HubPages vs. Network Site

1. 91

   LindaSarhanposted 5 years ago

   What is the real difference between having your article (hub) on the main Hubpages site compared to being sorted into a network site? In other words, what are the benefits and the cons?
   
   There have been so many changes since I took a step back to pursue a degree in English and Creative Writing. Now that I am back full-force, I am a bit overwhelmed. I know I will get the hang of it, so thought I would ask the writers of Hubpages their opinion.
   
   Happy writing, Everyone!
   
   L. Sarhan

   replyreport
   1. 94

      Shesabutterflyposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      The network sites are suppose to bring in more traffic to your articles, because they are content specific and therefore less likely to be penalized by Google. HubPages was losing rank for being a content farm, so the different niche/network sites were created to get away from the content farm style and try to rank higher in the search engines again.
      
      I have not noticed a huge difference in traffic for 99% of my articles that have been moved to various niche sites. The ones that were doing well before the transfer have seen an increase, but nothing major. I only have one that has seen an increase in traffic by over 200 views a day consistantly. Those that were performing poorly still are. I have a few that were getting zero views on HP and now see anywhere between 0-10 views a day while others that had zero traffic get spikes (up to 15) every couple of weeks otherwise sit at 0-2. The vast majority of my top 10 performing articles are still getting the same amount of traffic they were getting on HP.
      
      I have not noticed any con's, but I also would not say I have seen much pro to them either. At least in my experience. My only personal con is that it takes forever to get articles moved to the network sites, but since I have not personally seen a major increase in traffic I'm no longer pushing to get my articles moved quickly. Some of my HP articles ranked very well before the move, lost rank but that rank has since recovered now that it has been a few months. I do not think all HP articles will lose rank, but the site has a whole was losing for quite some time.

      replyreport
   2. 85

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 5 years agoin reply to this

      It really doesn't matter because you don't have a choice.  If your hub is chosen to be moved to a niche site, that's it.  However, being on a niche site is where you will earn your money.  HP has basically become a holding place for new hubs.  Niche sites are where you want to be.
      
      I can see how you'd be overwhelmed by the changes here, but take some time and read the info in the learning section.
      
      The basics are still the same...write good, searchable articles with minimum numbers of in text ads (or none)and add good visuals and supportables.
      
      Welcome back!

      replyreport
   3. 92

      RachaelLeflerposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      I can't speak for everyone, but most of my articles that were moved to a network site get more page views afterward. I think the network sites are more Google-friendly. And people like to come to sites that are for a specific kind of article. For example, I go to "Reel Rundown" a lot, not just to find my own articles, but because I'm curious about what's being said in the niches of film and anime. Having it all in one place is better for the reader, so it's better for us. Your article will be grouped with similar things. It's very possible that someone could go to the niche site for reason A and end up on your article just because it was there, even if it has nothing to do with A, just because it looked interesting. But yeah, the basics of writing are still the same.

      replyreport
2. 94

   Kierstin Gunsbergposted 5 years ago

   The benefit is that the niche sites are more visible to search engines. Anything that stays on the HubPages domain isn't as likely to be found in searches. Therefore niche sites equal a better potential for traffic. Congrats on your continued education!!

   replyreport
3. 72

   Barbara Kayposted 5 years ago

   I have noticed a significant difference between the hubs that were moved to the niche sites and those that weren't. My traffic is booming on the ones that were moved and I get little at the ones still on Hubpages.

   replyreport
4. 94

   FatFreddysCatposted 5 years ago

   If I may use a baseball analogy, think of the main HubPages site as the "farm team" and the niche sites as "the majors." If you get called up to the majors you're more visible.

   replyreport
   1. 94

      jansharesposted 5 years agoin reply to this

      +1 More visibility, more traffic, more earnings.

      replyreport
5. 94

   EricFarmer8xposted 5 years ago

   The hubs of mine that are not on network sites get no traffic at all. Only one gets about one Google search a day or so. All of my traffic is from hubs I have on networks.

   replyreport
6. 91

   LindaSarhanposted 5 years ago

   Thanks, everyone for the input! Personally, I have seen a few network site articles with increased page views but I have also seen some of my Hubpages articles that have been acclimated yet increase as well. On the other hand, I also keep in mind that some of these articles are seasonal and will wax and wane in page views.

   replyreport