Need Clarification On Linking Rules

1. 88

   Rebecca Rizzutiposted 4 years ago

   The article is here.
   
   I received an email stating that the hub is eligible for inclusion on Spinditty, which is great! That's what I was hoping for. The email mentioned Amazon (which I was half-expecting, because there are several product links in this hub). However, it doesn't clarify the problem.
   
   Is the problem the number of links, or is it the quality of the links in this case? If it's the number of links, how would you go about reducing them without sacrificing value to the reader? (The purpose of this article is to suggest the best possible instruments for the reader. I personally own and can recommend each of these ocarinas.)
   
   The second question is regarding two links in the hub to the STL Ocarina site. One links to the ocarina I own (which isn't available on Amazon so I linked directly to their site. I'm 100% sure this one needs to be removed).
   
   What about the link to the fingering chart? It's the best example I have for fingering charts, but the editor wasn't clear on whether or not I could continue to include this link, only asked me to remove the link to STL Ocarina.
   
   Thank you for your help and input!
   
   ETA: This is the content of the email regarding Amazon.
   
   "Only add products that are explicitly mentioned in the article. Products included should be ones that you have used, personally, or that someone close to you has used. You may also safely include products that you have the professional qualifications to recommend (a registered nurse may recommend a multivitamin, for example, based on the authority of his/her extensive training and professional experience). You can't simply list a product's main features and specifications. A recommendation must contain more detail. Instead, tell us why you (or a friend) like the product, or in cases where you are an expert, tell us why it is the best, in your professional opinion. If you do choose to include products, we encourage you to use in-text links instead of Amazon Capsules to improve reader experience."
   
   Every link I included meets the criteria they've given me here and which I can find by searching the Hubpages site. I'm stumped!

   replyreport
   1. 65

      OldRosesposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      I think that the problem is that you have too many Amazon links.  I can't remember the exact formula but it's one link per a certain number of words.  In general, HubPages doesn't like more than one Amazon link per article.
      
      You may also have too many outbound links. 
      
      I understand what you are trying to do in this article, but HubPages has a lot of arcane rules about what we are allowed and not allowed to do.

      replyreport
      1. 88

         Rebecca Rizzutiposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Are the guidelines listed anywhere? I've been trying to find them but I can't.
         
         I've been on Hubpages a lot longer than this account would suggest, and I remember when they were changed, but I can't find the criteria by searching. It's frustrating they don't give you more information in the emails they send out!

         replyreport
   2. 78

      samanthacubbisonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Hello Rebecca,
      
      The problem is that you were linking to a third-party e-shop alongside the three Amazon capsules. We usually only allow authors to link to Amazon. I see that you have since removed it.
      
      Also, authors should aim to write around 300 words per Amazon product.
      
      https://hubpages.com/faq/#word-per-product
      
      Hope that helps!

      replyreport
      1. 88

         Rebecca Rizzutiposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         It helps, but it also doesn't.
         
         If I had four links to Amazon products (as I did at the time I posted here), and ~2,100 words, then the Amazon links ought to have been okay, as far as I can tell. I expressed in the article that I have personal experience with all these instruments (and could photograph all but one of them for the content if necessary. The one I can't my daughter "lost" lol). Still got the warning.
         
         I've cut this down to a single link to the instrument I most recommend and trust the ad server to do the rest for me.
         
         In addition, I need to clarify that we're good with the link to the fingering charts, which are also on STL Ocarina. I don't have a better option for fingering charts than theirs (for the most part). The one Songbird sent me with my most recent purchase doesn't match my subholes on the ocarina I purchased lol

         replyreport
         1. 78

            samanthacubbisonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

            As @Marketing Merit said, stacking products is not the best practice. It's better to space them out. It's also important to include a good amount of personal experience with each product. In addition to the body of the article itself, there should an additional 300 words or so for each particular product.
            
            I think the link to the fingering chart is ok!

            replyreport
2. 65

   Marketing Meritposted 4 years ago

   Wow...such an interesting article Rebecca!
   
   I think your problem is that you've placed the 3 Amazon links together in one capsule. Try spreading them out under different headings e.g. Best Beginner Ocarina, Best Budget Ocarina etc.
   
   Also, I personally felt that there was an element of contradiction in your article. You refer to the best instrument for a beginner, then follow this up with a recommendation which appears to contradict this.
   
   You may also want to consider re-titling your article to something along the lines of, 'X Tips for Choosing Your Beginner Ocarina.'
   
   Hope this helps and good luck!

   replyreport
   1. 88

      Rebecca Rizzutiposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      I'm not clear on where you mean I seem to have contradicted myself. (I'm still reading through it looking for possibilities, but do want to clarify.)
      
      Was it this part?
      
      "Bear in mind that many of the options available on Amazon or eBay are mass-produced and therefore often lack the tuning you'd expect from a well-made instrument. For this reason, it is often better to choose an ocarina produced by a well-known creator (such as Focalink/Stein or Songbird)."
      
      I then go on to recommend specific products on Amazon produced by these makers, so this could be it.
      
      I've changed the wording to note that these sellers do have an Amazon presence and that it's safe to purchase from them. (Also often cheaper because of free shipping.)
      
      ETA: Wording changed as follows.
      
      "Bear in mind that many of the options available on Amazon or eBay are mass-produced and therefore often lack the tuning you'd expect from a well-made instrument. For this reason, it is often better when shopping Amazon to choose an ocarina produced by a well-known creator (such as Focalink/Stein or Songbird). "

      replyreport
3. 88

   Rebecca Rizzutiposted 4 years ago

   I made some changes. I think it will pass now, though I'm left with the same questions. If anybody knows where I can find clarification on the rules regarding outbound links, please let me know. If there is nowhere on the Hubpages site which addresses this, I'd like to get in touch with the management to see about adding better guidelines.
   
   This can't be the first time there's been some confusion.

   replyreport