HubPages Blueprint
81Hubpages Blueprint. A misleading title because I'm not about to share the inner workings and machinations of how the admin team do their thing. However, what this hub will do is help you monetize your hubs - and up your potential to make money online, for free.
HubPages Blueprint
Hubpages Blueprint doesn't carry a guarantee. Because I can't factor in how much time, effort and attention to detail you will put into your hubs. That part relies solely on you.
This hub started life as a load of scribbled notes, taken from seasoned hubbers that I chose to take notice of, read and learn from. That is not to say that this hub is exactly how they write their hubs. Some of what I do may differ vastly from their own methods. But when I use this method, it generally works for me.
I've also noticed that some people sell this type of info. They add to it, flesh it out but much of the filling is just smoke and mirrors, extra words written as a means of filling out the content and creating an eBook or similar.
Well, here you go - totally free and pared down to what's important. The cost is in your effort to take the information and use it to the best of your ability.
How To Monetize Your Hubs
If the above pictures aren't clear enough - my bad. Taking snap shots of anything has never been my forte. If anyone would like to tell me how to improve on sharing pictures taken off the desktop, be assured I'm willing to learn.
Step by step - the way to monetize your hubs.
- Research keywords. Use Google’s Adsense Tool: Keyword Tool - opens in a new window.
- This is an example, to help you understand how to use it.
- Using 'red handbags' as the keyword we're researching - type it into the text box that says 'enter keyword or phrase'
- Underneath, copy the 'catchpa' exactly - then hit 'enter'
- Next, when the page loads, in the box to the right of the screen, where it says either 'wide' or 'broad', click it. On the drop down box, click 'exact'.
- This causes the keyword to come back as an exact match.
- Next, above the box you've just used, that says 'choose the columns to display', click on the arrow and remove 'local searches' then add in 'estimated average CPC'
- Now, look down the right hand column - this shows you the searches per month, then the competition, then the estimated CPC.
- The CPC is what the keyword may be worth to an advertiser. You will roughly earn about 5% of whatever it is, every time someone clicks on a related add on one of your HubPages hubs.
- The searches are important, as is the competition. If the competition is strong, with a high search return, probably better to avoid it. But - check first.
- Open a second window, in Google. Have installed the Google search bar, and include the page rank button on it, you'll need it.
- Type 'red handbags' into Google.
- Check out the page rank for each site.
- Some of the pages are either page rank 0, 1’s or 2’s.
- Because they’re low page rank, you can, with effort, get onto the first page with your keyword ready hub - providing you write content that matches the title, tags and so on - plus you will need to backlink.
- Write your hub. Using the keyword in the URL, the web address you make when HubPages prompts you to do so. Write it in ‘red-handbags’, That doesn’t work, try ‘red_handbags’. That doesn’t work, try ‘designer-red-handbags’ or whatever until something sticks … making sure the keyword is in the URL title.
- Next, base your title around the keyword, e.g. Ladies Red Handbags or similar, or just the keyword alone.
17. Now you've got it ... use it. You want to insert the keyword under your headers. And use it, in one form or another, for your headers and pictures.
18. For example: 'Red Handbags (as your first header) and immediately underneath begin with: 'Purchasing a red handbag is a lot easier than you think. Gone are the days when ...'
19. Next header, insert underneath: A sentence that includes your keyword, eg 'As red handbags are fast become the color of choice for the modern woman ... ' - you see?
20. Write a separate summary. It needs to include your keyword. Your summary is what's seen on the internet, it's your tagline, the thing that grabs the attention of surfers. Make best use of it.
21. Don't underuse your keyword. It needs to be in the URL title and main title. It needs to be sprinkled (in a natural looking way) throughout your hub. You need to aim for about 4 or 5% of the total word count in the body. Roughly use your keyword once for every hundred words. Eg you hub is 500 words long, use it 4/5 times max.
