SOURCING IMAGES

1. 66

   Ghaaz Bposted 9 years ago

   While I was creating a hub, I read that all source links for images will count towards determining if a hub is overly promotional. Are they checked and confirmed by staff, or just automatically detrimental to hubscores? I mean, a hub without photos is my kind of hub, but I know that the entire rest of the world likes picture books rather than information. So I use a lot of photos, and I always attribute them properly and source to their destination. It's -never- promotional at all.
   
   Could this be the reason that my hub first hub was published with a 93 Hubscore then slowly dropped to 78, despite lots of traffic and comments?
   
   Very frustrating stuff. If hubpages isn't going to recognize the quality of my content I'll take it elsewhere.

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   1. 0

      Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hubs without pictures will never be featured, and they have to be the right size, so I am sure they do affect your score
      Sorry, but I don't think Hubpages will lose any sleep if you go elsewhere

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      1. 66

         Ghaaz Bposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         This doesn't really address my question.
         
         And it's not my leaving that should concern Hubpages, it's the question of why might I leave? Furthermore, if Hubpages took the same approach to user retention as you seem to, there wouldn't be very many people here at all.
         
         Thanks for trying to help though, I appreciate your effort!

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         1. 0

            Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Me? It doesn't concern me at all. I just saw it as a ploy  to get someone's attention (I've watched them come and go many times in the last five years) I wasn't putting you down
            Saying "Hubs without pictures will never be featured"  tells you the source links are okay because images are required
            
            Since they require pictures, and sources of the pictures, it can't be overly promotional
            
            Links to other hubs, (yours or other's),  is not considered promotional. Links where you have some kind of financial interest/gain, besides on Hubpages is promotional. Say you linked to Amazon products three times in one hub, or to your website where you sell products, that's promotional
            
            Saying Hubpages won't lose any sleep is simply true, there are so many authors here, that one person leaving because he didn't understand something, I'm sure wouldn't get a reaction from them. How can they fix something that's not broken ?

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            1. 66

               Ghaaz Bposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Well now that I understand better, I'm more inclined to stay. That's the point of asking questions in forums when something is unclear to you, but you're certain others will be able to explain.
               
               As for the 'ploy for attention', well that was just a way I sought to get an answer quicker. I'm not afraid to be chastised for being a little rude
               
               Thanks for the additional information, you've now answered my questions pretty well.

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               1. 0

                  Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  **********************
                  Good, I like it when I can help
                  You know what they say about the "squeaky wheel"
                  In the past we were encouraged to link to as many hubs as we could, because it made it easier for the reader to find their way around.
                  Keep doing what you're doing. And I do hope you stay

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                  1. 66

                     Ghaaz Bposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     Great. That's what I thought.
                     
                     I actually did have an account about 4 years ago, but I was too young to write properly (by my own judgement) so I just creeped and didn't publish anything.
                     
                     Now I have 3 accounts going, but I'm still learning how to toe the line!

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   2. 60

      C.V.Rajanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      When you know that the entire world loves picture books, what's the problem in meeting the audiences' need? After all, you love to write, you love your articles being read by many. If a few pictures added to it is going to retain and boost the interest of readers to read it, why shy away from it?
      
      Yes. It is extra work and time, no doubt. But I feel it is worth it. I know there were competitive sites that had no scope of adding pictures and they have gone into oblivion in the past whereas Hubpages is still alive and kicking.

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   3. 86

      Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Overly promotional just means that you have more than two links pointing to the same website.   Flickr and Wikimedia are exempt from that limit.   If you're taking a lot of photos from some other photo site, you may trigger the overly promotional rule, but you can get around that by placing your photo credits at the end of the Hub and grouping them together.  Or choosing different photos.

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   4. 92

      Christy Kirwanposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Ghaaz,
      
      Welcome to HubPages! I see that several other Hubbers have answered your questions about the overly-promotional rules (and their exceptions). I took a look at your first Hub and it's quite good.
      
      I'd just like to add that Public Domain photos and your own photos do not need to have a source listed, though it's still a good idea to do so because it lets your readers know that the photos aren't stolen. Any other photos should be cited like this: Photographer's Name or Pen Name (if available) via Source (Flickr, Wikimedia Commons, etc), License (CC BY-SA 3.0, etc).
      
      Including a link to where that photo can be found is optional but still a good idea. We've also recently made image source links nofollow, so they shouldn't hurt your rank with Google. Hope that helps!

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   5. 0

      Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Read this thread about links and scores
      http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/127000

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   6. 85

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      You can use photos from Pixabay.com and Morguefile.com without even showing any links because neither site  requires accreditation.  Also, they have some great photos which you can easily edit on picmonkey.com.  All are free services and will save you many headaches.  Good luck.

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      1. 0

         Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, that's good to know.
         I knew only about WikiMedia Commons, and one I
         can't remember the name of

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2. 84

   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   "Overly promotional" just means more than two links from your hub to the same site.
   
