Readers-Keep Them On Your Page
Our Readers
Readers are what writing is all about. Where would writers be without readers? We'd be lonely, without purpose, and very few. For most of us, writing is fueled by having avid readers who appreciate our work.
Receiving supportive comments, votes "up", increasing numbers of followers and subscribers, lots of likes, tweets and "shares"--well, it's invigorating. And, of course, regular readers also build our income so that those of us who need revenue can justify the time that it takes to do this well. Thank God for readers!
So, how do you find them?
You write good content and share it. Share it with your followers, facebook and twitter friends. Encourage others to follow you or subscribe.
Steps To Writing Good Content
First: select a niche that agrees with you and develop it. Whatever you are interested in will interest many others. Write about what you love.
Next: write material that is really good.Put some time and research into it. Search for popular keywords that relate to your content and will draw the attention of search engines. Doing that should attract readers that are interested in your subject! Use keywords sensibly--don't overdo it.
Now: check your grammar and spelling, add great photos that you have the right to use, include links to products where appropriate.
Insert links to other quality resources that will enrich the post for your readers. Make it valuable to them.
Add: tags, a good summary and, for HubPages, select a group in which to categorize your hub.
Ready to publish? NO WAY! There is one important step you must take before you go live. Set your post up to KEEP your readers on your page!
I cannot tell you how painful it is for me to go to great hubs...some written by the best, even the HubPages elite...and click on a link only to be sent off into cyber-land! If I don't have the presence of mind to click the "back" button, I am off their page -- perhaps forever.
With some writers, I know who they are and I can find the hub again. With others, I love their stuff but don't know their pen name well enough and may not find the hub at all--especially if I get an interruption. Hours later, who knows where I was!
Guard against "page drop off" and learn this little html tip that will keep your readers with you much longer.
Keeping Your Readers
So, even if you find more and more new readers, how do you keep them? Certainly, supplying superb content on a regular basis is a key. But it is just as important to keep them on the page as it is to attract them in the first place.
What do I mean? OK. You've written a great hub or blog post and in the midst, planted a link. They click on it. There happens to be another link on that webpage that takes them someplace else. How will they ever find you again? Unless you are one of their favorite writers and they are determined to go back and re-establish contact, you've lost them.
Open In a New Window
Keep your writers on your page as long as possible by setting up your links to open in a new window. Even if you don't "speak html" (which I don't), this is easy to do and you can become a master at it.
Here is how it is done:
- Write your hub and then, using your mouse hold the left button down and highlight the keywords that are to be linked.
- Now click on the link sign in the toolbar at the top of the Hub capsule or blog page.
- In the top field, where it says "URL" put the web address of the page that you're linking to.
- Click "insert".
Now, here's the fun part. Click on the toolbar where it says "HTML". Look like gibberish? You'll become more comfortable with it when you know what to look for.
What to look for: You are looking for the code to that link. It will begin with href: and end with a " (quotation mark).
What to add: Directly after the end quotation mark you need to enter one blank space and then this very important code: target="_blank" After you add it, click on "save". Sometimes it will say that the code needs to be cleaned up and sometimes it will not.In any case, still save. Now, test your link. It should open up in a new window!
Learn more about HTML with simple, easy to understand instructions
Try this little test...
I am going to embed a link in this post as an example of what I mean. Don't go there yet. Just follow along. The hub I'm using as an object lesson is: "How to Blog".
After I put the link in this post, I clicked on the "HTML" button on my toolbar and this is what I saw:
<p>Here is a link that I've embedded to my post "<a href="https://hubpages.com/literature/blog-how-to">How to Blog</a>".</p>
Now, in order to make sure it opens in a new window, I am going to click my cursor directly after the words blog-how-to" Now, after the quotation mark,I will add a space and then type in target="_blank"
Here is what it looks like, now set to open in a new window (bold type added to make it easier for you to find the added code):
<p>Here is a link that I've embedded to my post "<a href="https://hubpages.com/literature/blog-how-to" target="_blank>How to Blog</a>".</p>
Now click on the How to Blog link and see that it opens in a new window. The blog "Readers--How to Keep Them" and "How to Blog" are both open on your desktop! If you choose to click on any links in the "How to Blog" hub, they also will open up in a new window because I set it up that way.
Now that you know how to do it, you may want to revisit your old hubs and blog posts, over a period of time, and add the code so that links open up in a new window (I did). Above all, get in the habit of doing it with your new posts. It is well worth it. You've worked hard for those readers....keep them!
