Another Q & A Question

1. 79

   Natalie Frankposted 7 years ago

   I know some people are struggling with the new Q & A feature.  I am simply trying to figure out the best use of my time.  I have been writing detailed answers between 600 - 900 words each.  To add more words would really have to go beyond the scope of the question. Yet while I've only answered a few so far, I could see creating an entire hub by doing just that.  At the same time, I wonder if a stand alone page with only 600 - 900 words will ever have a shot at getting a decent index rank especially given it lacks the meta data used in an actual hub.  To put a ton of time and effort into an answer that won't get a ton of views when it could be turned into a full hub with just a bit more effort that has a better shot at views seems counterproductive.  I realize that the A/B test is still going on but I don't think the results will impact this question. If the article itself is getting a good number of views but a highly related answer to a question is getting next to no views is it worth the time to create answers instead of hubs?

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2. 61

   Glenn Stokposted 7 years ago

   Natalie, That’s why the A/B test is being done—to determine if the stand-alone pages rank just as well as, or better than, the original hub with the Q&A added to it. You can check the success of your own Q&A with the custom report in Google Analytics that I described in my tutorial.
   
   Hope your trip home from the conference went well.

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3. 79

   Natalie Frankposted 7 years ago

   Glen - thanks for the response. I checked the report which is why I'm questioning it.  I've gotten one or two views for answers on questions about hubs that average several hundred views a day.  I know there isn't a good way to figure this out but I'd like to get a feel for whether an answer shorter than 1000 words will perform as well as a hub of 1400 - 1500 words which would just be a little more work.
   
   Do you think the lack of meta data makes much of a difference?
   
   My trip home was good - met several interesting people and even got in a bit early!  Hope your trip home was as good and you've readjusted to being back.

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   1. 61

      lobobrandonposted 7 years agoin reply to this

      The lack of metadata and the fact that the URL is not structured very well does make a lot of difference. If you compare the exact same content on a well-structured page you would rank a lot better. Also, don't forget the fact that similar pages on the same niche site compete with each other. Right now I am struggling to get to page 1 of search (ranked number 12) because another dengarden article is ranking number 13. If that article didn't exist, I would be on page 1 for sure. I say for sure because I tested similar stuff out on my own website and others have too.
      
      I think we just need to await the A/B tests to see what is actually happening.

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