HubPages Updates

Monday, March 14, 2011

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Strasbourg, France

I’m busy getting caught up with writing blog posts this morning, after returning from a trip to Strasbourg, France.  My husband and I were there last week, and I had prepared work to take along, but developed a bad allergic reaction and was unable to work, including the intended post for this blog last week.  We’re back home, now, and I’m recovering and catching up with events over at HubPages since Google’s “Farmer” algorithm rollout a couple of weeks ago.

Some hubbers have seen a drastic drop in search engine traffic to their hubs, along with lower revenue.  Other hubbers have reported negligent changes to their stats.  Right now, I have 17 hubs published, and the traffic did take a small dip a few days after the algorithm change.  Now, however, the numbers seem to have leveled out and stats seem to be back to normal. 

HubPages has taken Google’s newest algorithm to heart, and have made some changes in the rules we have to follow to write hubs.  Here is a short list of the changes they’ve made:

  • All hubs must contain original content—no duplicate content will be allowed.  Some hubbers like to take an article they write for one site and include it as a hub.  Duplicate content is major red flag to Google that the content is probably of a more spammy than helpful nature.  Google will then lower the page rank of both sites, which also causes a loss in search engine traffic, etc.  HubPages is cracking down on duplicate content—and that’s a good thing.

  • Amazon and eBay capsules must contain at least 50 words in the text for every product featured. 

  • RSS, news, amazon and ebay capsules will no longer allowed to be the first capsule at the top of a hub. 

  • HubPages is looking at deleting all affiliate links from hubs. 

  • Also examining an updated ad layout for the site and hubs.

  • HubPages Ad Program:  the program will be another way to earn from your writing with an optimized mix of ads that will be alongside Google Adsense, and Amazon, etc.  The program is new, and Hubbers are being added in waves.  HubPages hopes to have the program available to all Hubbers by June.

These updates are a positive response to the “Farmer” algorithm, and I plan to continue writing at HubPages.  Writing is a wonderful way to help make extra money and passive income, but it’s important to write for more than one site.  Be sure to look at ways to develop other income streams, in addition to HubPages, and write quality content that actually helps your readers, and you’ll weather the algorithm storms just fine. 

Happy hubbing!
Sher



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