For more advice for online writers, check out:
How to Tweak a Hub by Prairieprincess
Hub Boosters, Referral Trackers and Blogs by Missolive
Nutrition List - How To Calculate Nutritional Information for Your Hubs by Sinea Pies
Here's a Tip
How to Find Your Links in All that HTML:
If you have a lot of html to look through, use the "FIND" function. What you do is open up the html and then press "Ctrl" + "F" on the keyboard. In the upper right hand corner of the screen a "find window" will appear. Type in a couple of keywords from the title of the link and it will highlight them in color in the body of the html. Now you can find the right spot to add your target="_blank" to it. Makes it so much easier to locate!
About the author
Sinea Pies is a freelance writer for a popular parenting magazine, professional blogger on her own website Ducks 'n a Row. Like her Facebook page. Follow her on Pinterest, too.
Comments
Fantastic tip. It worked exactly as you said! Thank you. Thank you.
Great tip I'm going through all my hubs. Thanks for the information.
Great hub, Sinea. This one I have book marked to read when I feel the need, great information here.
Voted-up and pinned to Art-Writting board.
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You are so welcome, FlourishAnyway. Thanks for stopping by.
Awesome information! Thanks for sharing this bit of genius for those of us who aren't.
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You are welcome Chitrangada Sharan. I am glad I could be of help. :)
Thanks for this useful and informative hub! Everyday, I learn something at HubPages and today you became my teacher.
Thank you so much for sharing this information!
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Thanks so much, Ceres. :)
Very useful hub with easy to follow steps on how to make sure the link you're inserting in a hub opens in a new window. I've been wondering how to do that. You showed people how in a way that's easy to understand. It is important to to keep readers on the page. I always right-click to open new links but there may be people who don't do that so it would help if the link they click on opens in another window.
I have wondered for a long time about back links and what they were for .Thank you
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I knew you'd get it. StellaSee, your a champ. Thanks for letting me know. I'm smiling. :)
I figured it out, ohhh this is neat~ thanks!
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Hi StellaSee. Glad to be of help here. First click EDIT in the capsule you want to work on. A toolbar then appears at the top of the capsule. On the far left of that toolbar is an HTML icon. Click on that and you'll be in business! Thanks. :)
Hi Sinea, I think I'm technically challenged too.. I just tried to do the html thing like you describe here, but I can't find the html button like you mention..is it supposed to be under the 'add a link' capsule?
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Thank you, Shyron E Shenko, for the very nice compliment. Glad to be of help!
This is one of the most informative hubs I have read. Will try this when time permits.
I will keep your url in a file of articles to re-read.
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I'll take the Angels any day! Thanks pstraubie48. Actually, I was boggled by html and had no desire to learn it for the longest time. This particular need frustrated me into learning it and after much practice it is finally a "piece of cake". :) Would love to know MORE html, now that I conquered this one helpful trick.
This is very interesting. I wish I could follow the directions you provided about linking in the url but I guess I am technologically challenged. I have learned a lot about how to navigate through all of what I need to find readers but alas that boggles my mind. I am sure it is laughable to all for whom it is a snap. Maybe I will get it one day. Thank you for sharing. Sending Angels your way :) ps
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Glad I could help, RichieMogwai. :)
Thanks so much for your tips, particularly the HTML URL equals blank. It opened my eyes to something I never knew existed. You're the best!
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Now, that's something new to me. So, when you added the html target="_blank" it didn't open the link in a new window? Whether the link is "follow" or "no follow" shouldn't change whether it can open in another window or not.
I tried to do the "open another page" link but every time I tried Hub Pages cut off part of the code then made the link "no follow". :/
Thank you for your kindness and patience in answering all my questions!
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You are free to include a link to the same site --or even the same page-- in every Hub if you want to, nettraveler. You just can't do more than three from the same site in any one Hub.
I was actually thinking of many links over many Hubs, say if you had twenty Hubs with one link each from the same outside website. And does it make a difference if that website is a small private blog, or a big website that has hundreds of thousands of users?
You are of course right about the HTML.
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My understanding, nettravler, is that in any given hub you should not have more than three links from the same website (excluding HubPages, of course). That is the rule of thumb.
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I understand how you feel, nettraveller, but another way to look at it is that you now have a reason to learn a little html! I'm really glad I did and it has helped me to become familiar with what some of the code means. It's fun!
Also, is it possible to have too many incoming links from the same domain, for example Yahoo! Answers? Sorry if this question has already been asked.
I fully agree, and am therefore surprised that HubPages would not have made it easier for us, or even made opening to a new page the only option when building a link. Anyway, I'm grateful that you showed us how to do it through HTML.
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Nettraveller, HP used to have an option that you could select but with later changes it went away.
Opening to a new page is really good for HP because we want to keep our readers on the HubPages site as long as possible. If, for instance, I had a link in my hub to a Martha Stewart website page and it did not open in a new window, my reader could get lost clicking on Martha's website and forget to go back to Hubpages--or how. That's one reader lost. A new window means that she'll still be with us, too!
