Need Constructive Criticism for my Hubs

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   GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years ago

   I started in late August 2012 and want to start up the New Year with some long and short term goals. I don't have a clue where to start. I have pruned, revised, rewrote, edited until my poor bonsai Hubs have been shaped to their very branches.  I am so confused by keywords and I have "low" competition keywords but the keywords rank in the xx,xxx,xxx views. (or at least I think they do) Is this okay?
   
   I participate in contests, answer on forums, comment on others Hubbers Hubs and have Twitter, Facebook, G+, Pinterest, and my website to promote my Hubs. Also, any direction on how to proceed would be awesome. I'm at 45 Hubs to date. Love to increase my views (5900 approx). I need the how to (instructions please) if I am to be the best writer I can be. Hub staff too--any ideas? --Whew! Help! Thanks!--Deb
   
   PSS: Funny thing, though, some of my articles are showing up on page 1 of Google, go figure.

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      Faith A Mullenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am new to Hubpages, so not an expert by any means. But I took a look at a few of your hubs and wanted to say that they are very well written and kept me reading down the page.
      
      I believe you are correct that the keywords you want to use are the ones that rank with a high number of views, while having low competition.
      
      I have read several places that pages that have been around for a while do better, so perhaps you just need to give it more time? Some people have told me to expect that things won't pick up until after one year.
      
      I wish you the best and more clicks in the future! I certainly enjoyed reading your hubs.

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         GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Faith A Mullen: Thank you for your candor and compliment. I try to do my best, but there are times I wonder what else I can/could do. I'm not stopping writing Hubs, but there's got to be a time when the results start improving. I'm not sure if time is the only factor working against me, because there are many Hubbers who are doing quite well right out of the gate. Thanks, though. Your kindness is appreciated and I will consider thoughtfully your advice.--Deb

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   vocalcoachposted 11 years ago

   I would be willing to take a look at a hub or two and give you helpful feedback.  I'm not the best here at hubpages (far from it) but I have learned a few things my 2+ years here and I'm happy to share with you.  So, give me a few minutes and I'll get back to you.

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      GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I appreciate any feedback.--Deb

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   vespawoolfposted 11 years ago

   I've read through some of your hubs and I can also say they're very well-written and engaging.
   
   I've only been here a year, but I do know it takes around 6 months for hubs to "mature" enough to get attention from Google. Lately, I've learned a lot from a Hubber who calls himself "thephoenixlives". His Hubs are all very informative, but this one especially helped me: "The Importance Of Working Within A Niche With Your Hub Account". He discusses linking your Hubs and creating a sort of "web" that connects them into one body of work. He also talks about creating an index.
   
   Of course, there are other Hubbers who recommend the complete opposite when it comes to this subject. It all boils down figuring out what Google wants from us and that's no easy task!
   
   I do think your traffic is very low for the kind of work you generate, but I don't know what accounts for it. I did notice a big difference myself at 50 hubs. It seems to be a magic number as far as giving your subdomain more credibility. If you write specific questions in the comments section of any of "thephoenixlives" Hubs, he will eventually answer you. All I can say is what he says makes sense and it's helped improve my traffic.

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      GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      vespawoolf: I have been moving toward the "family" topic niche. Since my website has also taken a turn in that direction, I am hoping that something will fare as a result of focusing more on one area. I will check out the Hubber you mention. I will also try to be patient and strive for 50 Hubs. Maybe that commitment will send ripples Google's way and the result will be more traffic. Thanks!--Deb

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   vespawoolfposted 11 years ago

   I'm sure that if you keep on working, you'll reach your goals! You already have some great stuff out there. I also think 6 months was a turning point for me. I hope my views continue to increase, but internet traffic does naturally ebb and flow.

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      GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, vespawoolf, I appreciate that. I will keep happy thoughts--plus writing as well as I can. 50+ Hubs, here I come.... --Deb

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   Millionaire Tipsposted 11 years ago

   Deb, your progress is similar to mine, so I don't really know how to offer advice. In fact, I asked a similar question not to long ago. You can duplicate what I've done, although I'm not sure how much it will help you.
   
   You can join the apprentice program, but if you don't have time or want to get a headstart, I would recommend going through the learning center, particularly the Choosing Topics ones and this one:
   http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/google-keyword-tool
   
   They will explain how to choose titles, write evergreen content, how to attract visitors, and find  niche topics.  Read them very carefully.  I was confused about the word "competition" when it came to SEO.  It doesn't mean the competition column on the Keyword Tool, which is for advertisers.  It means that once you find keywords that get between 500 and 40,000 views, look up that keyword on Google to see what kinds of articles are out there. That's your competition. If you can write a better article than the top three, then that's what you write.
   
   Read the HubPages blog entries as well.
   
   A lot of it is finding a topic that isn't covered everywhere on the web, but lots of people want to know about.  Very specific things that other people don't know.   My best hubs are things that I actually searched for at one time or another, and have developed enough experience to write my own take on the subject.  This actually helped me since I titled my hubs with the keywords I used to research the topic.  Look at your most viewed hubs, and try to write more around that topic.
   
   Look at your least viewed topics and don't write about those as much, or try a different approach to them.
   
   I wish you the best!

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      GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Millionaire Tips: Thanks so much for your sage advice. By the way, I did see your question and I'm not sure but I may have asked for help within that forum--or one that similar. One of the veteran Hubbers was using keywords that ranked in the millions. That is where I am getting confused. If I choose a keyword and it is considered "low competition" by Google but has 10,000,000 monthly searches, and has a CPC of $1.12, would that be a good choice? or Are you saying "low competition," with 500 to 40,000 monthly views but with a high CPC?
      
      This is where I think I am getting everything in a twaddle. I have "phrase" checked in Google AdWords. Is this the correct one?
      
      Finally, I agree about reviewing my higher ranked Hubs, but I don't really have much else to say about DIY baskets. I'm sure there are other Hubbers more expert than I. I can talk on "mom" topics and things that affect family. I can talk about recipes, because I cook well. But some not all of these types of articles aren't progressing as they should. Maybe that is the mystery of online article writing--we just have to put our good content out there and allow it just "be" until someone finds it. Thanks so much, though, for your insights. I truly appreciate them.--Deb

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         Millionaire Tipsposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Deb, click on the link in my response and read that learning center article.  Basically if you look for articles that have millions of views, you will probably not make it because the topic is too broad and there are lots of articles on the subject.  But if you write about something specific, even though fewer people are searching for that specific topic, they are more likely to find your hub, because there aren't a lot of other articles on the topic. That's why you want to look for something between 500 and 40,000 views a month.  In your example, "baskets" has too many views and many people wrote about the topic, but "DIY baskets" apparently do better. (I think that is what is meant by niche topics - specific topics instead of general topics. They are called long tail keywords).
         
         Then from the ones that fit that criteria (500-40,000) click on them to do a Google search to check out the competition.  See what the names of the articles are.  Did they use the keyword in the title?  Click on them and see if you can write something better.

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            GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks, Millionaire Tips, you are a jewel I will do just as you say. Much appreciated!--Deb

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            GoldenThreadPressposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Millionaire Tips: I forgot to mention that I did apply to be in the apprentice program, but I was turned down. I have to wait six months before I can reapply. I believe at the time I applied, I was "too new" to be part of the program. --Deb

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      vespawoolfposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      This is an awesome link. There's a reason you're an apprentice. :   )

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      Faith A Mullenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Millionaire Tips - Thanks for the link! Super helpful.

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