22. Pictures are a great way to attract organic traffic. Use your keyword, or similar, related ones, such as what you may use for tags.
23. Unless your hub is aimed at Amazon, don't use Amazon capsules. Make other hubs based around Amazon products/reviews.
24. Tags - insert related ones. Avoid using the ones that HubPages 'suggests'. Check what Google likes to see on-page. Easy to locate: scroll to the bottom of the screen and you'll see them. Also, check out the Wonder Wheel. And use what you find if it's related.
25. Don't forget to break up your text boxes. A screen full of block text will often drive your reader away. Insert a few pictures, add a relevant video - make your page interesting.
26. Once you've checked your hub for grammar and spellings - hit publish - you're done.
Backlinking
Backlinking Hubs
- Guide to Backlinks
A thorough guide - from livewithrichard. Top read. - Increase Your Traffic: Free Backlinks
A great hub, by ryankett, detailing free backlink sites and more. - Backlinks for Dummies
Read the title! A 'does what it says on the box' hub from the man himself - Mark Knowles. - Backlinking
A straightforward no fuss explanation from the one and only Darkside. - Backlinks and Backlinking
A break down of how and why - written by the elusive Haunty.
Backlinking is the second stage of your make money online endeavour. You don't have to do it - some people find that a well written hub will generate it's own natural backlinks. However - most hubbers do backlink.
So, all the information you'll require re backlinking your hubs is sat in the link capsule to the right. They're written by other hubbers and will help you:
- understand the importance of backlinks
- understand what a backlink is
- understand what an anchor text link is
- know where to backlink
All the links on this hubwill open in a new window, and all are worthy of reading. So read them. That's the point of this hub. You read it, learn from it and enhance your potential.
My Backlinking
Where do I do my backlinking? In various places. I use a mix of social bookmarking and article sites. It can be laborious work, more so when you have extra articles on a subject you've already hubbed about. But - do it you must. And it does make a difference. As an experiement, I once actively 'supported' one hub I wrote just to see the results. Within a matter of weeks, it had a PR of 4 and was on page one of google.
Social bookmark sites:
Article Directories:
Web 2.0 Writing Sites (like HubPages)
There are a few other places I scribble on for backlinks - I use free blogging for example. And there are more places than there is on the above list. Where you link is up to you - but I do suggest you backlink. Backlink. And backlink some more.
If ever anyone wonders why the likes of ryankett has become so successful in less than a year - and ignore the time he looks to have been here, nine months or so is when he started 'work' - it because he works for it.
What's more, ryan doesn't hide how he does what he does. He shares what he knows. As do many others. There's a reason for that: they're trying to help you make the most of your hubbing experience, if you're here to earn a passive income online.
Top Tips
Here's a few top tips, to further help you make the most of your hubbing experience.
- before you write a hub, check the competition. Using Google search, type in: site:hubpages.com 'your keyword' If hundreds of pages turn up in the search - don't bother writing your hub, unless you think you can do it better. A saturated keyword focused hub will be harder to get placed in the SERP's
- don't look for great hubs and regurgitate them. First off - it's kinda bad mannered. Secondly the one you're thinking of writing will already be indexed and may be hard to overtake. And Google only takes notice of the first two hubs using the same or similar URL
- Write about what you know, rather than what you don't. This usually requires less effort on your part because you already have the knowledge. Dig around in your mind - you'll be surprised at just how much you know and can share, that will ultimately pay you back
- Consider writing a 'how to'. If you know how to make a pair of curtains, how to make balloon animals and so on - write about it
- Write your hubs and move on. Ten hubs won't give you a return but - a hundred well written, quality hubs will
- If you really expect a return on your writing, then you have to write it. Playing around in the forums will not earn you a dime. Make your main focus your hubs, not the forum
- Don't be impatient. That's what trips many new hubbers up. The fact that a couple of months in they're waiting for the big bucks to roll in. I guarantee you that unless you're a pro at this, you won't see anything decent before the six month or so mark But - the likes of ryankett and Nelle Hoxie have worked hard enough to be pretty solid on HubPages, as far as earning money online goes, in a relatively short space of time. Therefore it can be done
And that's it. The basics are now in your hands. The rest is up to you. You have the means to make a start of monetizing your hubs - the rest is luck and effort. And if you don't believe me, check out the quality of the hubs belonging hubbers such as:
Each has their own style, their own voice. All work their hubs in a method that suits them best. But - the common denominator among them is one simple fact: quality. They pay attention to detail and don't churn out regurgitated, badly written crap.
