Can I use HubPages as a blog?
One of the most common mistakes new members make, is to use HubPages as a blog.
It's not impossible to keep a blog on HubPages, but it's not that easy either - because HubPages is simply not set up for it. There are so many sites purpose-built for blogs, it's hard to see why you'd bother creating a lot of extra work for yourself, by trying to make HubPages do something it's not designed for.
You may want to try, because you think you can make money blogging on HubPages more easily than on other sites - but if you blog, rather than write articles, that's unlikely.
But I don't expect you to take my word for it - instead, let's look at some of the limitations of HubPages as a blogging platform. The problem is - how will you set up your blog?
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One-Hub Blogs
You could just one Hub as your blog, and create each blog post in a new text capsule.
The problems with this are:
- A Hub is just one long page. If you keep adding posts to the end of the Hub, readers will soon have to scroll a very l-o-o-o-n-g way down to read your new posts - and most won't bother. You could add an index - but unlike a Blogger or Wordpress blog, you'll have to update it manually every time you add a post. Or you could add each new post to the top of the blog, instead.
- There's no mechanism to track updates to your Hub - so readers can't sign up to be notified of new posts to your blog.
- There's no mechanism to be notified of comments - so if a visitor comments, they can't sign up to be told if you reply.
One Big Blog
You could regard your HubPages account as one big blog, and make each post a Hub. That way, readers could sign up to your RSS feed and be notified of new Hubs, and they can see a list of your Hubs if they go to your profile. However, there are still snags:
- Readers can't sign up to be notified of new comments, or replies to their own comments.
- On a blog, you have a sidebar where links to recent posts, posts grouped into categories, etc. are conveniently displayed, so it's easy to navigate around your blog. You don't have that on HP. You can create indexes by adding RSS feeds to your Hubs on each Hub, but you can only list up to 8 Hubs in each feed - so if you want to include more, you'll have to create manual lists on each Hub, and update them manually every single time you create a Hub.
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But I Can Make Money Here!
As I said, even though they know HubPages isn't designed for blogging, some people are determined to use it - because "you can make money on HubPages".
Yes you can - but not with a personal blog. You make money writing on HubPages by writing long, high quality, magazine-style articles, on topics people are always looking for.
So you won't make money by writing short posts on HubPages - because short Hubs don't earn well. And you won't make money by blogging about your life - because no one knows who you are, or wants to know what you do every day.
If you want to blog, you'll be much better off on a proper blogging platform where readers can sign up to your feeds, be notified of comments, and easily navigate around your blog using your sidebar.
The two best (and best known) platforms which you can monetize are Blogger and Wordpress. Both are free, but for the monetized version of Wordpress you'll need your own domain name and hosting.
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Text copyright Marisa Wright. Lady at computer by Mike Licht. Shakespeare photo by cambodia4kids.org.
Comments
Never thought it's even possible. Thanks for pondering all the possibilties before I even have to think of it. :D
Hi Marisa. I have been exploring this question for some time. The definition of a blog can go in many directions. HubPages seems to be a combination..blog/landing page for most of the writers.
The readers get to choose where they want to participate. Blog/Landing Page or purely an info site.
I've seen so called blogs that are just advertising platforms with little content.
My guess is that as the search engines refine their process of weeding out the spammers, Ezines like this and others will soon become the future because of the PR power amongst other factors.
Traditional SEO is falling by the way side and savvy entrepreneurs are starting to see the power of HubPages.
This opened my eyes. Thank You so much.
Kowality, I don't agree that HubPages is a combination blog/landing page. It's more the other way around - blogs are no longer just daily diaries, they are also used as websites and as a selling platform, more like HubPages.
Pat writes: Hi Marisa, this seems to be just what some people need to read. I have been flicking through hubs using the 'Hub Hopper' (its addictive!) and see that many people seem to post blogs as Hubs. In my opinion, it doesn't work! I can't see how a blog as a hub would ever be picked up by a search engine.
My experience (with the other Patricia) that Hubpages work best when each one is on a specific topic, and you take the time and effort to write about that topic from a new angle.
marissa, well explained... I use one hubpage as a personal log on how Im doing, but dont see it as a blog. What you wrote makes total sense.
Interesting topic. I learned early on that HubPages doesn't work as a blog, if you think of a blog as a journal. Agree that many use the blog platform as a quick and easy website. I think a single HubPage is best thought of as an article that can be edited to keep current, or evolve. HubPages.com itself is like your personal magazine. You are the writer, editor and publisher, and ad manager of your magazine.
