We could do with a staff statement......

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   ryankettposted 14 years ago

   Even if they don't have anything good to say.
   
   I mean, I am probably only a day or two away from taking my content and republishing it on my own domains.... consolidation and all that.
   
   Even just something which says "we are on the case" would give me a little confidence, these are supposed to be the second biggest on the net right?

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      Pcunixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Slow down!
      
      You are over reacting. 
      
      Yes, you should ALWAYS be ready to move your content, but definitely not in the midst of this confusion!

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         ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         OK I will chill, and take a couple of days off.
         
         Tomorrow I am taking my dog to the best dog park in town, visiting the new baby in my family, playing a game of scrabble and probably a game of something else with the wife, and then I will come back with a clear head on Sunday to review the options and consider my next move

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            Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            I would argue that you should sit at your desk and work all day - not runaway from the issue. I thought you had 15 domains planned - now would be a good time to work on them.

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               ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               I do, but I had tomorrow planned anyway, clearing my head seems like the better idea at the moment.
               
               I have been working on a new site today, so I am already focussing in that direction.
               
               It isn't a case of whether I have the nerve, its more a case of whether I can afford to get through this hinderance without needing a job of some sort to pay the bills. Diversification was very much at the forefront of my 2011 strategy, ultimately the bump has (or looks to have) happened 6 months before I could say that it wasn't a big thing for me.
               
               No chance of me walking away, but there may have to be a realignment of my focus and a part-time offline job subsidising me, that's all.
               
               A couple of shifts a week in a bar would probably do me good anyway, ultimately I was planning to do a day a week volunteering anyway, so that can be done.
               
               Walking the dog, playing scrabble, and meeting the new member of our family, appeals to me a fair bit today

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                  Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  I'm very glad to hear that. Just keep working on your own sites, get a part-time job if need be.
                  
                  I'm going to scoot off to other work for the day, so I'll see you back here on Sunday.

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               Spacey Graceyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               Behind that smiling face is a hard task-master Nelle .
               
               I have wasted soooo much time reading these forum posts that I ran out of time to work on my site. Doh.
               
               Still it has been a learning experience.
               
               I don't feel like relying on my own income is anymore stresfull than having a job. I could've been fired any day, and plenty of people I know were never paid wages they were owed. I'm loving the adrenaline, but it definitely helps having the voice of experience like Nelle & Pcunix to calm me down.

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            Pcunixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            There you go. Excellent plan!

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      Maddie Ruudposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      We are on the case. 

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         WordPlayposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I think everyone needs to pay attention to what Maddie said above. Remember, HubPages has a *lot* at stake (they can't take their content elsewhere like we can), so they have plenty of motivation to address this issue. I believe her when she says they're on it.

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            Pcunixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            "they can't take their content elsewhere like we can"
            
            Exactly.  That's why they WILL do whatever needs to be done.

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         geargirl113posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you Maddie for that reply. I think that focusing on other work is probably one of the best ways to go right now.  At least that is what I plan to do.

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         David 470posted 14 years agoin reply to this

         

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   Mishaposted 14 years ago

   Stop panicking Ryan, would you? You act like a little girl...

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I take it your superhub is yet to be bumped then?
      
      Yes I am panicking, I didn't realise that panic was a gender specific emotion.

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         Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         I am currently making about $20-30 a day on HP. Last December it was more like $150-200. Ebb and flow is the nature of the game, get used to it.
         
         And yes, little girls are more prone to panic than grown up men.

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         Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         If you continue your online career, things like this happen every 2 or 3 years with Google. It's the way of G. You have to decide if you can handle it or not.
         
         It also happens with the economy - I had at least half a dozen major real estate info sites wiped out with the real estate crash.
         
         I had maybe a dozen sites that were dedicated to specific merchants tank when those merchants declared bankruptcy during the economic downturn. And they were substantial players you would have though would have survived. I lost tens of thousands of dollars in commissions that were never paid.
         
         I worry every day about tax laws.
         
         Running your own business on- or off-line is not for a nervous person or panic-prone person.

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            Pcunixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Definitely.
            
            Though it is good to let the panic run a little bit, just so that you can do a little "just in case" planning.
            
            As I have said elsewhere, I've been in the dumps more than once. In 1987 I owed $100,000 from a bad business venture.  It took me years to recover.
            
            In 1993, things were so bad I had to take a job for 4 years. In 1997, I started up again without a dime in my pocket - just guts and determination to drive me.
            
            Life is change.  Don't ever, ever get too comfy with how things are because it can change overnight - as we may be seeing now.

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      Spacey Graceyposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Oi - Misha take that back! I am a girl and I am not panicking! I did need to have a cup of tea and an emergency flapjack when I checked my stats, but I have recovered now

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         Mishaposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         LOL You a big girl already, and know how to control the beast

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   Nelle Hoxieposted 14 years ago

   I don't know what they'd say, that we don't already know on a smaller scale. I'm leaving all of my hubs up and we'll see what happens.
   