   And links to sources of images count towards that number
   
   And hubs with no pictures can be featured

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   1. 0

      Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hubs without images, either photos or videos, and even those with images not in the correct size, are not featured

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      1. 92

         Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         This hub is featured: http://wshillington.hubpages.com/hub/Ho … ack-System
         
         I found it under 'All Topics Featured Hubs': http://hubpages.com/topics/all/1

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         1. 0

            Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Not longer then 3 months ago, I asked Hubpages via email, why my hub
            wasn't featured, They told me because there was no images. I put two in and it was featured within 10 minutes
            
            Just my reasoning, but I think the example you gave ..
            1. must be a fluke, or
            2. the picture was removed after it was featured
            3. Someone ( maybe a new staff person) let it slip by accidently

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            1. 92

               Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               You'll find many featured hubs that don't include images.
               
               Here's another by Robin Edmondson of HubPages' staff: http://hubpages.com/hub/The-Best-Gifts-Nursing-Mothers

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3. 90

   Millionaire Tipsposted 9 years ago

   Welcome to HubPages. Links to well-known places, like Flickr and Wikimedia, are not considered promotional, so you can feel free to use them, even if you have more than two.   If you are linking to your own website (or less common websites) though, they will be considered in the count.

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   1. 66

      Ghaaz Bposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Oh great! I use mostly Flickr, perhaps I will begin using only Flickr to avoid unintentionally bad links.
      
      Thanks!

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      1. 90

         Millionaire Tipsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         That sounds like a plan.  You will want to make sure that the images are licensed to use, and not copyright images.  Be sure to read the Learning Center Article for proper image use. It helps show you where to find images, and also how to accredit them properly.  Might as well start off on the right foot!
         
         http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/legal-image-use

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         1. 66

            Ghaaz Bposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Great! The learning centre is is actually where I first discovered Flickr!
            
            Since I've got you here, I hope you don't mind if I ask another question instead of creating a whole new thread, it's related.
            
            Do links to other hubs count as overly promotional? It seems like a good tactic that Hubpages would approve of, at least if the hubs are completely related and only one or two links are used. Then again, I can see how it could easily be considered promotional.

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            1. 83

               Shades-of-truthposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               See what Deborah Sexton said in her reply to you up higher on this page:
               
               "Links to other hubs, (yours or other's),  is not considered promotional."
               
               She did answer that, already. Sometimes the "links" thing can be a bit daunting, and confusing, but it is all right to link to other hubs, or your own.
               
               I know this is redundant, but thought you might have missed that part of her comment.

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            2. 90

               Millionaire Tipsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Yes, you can freely link to other hubs without worrying about the two link limit, but the links should be relevant to the content.  No for "here are the other hubs I've written", but yes to "here are other hubs I've (and others) written about this topic"

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               1. 0

                  Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  A links capsule titled "Other Hubs I Have Written" has always been allowed, doesn't have to be relevant, and nothing has changed that I know of. I'm here every day.
                  If they've changed that, please point me to it., maybe I was away at the time

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                  1. 86

                     Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     Yes it has changed.  ALL links in a Hub must now be completely relevant to the topic of the Hub, otherwise the Hub may be unpublished. 
                     
                     And yes you are right, it was a rule change.

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                     1. 0

                        Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                        I have one up and running with links to my other hubs  I edited it today and added a video, it is still published and featured

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                        1. 86

                           Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                           All that means is that a moderator hasn't noticed it.  Now you've mentioned it, you may find things change.
                           
                           On the other hand, perhaps your other Hubs are on related topics - in which case it's fine.

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                           1. 0

                              Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                              It wasn't featured until today
                              I see, go ahead Marisa, some may, but I don't live and die for Hubpages
                              And getting a hub unpublished isn't the end for me

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                              1. 86

                                 Marisa Wrightposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                                 Go ahead and what?

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4. 71

   word55posted 9 years ago

   Pictures sort of add beauty or a certain touch that helps your hub to be more appealing, I think.

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5. 0

   Deborah Sextonposted 9 years ago

   I know for a fact, they can't be in the spotlight without images, nor chosen for any special recognition

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6. 0

   Deborah Sextonposted 9 years ago

   Hubpages sees Hubs with images as high quality
   
   The quality and informational value of a Hub will also determine how well it ranks in search engine results. Per Hubpages "Generally speaking, we recommend composing Hubs that...
   
       Are at least 1150 words long
       Contain at least three related, high-resolution, properly used and attributed images
       Contain a custom summary (which can be entered in the HubTool under the title)
       Is formatted in an attractive manner
       Is easy to skip around (online readers who arrive at Hubs from search engines tend to have short attention spans)"

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   1. 92

      Jayne Lancerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      As far as I can tell, there's nothing anywhere that states that a hub will be unfeatured if it lacks images. All I see are recommendations, which are not rules.

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      1. 0

         Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         OKAY !!! you win, whatever you say,  it's got to be true
         This is my last post in this thread

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7. 84

   psycheskinnerposted 9 years ago

   It is true because you can see hundreds of featured hubs up to yesterday with no picture.
   
   You are thinking of the rule for having a hub appear in your profile, a picture is needed for that.

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   1. 0

      Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      No, I am not thinking of the images needed to spotlight hubs (these CAN appear on your profile, but NOT in spotlight.
      I am thinking about what I was told, when I specifically asked.
      I am also thinking about what I wrote in this thread
      http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/126998

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   2. 0

      Deborah Sextonposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Do you know how many people are on Hubpages ?
      
      If a hub is published and featured, and the hubber goes
      back in later and adds or removes something, that hub isn't reviewed again,...
      therefore the hub remains featured
      
      I had to remove a video from one of my hubs today because it stopped working.

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