HubPages Etiquette

Like any site which involves public participation, HubPages has some unwritten - and unofficial - "rules". It can be confusing for a newbie, though, because different groups on HubPages can have very different views on what those rules are!

The truth is, there isn't one "HubPages etiquette" that fits all. It will depend on why you joined HubPages, and personal preference. But first, some points that apply to everyone regardless of why they're here.

If you're trying to make money online, self-promotion is vital - but the social side of HubPages is a promotion-free zone. The social side of Hubbing is not part of the income-building side of the site - it's meant to be a refuge from all that!

It's rude to:

• Post comments on Hubs which include a link to your own Hub, website or blog.
• Post Fan Mail to a Hubber which includes a link.
• Create forum posts which include a link.

If you post links in your comments, the Hubber will likely deny them anyway. By all means mention you've written a related Hub, but let the Hub owner decide whether it's worthy of a link.

On the forums, you can post Hub links in the Extreme Hub Makeover thread, and the 30 Day Challenge Links thread. You may also post a link in a reply on any thread, but only if it adds value to the debate.

In a similar vein, it's impolite to:

• Sign up to follow hundreds of Hubbers indiscriminately.
• Send emails to other Hubbers asking them to follow you.
• Create forum threads asking Hubbers to follow you.
  
• Create multiple forum threads in quick succession just to get noticed.

It's fine to open more than one account at HubPages, if you wish to keep your different writing personae separate - for instance, you may have one account where you write on serious business subjects, and one for your writings on sexy lingerie.

It's not acceptable to have multiple accounts, if the purpose is to whip up contentious debates with yourself on the forums, to comment on your own Hubs, or to follow yourself. Such alter egos are called sockpuppets and regarded (with spammers) as the lowest form of life on HubPages.

The "rules" above apply to all Hubbers.  Now, let's look at the two main Hubber "types" and how their paths diverge when it comes to etiquette.

There is a large group of people on HubPages who joined primarily for the social network. For them, being a Hubber is about interacting with other Hubbers and gaining a readership within the community. If you're one of the crowd that joined HubPages to network with other writers, not for the money - this section is for you.

Social networking Hubbers set very high standards of etiquette. For them, politeness means:

• if someone follows you, follow them back (unless they're clearly a spammer);
  
• read, rate and comment on Hubs as often as possible;
  
• reply to every comment that is left on your Hubs, even if its only "thank you";
  
• interact in the forums
• use the link suggestion tool to link to other Hubber's Hubs
  

However, politeness also means respecting the way other people use HubPages, so it's important to remember that not all Hubbers are at HubPages for the social life!

It's important to understand that if another Hubber chooses not to read, rate, comment, thank or follow you, they're not causing any disadvantage to you or to any other Hubber.

Social Hubbers tend to set great store by comments, accolades, followers, Hubscore and Hubber Score, and often have the misconception these will help them make more money on HubPages. In fact, they won't - they do not generate income in any way whatsoever. And that's why what I'll call "business Hubbers' are less likely to follow the social networkers' demanding etiquette.

There is also a large (but less visible!) group of people who are attracted to HubPages as a way to earn a living online.

Of course, they're not relying on Hubs alone - though I do know one Hubber who pays her rent with them (Relache). These Hubbers think of HubPages as their workplace, and behave accordingly.

Think about how you'd behave if you were running your own business. Of course you'd want to get to know the people in your office, and help out your colleagues when they needed it - but if you're going to spend all day chatting over coffee, your business won't make any money, will it?

If you've come to HubPages to make money, you need to take the same attitude: the social activities of HubPages are fun, but they're also time-consuming, and they contribute nothing to your earnings.

Many financially successful Hubbers - like Nelle Hoxie and Sunforged, who both earn well over $1000 a month - don't follow hundreds of Hubbers or thank people for every comment. In fact, there are several high-earning Hubbers you don't even know, because you never see them in the forums or commenting on Hubs. They're too busy working!

These Hubbers aren't anti-social: many of them, like Darkside, are very helpful to newbies in the forums. But they know that to make money online takes effort, and there are only so many hours in the day - and they have to fit in a life outside HP, too!

I've explained the two extreme Hubber "types", but most Hubbers are somewhere in between.

Even the most disciplined "business" Hubber enjoys a break from the hard work of Hubbing to browse a few Hubs or forum threads, make a comment or two or help out a newbie Hubber. And many "social" Hubbers are also hoping to make some money from their Hubs.

So the two types of Hubber often find themselves interacting, which can lead to some friction. Social Hubbers can get upset if they leave a comment and no one thanks them, or if they follow someone and aren't followed back, whereas business Hubbers are oblivious that they've offended! Neither side should feel pressured to change - but both sides need to understand and respect each other's right to use HubPages in a way that suits their own needs.

If you find yourself getting addicted to commenting, this Hub on blog comments by J Stankevicz explains how you can make comments on a Hub or blog post an income-producing opportunity rather than just a social thing. However, it's important to understand that when promoting Hubs, links outside HubPages have more value than links inside it. So if your time is limited, it's more profitable to comment on other forums and blogs than on other Hubs.

In short, HubPages is a broad church and there is room for people to use it in many different ways. It's up to you to find the way that suits you - so long as you respect the choices made by others!

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Text copyright Marisa Wright. Trumpet photo by Eusebius. Dog photo by Shannon Yeh.  Coffee photo by lululemon athletica. Garden party photo by charlesdyer.

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