I'm pretty sure I'm missing something....

1. 68

   B.Z. Alixandreposted 16 years ago

   I am pretty confident that my writing is not really the issue.  I'm not a literary prodigy, but I'm not too bad.  Yet I don't seem to be getting much response.  It's true that I don't post frequently on the forums and such, but I imagine most of the people here are busy as I am and that being on the site constantly is not a requisite for exposure.  Frankly folks, I don't care that much about the money (yes its nice and yes I signed up for AdSense), I'm interested primarily in being red, in getting responses and feedback, because I know this is how to improve as a writer.  Maybe I'm not inflammatory enough to get a lot of comments, but surely that's not all there is to it.  I leave comments on other hubs, I ask a question or two...where am I going wrong?  How do I get read?  Yes, I'm aware that there is a strong likelihood that this question is among the frequently asked, but as you can see, I know the primary strategies, the oft suggested.  I post on facebook and myspace too!  So what's next?

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      Richard Ringposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      While I don't think you need to be here constantly maybe try spending a good 30 minutes a day checking out the forums and see if it improves your visibility at all?

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      relacheposted 16 years agoin reply to this

      How much are you writing about things that a lot of people really want to read? 
      
      I for one am not interested in reading about slowly dying during an EMT emergency, and I don't think that subjects approached like that are how you build an audience.  Your stuff on how to become a backpacker or visiting Boise seems much better suited for what people might like to read about in summer.

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   Mishaposted 16 years ago

   Well, what goes around comes around.
   
   If you want people to come to you, come to people. Become active on forums, it's a good visibility. Post more comments on other people hubs. In other words become an active member of the community.

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      Davinagirl3posted 16 years agoin reply to this

      Good advice, as usual, Misha.

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   mirandalloydposted 16 years ago

   I tried signing up for Adsense, but their signup page appears to be down currently.
   
   But yes. Talking to people in the forums is the best way to get exposure. Even just one comment a day is sure to get you more visibility. Just remember that it's not a popularity contest--if I wanted that I'd be on deviantART.

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   Anamika Sposted 16 years ago

   I started posting on the Forum only after reaching 100 Hubs. The secret for traffic as far as I am concerned is in writing keyword rich articles,promoting links in Blogs and other places, commenting on hubs, joining as fans, promoting rss feeds etc.

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5. 88

   Marisa Wrightposted 16 years ago

   BZ, you're talking about two different things here.
   
   If you want to get other Hubbers to visit your Hubs, read them and offer feedback - then participating in the forums is the way to go. Many of us are too busy to browse around HubPages looking for new arrivals, but we can't resist the forums! 
   
   I don't mean starting lots of new threads, because IMO that just looks like attention-seeking. Join in with a few discussions - if you make an interesting comment, people will get curious and check you out.  If you want feedback on a Hub, post a link in the Extreme Hub Makeover section.
   
   However, if you're talking about attracting an audience that pays - that's a different matter.  The audience that clicks on ads arrives via the search engines.  If that's what you're after, you need to study up about SEO and self-promotion.  You'll find lots of advice here (check out Lissie, for one). 
   
   One more thing - remember there's a big wide world out there.  I'm an Australian and I have no idea what an EMS is.  I read one of your medical articles and one moment, I was upset about the harrowing details and the next, I was losing interest because I didn't understand your acronyms. 
   
   You should also look at layout for your Hubs.  Split your text up over multiple text capsules to allow optimum ad placement, and learn how to float your photos right (Darkside has some good "how to Hub" Hubs which will help).

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   aidenofthetowerposted 16 years ago

   If what you want is more comments, then what you are looking for is increased traffic within Hubpages itself. In order to do that you have to increase the amount of participation that you do here in the community. That will include commenting on other hubs, joining fan groups, and posting on the forums. Most of the comments that you will get on your hubs will come from other Hubbers. While most of the money you make will come from search engine traffic.

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   Lisa HWposted 16 years ago

   Also, two months and ten Hubs isn't all that much for the person who isn't making a big effort in being involved in the community.  It can take a while.  I never participated in the forum (because it didn't really occur to me), but eventually comments and fans showed up.  (The only reason I even discovered the forums was that I was looking to take a break and just "fool around" for a while.  I had no idea that "being active in the community" involved the forum.  I kind of thought it just meant commenting and voting on other people's Hubs.)  (Believe it or not, I don't come to the forum to increase my own visibility.  I still just use it for taking a break from "drudgery".    )

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