How to Create a Following: Just a Few Simple Points
81This is the fun part about hubpages, being contacted with a request or a question. Yes I do this, so ask away! The question is this how do you create a following? Better still how do you create a following that will come back to your work?
This is a basic question for anyone starting out on hubpages or wanting to make money or simply wanting to showcase their writing talents. the most important thing is that it is a business and to make a business grow you need a following.
Now, of course there are ways to make this happen but like money it isn't quick! So, think of it as a visibility exercise, you need a following, but people need to find you! As you say in business it is all about networking.
Here are a few points which have helped me and improved my hubs along the way.
Create a Social Networking Following: Now this is actually fairly simple to do. For an example I'll use Facebook. You can add friends (just like on other social networking sites) and add links to your hubs on that site. You can comment on your status, but also comment about your life, and below your comments are: links, beautiful links to sites, to walls to whatever.
So isn't it in your benefit to get onto Stumble Upon and FaceBook, and Digg, as these three will help you get traffic. Social Networking Sites do have this benefit of adding much needed links to your hubs, as the more people add links the more traffic you'll get and the more followers you'll have on hubpages.
Now these followers will see you links and rate them, but not only that they will go to them, which means more traffic. Traffic to published hubs is valuable, as it improves hubscores. of course you need a following in other areas.
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If You want a Following Create a Good Hub-- but also...: Now this is my admit it part, I am a lurker, like over 80% of hub writers out there I read hubs but I didn't often comment. Well the student learned from the master. (this being Unchained Grace.) Either way it was a reminder of the weakness I have.
I don't comment on as many hubs as I should. I comment on mine, but I forget that the art of being in a community is to be a part of the community. This does not mean forums or other palces, but other peoples hubs. I'll try better.
Still, to get a following you need hubs, and good hubs at that. Quality will be seen by others and your hubscore is one way people know you believe in quality. So it was goal at the beginning of my hubpages writing to learn how to write good hubs. Add links and polls, and other things to your hubs make it easy on a would be follower to look at some of your hubs.
Writing is an art, and of course when writing a good piece take your time, and you wills see results, but set a goal. For me one is that none of my published hubs go below 60 as a hub score.
Writing also means editing and fixing up the hubs you have. that of course takes time, I am not sure how Dohn121 can make his revenge inc series so well done without a single mistake. (fine there dohn you know I read your hubs as well!)
Last to get a following you need to be interactive... okay still working on that!
A Following
A following is and a following is not: To create a following for you and your hubs there are certain things a following is and isn't. Now some people look at my followers, and that is great but I will say this now, some followers, are "look but don't say anything" and some followers are "read and comment" and some followers are "read, comment and comment some more." then there are some followers are "i followed but don't go to hubpages."
So a following is potential traffic, just like it is a potential way to make money. But like any business, there are things it is not.
A following does not ever give you tons of traffic each and every day. That is your job. A following will not comment on everything you write, but might give you a bit of traffic. A following does not mean that they will give money to you for being a writer.
Still, like in any business if you are grateful for the numbers and the potential for people to come and read your work, it's not so bad, in the long run, it will help you. That does take time, and a lot of quality interlinked hubs.
People will follow you, but of course you need hubs, and you need to make yourself visible, so when you follow someone, take five minutes to write a "fan mail" it helps, ti really does, as the person you just followed has to approve your fan mail. Instant visibility. Also make it personal, Say a hub your liked, or something encouraging.
Why Have A Following?
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The biggest thing about a following, or rather how to get it: You can't really, it isn't something you can do by yourself. People need to feel wanted, they need to feel that your hubs fill that want.
Now, you will not get a following by just simply "following others." In fact the main way I see someone is really interested in my and my writing is by their comments to not my most recent hub, but to others, as in they've actually gone and read some of my work. It makes me interested in the reasons why they are following me.