And neither must you. Aim high, write quality hubs, have patience and most of all - to coin a phrase from Sunforged - work smart.
NB - I may now go and write a real hub about red handbags. The cobbled version is sitting with a decent enough hub score in my account. Waste not want not.
CommentsLoading...
Great hub, I haven't heard of the Wonder Wheel will have to check that out. Thanks frogdropping.
Great information on how to hub successfully, frogdropping. I know I should do more backlinking as it gets results, but it is tedious? I'm sure this Hub will be a real inspiration and source of tips for new hubbers.
This is one of the best hubs written on understanding Hubpages and its workings. Love the flow and it is so easy to follow, wish I had it when I was still cracking the code. Love it and bookmarking it and will direct any hubber who is in for tips to this source. Thanks for sharing; i would say to add your name as well in one of the quality hubbers who is always ready to help. Appreciate it.
Ellen - once you get into the flow, it's so easy. Honest! I can write a hub that's based on quality, detail and highly readable in an hour or so. I don't always look for a keyword. Sometimes I just write on a topic because I want to. If there's any related keywords, I add them after. Good luck :)
fishtiger - the wonder wheel is a great little tool. Easy to use and the link is to a site that explains it and helps you understand how to use it.
CMHypno - backlinking is often the hardest part. That's the real work, so far as I'm concerned. Or at least it is now. Plus I keep a spreadsheet of what I've linked where. Such as Ezine, you need a minimum of 400 words, same with the other article directories. But in the main, I can write another article in about 20 minutes.
Some people outsource. I don't. Mostly I can't afford but I suspect if I could, I still wouldn't. I can't quite bring myself to trust someone to write something the way I want it writing. But as tedious as it is - it's worth all the effort.
Did you see ryankett just passed one million views in nine months? That's because he also works off-page and he richly deserves all the praise, he's worked for it :)
charanjeet - thankyou very much. It wasn't difficult to write. Most of it was in note form. Then I cobbled a version of it together and sent it as an email to anyone that bothered emailing me and asking 'how do you hub for money frog?'. All I did was make it easier to read, added the links and my own thoughts.
Anyway, I hope it does help, that's why it's here :)
Yes, and it was easy to read and understand-- even if some of it requires a little study. This is definitely bookmarkable.... just in case I ever get serious.
Thanks for helping us all.
Great Hub, dear FD.
Thanks for the mention - it is an undoubted honour to be mentioned alongside those Hubbers.
Truth be told, my Adsense earnings are pathetic - I want to get to 100 Hubs and then remodel a few Hubs, strip out Amazon capsules, and build backlinks. I will certainly use your pearls of wisdom :)
However, in terms of attracting clients and driving people to my website, HP has been absolutely fantastic, thanks mainly to the Hubbers who are so free with their marketing knowledge.
As you said, the magic ingredient is quality - all of those Hubbers could make a living as talented writers, if they chose.
You should be on the list, too - you and Ryan Kett are fine examples of people who put in the hard miles listening to the experts and perfecting your art. Now you are reaping the rewards.