Thank you very much! I guess it's OK as far as HubPages is concerned that our links open to a new page? Do you think they will ever incorporate this into the capsules automatically, or give us a choice, as I've seen in some other websites?
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Rebecca2904, you are very welcome!
What amazing advice! Thanks so much for sharing this
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JThomp42, you are very welcome!
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Thanks so much, Julie DeNeen!
Awesome tip!! Thank you so much for the great advice!!
OOh cool! Thanks! I'm sharing! :)
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Good job, annart! Now your readers will only lose track of your hub if they want to...not accidentally! Love the parallel window technique!
Thought you might like to know that I now do this for all my hubs and have gone back over the old ones and re-set them likewise. Brilliant! It's true that once you get into the swing of it, it becomes easy.
To help myself at first, I made notes for each process regarding links and keeping readers, made a file of them, and now I just have that in a parallel window whilst I do the final polishing on each hub before publication. So thanks, Sinea!
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Lisawilliamsj, thanks so much for the Vote Up and the enthusiastic feedback. I was that excited, too, when I learned how to do this. That's why I had to share it.
This is an incredibly useful article. I was directed here by one of your followers and the information has really helped. Thanks for posting this easy to follow and interesting Hub! I voted up.
This is such an informative, helpful article. I was directed here by one of your followers ,so that I could learn to make my links open in a new page. It went flawlessly! Thank you for this, easy to understand, article. I voted up !
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You are so welcome, wayseeker. Thanks MissOlive for the link, as well!
Made it here form Ms. Olive's post on how to create topical hub indexes for your profile. I love these little tweaks that make things so much more professional and traffic friendly. Great work and great ideas. Thanks for this!
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Thanks so very much Docmo for the high ratings. I appreciate it. When I first learned this tip I couldn't have been more excited. Finally a way to incorporate great links in my posts and not accidentally lose some of my audience as they clicked away from my page!
I love learning something new everyday- today this is perhaps the most useful hub I am going to read - practical hints, perfectly written and explained, easy to follow! what more can I ask for. Rated up/awesome/useful! Thank you for sharing this, Sinea.
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I appreciate your thoughts, That Grrl. I think some readers, though, may not be as savvy as you and don't know that they can right-click.
I usually add the links to other sites at the end of my post. In the post itself I cover what I want to say and give the information. The links are extras.
However, when I'm looking at and reading other sites I don't like being forced to open a new window each time. I prefer to decide that for myself. It's very easy to right click your mouse or use keyboard shortcuts to open the links any way you choose.
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Welcome back, Mandeeadair!
Awwww I remember! I haven't been on hubpages for almost a year. It feels good to be back and see how well you have done :)!!
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Mandeeadair, thank you. You were my very first follower, you know! Meant so much to me. Still does! :)
Great hub and very helpful! I always love reading your stuff :)!!
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Thanks Maralexa. I know what you mean about re-reading hubs. There have been a few over the months that others have written which are so rich in helpful content that I have re-visited them, as well. Thanks so much for letting me know that you found this so valuable. :)
Hi Sinea. I just reread your hub and have to say again how much I appreciate the information. Knowing how to keep people on my site while letting them follow a link, is extremely valuable.
Thanks again.
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You are so welcome, Internetgeek! When I learned this I had to go back through my hubs to add the html code to open links in a new window. That was a while ago but just the other day I found one that I had missed! It's a job but well worth it.
Wow! This is just amazing and wonderful piece of information. This is really helpful and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing and voted up:)
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Thanks bankscottage. Don't feel bad about not knowing much html. Sometimes it only takes a little to go a long way. SEO? Just when you think you know it, the game changes. Just write good stuff. :)
Great Hub. I haven't been doing this very long, and don't know much about HTML. This may well be the best advice I have received so far. Maybe someday I'll understand SEO and backlinks.
Thanks for the help.
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RTalloni, I am so delighted to hear that it worked well for you. After a while you will just see where it goes. Takes a little practice but, as you've experienced, it's easy enough to do. As I've said many times, I think it's well worth it. Do let me know if you notice a difference.
Yahoo! I decided to practice this on one of my oldest hubs with a low score. I knew it needed some reworking as I've learned a lot since it was posted and doing this would give me a chance to update it.
The first link I tried worked beautifully--I was quite proud of myself. :) However, I was puzzled by the next few. I had to figure out how to go through the "gibberish" and find the right location for the HTML info.
I was able to finish that hub successfully, so I jumped to my highest rated one of today. That went very smoothly and even it needed some revamping--don't they all?! I also learned to check and double check on whether the links stick after saving.
If I see a noticeable difference in their scores I will try to let you know. I've read other good hubs on this topic but either I was not in a frame of mind to understand well enough, or the wording was beyond my level of comprehension--not sure which, maybe both at the time! :) Anyway, thanks again.