   G hit some of my larger sites like five years ago. I've left them up and now they're getting traffic and making sales, better than the niche blogs. You just never know.
   
   Work on your own sites and forget about this for a while. You'll feel better and create a new money channel.

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   Don Simkovichposted 14 years ago

   I saw this on gshack technology news:
   
   "Google is making a lot of changes lately which can partially be attributed to the rising criticism that search quality has taken the dive in recent years. The aim of the latest change that has been rolled out yesterday in the US is to move “more” quality sites to the top of the search results, and the low content sites down."
   
   I put "traffic on Hubpages" in Google News.

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   lender3212000posted 14 years ago

   I don't really think Ryan is panicking. It would only make sense to move legitimate unique content elsewhere if it is going to be penalized by association.

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      Mark Ewbieposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      It is easier to be relaxed when HP is just a hobby.  I would be as panicky as an eight year old girl if I relied on this for income.
      
      Oh and yes - a staff statement would have been very helpful.  Do they think there's a problem?  What are they doing?  That sort of thing.  You wouldn't think it would be hard, after all they send out emails frequently enough.

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         Lisa HWposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         A lot of people rely very much even on their "hobby" income.  The difference may only be that they do what they enjoy, with only  a minimal of what they don't, for that income they count on.  Either way, all changes require adjustment and transition.  It's way too soon to think about panicking.

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      Pcunixposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Of course. But you don't make decisions like that in the midst of a new algorithm rollout.

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   Penteposted 14 years ago

   In order for Google to survive, they have to be constantly looking for new and better algorithms. I suspect that there will always be a battle between their algorithms and the masters of SEO.
   
   A lot of companies and writers have discovered that their is a certain minimum level for getting results in Google. They put out material in such a way to maximize their profit per unit of time spent.
   
   I suspect that this could be a mistake for them in the long run. Just remember that Google's long term strategy is to prioritize good content. It is looking for the best stuff on the web to match with their user's search terms.
   
   Anyone who has maximized their earnings with the bare minimum content will probably get burned in the future. Even if Google can't get the perfect algorithm, social media technologies could weed out bad content from good content. It is not just Google searching that leads to our hubs.
   
   I just started using Google Analytics recently and I have already noticed that some of my best Adsense earning hubs are neither the best nor the ones with the most impressions. It really is a matter of hit or miss.
   
   Do I regret spending inordinate amounts of time on the few hubs that I really felt should be at the top? Absolutely not, because algorithms will come and go. As algorithms get better and the web gets smarter, those good hubs will rise to the top.
   
   What I am saying is this. Just keep on producing and try to keep the quality higher than necessary. I am sure the high quality work will continue to produce earning for 5, 10, or even 20 years. The low quality stuff may produce as much money today, but it will probably die in earnings in the next few years.
   
   I realize that I have only been with Hubpages for about 3 months, but I have been working with computers my whole life. I have a good feel for the problems that Google is dealing with and I can see their potential solutions. These solutions will often weed out low quality work and that may be very sudden for a lot of people with tons of low quality stuff.

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      The issue is not quality on an article by article basis. Their issue is with content farms.
      
      Hubpages is a content farm. Therefore, where do you proposed that Hubbers take their content?
      
      Blogs and micro-sites are doing well, content farms are not, where next? You tell me.

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         Penteposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         It is my hope that Google will start to sort out the good from the bad on the content farms, not just stereotype it as all bad.
         But I get your point. I started building a web site a couple months ago and if necessary I guess I could start concentrating on niche sites. I never considered it a good idea to put all my eggs in one basket anyway.
         I am a lot like Pcunix in that I am use to getting knocked down and just getting back up again. It just seems to be the nature of my life.

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      Don Simkovichposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Pente, for your comments.

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   sunforgedposted 14 years ago

   lmao

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      ryankettposted 14 years agoin reply to this

      I did realise after posting this thread that those with the most to lose are the guys at HQ. Sure their concern is far greater than mine, naturally.

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         Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

         Like Maddie said "tell them N****** to chill out. They are On the M***** F*****
         
         
         
         Prolly get banned again.....................
         
         Lawd a' mighty boy.

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            wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

            Run on out and grab yourself a Royale wit' cheeeese...
            
            
            

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               Mark Knowlesposted 14 years agoin reply to this

               It is the metric system.

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                  wyanjenposted 14 years agoin reply to this

                  I'd rather go to Big Kahuna.
                  
                  That IS a tasty burger
                  
                  
                  
                  
                  Anyway, no worries. Maddie's gonna get medieval...

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   sunforgedposted 14 years ago

   I love it

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   WryLiltposted 14 years ago

   I'm going to give it a week. If all is not well with the world by then, then I'll begin to stress.

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    Sufidreamerposted 14 years ago

    Chill out, watch the football, and have a couple of beers, Ryan.
    
    I second PCUnix and Nelle - this is the challenge of working online.
    
    Freelance writers suffered a big hit a couple of years back, when the economic crisis arrived. Times were hard for a while, but those who stayed the course survived.
    
    It will all come right in the end - you are no spammer, so you will recover.

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