How does someone on hubpages get a large following without writing hubs?

1. 89

   btrbellposted 12 years ago

   How does someone on hubpages get a large following without writing hubs?
   
   When I am hub hopping, I have noticed that there are many people with little or no hubs and they have hundreds of followers. I see that some of them are following many people and I understand the reciprocity factor but I don't still don't understand the why and how of their fanbase.

   replyreport
2. 0

   JThomp42posted 12 years ago

   Neither do I, and what's the point? If you are not passionate about writing, why be on HubPages? Great question. If I know they are just spamming for followers, I normally will not oblige.

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      See, that's part of my concern. It just seems strange to me.

      replyreport
   2. 0

      JThomp42posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Me as well btr.

      replyreport
3. 60

   internpeteposted 12 years ago

   It could be from a variety of things.
   
   They could have been on hubpages a long time, and thus, over time, they have built up a large following.
   
   They could have had many of their hubs unpublished, or they even unpublished them to put them elsewhere online.
   
   The hubs they have written may be of such quality that many people want to follow, or they might be very good at visiting other people's hubs and commenting and interacting.
   
   it could also be because people don't follow based only on the number or quantity of hubs but other factors.
   
   I have seen some of the hubpage employees profiles and some of them only have a few hubs, but because of their connection to hubpages, thousands of people follow them.
   
   Many people are on hubpages not because they love writing, but because they want to make some money on the side, and they are good at marketing.
   
   Hope this gives you some possible answers to your question.

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, it does give food for thought.

      replyreport
   2. 83

      J.S.Matthewposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I'd also like to point out that some Hubbers don't write a lot of Hubs but may be very active with the forums and Q&A sections, thus getting followers. Just something I noticed...JS~

      replyreport
   3. 60

      internpeteposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I have noticed a few people who are on here just to discus things in the forums and they sometimes develop a fallowing too. Good point.

      replyreport
4. 72

   dashingscorpioposted 12 years ago

   I've noticed the same thing on Facebook. Some people have more than 5000 "friends". The same can be said for Twitter as well. I believe (ego) is the driving force. If none of these social networks (publically) showcased the number of friends or followers one has there would less of a competitive.
   Clearly a lot of "followers" aren't actually "following". I suspect a lot it is as you described as the "reciprocity factor". I personally don't believe in following someone simply because they are following me. I tend to follow (subjects) more than writers.
   Sometimes for the hell of it I will check out a person's (activity) who is "following me" and see that they just signed up to follow 50 other people within the same hour, made no comments on any hubs, nor answered any questions or posted anything on a forum. There are some that will unfollow you after a week if they notice you are not following them back! LOL!

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I have seen that on Twitter also. In an attempt to build a business, I am on most of the media channels but....I do not advertise or follow just to follow. I also don't "collect" followers. That is why this baffles me!

      replyreport
5. 59

   Scott Mckinzieposted 12 years ago

   Funny, I was thinking the same thing. I am new here and trying to understand it all, and when I have seen hundreds of followers with just one or two hubs, I was kind of confused, as I am now..LOL...But I will learn:)

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I know, right?!?! I have been here 4 months, writing diligently, forming a small but worthy following and then I see someone with 500 followers and no hubs or another who asks several questions a day and no hubs. I don't get it! thanks for answering,

      replyreport
6. 59

   Goody5posted 12 years ago

   A lot of people are following back to be polite, and there's nothing wrong with that. My favorite is a hubber by the name of pinetreehugger. They have well over 500 devoted followers while bragging to be the uncover hubless hubber!

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I have encountered them!

      replyreport
7. 88

   Marisa Wrightposted 12 years ago

   There should not be a "reciprocity factor", although unfortunately, the following system has degenerated to that point.
   
   When HubPages first started, you didn't "follow" someone, you became their "fan" - which made it clear you were joining their fan club to read and enjoy their writing.  You didn't expect that writer to return the favor, any more than you'd expect Beyonce to join your fan club if you joined hers.
   
   The idea was that you were picky about whose fan club you joined, because you would be an ACTIVE fan, and read all their Hubs - something that's clearly impossible if you follow lots of people.  So although I have over 2,000 followers, I follow less than 100 Hubbers myself. 
   
   But to get back to the point - there are two possible explanations.  One is that the person had lots of Hubs before the Great Panda Disaster of 2011, but has deleted most/all of their Hubs since then.  The other is that the account belongs to a spammer who thought the secret to making money on HubPages was to network like mad.  They soon found out that doesn't work, and abandoned the account.

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      You are right. We should follow hubs that are of interest to us (whether they follow us or not) I feel the same way about comments. They should be left when they are sincere.

      replyreport
8. 71

   catgypsyposted 12 years ago

   btrbell, I'm so glad you asked this as I have wondered the same thing! I always go to a persons profile page and read some of their hubs before I will follow them too. I have never just wanted a ton of followers who don't truly want to read my hubs. I don't follow people whose work I don't like or who have subjects I'm not interested in at all. I'm glad to read the answers here! I, too, am leery of some who want to follow me and think we should all be careful to some extent as to who we follow back. Thanks for a great question!

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for answering. Sometimes I tend to be impulsive. Someone follows me, I follow right back. Now, like you, I stop and read their profiles, check out their hubs!

      replyreport
9. 90

   Sherry Hewinsposted 12 years ago

   You have figured out how they get followers, by following other people. A certain percentage of those you follow will just automatically follow back.
   
   The thing that is less clear is why. If you have no hubs, what do you need with followers? I guess some people just like to see a high number there.
   
   Or, maybe some day they will write a hub, then, in theory, lots of people will see it.

   replyreport
   1. 89

      btrbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you, Sherry! I love the way you put it, kind of stockpiling for the future!

      replyreport