A New HubPages Challenge/Contest: Grow the HubPot

1. 92

   jansharesposted 10 years ago

   Hey! Just saw that the contest has been extended after knocking myself out with no sleep to get one in (LOL)! Good news. Now I can enter more hubs AND get some sleep! Thanks for the extension, HP.

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   FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

   We've got the whole month of March now? Woot!! I was kinda bummed that I only had time to post one new Hub during the contest week, but if it's been extended then I'll have the chance to get some more stuff out there. (happy dance)

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      +1 Dancing with you, FatFreddysCat.

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   Everyday Miraclesposted 10 years ago

   I fear that my hub for today isn't going to be very good. I have one and two half-hubs written right now. I want to publish the Hunger Games hub first, but I'm concerned it's going to be altogether too long. Ugh. I hate situations like this.
   
   My best friend (and room mate) published this morning, so if accounts are tracked by IP, then anything I publish might not matter anyway. I'm trying to take some comfort in that haha.

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I don't think anything can be too long. The hub I published today has 1750 words.

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         Everyday Miraclesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         1/3 of the way done (roughly) this one's already sitting at over 2,500 words long. It's very likely to go over the 5000 which is the recommended maximum. Pretty sickening, but it's all relevant information. I could break this down into three hubs, but each one is going to be a monster in its own right and it won't flow as well.
         
         I love, love, love writing about The Hunger Games. It's one of my favorite topics to write about, but who would have known that there was so much to say on the subject, right?

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            susi10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I love the Hunger Games too! They are a fantastic book series with so much perspective on a dark future. I will be reading your hub, looking forward to it!

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   Robinposted 10 years ago

   Today's blog post with the winners is up!

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      Everyday Miraclesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Congratulations to today's winners! Looks like there's lots of math in there today. I'll have to check it out. Great work guys!

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         susi10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Yay! I was in the list, it is a very satisfactory thing to be able to say that your article was picked out of 2 and in the top 10. You are right, there is a lot of math in the hubs (including mine, ) Congrats to all the winners and well done! I am enjoying this competition so much and it is becoming a great success for HubPages. You know, with so many fabulous hubs being published every day, HubPages may yet have its golden age.

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            susi10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Sorry I meant, "article was picked out of 143 hubs" not 2. Whoops.

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            Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Congratulations susi10.

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               susi10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks Barbara. I am going to check out the hub you entered, it sounds great. Don't give up, try again, I am sure you will make the list!

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      jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks, Robin and HP staff for choosing my hub! Honored! Thanks Everyday Miracles for the congrats.

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      susi10posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for picking my hub, Robin and the HP staff. I'm so happy. I'm glad the hard work paid off! Well done to everyone, including you Jan.

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         jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Congrats, susi10, good job! Thanks! We should all feel very proud.

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            Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

            Congratulations Jan. For me, I did the best job I could do on the hub about how to grow Huechera. I really can't do better. I'm throwing in the towel for now and doing more work on my website.

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               jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks, Barbara Kay, but don't give up. Maybe one more try before the end of March will do it, thanks to the extension.

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                  Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  janshares, I don't know, but thanks for the encouragement.

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               merej99posted 10 years agoin reply to this

               I know how you feel, Barbara!  I felt the same way about my latest hub.  I'm still feeling competitive but scrambling for another really good hub might not be in the cards for me tonight.  Maybe over the weekend or fresh start next week.  Don't be discouraged! I've gone through a few of your hubs and you have GREAT stuff.  The competition is TOUGH!

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                  Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks merej99 for the encouragement.

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               Robinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               You were very close to the top 10, Barabara!  It is so incredibly hard to choose 10.  I hope you keep at it.  It was a fantastic Hub!  Choosing the top 10 Hubs of the day has been one of my hardest jobs at HubPages.  I don't know how I'm going to choose only 10 for the week.  ugh! 

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                  LCDWriterposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I look at it this way.  This contest has spurred many of us to write again or write more often and this is a good thing.
                  
                  The more quality articles that are out there on HP, the better the reputation of the site as a whole.  So whether we are picked for a daily or weekly top 10 or not, we all stand to gain by adding quality content to the site.

