Comments on Hub pages

1. 81

   emgeposted 3 years ago

   I have been having a look at the site and I find that from 2012 onwards HubPages was not doing very well and perhaps it would've gone under like Helium and Suit 11. I think in 2018 or 19 it was taken over by maven and the new system was put in place. Generally what I find is that the site is not really interested in any comments by authors and they would like to stick to pristine articles. Comments as far as they're concerned have no commercial value and hence are not required; No wonder they have made such strict rules that is very difficult to comment, worse earlier people who are not members of the site could also comment but they can't do it now.  I really don't know whether it is good or bad but my personal feeling is that in a way there is a silver lining to all this. Many of the writers were commenting and expecting a comment back on their articles. In fact, I remember reading a plea by one of the writers to the others 'please comment on my article'.  How it was going to help him, I don't know. If you go through the comments 90% of them were inane and bland and very few were constructive. The real mettle will come out now and the writer will be on his own in the wide world and if he writes a good article is bound to generate interest.

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   1. 73

      Eurofileposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I had some readers who were impressed by the global range of the comments made on some of my articles.
      The main advantage of the comments was to encourage a community feel amongst the writers.
      I agree that pleading for comments was out of order. I even received emails on occasion asking for me to comment.
      My other concern currently is that the number of ads on articles on niche sites is putting people off reading articles. There are too many ads, which affects google ratings and they are too distracting for readers.

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   2. 82

      Mike Grindleposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      I used to use this site years ago. Having recently returned, I was a little shocked at first to find the comments were gone! On the one hand, I think it's a little bit of a shame for those who come here looking for a community as well as a place to make a side hussle. However, there's no denying that the pages look more professional now they're gone, and there seems to be more of a focus on quality content, which can only be a good thing for the site's future. So long as the forums remain open, I don't see it as being a bad thing overall.

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   3. 83

      Kenna McHughposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      When the comments were open to the public, they were worth answering because there was nothing superficial about them. I appreciate the chance to help others, and I changed my article based on those comments.

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      1. 82

         Mike Grindleposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         That's a fair point. I suppose I've gotten so used to no comments on other sites that it just feels like the norm now.

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         1. 82

            Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Not every writer here is feeling that norm.

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2. 81

   emgeposted 3 years ago

   You have raised some very interesting points as I've already written some comments were wonderful and constructive, as an example the comments of Bill Holland was always a pleasure to read. I also agree with you as far as the advertisements are concerned but then these days ads are the lifeblood of any site not only writing sites because they do generate revenue. Maybe you have a point there. Hub pages could think of having ADs at the beginning or the end of the article and not in the body. Hub pages must also look for a way how a casual visitor, in case he wishes to make a comment on the article, he can do so.

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3. 82

   Miebakagh57posted 3 years ago

   Comments has many merits on an article. But if a reader choice not to comment, that's not a problem to majority of writers.                                    Honestly, requesting a reader to comment is bad, unless the writer is seeking for rare(exclusive) information that can't be found elsewhere. But comment is not helping and can't help revenue generation.                                      As for advertisments, hubpages must try copying Google format. Too many ads is like too many cooks spoiling the meal. So writers who write for the money get a low these days.

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4. 81

   emgeposted 3 years ago

   Mike, I tend to agree with you; the look of the article certainly gives a more professional touch without comments and one can read it at leisure. However, not all comments were inane and some merited very good discussions but they amount to just about 5 to 10%, so overall I think it's a good thing.

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5. 81

   emgeposted 3 years ago

   I have a suggestion you can have comments but certainly don't allow one-line comments like, nicely written, thanks for sharing, enjoyed your article and all the blah blah. Comments that starts a discussion may be considered.

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   1. 82

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      We got a permit for such lately.

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6. 80

   bhattucposted 3 years ago

   Comments may not have any commercial value but they keep the current active writers connected through them and it makes a mini community type of thing where one can float in a pleasant way. Of course it has no relevance for the site owners and that is the reason that they don't encourage it.

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   1. 82

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      My muse is lubricating my understaning on all these...these days.

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7. 81

   boxelderredposted 3 years ago

   In the “how-to” articles, though, comments and questions—an interactive back and forth—were very useful for both readers and writers.  They offered opportunity for folks to ask questions, seek clarification, etc.  In my mind, that was very useful, helpful, appropriate.

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   1. 82

      Miebakagh57posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      That I agree.

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