That reminds me, I am having a bad day so might go and give Kett some abuse. A very relaxing pastime :D
Rochelle - no one has to use this. All it's about is monetizing. The stuff I wish I'd realized when I started but had to piece together. It's the bare bones. For e.g. I don't give an ideal word count or make suggestions on niche topics. That's up to the hubber to decide on. Personally I'd never write less that 450 words - usually I waffle for at least twice that ;)
And whilst I enjoy writing for the sake of it (and still do) the fact is writing for money often means writing about topics others are searching for. Pure and simple. So you know, it's not always fun. That's why I call it 'work'! And thankyou too :)
hmm...imma install that Google search bar now. thanks for the info! :)
Hello sufi - you sneaked in! Good to see you :) And you're just as worthy as being known for the quality of your writing as others I mentioned. And of course there's a whole load more but I'd run out of space!
And you know, I have learned a lot from you. You're one of the people that have made the above easier to navigate. As for me, I don't think I'm in the league of the likes of Ryan or others just yet but I will be, I aim to be.
I'm not good with Amazon as yet though sufi. I've got a few and I do sell products but I never really made an effort to target products as a means of selling them.
So, to teach myself 'Amazon' I've got another account and it's Amazon only. I need to learn and wanted a seperate place to do so. Once I crack that, I'll write one about Amazon. I don't mind sharing what works for me - be great to find loads of people are earning a satisfying income online, if that's their objective.
Anyway - work calls, I have stuff to do, content to write for others, emails to send, sort out, that kind of thing.
Have a great day Sufi - hope the sun's shining in your neck of the woods :):)
Go for it cosette, it's a nifty tool. Many prefer firefox and it's add-ons. The google rank bar is a little simpler. When I do serious keyword research, I only use firefox. Far more in depth, gives you loads on useful info and helps to determine just how worthwhile a given topic may or may not be :)
I'd never even heard of backlinking. It seems I am still very much a novice at this hubbingh business. Thank you so much for all the helpful information. I shall have to keep reffering to this hub till I get it right.
Thank you again. Cheers!
frog, you've given us all some great tips! One thing I like to do is - if there is something I want to learn more about, i do some research and take notes. I go to several sources. Taking notes help me to learn about whatever it is that has interested me and helps me put together a hub!
fd - any hubber that doesn't read and subsequently utilize all this great information is out of their hubbin minds.
In one article, you have provided more tips about keywords than I have seen in the affiliate ads promising this info for only $179.
More power to you and your remarkable writing and sharing skills.
Dim - wooo hey there! Don't worry about it, its amazing what you find out as time goes by. And don't forget that Hubpages isn't just for making money - it's also a place for people to simply write and share what they know, publish stories and poetry. It's not all about money. That's something you can tap into if you want to. There are no rules forcing you or I to write commercially, it's a matter of choice. So ... forget anything you read here if you're just a writer that loves to write!
Dolores, good day to you :) I hope it helps and you and I sound alike. I scribble on word.docs all the time, for work, for writing. I have a big messy documents folder full of snippets about - everything lol!
Hey hey drbj :):) You know, I don't think I've covered everything, I was thinking earlier 'oh I should have added so and so' in. But as it stands, it does the job. You know I've actually seen folks advertizing a 'Hubpages Blueprint' for money. You pay 'x', you get the blueprint. That's where the title came from.
Thing is, what I have learned has been given for free, by way of hubs I've read written by those mentioned above or in my other HP hubs. And I've had one to one help given as well. And no one charged me so there's nothing to be gained from charging anyone for advice that's freely available if you look for it. Nothing wrong with helping out. There's room for us all, what ever our style of writing ;)
G'day Miss frogdropping, you have done a very fine job on this Hub. As Rochelle has suggested I also will bookmark this and when I get a 'round twoit' I will study, absorb and implement your very fine tips.
Thumbs up to you :-)
Great article!Thanks for the help!
This is very helpful information. Thank you for putting it all together!
I'm learning all the possibilities for making money with HubPages, mostly through people like you who are willing to share their knowledge. I read, I rank it up, I share and I bookmark. Then when I'm not busy, I come back and read them again, because it takes repetition for me to "get" it.