Of course this means i tend to go and look at their hubs ( so you'd better have a couple of hubs up!) Still, it's the one who continually come back and comment that I am most gratefulfor, the ones who when they make a comment that is less than great are the ones that I listen to.
Really the best way to have a good following is by working hard on your hubs, commenting on each and every comment which comes your way, and fix your hubs but also remember that your followers need your help as well.
It might be a business but aside from making money, your followers need comments in other words they need you. This will get a follower and probably a more loyal follower because of it. They know you and they know that you will help them.
In the end, not worry about creating a following just work on your hubs and be a part of the hubpages community. That in and of itself will help you gain a following. To your success.
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Just like Dohn said, 'you nailed this one'! Very good advice and something I need, bless you for always being there, voted up and useful...
hotwebideas-- it is a slow process, just keep on keeping on, a lot of people who follow will comment and these are your followers...
Hey Rebecca, I went back and read this article. The following is growing slowly, but now I am reading and linking to your previous hubs. To YOUR success!
hotwebideas-- do not worry-- I think I had less than you after nine days, so don't worry-- it is common jsut worry about your hubs and providing quality, and commenting like you have and you will find followers.
Hey Rebecca, great article. I am very stressed about my following, because after 9 days I only have 2 followers and I see others with more followers in less days. Very frustrating. I hope to use some of your suggestions.
bushraismail-- you are most welcome thanks.
thanx rebecca!!
patdmania-- you are most welcome always happy to help.
Thanks Rebecca! You are definitly one to listen to. YOu have a lot of followers.
saddlerider-- I try my best, my pleasure in helping out here on hubpages. to your success.
Great suggestions as usual. I love how you explain and expand in detail and lead us easily through understanding what you are conveying. This is a bookmark for sure, and will refer back to it time to time. Thanks Rebecca E.
bushraismail-- yes it doe tat for all the capsules, just pushteup arrow to where you want it to go and it will move. then on the photo capsule itself, you hit the edit buttn and add the photo you like into it.
er .thanx. but rebecca when i press 'photo'the capsule is added down. under the hub. whta shall i do?
i am very sorry to question you again and again.
bushraismail-- g to your hub, the hit the edit button and on the upper right hand side it says photo click on that and put it where you want it to go. Hope that helps.
can u pls tell me how to add pictures between texts.
sorry to disturb u so much.
evolveasite-- to me the caption are more important than teh pictures.
i just love your pictures they're i really enjoy them especially the captions
Find Your search--- not a problem being a part of this community is awesome people have so much to say and to share. That is the power of this place.
Good, solid information about being a part of a community and why it matters. Thanks for sharing!
Dobson-- well all begin somewhere, take you time and good luck. Yes foolowers are great and I do like them all especially when they can tell em that I am doing somethig wrong ( in my spelling at least!)
There are so many well though points in this hub. I understand that followers aren't the end all, but five days in they sure are confidence boosters. I am probqably going to be a niche follower at first, trying to milk all your hub page experience at first, bt your style seems to interest me as well, so as i have time i will read more of your other hubs.
justom-- thanks, not a problem I try to help as much as possible.
Good advice, my hubs are less rants and more visual but I'm working on that. I'm very new to all this and am an older dude so I need all the help I can get. Thanks for yours!
Crystal Hart-- keep writing great quality hubs, social networking and get a good following and you willsee success.
Thank you so much for the great advice. I'm new to hubpages and I'm trying to learn all I can to be successful.
peggypat-- not a problem always happy to help.
good suggestions!! Nice hub!
RachaelLefler-- not a problem new girl in town=) welcome to hubpages.
Corinne Floyd-- 116 and counting, but it's great to have readers like you. So thanks for stopping by.
Thank you very much for the advice... the new girl in town can learn some things from you. :)
Enjoyed your hub and definitely learned some things about writing a good hub.
You have 116 hubs - Wow that is a lot of hubs. Good for you.
Arietha-- welcome to hubapges, I am always glad to help out.
New here on hubpages, so this hub is right up my alley ! Thanks, Rebecca, a very helpfull hub.
