Fix It 101: The Fine Art of Helping Others With Comments and Their Hubs on Hubpages

Fixing up a hub is all about making improvements or at the very least improving your writing, but I suspect when I do this hub I'll be asking for it, in terms of a major fix up on every one of my other hubs-- in other words if you want traffic you need to improve your already fine hubs.. This request is one which goes back long before I joined up on hubpages, but one which I have not touched upon before.

Hubpages is a place where writers come together to showcase their published writing. This question was about telling someone that perhaps their writing is not good, or worst still does not help anyone, least of all them.

I take it from two views: one from the giver of said comments, and the other from the person receiving it. For the record, yes I know my hubs can use work, but that is what emails are for, thanks to everyone who does send email telling me where my mistakes are. you are a big help.

How can I help when it really needs help?: There are a few ways to do this, some of them are not as good as other, while other ways help promote good relationships on hubpages. So I'll use the example that everyone has come to know me for linking, and making money. With a twist of course.

"Given that this is a business, you need to make money by getting others to do the work for you. It doesn't make sense that after writing a hub you need to add all these links and then go and comment on other hubs and add more work to your day. It is better business practice to focus on making money by using the power of everyone else.  ahve them create your links, and all you need to do is sit and wait.

Of course you use the power of Google to your advantage and use this as a means to an end.  There is no work on your part other than writing hubs.  Let the other people do the work, as you will make money no matter what."

Okay there you go, but you by now are probably going, hey wait a minute this is all wrong... but should I say something to her, I mean I know it is wrong... but?

In my view, yes you need to say something to fix up this mistake, as in this case it is a big one. Before you and say that "your hub sucks" or something to that effect remember that this writer might truly believe what they are writing. Or they are still learning about hubpages.

I'll be listing the ways that a writer on hubpages can make a really bad comment which will only demoralize another hub writer, to some of the best ways that you can do this. So these next few ones I would advise not to do, in fact never do this, as it will work against you and potentially ruin your own reputation in the process.

1) Telling the other hubber one of two things; "You Hub sucks" or worst still "your blog sucks." Yes I have received both these comments, and one has in fact more validity than the other. If someone writes "your blog sucks" they haven't been on hubpages long enough to know it is in fact called a hub. The other one means they have been here long enough to know that a hub is called a hub. Either way I have learned to politely ask them to elaborate. Most never do. To a new hub writer these comments can be devastating. So never ever do this one. Ever.  Don't write it, I could say don't think it, but I would be an optimist on that front.

2) Personal Attacks: Now this is tied for number one but it is two because this is by far less frequent than the first. If I don't like a hub, I don't like the hub, and not the person. it doesn't take to much to figure out who said it and usually I have enough dignity not to fight these people, they are not worth my time. They will never have anything good to say ever if they try  a personal attack.  This is rude and out of line, but for me I simply shake my head and laugh it off. For all new hubbers, any attacks that simply say "you suck" or you are the worst writer on the planet" ignore them. Do not delete them, but spend more time proving that you have the talent you have. Not to them but to you.

These next two should be on your radar far more than the other two one will seem like a compliment but other is something as equally interesting:

3) This is the "hidden" critique: It begins with something like a this is such an awesome hub, and then goes on for a bit, but then throws in something like: but there are X things I hate about it, but thanks for the great hub. Now if you are going to make a complaint about the hub in question, it is bad form to butter the writer up. Just say it isn't good, and point out where it can be improved. If you don't think it is good you don't need to come up with a list of wonderful things about the hub. Just say it in the most polite way possible. Again these one are good to have since they will help you improve on your hubs and your next hub as well.

4) The out and out rant: This one can be at times humorous but take this one with a grain of salt. In a hub that has say 1,000 or more words there is often something that upon reading it makes the reader go... hey now way just one minute here! These comment are often nice and long and center on say three or four sentences that the hub has. Now, this type of comment isn't in and of itself a bad comment, it simply is too focused. Some people might find value in that comment. Others won't. I look at these comments as a thank you comment, since they usually bring more people into commenting for or against. At that point I simply moderate. Let the rants be, as these can be quite good. Just don't take it personally.  In fact if they do have validity, you can usually do something about it... it is called edit, but don't be hasty about editing based on one comment.

These last two are the best kinds you can do for other hubbers: Now I will say this I personally have used both, one more often than not.

5) Sending an email to the hubber in question telling them ways to improve their hubs. Now I get a lot of emails telling me where and how my hubs can be improved. This way is more private and if you don't have a beef with the writer and are willing to think why this person would have taken the time to do such a thing, this is a great help.

Yes, I still have about 50 more hubs to go before I get to the more recent ones people have sent me, but I do have a list! Really honestly this is the best, as I can print it out and go through it step by step.

Now if some one writes about making money ( back to the theme we began with) you can email them saying, that to me it seems like you don't think doing the work needed to support your own writing is there, why do you anticipate other trying to help you make money?" Politely of course.

I try to ask questions when I do this since it is something a new hubber can take for their next hubs... I hope. Still this is the best way to go especially if it is a new hubber or the mistake is really "big"

For more experienced hub writers there are a few ways you can do this, but be careful!

6) Tell another hub writer that perhaps this is not quite the suggestion you would use. Now, again to do this to a new hub writer is not a good thing, but to comment on a more experienced hub writers work is okay, mostly because they know that their work can be edited and will probably take it in good grace.

Of course I am not suggesting you go and do this to promote your work but rather, on hub writer to another who wants to see the other succeed. I have had more experienced hub writers than myself do this on my hubs. I respect them all the more for taking the time and energy to write a comment to help me improve.

Again this is fine art, if you want to make suggestions and you have been here for about say 2 months, and the person in question has been on hubpages for a while, make sure your facts and straight. (This is good business practice) In the case above you would be perfectly safe to ask why? Simply because it is obvious that this is not good business practice, and not something anyone should suggest doing in terms of making money. For less obvious things, check around and see what other hub writers suggest before making suggestions. (Again good business practice and great for learning as well)

Still any comments are better than no comments. So thanks these brave souls so much more because of it!

The last words--

Everyone can succeed in hubpages, but comments are of value, not only in terms of positive comments but the ones which can improve a willing person on hubpages. again use common sense when reading comments.

I can quickly look up a person who simply is a part of hubpages to find out the types of comments they make. Constructive critiques are great, and in the end will help, but also do this with the other person in mind.

We all write and publish hubs this is a business and some have more success than others, and some make more money than others, and some need a bit mroe help in other areas more than others, but working as a community will help everyone improve. Love what you do and don't let anyone take that away from you.

To your success.