My boys tell me it's the age thing, and I'll let them think that. It's better than the alternative (that mom's just not all there).
Thank you frogdropping for writing a great hub that even I can understand.
Great hub, frogdropping. It's as simple as you say it is, but still a lot of hard work (there's that word again). I'm looking forward to your hub on Amazon, as I'm curently rubbish at it! Although I am trying a little self tuition when time allows!
Frogdropping
You richly deserve your current 100 personal score.
This is the first hub I have printed out for reference. It not only answers my questions, it answers questions I have not even thought about.
Thank you very much.
agvulpes - well thankyou. I hope it proves to be helpful :)
kev8 - you are most welcome.
moonvine - have fun using the info, if you're looking to write commercially. I'm sure something I've written will be helpful :)
Duchess - I'm not so sure it's an age thing. I think writing online is a perculiar beast and like anything, if you don't hve the knowledge but have an interest, then you have to learn about it. You'll soon have it down to a tee, don't worry :)
Georgina - it is easy to follow. The doing it is the work side of things. That's why I sometimes just write something because I want to. I look for related keywords and put some effort into the headings etc afterwards.
Charles - thankyou and you're welcome. The hub of yours that I read yesterday really did make me howl with laughter, the best read I've had in ages :)
Great info, thank you!
You have provided great information with this hub. Thank you.
Really great hub, lots of quality information and the links you provided for backlinking are exactly what I needed! I am off to read what the other gurus have written! Thanks for this one :D
Guys, you're all welcome. All the above is available in various forms around HubPages or the internet already. I had notes as well, so it was an easy write. I hope you all find something useful in it :)
great stuff dropping frogs (LOL), I wish I had this overview when I started :)
Hi shaz - all I can say is ... me too ;)
Thanks frogdropping - a most generous article - have ranked it up and bookmarked it for future reference....cheers
Hy FD: What a great hub this is, great links to article sites that provide back links. A great suggestion and it works. Having a blog and back links from it work to. Anything that has links pointing back to our hubs is a gift, and you list some great ways of doing it. You are a mine of information, as always! Going to bookmark this 'un! Cheers!
Great Words of the Wise. Thanks frogdropping for sharing this valuable info. Keep on publishing those excellent hubs!
ajcor - thankyou very much :
Cheeky Girl - Thanks for backing up what I'm trying to get across. Monetizing means lots of behind the scenes work but it does start from when you write your hub or article. And thank you too :)
Nelson - You're most welcome and I'll try lol!
thanks for the web2.0 and social bookmark links, few there i don't have on my list.
Thank you Frogdropping! Very well written, easy to follow and understand. Really appreciate your article here and I can see why you are a hubpages elite!
Dragon - good good. I think sunforged and ryankett are great for those kinds of hubs - they have a few between them so make sure you read them :)
adrienne - lol thankyou but I'm not really any better at this than anyone else. I just got my groove, that's all :)
Hey frogdropping! Great hub! You've become an expert at summarizing the key points from other hubbers and clearly explaining them! Thanks for the great hub and keep up the work! You rock!
Wow, you've really got this down to a science. And here I am just randomly "hubbing" away with no plan!
kea - thankyou :)I was only sharing my basic hub layout and the keyword side of thngs. You can get far more indepth but this is a good enough method for any hubber that doesn't get the making money part. The linked hubs help back up the hub once it's completed :)
ab420 - Nothing wrong with hubbing away contentedly!
frogdropping, you don't need me to say this is an worthwhile, easy-to-understand, and informative Hub, but I'm joining the others who essentially say the same thing. Somewhere in the comments you mentioned information you wish you'd known earlier.
Hey Lisa :) Thankyou. I do wish I'd known earlier what I know now and that's why I wrote this. MAybe others will get 'there' a lot quicker, if that's what they're wanting to do. You can't earn money online if you don't write for two targets ... you're intended readers and the search engines, simple. But as I've said before, you don't have to be on HubPages to earn money. You can be a poet, a story teller, it's not just about money.
