Things you wish you knew as a newbie on Hubpages

1. 94

   hclpdposted 9 years ago

   This is a question to all the veterans out there. What is the thing you regret not knowing in the beginning here? What would be your best tip for newbies?

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2. 61

   dugger62posted 9 years ago

   Um mm ..I have a question. .
   
   I haven't been on here In a very long time..
   
   How do I make a hub!!! ?
   
   Help ?

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   1. 73

      relacheposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/contents

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   2. 94

      PegCole17posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Seriously? Deborah, look across the black banner when you are signed in and you'll see "start a hub". Begin with a good title, specific, interesting and on a topic that people will be searching on Google to find an answer. Put the hub into the proper category where it belongs. Use one of your previously created hubs as a template. Break your text into more than one capsule by adding more text capsules under display options. Add properly sourced photos that are clear, interesting and relevant. Follow the specifics at the top right for suggestions as to length and images, videos and polls.
      PS - Go into your profile and change the selection on Do you want only featured hubs to show? from Yes to No. Only one of your 4 hubs currently are visible.
      Hope this helps you a bit.
      PPS - I would recommend that you remove your phone number from your bio. There are a lot of weirdos out in cyber world.

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3. 84

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 9 years ago

   I love this site, and I love the management/admin folks, but I wish I'd known the reality of the revenue potential. I think for a new person on the site, it would be a long and difficult road to create an income source here.  At the time  I joined, Google Panda had been out only a short while and had slammed sites with user-generated content.  So, I wish I'd known the actual situation when I was 'new' here.
   
   This site is a good community, and it's a good place to learn some basics about online publishing. However, in the wake of Panda (and the other assorted zoological tweaks Google implemented after that), it's not the source of revenue it once was, and that's sad.

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   1. 39

      ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I completely agree and second what Marcy has stated.  I would also maybe make the learning center more prominent, because it seems many people ask the same questions.  Maybe even some video tuts on setting up a hub and how all the elements work would be useful.

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      1. 84

         Marcy Goodfleischposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Christin -
         
         I like your suggestion about making the learning center more visible.  Maybe there's a way to create a bot that would bring up various topics whenever someone asks the 'same' questions.  It's understandable that new writers here need to know certain things, but they often don't even know the learning tools are already available.
         
         So glad to meet you here - and (BTW) - I just sent you a private message thanking you for the example you set to others on another forum thread.  You're a true professional.

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         1. 39

            ChristinSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I agree.  The learning center is so extensive, but so not highly visible.  It makes it difficult for new people I think to find what they need easily.  I've been on other writing sites where that information was much more prominent and I think that would have to work better.

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4. 61

   paradigmsearchposted 9 years ago

   If only I'd discovered this site 8 years ago instead of 5. Still a happy camper though, every month I get a payout that most people would respect. A note to newbies, it can take a long time to reach that stage; Google seems pretty adamant as to ignoring hubs for the first year or two.

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   1. 84

      Marcy Goodfleischposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hey, Friend!  I haven't been on here a while - glad to see familiar names!
      
      I agree - I wish I'd been here in the heyday - I know there would have been a huge decline in revenue once Panda hit, but being on board before then would give people more traction than joining later.
      
      Hope you had a great 2014, and that 2015 will be even better!

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      1. 61

         paradigmsearchposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks. Long time no see indeed. I have much mischievousness planned for year 2015. It is sad about the college named after me, I guess I should have sent them a donation. Meanwhile I also wish you an outstanding year 2015. Who knows; maybe your State might even cross my path someday?

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         1. 84

            Marcy Goodfleischposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            LOL!  Well - put out the warning if you're coming this way, and I will put out the welcome mat!

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            1. 61

               paradigmsearchposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Thanks. Will do. I know I'll have to buy a hat and belt buckle first.

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5. 96

   Sue Adamsposted 9 years ago

   I can think of a few things I regret not knowing in the beginning:
   
   1. How to use Google Trends or Market Samurai to find Google Friendly titles and keywords, phrases that people may "Google" (more info via hubs on my profile).
   
   2. To end almost every paragraph with a tentalizing sentence for more, for what is to come, so readers stay on the page to the very end.
   
   3. To keep refreshing and improving my articles so they comply with current rules.
   
   4. To shorten sentences where possible. Research shows that the public at large has an average reading age of a 12 year old!
   
   5. To meet the requirements of the "Need Some Goals" box (top right in edit mode). This feature did not exist when I first started. We are so lucky to have it now. Use it.
   
   6. To be patient. It can take up to 18 months to reach the $50 payment threshold.
   
   7. To chose quality over quantity. I now make good monthly payouts with only 59 hubs.

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   1. 62

      Coal Diamondposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for the tips! I must say reading about Panda (and the other animals comment) as well as #6 above is discouraging. Do you have any tips? Encouraging statistics?

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6. 62

   Coal Diamondposted 9 years ago

   Hello! I'm new (I joined a day ago) and I'm looking for encouraging tips! All tip, tricks and suggestions are greatly appreciated and welcomed.

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7. 61

   LindaSmith1posted 9 years ago

   I wish I knew more about selecting keywords and knowing whether or not a topic is simply not worth dealing with. I am still trying to learn about keywords, what works, what doesn't.  A lot has changed in past few years, and I was taught a lot of things that were wrong.

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   1. 96

      Sue Adamsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

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   2. 62

      Coal Diamondposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Key words! Thank you. That's practical advice I can apply! Hopefully this Panda everyone complains about doesn't detour me

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   3. 88

      TolovajWordsmithposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Exactly! Mastering keywords is the most important step. Everything else is just fine tuning.

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