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                     ChristinSposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     I agree - I hub hopped during this last week and the hubs I saw were very very good.  I didn't make the cut this week , but I'll try again before March is over.  It seems to me this contest has definitely given more incentive to hubbers, perhaps something like this should be done even more often *hint hint *

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                        Greensleeves Hubsposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        I'm sure you're right Christin. I know there was a competition planned some time ago - maybe around this time last year? - but it got cancelled. If I remember correctly, pressure on the staff of introducing so many changes at that time was the reason for the cancellation. But certainly competition is one way in which both quantity and quality of hubs can be encouraged. It's difficult to achieve both because quantity is about producing lots of hubs, whilst quality usually means taking a lot of time over one hub, but any competition that incentivises both has to be good for the website and for the hubbers.

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                  Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  Thanks Robin.

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   Robinposted 10 years ago

   All of the winners will be updated and can be found in this Forum thread.

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   paradigmsearchposted 10 years ago

   Published my masterpiece. Got a 69, it did. No top 10 list for paradigmsearch...

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      Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I feel a little better then, but can't believe they gave you a 69. I'll go read the hub.

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   DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years ago

   Thanks very much for including me amongst the top 10.  I'm honored!
   
   I was set to publish another today, but I wasn't feeling so hot, and got waylaid by a trip to the emergency room...
   
   Turns out, my potassium levels had fallen off for some reason, and that's what caused my punk/weak/unstable feeling, so I'll be ok--just have to take it easy for a few days, and lay in a fresh supply of bananas.  ;-)

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      Barbara Kayposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Congratulations for the top 10. Get well soon.

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         DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, Barbara Kay!  It was scary, for sure; I haven't been to the ER as a patient in 48 years, since I was 18 and fell off my bike!

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   Stacie Lposted 10 years ago

   Well I just read the blog and found out I made the list...what a hoot! Thanks!

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   allthefactsposted 10 years ago

   Simple Rough Stats on Finalists Days 1-4 - top40
   
   Words: Average 1800; median 1500; max 4200; min 900
   Images: Average 13; median 9; max 45; min 3
   Videos: Average 3; median 3; max 7; min 0
   
   I guess this suggests what HP wants???? or likes????

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      Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      13 images per hub?!
      3 videos per hub?!

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         FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Whut da fudge? Who's got time for that kinda crap?
         
         ...besides, how much actual "writing" is in those hubs? They sound like they're packed with a lotta nonsense fillers to me.

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            Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            I can come up with as many words as you need. I've got those in spades... finding that many public domain photos on one subject seems nearly impossible. I s'pose the point is that they would like us to take our own. My 2009 sad little cell phone takes sad little photos. And I can't even imagine what hub would need 3 videos except maybe a hub on a musical artist. I guess that's why these hubs are so superlative, 'cause maybe not many ppl can accomplish the feat.

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               spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               It looks like most of my hubs would actually have too many videos! But I write mostly music lists hubs were I feel compelled to include videos for every song on the list. But that is the other thing, you don't really see too many music hubs recognized with HOTD and there hasn't been any music hubs in the top 10 yet. So if I want to be seriously considered, I am probably writing in the wrong topic. That being said I wouldn't win for those subjects either because I'm not passionate and/or knowledgeable about them. Oh well, I am doomed to be an eternal loser. On the bright side I wear a luchador mask and $5 poncho!

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                  Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I hadn't noticed.
                  
                  If HPs is to choose a music hub for hotd, it should be my Gavin DeGraw hub... not b/c it's a good hub, but b/c I love him. (The restraining order is a rumor.)

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                     FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     If I were ever to write a Hub about my 25 year (and counting) crush on Samantha Fox, she'd have a restraining order out on me for sure.

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                        Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        I've never really bothered him. Occasionally when he's on the road, I go in his bathroom and smell his towels. I don't see what the big deal is. He should feel lucky to have such a devoted fan.

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                           FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                           Samantha Fox probably should thank her lucky stars every day that there's an ocean between us.

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                     spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     I'm not saying that it never happen, but I can't recall seeing one recently. HubPages probably haven't selected your hub because of those pesky rumors.

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                     merej99posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Liam Neeson can eat crackers in my bed ANY time. lol

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                        Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        lol. Actually, it's not a romantic thing... it's his music... I just can't get over his ability. I love his music. If I were going to have a idol-type crush on someone, he'd probably have to be Irish.

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                           spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                           Damn it! I'm not Irish!