Specialk3749-- welcome aboard, just got your follow, great to have you here!
Thanks for a great hub! I'm on my to "follow" you...you have convinced me to try and be a great follower. :-)
dohn-- where would I be without you? thanks for always supporting me, and that is what makes a following so great.
Eileen-- you are welcome thanks for the comment
Lamme-- good luck with the following you get, all the best.
I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner, Rebecca. My apologies. I think rhat both you and I know just how important a following is. I mean seriously, what good is opening a restaurant if no one comes to eat? It's the same thing when writing our hubs. We put our time in and put fourth effort to showcase to others our talents. To me, a following shows that others are fascinated with my work and that I'm woth following. Thank you again, Rebecca. You nailed this one.
Great hub we can all learn from hubs like this
I'm definitely going to have to try your suggestions. Thanks for all the great ideas!
T MArk Gray-- glad you've joined hubpages, happy that you've read one of my hubs. Good luck on hubpages
Thank you. I am new to Hubpages and this is the first hub of yours that I have read. I found it to be quite helpfull.
matthewzinda--- that sounds cool. Must go and look, thanks for teh comment.
pisean282311-- thanks for reading them if they help you in your business that is great.
Great hub page. Very informative. I just made a hub on how to make a website, then turn it into a web business. This is good information on how to monetize a web business. Thank you for the information.
these are good points dude..thanks for sharing...
Missi Darnell-- you are wlecome,. good luck on hubpages.
Mieka-- forums do help in that respect at teh beginning but if you spend a lot of time there you'll not be making as many huibs.. so moderation.
Maranda Writes-- traffic tends to come and ago, but once you have a bit of a following ( over about 100 followers) it seems to get better
Thank you for the advice Rebecca, I'm fairly new and trying to soak up all the tips I can. These are great.
Heya,
Great hub! I found that in the periods I am more active on the forum, I will gain a few more fans as well! My hub topics vary greatly though, so I don't think all my followers read all my hubs :)
Thank you for the tips. I REALLY need them. I am having a hard time getting traffic. I will try some of your suggestions!
Susan-- yes looking at older hubs helps me a lot you can sort of see teh growth of a hubber, but also gems are in older ones as well. keep them coming and you'll see success.
Thanks for the advice. I'm new to HubPages and I'm trying to gather all the advice from the successful writers so I can join your ranks. I love to write, but I'm never sure if other people are going to be interested in what I write. I guess time will tell. I never thought of looking at the other hubs written previously. That's a good idea too. Thanks again.
H.B.H.-- you are welcome
Amez-- yes you can, in fact I do it myself a lot, it creates a sort of commentary and conversation for some.
This is wonderful! Thank you for this post!
Really a Nice Hub, Helped me allot, I didnt think we could cpmment on every ones comments, because it would increase our Comment score. But I guess the stats are really to just guide us.
UlrikeGreace-- that is a problem isn't it, I would say that most don't comment, but I do get a lot of traffic. But these days I am getting more comments than before.
Good hub...lots of good usable information...now to put it to good use and get those followers to comment...
Blessings to you
UlrikeGrace
Royal Diadem-- you are welcome, you write well anyways!
Rose West-- so very very true.
Amber Allen-- yes comments keep me going and often quite busy as well!
Thank you I am trying to learn how to write.
Good advice as always. Writing is a two way street... writers need readers, and readers need writers.
Hi Rebecca E
Another Ace hub! It is the encouraging comments from other hubbers which keep me going.
Amber:)
shelia b-- you are welcome, keep up the good work.
drbj-- you think like me... but of course I am a bit embrassed when I do it... still i wish you'd get as many comments as I do.
dpfitzell- you are welcome, I am always happy to help.
Trish_M-- thanks for sottpping by yes the links are teh best part.
ladyjane1-- welcome back, you got what I wrote correctly. I wish for a spell check, but that probably wouldn't help me!
einron-- I can't spell worth a darn =)-- I said I love the analogy that Gus Gave.
