Is Our Community Going Down the Drain?

1. 91

   Sue Adamsposted 3 years ago

   If you want a deeper insight into where our community and HubPages in general are heading, please look at the links in this post.
   
   Historical Pattern:
   2014, Squidoo was bought up by HubPages.
   
   2018 HubPages was bought up by Maven
   
   September 2020 Maven Rebrands as The Arena Group (TAG)
   
   The Arena Group has
   3 Brands.
   
   1. Sports
   2. Finance
   3. Lifestyle
   
   HubPages is supposed to cover the Lifestyle vertical of TAG but ToughNickel is now part of the “Finance Arena”
   
   
   
   Noted:
   I have found zero articles on any of the TAG sites that have a comments feature. The re-introduction of comments on AxelAddict is so loathsome, writers would rather not have comments at all. I very much doubt that any of the TAG sites have a writers' community and forums.
   
   Collateral Damage
   Our decreasing page views and income are collateral damage. Unless we write about Sports, Finance, or Lifestyle, HubPages writers are very small fish in the TAG business model which is: How much can we increase TAG’s share price to sell out to the next larger company and walk away with the profits.
   
   My Prediction
   Comments will never come back and the Forum, which, b.t.w. no longer has a designated monitor, are the next thing to be eliminated.

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   1. 72

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Sue, yes, you sum it up aptly.                                      In 2 years time or less, the same will apply to the TAG or ARENA group.                                                    It seems likely that Hubpages does not want us writers to benefit financial more. But some writers are not here for the money.

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   2. 87

      Amara Hassanposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I am feeling kinda boring, after comment sections are gone forever. So not much to do on HP in general. I used to spend alot of time in reading other's Hub and commenting. Now apparently there is nothing much.

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   3. 93

      Kenna McHughposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      That TAG kept HP in the game plan means there is a future for us. We need to keep writing, editing and learning as writers. The changes being made seem unsettling, and I miss Paul's updates and transparency. But, what do you do when Google is fickle, constantly changing for advertisers? Honestly, it's about making money and paying the rent. Right?

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2. 82

   Brenda Arledgeposted 3 years ago

   Read then leave comment on forum...not sure.
   
   It does feel a bit off...
   Lets all Take a vacation

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      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Vacation or Strike.

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3. 91

   EricDockettposted 3 years ago

   Things do feel bad. I miss the olden days of HP. But I think there are reasons to be optimistic. I also think some folks need to look at the big picture.
   
   As you said, there are no comment sections on other TAG sites. The fact that HP is trying to bring them back suggests that they do care about the "community". The whole point of moving to the new article format was so that everything would be uniform across all of the the Maven (TAG) sites. Adding something special like comments back to HP takes time and resources. They are doing this for the "community". Personally, I agree that it's worse than before, but at least they are trying I guess.
   
   It seems like people sometimes forget that TAG and HP are here to make money. All of the changes they make, many I disagree with, are to increase revenue, keep investors happy, and make sure everyone working for them (including us, sort of) still have a job.
   
   Everyone on HP writes about sports, finance, or lifestyle. Every niche site falls into one of those categories. TAG has, at least for now, made HubPages a major part of their plan going forward. That's positive.
   
   As for the "community", poems and creative writing earn very little, but people who enjoy them still have a home here.  If you are one of those people, it should make you happy that TAG and HP put so much focus on earnings. Without it, nobody would have a place to write. TAG could very easily decide creative writing isn't profitable and is no longer accept it, but they don't do that. They allow everyone to publish.
   
   I guess I have a different idea of "community" here. To me, the old HP community was one that focused on success, traffic, SEO, earnings, and how to be a better online writer. That community is long gone from these forums. The demise of that community is something I feel HP has encouraged  over the past few years, and that's a big problem.
   
   Anyway, I agree that things feel weird and kind of bad. For me, I'm trying to change my expectations and understand what TAG is trying to do. It is really frustrating, but the only way to stay sane.