This is really informative...I found Hubpages when I was exploring different blogging platforms. I like to blog as a way to keep my friends and family updated on life. Hubpages is a great creative writing outlet, and I'm seeing more each day how to link individual hubs together when they relate to each other.
Interesting. I have seen some hubs that look like blogs. But why do it?
Thanks all! @jstankevicz, you express it very well - that's exactly how I see HubPages, too.
Thanks for share. The excellent hubs I will follow you.
Great Hub, Marisa! I'd also like to comment on one thing. "Blog" hubs that are overly personal in nature and lack relevance for the community in general may be moderated as substandard. A significant portion of my day is spent moderating hubs that are not very deep reflections on daily events.
You said it best, though. HubPages isn't a platform for a personal blog, and that should be the biggest detractor.
Thanks Norah, I really appreciate a comment from a HubPages team member and it's good to have that extra bit of information.
Most of the stuff I write here is of the opinion type, mostly on politics, but ARE generally much more in depth and certainly longer than what I typically post at blogspot.
As with anything ultimately, I think what matters most is that the content is well-written, factual, relevant to the topic at hand, AND that it generates traffic. I think if all of those elements are in place, it works.
You make some excellent points.
Thanks a lot Marissa I am actually using wordpress for our sites and they are powerful when it comes to keywords and phrases... and very glad to have a great teammate in 60dc in you. All the best.
I used to have a blog, but I just couldn't keep it up along with my website network (I couldn't bounce back and forth 24/7). I kinda miss blogging, I ranted about this and that, probably why I've always liked Hubpages/Squidoo because I can talk about anything.
Well explained, Marisa. Good luck on the challenge!
I understand it and some people will really turn HP into blogs. Thank you Mam for the insights, Maita
Nice article. I use blogger for my photo blogs. Don't think blogging works here but I can use the same photos to illustrate articles and link between my blog and hubpage, hopefully increasing views to both.
I've seen this numerous times, and I really think that some people are under the misconception that HubPages is a platform for a blog-style type format. It is not; I agree with ya on this one. But, until the required standard raises, we can only try to install some advice to the newbies and misguided individuals. Then again, one can do like someone mentioned above, and flag these type of hubs as substandard --- but, many of us have better things to do than flag crap all day, since it would be a 24/7 project - if one got involved in such things.
HubPages also provides the opportunity for versatility, which we can use this site in different ways. Some of us, for example, are not die-hard AdSense seekers, but like to express ourselves and/or enjoy the community here. ...So there are, of course, many different uses of the site that draws members into Hubland, to say the least. To cut it short, some people REALLY need to just go get a blog! Ha-ha!
Nice hub... :)
Thanks Marisa, I've certainly made this mistake. Will attempt to create higher quality hubs in the future! cheers for the tips :)
I came to Hub Pages via an article a friend wrote discussing his time on a reservation. It motivated me to write quite a lengthy response. When I went to post it, I realized it was too long for the comments section. I didn't want the work to go to waste so I opened an account.
I had no idea what HP was about. I also had no experience with blogging. What I did have were four weeks of being laid up with a broken foot and a desire to spend at least some of that time reviving a lost passion for writing.
It took me a few posts, but I think I have the gist of it now. Had I been immediately censored, I may not have come back. Aevans helped me get on the right track. I'm not sure I even understand how to make money on here (but am sure that my Hubs are not of high enough quality to worry about it).
Thanks for the Hub. I definitely needed it for clarification. It will make me a better contributor.
@IFD, your Hubs look pretty good to me! @Bianca, glad I helped clarify things for you. That's the reason I wrote this Hub - I see too many newbies joining and writing blog posts instead of Hubs. When they discover their mistake, they're annoyed at having wasted so much time! Better to know what you're doing from the start.
Great lil hub, I am at last making money due to 2 people having faith in me, Nelle and you, for that I will always thank you !
We always knew you had it in you, Art!
Very nice Hub. Keep 'em coming!
Some short hubs do look like blog but then again we can modify them and add more into it. Some of the topics that didn't worked with my blogs are working fine here on hubpages. I think community pulls much of traffic here on hubpages but with blogs you need to attract readers so some niche take time to perform outside hubpages.I don't know how poetry and personal hub are performing here but i think setting wordpress blog is much better for authors.
You surely have done your homework, this excellent hub must be the Ultimate Guide on the issue.
Great article. Your are right hub pages is not right for blogging. Although it is a great platform, but it is just not designed for blogging.
Thanks Marisa, I am a newbie so this was very helpful for me.
BJBenson 2 years ago
thank you this was helpful