Gus-- I am sorry, I meant to type I love the analogy.
JannyC-- that is a great way to go. At the very least rate it up takes one second.
Another hub full of good suggestions.
Hey, Gus. If you were dyslexic, you would have no trouble figuring out that "lvoe" is "love," "int" and "erms" is "in terms" and "ect" is "etc."
And we can't blame you, Rebecca. It's a common problem due to an uncommon number of comments. A problem we all wish we had!
I am fairly new to hubpages and your hub has been very helpful Thank you
Thank you for those interesting ideas and links, Rebecca!
I'll check those out. :)
Gus-- lvoe the analogy, but sometimes you do run after our following as well, int erms of commenting ect.
I think she meant I love the analogy, but sometimes you do run after our following as well, in terms of commenting etc.
I hope I am right on that Rebecca anyway, nice hub and great info about following. I try to always leave a comment and to reply to all my readers comments. Thanks
I am like Gus. I do not understand what the terms mean. However, your article is very clear, but I dont understand the terms.
I always enjoy hubs which tell you how to do better and thanks.
Rebecca - I am sorry that I did not understand your response to my comment, above. I particularly did not undersatnd "Ivoe," "int," "erms," and "ect." Sorry as to my likely ignorance, (I am "old" and those strange things may be "new" ) but I wonder if anyone else understood those terms. (Doubtful)
Gus ;-O
Awesome as usually. I find it hard to comment on everyone cause sometimes I just got nothing to say just nice hub which I kind of find chessey in saying. But to whom ever I am reading I do rate them up. So if I do not comment on anyones hub be sure to know that I have rated you up, and I hope others do the same. I try and do my part in helping my fellow writers.
Gus-- lvoe the analogy, but sometimes you do run after our following as well, int erms of commenting ect.
angela-- yep that is the big thing, time, never seem to have enough of it.
druida-- that is very true, and most forget about that part.
herbivoirehippi-- you are very welcome. This is what i do.
Duchess O'Blunt-- you are welcome, but that is what a community should be about.
drbj-- yes that is so true, see you now a bit of my past. But you are welcome, I owuldn't have it any other way.
nearbuystore.com-- not a problem.
karen-- that is true as well, and they also get your hubs when you publish them.
samboiam-- you are welcome.
hello hello-- the share it buttons are right above teh comment section on my hub, where it say rate it up or down. on teh far right hand side it say share it.
Rebecca - Nice Hub. Sometimes having a following can be like a sunny day that comes after a stormy one. It is disconcerting though to have the sun at your back such that your shadow, which should be following, is way ahead of you.
Gus ;-)
Good information, Rebecca -- I do part of these things but haven't gone to Facebook, etc. as yet. Simply don't have time right now to keep up with all of it and write, too. Best, Sis
Many animals are in zoos in uncomfortable buildings. There is little comfort in their residentials in captivity.
Fabulous hub! So well written, informative and easy to understand as your hubs always are!
Rebecca you have captured the essense of what a social community is all about. Well said.
Rebecca - Thank you for your magnanimous spirit.
As always you provide excellent tips and strategies for new and experienced Hubbers alike.
Long may the Transylvanian flag wave.
Rebecca to the rescue... thanks again
The great thing about a following is that it's always there for you. I have been super busy with freelance work (yay!) recently and haven't been hubbing much, but when I have time to come back, hopefully at least some of my followers will check out my hubs. You don't have to start from scratch again!
Rebecca E. thanks for writing such an informative article. I am bookmarking this one.
Thank you for all these great tips. One question - could we have SHARE IT connection or buttons or whatever they are called. It would our life a lot easier to link it.
fishtiger58--- Your writing amazes me, so there is my two cents. But yes I am my own worst enemy sometimes as well.
