writing for your own blog or writing your own book. Writing your own material creates a continued influx of money that eventually pays off.

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   Will Apseposted 6 years ago

   Anyone bound up in an egoistical notion that they are super-talented and only Google stands in their way of being rich is pretty much doomed, lol.
   
   Learn what this kind of site can be used for and you might have a chance.

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6. 88

   Kenna McHughposted 6 years ago

   It's kind of what William Goldman said, "Nobody Knows Nothing." He was talking about Hollywood, but still...https://hubpages.com/entertainment/Screenwriter-degree-necessary

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   eugbugposted 6 years ago

   You need to write comprehensive, evergreen, useful articles with content which tackles issues which are faced by everyone. Well that's my formula anyway, which helped me be reach 1 million views last week

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      Jesse Drzalposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      1 million views..congrats!

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         eugbugposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Jesse!

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            TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Congrats from me too...and a big thank you for giving me advice that has created a ton of page views for me during these past months along with a nice increase in income.  Here's to getting a few million more views for you!

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               eugbugposted 6 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks a lot Sondra. Didn't want to make big deal about it last week. I buried my dear mother today. She had been suffering from dementia for the last few years and passed away on Friday. It's been a sad time for the family the last few days.

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                  theraggededgeposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  So sorry, Eubug {hug}

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                     eugbugposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     Thanks Bev. Death is so final and it's hard to accept that I won't see her again. It still all seems just like a bad dream. I know what's happened is real, but it just seems so unreal. It's a cliche but hopefully time is a healer and the grief will fade.

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                  Jesse Drzalposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  Sorry too..losing parents is one of the toughest things there is. God bless.

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                     eugbugposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     Thanks Jesse. I lost my father when I was 12, but of course losing a parent as an adult is much more difficult.

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                        Jesse Drzalposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                        Lost my mom at 29

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                  TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  I am so sorry to hear this sad news.  My own mother suffered from Alzheimer's for eight and a half years.  Went all the way with it, unfortunately.  She's been gone a long time, but that disease was just horrible for her and for me.  My heart goes out to you, but I want you to know that she is free now, and that is worth everything.  Sending love and prayers your way.

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                     eugbugposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     Thanks for the kind thoughts. My mother had vascular dementia, which I think is somewhat different from Alzheimer's but the symptoms are the same, loss of memory, cognitive impairment etc. At least she remembered all of us and and the end was quick and she didn't waste away in bed over months. However it still doesn't seem real that she's gone. I was her carer for the last few years which makes it all the more difficult.

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                        TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

                        That is a very difficult job, I know.  Be happy that she went easy and went when she still knew all of you.  My mother was not that fortunate.  You're in shock right now, but if you can try to remember the good times, it will help.  I really feel for what you're going through and what you have been through, believe me.

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      Will Apseposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      That's about the size of it. Useful stuff that people want to read.
      
      Information dense articles, on subjects not already well covered, will get you readers and income.
      
      Well done on the million, by the way. And sorry to hear about your mum.

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         eugbugposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Will! My lawn mower and string trimmer troubleshooting hubs get most traffic. Every home has a lawn mower, and a common occurence is that it won't start at the beginning of spring. So there you have it: evergreen and useful.
         Now that I've a bit more time on my hands, I must get around to writing new hubs.

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8. 96

   theraggededgeposted 6 years ago

   Talking of 'losing faith in Google'... I switched from the HP ad program to Adsense about three weeks ago. And, even though my traffic dropped by a third or thereabouts, my earnings are up. I should make Adsense payout and more each month if it stays the same. Hopefully, Amazon, will keep HP earnings ticking over.
   
   Give it a try for a couple of weeks. You can always switch back again.

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I've been giving the same advice recently, however my views are up as well.  Some days I'm tripling what I was making with the HP plan, but have never made less than I was normally getting.  I'm amazed at this because using it as a secondary ad payment program only produced pennies in the past.
      
      However, I do think it depends on what you're writing about.  Solaras tried the switch and said she had terrible results.

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9. 68

   David Stone1posted 6 years ago

   Stop obsessing about Google. There are highly paid people out there working full time to get traffic. You can't beat them at that game. All you can do is keep creating great content every day, take what traffic you can from search, but do your own promotions, on Facebook, Facebook groups with similar interests, create your own blog and develop a mailing list. Get your own niche of followers that way. Chances of beating the pros are very small.

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    Kierstin Gunsbergposted 6 years ago

    I look at it like, if were submitting pitches to publishers, I'd have to do 10x as much work to make the same amount of money as I do here at HubPages. I don't have to hustle my work here, I just have to take the time to create it. HubPages is kind of like a limitless resources for passive income - it's how much we're willing to put in that matters. I know the algorithm changes can be discouraging, but I make enough here to pay both of our phone bills and grab some treats for my girls from the store each month and that's WITHOUT doing any work. When I actively publish and peddle my work, I do even better. This is a great place and the thing that will make it even better for all of us is if we all work hard to create great content as often as possible

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       TIMETRAVELER2posted 6 years agoin reply to this

       +1

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    jansharesposted 6 years ago

    Tess, don't give up. Some of us are witnessing a recovery on HealDove. Hang in there.

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