Suggested Articles

1. 81

   Misbah786posted 3 years ago

   Hello Beautiful Souls,
   
   Has anyone else noticed that we are having articles displayed as related/suggested articles in the body of the article? And sometimes in the between the comment as well. It seems like a distraction. It doesn't look good. (I have just noticed it on Discover)
   
   
   Something like this:
   
   
   
   
   
   Thank you so much!

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   1. 91

      MizBejabbersposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Is this on your computer or your phone? The page format is different for each. I read HP on my computer, and if I'm understanding you correctly, those related articles appear at the right margin of my computer. I rarely read articles on my phone because my phone has trouble downloading them so I'm not sure where they appear on it. But on my computer, I do click on those and read them occasionally. That's how I started following some of the writers. I think it's a good idea. I don't like the way the ads split the articles. The old way wasn't as obtrusive, and I didn't mind the ads then.

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      1. 81

         Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, MsDoris, the format is different on mobile devices and computer. I was on my mobile. I think, It seems to be a distraction when you see related articles in the mid of article. (Many of them are not even related still are being suggested)

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2. 93

   EricDockettposted 3 years ago

   This is a good thing, as long as the articles are closely related. It is smart on-page SEO.
   
   It is only a problem if the articles are not related and of no interest to the reader. I have only seen a couple of cases where they are unrelated. Overall, they seem pretty good.
   
   I would really like to see HP do more of this kind of thing.
   
   One quibble is that I think it should appear in more logical places, like between capsules. I see why you would think it looks messy the way it splits your text in that example.

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   1. 81

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, it looks messy because it splits the text.

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   2. 98

      Shesabutterflyposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Have you noticed closely related content on Pethelpful? I specifically chose an article from the aquarium section that I knew had a lot of related content (since we know they don't like to recommend fish articles already) and only one was related. I read a Betta fish article and was shown 1 article about Betta and 2 about dogs. The fish care article had 3 about dogs.
      
      None of the ones on Owlcation even show articles from the same subcategory from the articles I looked at. Although I will say I specifically chose a subcategory that again is almost never represented in the recommended articles at the bottom.
      
      Delishably was hit or miss, but had related content more often than not which was a pleasant surprise.
      
      Either way I'm sad to see the same broken format they tested out a few months back. Maybe they were not able to designate specific spots for it, but I would rather see it in the margin or back in the pop-up at the bottom verses randomly in the middle breaking up content.

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      1. 93

         EricDockettposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         I am mostly seeing closely related articles. I did see one dog article linked to one of my fish articles. I'm talking about the three that appear in the middle of the main article, not the mess of them that appear after the ads at the bottom. Those are rarely related, unfortunately.
         
         I'm hoping that HP is starting to understand that just because something is on the same website does not mean it is related to the original content. When people come to a site to learn about fish, they don't want to see content about dogs. When they come to learn about guitars, they aren't interested in song lists.
         
         Years ago, HP experimented with driving traffic to all kinds of articles. They tried linking to newly published content, best content, "related" content that wasn't really related. All of that failed. They eventually learned that articles in those "Discover More" sections needed to be very closely related for it to succeed.
         
         This seems like yet another lesson that has to be relearned, and I hope they are getting there. I actually think the three articles (not 50) are a good thing.

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         1. 98

            Shesabutterflyposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Yes that is what I am referring to as well.
            
            I only mentioned the bottom content in relation to Owlcation, because the bottom related articles generally leave whole subcategories out. I was seeing the same for the 3 in the middle. For example on the theology articles I was seeing all different subcategories like language and history, but not a single theology article. With Stem I was looking at physics and had other non-math stem articles. The categories on Owlcation are too broad to recommend based simply on the category someone choose. I don't know how they choose the read more articles, but it should be based on the subcategory so they are at least related. Stem-physics for example should show me three related physic articles. Not any article tagged with Stem.
            
            They tried this out 4 months ago I was really hoping if they brought it back they would have listened to our feedback, but it appears either they can't or will not for some reason.
            
            I agree this could and would be very good if content was related, but unfortunately that is not really what I am seeing. Add to that the unfortunate placement in most articles and I don't see this going any better than their test run.

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            1. 93

               EricDockettposted 3 years agoin reply to this

               Owlcation has always been kind of mess in that regard. My birding articles are linked to articles about alligators and big cats. As you say, it is too broad.
               
               In this case, I see a few birding articles appearing, but a lot of other bizarre things as well.
               
               HP needs to tighten that up.

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               1. 98

                  Shesabutterflyposted 3 years agoin reply to this

                  Yes it has. I don't know anything about programming, but I hope the possibilities are there for narrowing it down a bit more.

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3. 98

   Rupert Taylorposted 3 years ago

   I'm all for it as long as the articles promoted are mine. Otherwise, not so much.

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   1. 81

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Ha Ha! Actually, one of the displayed articles is mine. It's like keep on redirecting the readers to my work. Lol!

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      1. 93

         EricDockettposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         If you write in a niche, that is one reason it is a good thing.
         
         Even if not, it is good to keep readers on the site.

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         1. 81

            Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Agreed! Sounds good

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4. 91

   Titiaposted 3 years ago

   Yes I've seen that too. On PetHelpful there are only three, but on AxelAddict there are 50 suggested articles right in the middle of my article. I really thought they had cut off my article.

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   1. 81

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      50 sounds too much!

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      1. 91

         Titiaposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         I just saw they have changed it back to three now. Wish I had made a printscreen yesterday. I actually counted 50.

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         1. 95

            Glenn Stokposted 3 years agoin reply to this

            Finally!  I reported this to the team on Nov 14th when I first saw (and counted) 50 suggested articles stuck in the middle of all my articles on AxleAddict. I'm glad they finally changed it back to three.
            
            I lost a lot of readers who probably thought they reached the end without a proper conclusion when they saw nothing by suggested articles with endless scrolling through all 50.
            
            Three is acceptable, but its location is still a problem. Saying "Read More from AxleAddict" implies that the reader has reached the end.
            
            Having 50 suggestions in the middle was a nightmare and was poor judgment by whoever was in charge of the programmers. I expected better from HubPages and Maven, but I see lower standards developing now that the Arena Group is involved. (I never had to rant before).

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5. 86

   Jodahposted 3 years ago

   Yes, I have noticed…it isn't the best look but hopefully that may be one of the things HubPages look at improving. Let’s hope.

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   1. 81

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I also think HP needs to improve this

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   2. 98

      Shesabutterflyposted 3 years agoin reply to this

      They initally tested this out 4 months ago. I doubt it is changing any time soon unfortunately. When I first mentioned it Eugene and I brought up some of these same issues and now it's rolled out on all sites in the exact same format
      
      Most of the recommended I see are unrelated especially on Owlcation and Pethelpful. They also split text or appear between the Q&A/comments in shorter articles. Although I have seen a few articles without them completely.
      
      Feels like the same broken system they tested a few months back.

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6. 86

   Jodahposted 3 years ago

   Still counting 47 “around the web” suggestions before “comments” can be viewed, but at least that is at the end of the actual article. Comments are after….guess that shows how important they really consider them.

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   1. 81

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      John, they really don't need comments on their site, I guess. I read your article/poem today and found it really amazing. We do need comments back, the way we want it. Loved your work!
      Blessings to you!!!

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7. 99

   Eric Cauncaposted 3 years ago

   It is good for me.

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   1. 81

      Misbah786posted 3 years agoin reply to this

      It's always good with you. I hope it stays that way.

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