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   1. 84

      Solarasposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      The problem is, that with all of these changes, intended to increase revenue, revenue is in fact down. Page views are down. If they continue to follow a short term fix mentality, i.e. increasing ads per page, installing video ads that cannot be closed until the have completed their pitch, then we will experience a vicious cycle of more ads, fewer views etc...

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      1. 100

         chef-de-jourposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         HP has been through so much since I first put pen to paper a decade ago. Throughout I've just continued writing fresh articles and will carry on creating (and earning hopefully), updating and backing up.

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      2. 76

         psycheskinnerposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Having participated in a few content sites, most of them do go into a death spiral of overly intrusive ads which increase earnings per visitor but drive traffic into the ground.  Hubpages was previously an outlier in resisting that mistake and continuously adapting. But I think they are no longer driven by the people who have the needed skill set.  The platforms may continue but ultimtely with minimum wage staff writers.

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         1. 84

            Solarasposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Sad

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         2. 72

            Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            That's awful. I'm now in bed. Goodnight everyone.

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   2. 84

      Solarasposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I am very seriously concerned. In old days, Paul had a personal desire to see HP succeed in the long term.  Now the TAG group has investors that need to see immediate monetary results, month over month. The Pethelpful reviews page, so unprofessionally implemented, the overload of ads, does not feel strategic, it feels desperate. And that is frightening.

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      1. 91

         EricDockettposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         I agree. It feels like the lessons learned over the years have been forgotten and there is no one left on the staff to advocate for HP.
         
         When they make mistake that HP long ago learned to avoid it is pretty scary.

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         1. 84

            Solarasposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Exactly.

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   3. 84

      viryaboposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      A positive outlook?
      That’s what I need.

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4. 82

   bhattucposted 3 years ago

   Companies see the things from the business prospects and sentiments have no place there. What can be done?

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   1. 80

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed!

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   2. 100

      chef-de-jourposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      The bottom line is - without writers creating evergreen articles on a consistent basis and earning money for themselves and HP, there would be no HP.

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      1. 72

         Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

         chef-de-jour, you're correct. And Hubpages knows this is it not? But why should they behave indifferently? This beats the mind.

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5. 97

   PaulGoodman67posted 3 years ago

   It’s true that community was way more of a priority for HP in the early days, but really it was Google who scuppered the original idea of having an open platform for writers to be published. Punishing the entire site for individual miscreants and low quality producers completely altered the direction that the site had to go to survive. Some had to be discouraged or pushed away because individuals could damage the site.
   
   I don’t care so much about the comments and adverts, though I do appreciate the forum. What I’d really like though is an HP app for my phone!

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   1. 72

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think every article is ever fit for publication. Those that can offend Google should be sent to the paper bin.                                       But if a writer from a nearby Pakistan or Indian village, or elsewhere without a good command of the English Language is swindle on YouTube...to write scrapes for hubpages seems a prority of right. That's why we're nose diving writes and all.

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6. 96

   Rupert Taylorposted 3 years ago

   The natives are getting restless. Time for management to come out of hiding and apply a soothing balm.

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   1. 72

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed. But a tonic wine is excellent for healing the inside of our person.

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7. 100

   Carb Divaposted 3 years ago

   Does HP/Maven continue to profit if their featured authors and prolific writers stop publishing new content? I personally have no desire to write to an empty room where there is no interaction or exchange.

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   1. 72

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Like as I've said in another forum thread I participate. I've not write a single article this year 2021. But I'll do next year 2021, forcussing on fitness and lifestyle.

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   2. 80

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Linda, I can understand that.   But at least, continue to participate in forums. You are a very valuable member of our community.
      Sending Blessings and Love your way.

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8. 76

   psycheskinnerposted 3 years ago

   Well, all we can do really is hope for the best.  (And make backup copies of your hubs, just in case).

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   1. 72

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Makes sense to me.

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