Writing Hub in a Video Dominated Topic Worth It?

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   nomadspiritposted 5 years ago

   Hi All,
        I write almost exclusively on travel, but I recently started a business that gives me good experience with a beauty related topic. I want to do some review type articles on this topic, however when I googled a few possible titles I noticed that videos took the first 9 positions (amazon took #10). The topics I would be reviewing do not have any in depth reviews for the first 3 pages apart from customer reviews in online giants like ebay, amazon and beauty stores.
   If I wrote good reviews (detailed, 2000 words and up, good pics etc) do they stand a chance? I just don't know how google rates articles when put up against videos. Any help appreciated.

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      Jean Bakulaposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I think they like videos. But it's like Amazon capsules I think, one for every 500 words. I write a series about famous people and they will allow two videos,(usually Musicians) but I can't think of them allowing anymore, and some of them are 3,000 words.

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         nomadspiritposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks!
         I was more wondering whether an all text article could compete with videos in the SERPs. I noticed that videos from YouTube had taken the top positions when I googled the topics I was interested in.

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      DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Those videos you found in the top 9 positions are probably not what you are going to find next week or next month. If you write a good article, and it is thorough enough to cover almost everything that people are searching for on that subject, then Google and the other search engines wil probably move it up and give it a chance.
      If people still think the video is better (by clicking out of your article and watching a video) then it will not stay there long. If you do a good job and answer their questions you have a good chance of moving up to the top.
      As theraggededge points out, a lot of us still prefer written info to videos since we can scan it and find the info we need quickly.
      Good luck with this.

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         nomadspiritposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks!
         I think I will take theraggededge's advice and give it a trial with just two hubs taking different angles to see what works. Maybe I will make one a review and word the second so that review is left off of the title to see how Google treats them-- all the videos have review in their titles. Will update!

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   theraggededgeposted 5 years ago

   There are those who prefer video, but there are still many of us who prefer to read and see photos. I'd say, give it a one or two hub trial. Nothing to lose.
   
   I've noticed that bloggers (food, products, all-kinds-of-things) have cottoned on to the fact that their posts need to be beautifully detailed with great supporting images. Often they repeat themselves but it do it in such a way that it works. That's one reason why Pinterest is so popular.

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      nomadspiritposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Yes. I think I will try with two hubs and watch to see what happens, then take it from there.
      I am with you on preferring good articles over videos. It looks like Google and the rest of the world disagrees though!  I find videos showing up more and more in my searches.

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   NateB11posted 5 years ago

   I've been curious about this too, since videos often take the top position.

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   Kierstin Gunsbergposted 5 years ago

   I'd try it! I search beauty reviews often and although sometimes I like to check out the videos, I prefer blog-style beauty reviews. Oftentimes, when video comes up as the top result I'll scroll down and even go back a page or two to find an article with photos. I just like them better.

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      nomadspiritposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks so Much!
      This really helped me. Now I know that some people may be willing to pass a whole page of videos to read an article so I will give it a try. Thanks again.

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   Kierstin Gunsbergposted 5 years ago

   Also, I have little kids and a lot of times, when I have the time to Google stuff like this, I can't watch a video - my kids are sleeping and I've forgotten my earbuds, yet another reason I prefer articles to video right now.

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   Theophanesposted 5 years ago

   Does it matter? I mean writing a Hub that makes it to the top of the search engine results is awesome but it's a bit high of a goal to start off with. I write about anything and everything under the sun and never know what is going to be liked. Last week I spent the whole week researching an article that's only gotten seven hits so far. This week a bunch of articles I just churned out in an hour are still top in the search engine and getting thousands of clicks a day. No rhyme or reason. I don't regret spending time writing the less popular ones. They still might have their day and even if they don't what have I really lost in writing them? Perhaps a little time I could have spent doing what? Nothing? Go write, write what you know and hope for the best!

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      DrMark1961posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      Seven hits? I printed the trickster article and burned it at our Candomblé alter so Exu could enjoy it. He thought it was well done, and rewarded me with a pimple in the middle of my forehead.

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         Theophanesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Yep, that'd be the one, it's up to 11 hits now! That's OK, terribly niche topic, to  be expected. Thanks for noticing it! And for making me laugh. Hope the pimple isn't too bad!

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      Natalie Frankposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I have to say ditto.  I am an expert on psychology with a Ph.D. but I think only one of my psych articles is on page 1.  By far my best performing article is on the book 1984.  Go figure.

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         nomadspiritposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Deleted
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         Theophanesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         Don't feel bad, my current #1 article is about being terrorized by Bengal cats... a random personal experience I spent no time in writing! Then again cats do win the internet...  and 1984 is an awesome read.

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      nomadspiritposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      It matters! With the exception of the few articles I write just for the love of the place (I write mostly travel) I mostly write with the goal of informing and making a little extra. Aiming for anything less than the top 3 position defeats these goals.
      In any case I have not found aiming for the #1 position to be as lofty a goal as you suggest-- this may be due to the topics I write on-- instead I find that with the right research nowadays many of my articles start out on page 3 or page 2 and then slowly make their way up to page 1.

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         Theophanesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

         OK, you must have had a lot more luck than I did starting up. Good for you! I started writing just for the joy of it, not expecting it to make any money, but hoping someday it might. It literally took years but when it caught on I was delighted and completely shocked. It was and still is a very lofty goal for me. If it makes money I am very happy but if it gives a smile, informs someone, or spreads joy, I still believe it was absolutely worth writing... paid or not. However those are my ideals, I understand others may have different incentives and it doesn't hurt to ask. Happy Hubbing!

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