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Thanks bri36!
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Thanks Claudio Tello. Glad to be of help. Thanks for the vote up and useful! :)
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RTalloni, when I learned this html "trick" I was so excited, too. It not only helps us to keep readers on our page, it helps the reader, too. Most of them want to search good links but still want to finish reading our post, too.
See good information goes a long way Sinea Pies")
I will definitely apply what I have learned here in all my current and future hubs. This was useful and very well explained. Voted up &, of course, useful.
Okay! Thanks to your clear instructions I think I've got it! Yay! If I do, I'll be busy shaping up my old hubs in practice for new ones to come. Thanks much-I'm encouraged to look more closely at all aspects of using links now. Love to "really get" something new to me re web writing!
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Thanks Mrshoki. Glad to be of help!
Awesome, I never knew how to do this before and it has saved me from searching for the code. Great hub, very helpful!
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Kaliskadavis, so glad you like it. I enjoy this kind of hub, too. Thanks for stopping by.
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Thanks Thoughtsandwiches...and thanks Just Ask Susan, as well. It's so nice to know that this was helpful.
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You're welcome, annaplank. Soon it will be second-nature and you won't need the notes. :)
Sinea...
I am glad that Just Ask Susan became Susan Just Tells...and told me about this article!
I have absolutely no idea about things computer...although I believe I can do this. I have bookmarked for an additional read, note taking, and action!
Thanks,
Thomas
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You're so welcome, ithabise.
This is priceless information, Sinea Pies. I found this article referenced in one by MissOlive and am I glad! I'm going back through all my articles and make this simple but important addition. Thanks so much!
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Great, B.Leekley. It's worth taking the time to do it. Glad I could help.
I'm revising my hubs to include that open in a new window code in every link.
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You are so very welcome, annart.
Ok, that's great. I'll take the time to do them all. Then, like you say, the routine should be there for future hubs. Thanks Sinea!
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Yes...tedious as it is, you do. When I have several links in a hub, I got back and add the target="_blank" to each of them one by one. I copy that line and paste it in each time rather than having to type it out every time. Saves a few moments, anyway.
Hi Sinea! I've just come back to this after far too long, to check the procedure so that I can go through all my hubs and link them all. One question though - do I have to do that to every single link in the same hub? From reading the comments, it seems that I do but just want to check.
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You're welcome, greatstuff. Glad to help.
Thanks Sinea for the clarification. Now on to more work!!
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Hi greatstuff. I stopped using link capsules for the very reason that this doesn't work in them. Instead, I use a text capsule and make it look like a link capsule. I type in and link each title one by one. It is really worth the extra effort to assure that your links open in a new window. After a while, it will become part of your routine.
I tried as instructed and it works! But how to 'amend' the link in the Link Capsules? All the Links in my link capsule will open in the same window. To do the changes as recommended, I could not find the html..is there another way or did I missed something?
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You're very welcome, Curiad.
This is a great tip Sinea! Thank you.
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Debbie Roberts, thank you. I really appreciate the good report. You are so very welcome. Glad I can help.
Hi Sinea Pies, I just wanted to say a really big thank you!! I've just managed to embed links that open in new windows, into the hub I am working on now. I want other Hubbers to know that it really isn't difficult, if you follow Sinea Pies instructions......
If I can manage it then anyone who can. I'm a self professed thickie, when it comes to doing things on the computer.
I feel like I've achieved something today!!...THANK YOU!!
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Thanks Adams-ebooks, for the vote up!
Excellent Sinea.
I think it is so important to open up in another window and keep your page open.
Voted Up :)
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Thanks for the vote UP, bri36. So glad that I could be of help to a fellow Hubber!
Hey this is great stuff here, I been on hubpages for some time now and this is the first time I got some really good information that helps add value. Thank you Sinea Pies Yes I voted^
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Thanks bell du jour and debbie roberts for the nice comments and Vote Up!
Thanks for the wonderful advice, voted up, useful and bookmarked :-)
Bell
A great a bit of advice. It never crossed my mind that I may be loosing readers, too busy being chuffed at having some!!....I've bookmarked this hub for future reference and will be sharing....
Thank you for sharing...
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Bookmark away, thesingingnurse. I'm so glad that you found this hub so helpful.
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Thanks so much for the comment, gifalcone.
I've had the same problem in the past. I find it hard to decipher html codes. I hope you don't mind if I bookmark your very useful hub Ms. Sinea.
Thank your for sharing!
Thanks for all the useful tips. There is so much more than 'just'writing engaging Hubs.
Thanks for SHARING!
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Thanks so much Nell Rose. I was so glad to make the discover. The extra few minutes it takes to make sure your links open in a new window are well worth it. Most of our readers don't want to lose track of our page, but they could.
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