And thank the stars it isn´t :)
Patience is definitely a virtue online
Jeez! This was some hub! Great one, information packed. I had to bookmark this hub so I can review it over and over again because there's so much useful information here I plan to implement in my subsequent hubs. Good one. I love it.
Thanks for all you do to help us all do a better job!
Inside that small, green skin is one smart cookie! Great Hub Froggie!
ethel it most certainly is :)
wilmkr - I hope it helps you produce some great hubs :)
ewillms - you're welcome. Though a lot is from other hubbers, I linked their helpful hubs, so remember to thank them too when you read them ;)
Rik - lol I was sharing something I emailed (pretty much). Hubbers I sent it appeared happy with it so I figured it would be easier just to hub it, so more could use it. Or not :P
Great info! I shall bookmark this frogdropping! Very helpful!
Thanks for a great hub--it's definitely helping me! And I have to say that I really respect the way you praise other Hubbers. It speaks well of you, I think.
Thankyou both. I enjoyed putting this together and really, the hubbers I've mentioned do deserve thanking. After all, they helped me, which is how and why I got to writing this :)
Great information
Great advice for a new hubber like myself.
Thankyou guys - now in the words of Dr Spock - live long and prosper!
Great info! I have bookmarked this hub for further reading..
Really nice hub! I found this very informative. Thanks to the cute author who loves frogs. :-)
cool post :)
I have looked at that damn keyword tool so many times, and read so many other people talking about the CPC, but you are the first that told me how to bring up the CPC column... thanks!!!!!
lol great leanman - now you know, I'm sure it will be a big help! To all - thankyou and the best of luck!
I was always following you silently,but your little one made me write a comment on your last hub and made me so inspired that i started following the topic and have just tried my hand on it.To the little one.
Well that's wonderful suny! Good to see you're giving it a shot! You'll enjoy yourself if nothing else - best of luck and you know, there's many great hubbers on the site - all you have to do if your stuck is ask in the forum. There's always someone that is willing to help :)
Thank you for this hub. It's given me the motivation and confidence to carry on. I've been a bit overwhelmed by all the technical stuff but I think I'll get there in the end, thanks to hubs like yours and many others that have been recommended to me.
I'm a neophyte on hub pages. I welcome any and all advice. I'm still figuring out how to post content and tag my site. I have lots of poems, essays and cartoons.
AcappellaPete - Tags? They're the associated keywords. use them in your text (hub) and enter them as tags. It helps those looking for your info to find you. To work out how to hub (generally) go read the pertner hub to this one. It details who to read, what to read and more. All you'll need for your early foray into hubbing :)
when I need a refreasher I come to you and you always seem to have exactly what I need. I admit I found this a while agao but never paid too much attention, but I di find you backlinking list great, one new addition for me now, so many thanks, and yes this is bookmarked.
Great hub, the fact that I found this via SheToldMe.com and not by searching my own name suprises me! I have bookmarked this, and will backlink it somewhere to return the favour :D
Hi frogie, I've heard so much about you by some top hubbers I follow, and after reading this it attests to the fact that you are indeed solid, so solid for an amphibian(lol).
Like you rightly pointed out, quality is what seperates the gurus from the pretenders.
This is one hub that I'll save for rainy days when there's a dearth of writing ideas.
Thanks for being thorough and detailed, it has been worth the while reading this.
Thanks
Great hub. Apart from the high quality every new comer to the hubpages must have to look into this hub. I am ready to bookmark this hub. Thanks.
I sure wish I had read this months ago, it would have saved me a lot of research, I will be sure to bookmark your hubpages blueprint for future reference to follow up on when I feel like I am missing something.
EllenGraeger 2 years ago
Thank you for the great tips and instructions. There is still a lot to do to achieve the the highest quality hubs. You motivated me to go on.