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                              Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                              The Irish men really have it lucky. They don't even have to be good looking. They just open their mouths and that accent comes out and their macho little bar room brawls start popping up out of no where and American women just start to swoon. Although when the females speak it seems just as attractive. I've always wanted to visit, but the English always act as if they loathe the Irish. lol. What a funny world.
                              
                              Edit: Sorry for going so far off topic Robin. Forgot where I was. I'm lucky Matthew didn't come after me with his friendly warning.

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                     spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     There are a number of female bass players who currently have restraining orders on me! I also wrote a hub on my top 10 female bass players (but it did not make the top 10 ! ) Sorry for the shameless plug (OK I'm not really sorry).

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                        FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        I just left a comment on your female bass-players Hub. So your shameless plug worked on me

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                        Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                        Well I guess we finally know the reason for the mask.

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                           spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                           The mask can definitely come in handy at times!

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10. 94

    FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

    I posted a new Hub today... guess that means I'm "in"...

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       jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Yaaaay!

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       merej99posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Woot Woot!  I submitted one last night and have a few ideas for futures ones.  I just don't think I can pop out one a day (but I can try, right?)
       Good Luck everyone! Mere

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    FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

    
    
    No shame in that. All the photos in the Hub I posted today were taken with my cell phone. It ain't great but it gets the job done.
    
    
    
    Hubs on musical artists are usually my department but I don't think I've ever used more than 2 videos per Hub. (I'm too lazy to go back and check for sure, though, so I may be completely full of it. Haha). I was more surprised by the "13 images" thing. Unless you're doing a photo gallery Hub why would you need so many pics? Sheesh.

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       Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

       I don't think even Luis's bikini article used that many. lol

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          FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Maybe it was one of those "Photo Gallery of Random Bollywood Actress That Nobody Outside of India Has Ever Heard Of" hubs.

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    FatFreddysCatposted 10 years ago

    If that's the case than you and I are in the same boat, Spartucus, cuz the Hub I posted today was music related. Hopefully one of us music geeks can finally break thru the wall!!

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       spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Hopefully! I do enjoy your musical geekines, so I am rooting for you!

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          FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Likewise, Poncho Man!!
          \m/ ( <---"Metal" hand sign)

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             spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

             It looks like I did it, I made the top 10 during the weekend! I got shut out of the cash, but oh, well. Maybe now the wall is broken, you will be next!

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                Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                Deleted
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                   spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                   It looks like I got to take back what I said previously. It is a good thing no one could of heard the cursing I was doing under my breath!  That being said I offer apologies and thanks to the good folks at Hubpages! That being said I am still cursing the folks at random.org!

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                      spartucusjonesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                      Also, thanks Beth, for the kind words! You rock!

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                         Beth37posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                         I didn't realize where I was, again... and I was afraid I'd get in trouble for going off topic... so I deleted, but I meant it. Now don't talk to me or I'll go off topic.

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                FatFreddysCatposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                Woohoo! Congrats! Onward and upward!!

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    Robinposted 10 years ago

    Check out the blog for the weekend winners as well as the Grand Prize Winner of the Week!

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       Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Wooooo hooooooooo  !!!! Two of my hubs are in the top 10 list. One on Friday and one on Sunday. I am so stoked !!!!  Thank you, Robin and HP team. Thank you, thank you so much.

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       Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Congratulations to the other Top 10ers and to the winners. We are ALL winners !    I am proud to be part of HubPages and this community of fine writers.

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          jansharesposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Congrats, Phyllis. I'm so happy for you. You deserve it because you're one of the hardest working hubbers and one of the finest in terms of the material you put out. The recognition is due. Enjoy as you bask!

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             Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

             Thank you so much, Jan.  Ahhh ! you see me basking -- yes, I am kicking back and basking. Jan I so appreciate your kind words, that means a lot to me. Thanks.

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          merej99posted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Congratulations!  I don't think I'd want the job of going through all the hubs and selecting 10 a day.  LOL
          I'll have to check out the weekend winners to see how many names I recognize. Right now - I have to finish up my other project & feed my face!  Keep up the great work!

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             Phyllis Doyleposted 10 years agoin reply to this

             OMGosh, mere, I do not think I could do what those judges are doing in selecting 10 a day. That is a lot of work.  Thanks for the congrats and encouragement.

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       DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Congratulations to one and all!