MeKenzie-- I wouldn't have it any other way. I love to help and it is a joy for me. I feel blessed by teh comments and the traffic. so why not give back?
loriamoore-- you are a success right now, I am pleased to read such wonderful hubs, so you will see even more success I am sure.
Al-- thanks for the e-book suggestion in fatc you are not the first to suggest it. Still working on it, but when it comes out, I'll let you know.
Mywebs-- I didn't even know about the hottest hubs, that's kinds cool, thanks for letting me know and make my day. that's what time is all about. 24 hours for everyone.
Unchained Grace-- your three hours are up! but no I find that as well even with my hubs, still working on that! but I hope to a better commentor.
I found it's not so much brownie points, but the fatc most people don't knwo about Stumble Upon or other sites, and lose a lot because of that.
lorlie6-- what a nice compliment, thanks I love hearing that, but you are a talent, so I am not surprised you found success.
Mike-- yep that wirter's analogy works for me as well there are so many who write better than me, but I try to write each day, so consitency pays off.
yes, we both are works in progress!
Pamela99-- you are welcome I am gald you found this helpful.
Having traffic is of course a wonderful thing. I have to admit that I enjoy looking at my google adsense and am always amazed when I get a click or two. But what I really want more than the clicks is to write something that amazes me. I am my own worse critic so if it amazes me then I truly know it's good. Great hub Rebecca as usual.
Rebecca, great hub - how did you get so saavy? :0) I always enjoy your hubs ... you write clearly and in a very winsome way. Thanks you for helping your fellow hubbers!
Will do what you said as I would like more followers.
Ah!! My Moonshine...
How can we lose with such great hubs? Full of sound advice, very well written, not a bit is wasted! You should make an e-book with all these hubs and give them away, you will certainly gain followers outside HubPages as well! Thumbs up!
Rated, Bookmarked and Stumbled!
Warmest regards,kisses, love, light and plenty of blessings,
Al
Another great hub. You always bring up points on a subject I have never thought of, even if I have written about it.
I noticed earlier that 2 of your hubs are listed in the top 20 hottest hubs. One in the top ten, and one in the top 20. You sure know how to generate the traffic Rebecca! :)
I wish I had time to read all of your hubs, but I'm hopelessly behind being new here.
First, I gotta thank Mike Lickteig for his Gilligan's Island Hub. I had some fun with that. Actually, we both came to learn a few new things about the actors didn't we Mike?
I have around 101-102 Followers though about 10% of that are routine commenters. The pageviews show me that the vast percentage don't leave comments. They roll in and out.
The social networking sites have indeed added to the pageviews though not the comments. Nevertheless, these things do work. I followed Rebecca's sound advice and have Stumbled the Hubs of other authors. Perhaps I should've told them, but I wasn't looking for 'brownie points.'
Anyway, here I is learning another lesson and being happy to have the opportunity. I'm heading off on a three hour tour. . . .
Thanks again, Rebecca, for a question well answered. My 2 most 'successful' hubs have had much to do with reading yours, and taking-most of-your advice.:) It is interesting to watch stats concerning readership and to work from there.
Laurel
This was again very well written and offers so much good advice. It is an aspect of writing that is very important for some but is not often discussed.
One of the most difficult aspects of creating a following is to be interesting time and again. One or two good hubs will gain some readers, but they will be lost if we can't duplicate our success and hold our readers' interests.
A successful writer once said that everyone in the room can probably write a better magazine article than he had written. The difference was, could they do it every month? He maintains his following by being consistently good. Not easily done, I have discovered.
I enjoy leaving comments and always try to keep them positive. With a few folks, I will come back and create a dialogue in the comment field. I am shy by nature, so the easy give and take some manage doesn't come as easily for me. As you have said: still working on it!
Thanks for sharing this, I always feel I've benefited from reading your work. I am a definite follower!
Mike
Good suggestions as usual. Thanks for sharing.
Rebecca E. Hub Author 9 months ago
samsons1-- always happy to help out around here, been here a while, but even I have a lot to learn!