Self Help Network Site?

1. 86

   Everyday Miraclesposted 6 years ago

   Against my better judgment, I want to write a series of self-help articles, related to a recent experience I've had. The plan is eventually to turn this into a blog, but for the time being I'm writing on Hubpages. I realize that with the recent 'expert reviews' I'm putting myself at risk here, but it is what it is. This is where I write (when I write).
   
   My question is whether or not there is a network site for this topic. I believe I've gone through all of them at this point and I haven't been able to find a network site that suits this purpose.
   
   Thanks in advance!

   replyreport
   1. 83

      Venkatachari Mposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      I also support Marisa's opinion. If you are considering doing many posts on self-help, better do it in a blog. That will be more easily accessible and useful for your audience than clustering them in a niche site which contains different types of content. The Blog can be very easily located by the interested viewers and, thereby, they can follow each one of your posts besides sharing them with their contacts.

      replyreport
2. 87

   Marisa Wrightposted 6 years ago

   Self-help in what sense?   If it's physical or mental health, then the niche site is HealDove.
   
   All the vertical sites are very broad, so it's very likely there is no perfect match.  I know we call them "niche sites" but they're not really niche at all - most of them are a mishmash of vaguely related topics.  I think HubPages decided to set a limit on the number of sites it could handle, and then shoehorned the categories into them.  There are some stupid results, like classical sculpture sitting on the same site as felt-making, or ballet cohabiting with computer games - but at least they are more specialised than the main site. 
   
   But honestly, if you want it to become a blog, make it a blog from the beginning.  You know there's an extremely high risk your Hubs will be plagiarized, and then you'll have a problem moving them to a blog later.   
   
   You can start the blog on Blogger or Wordpress.com, it will cost you nothing and it's not hard to do.  If you use Blogger, you can add Adsense to it immediately.

   replyreport
   1. 86

      Everyday Miraclesposted 6 years agoin reply to this

      For some reason I wasn't thinking of Healdove as pertaining to mental health. I must not have been reading deeply enough. Thanks!
      
      I'm insecure about starting a blog, mostly because I don't have the coding skills to make it look nice. Pre-made themes are fine, but without the graphics that really make it pop, I always feel like I'm not going to stand out among the competition. You've got a point about the plagiarism though. Most of my top-level hubs have been plagiarized.

      replyreport
      1. 87

         Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

         You do not need graphics that make it pop.  Some of the most successful blogs are minimalist.   
         
         These days many blogs don't even have a header or any graphics on the front page - instead they have a grid layout showing the latest blog posts.  There are several standard themes which offer a grid-style layout.  On those themes, it's the quality of the photos on each blog post that determine how good your front page looks.   With each blog post showing an image, adding graphics would simply create clutter!

         replyreport
         1. 83

            Venkatachari Mposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Very true. There is no need for graphics or expertise. You can start with a simple layout. The content must be interesting and useful for your readers. Photos are an additional attraction.
            In my blog, I even do not use photos that much. Half of the posts are without any image. I do not use even the grid layout. All are vertical, each page set to 3 or 5 articles. I have nearly 100 posts. It's on Indian Lifestyle Tips mostly.

            replyreport
         2. 86

            Everyday Miraclesposted 6 years agoin reply to this

            Alright! That's what I'm going to do then. Thank you Marisa (sincerely)!

            replyreport
            1. 87

               Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

               Yay!  Go for it!
               
               You do need to be aware that monetizing a blog is more difficult than HubPages.  I've helped a few Hubbers start blogs and while they've been able to get traffic, finding ways to earn from the blog is a different story.  I'm assuming that you're keen to create this blog to help others rather than from a purely commercial motive so that may not matter so much to you, but it's something to be aware of.

               replyreport
               1. 86

                  Everyday Miraclesposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                  I'm definitely aware of how difficult it can be. I've been following blogs specifically about monetizing blogs for years. I'd eventually like to make an income writing/blogging, but that can come later. Most people seem to achieve it through affiliate marketing (some tastefully, some less so).
                  
                  I had forgotten how much time I can sink into writing when my heart's in it though. Wow.

                  replyreport
                  1. 83

                     Venkatachari Mposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     True, monetizing can be much difficult for people like me who are not smart enough. I have in my account only $18 dollars in three years!!! I don't know whether I can achieve the payment limit within my lifetime.

                     replyreport
                     1. 86

                        Everyday Miraclesposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                        I have, but I think it took more than three years lol On Hubpages I'm on the Hubpages Ad Program due to a preference to be paid through Paypal. I make plenty with that, but Adsense from personal sites just trickles in xD

                        replyreport
                  2. 87

                     Marisa Wrightposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                     Yes, time does disappear doesn't it! 
                     
                     These days, most bloggers make money by building good traffic and collecting an email list of followers, then using that to sell advertising space (on the site and in newsletters) to suppliers.  Or to sell their own products.

                     replyreport
                     1. 86

                        Everyday Miraclesposted 6 years agoin reply to this

                        A lot of what I'm seeing is the "selling their own products," but I've run into a couple that run mostly on affiliate marketing and do reasonably well according to their income reports. Those blogs are super popular in their niche though.

                        replyreport