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    AbbyEHauckposted 10 years ago

    I've just published my first post here on hubpages and am curious about the details of this contest.
    
    I have confirmed my PayPal account but have yet to sign up for AdSense because I was advised against it until at least 10 hubs have been published.
    
    So my question is this: do I need to have an AdSense account to qualify for the contest or just be confirmed through PayPal? I ask because I would like to invest my time in creating quality work rather than quantity (to make me a more favorable candidate for AdSense). I would like to publish one new piece each day for the next nine days (minimum) to before applying for an AdSense account but would like to know that these posts could potentially qualify as contest submissions as well.
    
    If I have to be confirmed through AdSense first, I'll more likely to just churn out 10 sub-par pieces within a day or two before investing too much time in creating high quality copy. I hope that this is not the case, though.

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       DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       Welcome to Hub Pages, Abby!
       
       A word to the wise, though.  You will not benefit yourself by, "...churning out 10 sub-par pieces..."  I would strongly advise against that tactic, because you would be shooting yourself in the foot, if you'll pardon the cliché.
       Hub Pages ranking system includes having articles (Hubs) either "featured" or "not featured."  Sub-par articles are "not featured;" what this means is that a "no index" tag is applied to that Google bots will not bother to look at those articles, and you will get little to no traffic from outside of Hub Pages. (A poor recipe for AdSense earnings.)
       Worse, each Hub Pages author has the ability to "hub-hop," reading new hubs, and can rate them from within on scales applying to everything from content and formatting to grammar and spelling.  A poor rating from fellow authors would do you no good, either.
       There will be other contests, so I would not be overly concerned with rushing to get into this one.  Take your time, do your best, get your AdSense account established, and move forward from there.
       That's my 2-cents-worth.
       Cheers!  Liz

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          AbbyEHauckposted 10 years agoin reply to this

          Great! Thank you for your prompt reply, Liz.
          
          Honestly, I wouldn't just pump out pieces like that. I just felt a major sense of urgency when I noticed that I have to be eligible to earn income through hub pages to be entered in the contest. I said "churn out 10 sub-par pieces" as a way to indicate my concern for the conditions of the contest.
          
          Like I said, I have my PayPal account and tax info confirmed, but wasn't sure if AdSense has to be confirmed, as well. If such is the case, then I admit to feeling the fire under my butt to get more hubs published in a hurry, if nothing else than to feed my competitive side
          
          Don't worry, though. I promise I'll pace myself

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             Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

             Actually HubPages recommends that you have at least 20 featured Hubs before applying for an AdSense account:
             
             http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/signup-AdSense
             
             And, depending upon where you live, you might have to wait six months after publishing before you apply for AdSense. 
             
             If you apply prematurely and get rejected, then you have to wait 30 days before applying again.  Too many rejections will mean that you are never approved.

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                DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                Good points, as well, Writer Fox! 
                Count on WF to remember specifics and details better than I. 

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    kondaldposted 10 years ago

    Hi please tell me how to earnings money with hub pages.

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       DzyMsLizzyposted 10 years agoin reply to this

       kondald, welcome to Hub Pages.
       This is a wonderful site for authors, both in the ability to earn some money, and the helpful and knowledgeable community.
       However, it is not a 'get rich quick' site, and it takes time.  There are many things to learn and master, and I suggest you begin at the Learning Center, and familiarize yourself with the site rules and vision overall, first.
       You can go there by clicking this link: http://hubpages.com/topics/hubpages-tut … pages/2978
       These forums are excellent places to learn things, as there are many folks willing to help.  But you increase your chances of getting a useful reply if your question is posted to the correct forum thread.  In this case, that should have been the "Getting Help from the Hub Pages Community"  under the "Hub Pages Community" heading on the forum sidebar.
       I wish you well with your endeavors here; may you have many happy and successful years as a fellow "Hubber."

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    Greensleeves Hubsposted 10 years ago

    Really really pleased to see a second hub of mine featured in the top 10 for 15th March. My thanks and appreciation to the HubPages staff.
    
    On the same day, there were hubs about a Buddhist temple in Hawaii, puff pastry pizza recipes, ancient Persian battles, work related injuries, the life and works of a Renaissance artist, and how to wire a plug (among others). All look to be real quality articles. I just mention this because I'm not sure there are many places on the web where such extraordinary diversity of subject is being written about daily, with such quality.

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