'Start a New Hub' with a QAP Friendly Template

1. 53

   janderson99posted 11 years ago

   The 'Start a new Hub' is very basic.
   Why not populate it with a QAP friendly Template.
   Whenever I start a new hub I have to add lots of new capsules and duplicates. The ones not needed could be deleted.
   Simone and others have provided advice to people who have their new hubs idled with advice such as:
   => Add three or more photos
   => Break the text into several sections each with their own subheading
   => add a variety of capsules such as polls, quizzes, tables videos
   Why not add a template to 'start a new hub' with what HP wants!  See Below
   
   Joke
   Why are Hubbers like ducks? 
   Because they say QAP QAP QAP!
   
   

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   1. 87

      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You're right! A better template is a much, and this is something we've been discussing. The key, at this point, is for us to find a template/approach that we find to be truly effective (we've run tests and have yet to see something that makes a sufficient impact). Rest assured we're on it!

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      1. 53

         janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks for the reply -- Simone  => My suggestion is to Link the Template to a simple, fast and objective way of QAPing the 1M + old hubs that can be done cheaply in a way that people can understand!!!!!!
         see http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/110051#post2342545

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      2. 90

         Rock_njposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Please leave open the option for us to opt out of the QAP template.  It would be good for guidance; I more or less follow that template (minus the table, what's that for? and 3 photos), but I'd like to not be forced to use a specific template just because Google likes it.

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   2. 93

      wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      As a default I would hate it - thanks, but I'll put those same capsules where I want them, along with the others I need.  I'd probably just delete them all and start fresh each time as it's easier than moving them around.
      
      As a guideline, something to think about when starting a hub, it could be great and particularly so for newbies.  The only thing I'd really change there is the second photo capsule, flushed right of the first text.  I never put one there, and don't think you should most of the time.  Leave it for the ad.

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      1. 53

         janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         The template was just a suggestion for HP (Paul E's version) - it is not my preferred layout either. Everyone could adapt it to their own style - it is just a starting point.

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         1. 93

            wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Understood, and that's why I think something like that could be good particularly for the newbies.  Encourage them to break that one text capsule up as well as make a point that there are other capsules that deserve to be looked at as possibilities as well.  I do think it would be great for that and could promote the use of the different capsules. 
            
            Just, please, get rid of that second photo capsule.  It all too often messes up an otherwise clean formatting job and cuts income as well.  If you have pull enough, get it off of the current default, too!

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            1. 53

               janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

               I agree, but Paul E loves the big image at the top so much, he has developed a special adsense ad that appears under the title if you go that way.  (see example Below  - very cluttered)
               
               Just suggestions  - I won't defend the layout - just a starting point for discussion.
               
               
               
               

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                  wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                  I've come to like that lead in photo, too.  I'm trying to make it Pinterest friendly and having at least some success at it.

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                  1. 53

                     janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                     I still put an intro para at the top just big enough to allow the ads at the right then follow with big P images - best of both worlds IMO. Give text above the fold which I believe is important for G and for the reader. That layout is just ads on ads  - its hard to find the title and where' s the text - anyway that's another can of worms.
                     Cheers,  Got to go.
                     
                     

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                     1. 93

                        wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        I generally do the same thing with that introductory text capsule - just big enough for the ad.
                        
                        I'm not sure about G wanting text above the fold vs not wanting too many ads.  There's a difference, and G may be quite happy with a photo.  In any case I'm still working with Pinterest, trying to make something work there, and that big photo seems to be key.  If I can promote some traffic with it, I'm happy to do that.

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                     2. 91

                        ktrappposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                        I logged out of HubPages to look at your pork loin page myself, and it had a humungous ad across the top. It was wider than the actual Hub and probably more than twice as high as usual. Here is what I saw above the fold on my laptop:
                        
                        
                        
                        I do like how your layout makes it so there's not an ad below the title (when logged out), but I wonder what's up with that humungous ad that just seems to dominate my screen (I guess that's a different topic though than what this forum is about).

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                        1. 53

                           janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

                           Its nothing to do with the layout - its simply what Google delivers into the ad space provided by HP. I think these non-text ads change the decision about which layout is best. Maybe I'm old fashioned but I think users expect text above the fold - a good summary of what the article is about. My interpretation of the Google 'above the fold' stuff is that Google also wants 'text above the fold" not just ads and images. While we're off topic have you noticed the new Related Ads block at the bottom of the page and to the right below the pin button. Looks like an ad version of RSS - often unrelated to the topic of the hub but linked to the last things you the user were searching for.  ++ CPM's are up!!!

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                           1. 91

                              ktrappposted 11 years agoin reply to this

                              I hadn't noticed that about the related ads block. I'm not sure if it matters to Google if the non-ad content above the fold is text or images, or even video, since all are forms of content. I tend to think they look at it as more of a ratio of ads to content. Personally, a good picture draws me in and I'm more apt to scroll down, so as a reader I'm OK without necessarily seeing content text, but too many ads is a turnoff. The huge ad across yours in my screenshot above probably would have sent me straight to the back button. But maybe that's just me.

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   3. 72

      That Grrlposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I've yet to find much use for the table function. I won't use videos in a post again. The month I did so I spent an extra $25 for my ISP bill due to the bandwidth I spent reviewing and choosing videos to add to my post. HP doesn't pay enough for me to be spending an extra $25 a month just for the unnecessary addition of videos to my posts.
      
      Having to delete these from each new post template will be kind of annoying. I don't have a problem with adding new functions for text and photos and such as I need them. The link is right there inside the post while I'm working on it.

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2. 91

   Millionaire Tipsposted 11 years ago

   I like the idea of having a template of a stellar hub.  Like the others said, it shouldn't be mandatory.  Maybe when we are creating a new hub and are choosing a template, the stellar hub template would be one of our options.

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   1. 93

      wildernessposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I think Janderson is thinking we could have that stellar template the default.  Changeable, yes, but what you see when you first start writing. 
      
      Personally, I'd like the stellar template to be optional and just start with a single text capsule, but that's me.  I write on HP, not word, and it's easier to simply insert the capsules as I go rather than move them around.

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      1. 53

         janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         My idea is 'Jane' daughter of 'Stella'=> 'Me Jane you Tarzan'
         The 'Jane' template is based on the minimum layout to improve the chances of getting featured (minimum QAP requirements) - It defines what HP wants as a minimum!

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         1. 53

            janderson99posted 11 years agoin reply to this

            Trivial pursuit question:
            What was the name of  the sidekick of 'Xena: Warrior Princess" ( lets call her Stella) in the TV series?
            ------------------( Lets call her Jane)

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               WriteAngledposted 11 years agoin reply to this

               Aww, poor little Gabrielle

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3. 61

   monisays2uposted 11 years ago

   Hi janderson99..
   Thanks for a great Question.
   As per my view, the so called "google friendly template" can change from time to time. There are articles which are still doing better even without  the above criterion. I have seen hub of day without any stellar criterion. I think hubbers must get their own choice of deciding the template.

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