How to best tweak a hub? How am I doing? Any suggestions?

1. 80

   misslong123posted 12 years ago

   How to best tweak a hub? How am I doing? Any suggestions?
   
   Since I am a newbie, I do not know a lot of the more advanced ways to tweak. Here is the formula I am currently using: (1) Put a lot of text in the first capsule so that an ad will appear (2) Post links to relevant sites (3) Post Amazon links to relevant products (4) Provide white space or dividers for your readers (5) Summary: Make sure it includes what your hub is about and has good key words (6) Try to have your title in the first and second sentence (7) Try to have your title in the body of the hub at least 5 times (8) Link all of your relevant hubs (9) Take off personal items (blog type).

   replyreport
2. 0

   RTalloniposted 12 years ago

   If all newbies had the desire to learn by asking such honest questions HP would be a different place!
   I'm no expert, yet I've learned a little along.  You'll get better advice than I can give on many aspects of hubbing, and the learning center will always be a good friend to you, but I took a quick look at one of your hubs, Ways to Save Time on Laundry.
   Overall, the look of your hub is very nice.  Clean and smooth looking.  However, if it were mine, I would put the first photo in the right column beside the first capsule, and the second photo in the third or fourth capsule, leaving space for an ad right below the first photo.  The first chart seems unfinished--maybe others with more experience in making them can give some advice on that.  Love, love, love the Be Thankful capsule, but it seems to me that it would work really well as part of a concluding capsule rather than in the middle of your hub.  Your Tips and Tricks are super ones, perhaps the organization could be fine tuned, but it's a great list.  The Spring Cleaning list is a great one, but again, I am a little confused by the chart/list.  Your secret to hanging up clothes is neat stuff, but the photos are a little dark.  I would also put them in the Thumbnail mode and position the text/photo capsules side by side. 
   From seeing just this one hub, I think you have a great start as a hubber.  Think through the organizational needs of a good hub.  It requires some work but when we get it right, it's worth it!   Don't let others comments or even their work discourage you.  Continue learning, and enjoy the process.  For most people it takes time to learn and get experience with the basics.  Keep in mind that there's always something new to learn, but not everything out there is correct.  You may even find that something I've offered here is not quite on target, or not right for your style. Hope something here is helpful, though.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      misslong123posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much for all of your insight. I plan to look over that hub and see what changes I can make. I feel like I'm doing the same formula for every hub, and you have given me some great ideas on how to vary things up. Thank you for your help!

      replyreport
3. 38

   ChristinSposted 12 years ago

   You have some good ideas, but some are a little flawed.  Panda/Penguin severely punish sites these days that look as though they are "keyword stuffing" and the strategies you are using as far as putting the title in the first and second sentence and several times throughout the piece is likely to be misconstrued as just that. 
   
   You want your text to flow naturally and to answer a question or solve a problem your reader is searching for.  Text that looks like it is written for search engines is a turnoff to readers.  They want good, solid information which should be a blend of well-researched material, combined with some personal experience.
   
   Ideally you want to link to ONE product within your hub and it should tie in completely to the subject matter at hand and not be a sales pitch, but more of a recommendation. 
   
   White space and dividers are excellent - huge paragraphs make people click away, white space is your friend so good job there.
   
   Your summary is a great place for a "hook" also - yes it should have a keyword, but it should also make people want to read your piece.  Search engines often use that summary as the text in search results.
   
   Linking to other relevant hubs is a good idea.  You can also link to personal websites if the content is relevant to the site content.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      misslong123posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much for all of the information. I filled up a full page of notes from what you wrote! You really helped me.

      replyreport
   2. 38

      ChristinSposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      you're welcome glad it helped.

      replyreport
4. 85

   Abby Campbellposted 12 years ago

   Hi misslong123, and welcome to HP. I am also pretty new. Though I've had an account for two years, I only began writing in January with the Apprenticeship program. Since you have such an interest in writing well for HP, I highly recommend the program. The education provided is excellent, and you will learn how to produce awesome hubs. Though, you must not being doing too badly as you have a "89" for your score. Great job on that! Anyway, the Apprenticeship program is a six month program. You are required to publish 8 hubs per month, but you do receive a bonus ($) for each of them. Your mentor will coach you each month on what you can do to improve your hubs as well.
   
   As far as your knitting and crocheting hub, I would offset your photos to the right of the text. It will look much more professional. Also, the picture at the top of the hub should be larger (half-size and next to text). Right now, it is a thumbnail size which looks a bit odd.
   
   Good luck!

   replyreport
   1. 80

      misslong123posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the advice. I don't know anything about the Apprenticeship program, but I will check it out. When you mentioned the needlework hub, which one were  you talking about because I have several posted? Thanks for your help!

      replyreport
   2. 85

      Abby Campbellposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry. I didn't look at all your hubs. It's the article entitled "How to Effectively Organize Knitting and Crocheting Supplies." Do check out the Apprenticeship program as you will find it very insightful.

      replyreport
   3. 80

      misslong123posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, but right now they are remodeling it so its closed.

      replyreport
5. 80

   misslong123posted 12 years ago

   Mr. Talloni,
   I really really appreciated your help in editing a hub. I know you took time out of your day to check out my hub and give me advice. That was very kind of you. I went through the Laundry one and tried to make all of your suggested changes. However, I couldn't figure out how to make two thumbnail pics stand side by side. I also (though unrelated) haven't been able to figure out how to put pics on the Left instead of the Right, with the text being on the Right instead of the Left. Anyway, like I said, I tried to make as many changes as I could that you suggested and WOW!!! My numbers on that hub went way up! How did you get to be so smart on this stuff?? How did you learn about layouts and where to put the capsules so the ads would show up? I played around with the preview on one I just published on adoption, but I'm still only pulling up a couple ads. I'm just curious if it's a trial and error thing  or if you have some formula or way of telling what layout will be a success and what layout will have little ad support. Also, since you seem so wise, an unrelated question, do you recommend putting Amazon (related to the article) articles (advertising them) in the body of the text or just list them all at the end? On some of mine, I put them in the body and throughout the hub, but on some I just listed the related Amazon products and a list of related links at the bottom (glance at the Adoption one once it's approved - I just did it like that). You are awesome, and I really really appreciate your advice and help in advance. If anyone else has any advice, I welcome it as well. Thanks a million! Michele

   replyreport