How To Get Readers On HubPages

There are a few different ways but I’ll list them for you in order of what I think is important. Of course everyone has their own ideas of what draws them to your site but these are the main points that I've noticed make a difference.

Even though HubPages isn't considered a blogging website some of these same techniques will work for your blog if you have one.

• Choose an Avatar

Avatar is another name for the picture you choose to represent yourself.

The first contact people have with you is that little box with a symbol of who you are. Your writing could be spectacular but if you don’t have a personality to draw them in they may never read what you have to say.

It doesn’t have to be your photo, but you need one. That little default gray guy is impersonal and doesn’t give a clue to who you are or what kind of things you will be writing about. Not having an avatar is impersonal and seems distant. You want people to feel at home on your page; you want them to return again and again to read what you have to offer.

If you don’t want your own photo showing because you want to stay incognito or you aren’t happy with how you photograph, find one that best reflects your personality or what you will be writing about.

Say for instance you have a hamster; you love the little guys and want to tell us all you know about these special rodents. Take a picture of Fluffy and use his picture.

You don’t have a camera or cell phone that takes pictures? The Internet has a plethora of stock photos free for the using just be sure they are public domain clips. I've added a link below to an article I wrote about how to get free photos.

• Write Interesting Stories

You need to have something people will want to read. Do research to see what is out there similar to what you are about to write. You want your piece to be something people haven’t already seen. There is always a new twist or personal take you can put on every story that has already been written.

If your work is compelling enough your readers will overlook a few English errors just because the story is so great.

• Edit, Edit and Edit Again

Make sure your grammar and spelling is up to par. If you need assistance look for books that can help you with any questions or areas you may need work on.

We all make mistakes. I’m sure some of you will find a few in my article but try to keep your writing as crisp as you can and with as few errors as possible. Nothing says amateur like bad grammar.

• Write an Interesting Bio

Write a little about yourself. Your bio needs to be about your writing career and possibly education if it is relevant. Look at the back of a novel in the bookstore and see what authors tell us about themselves. Their religion, family history and animals aren’t so necessary unless that is the subject of their writing.

You can get by without one if you have several hubs that look interesting to read and will in a sense give us a look into your mind but in the beginning and even later I think it helps pull in readers. Someone may be from your area or have similar interests and decide to follow you.

• Read Other People’s Stories-Leave Insightful Comments

Writing online is a social thing. You read my work I’ll check out yours. Kind of like the old saying, “You scratch my back I’ll scratch yours.” Granted, this is no guarantee. If you read other people’s articles but your work isn’t so good you probably won’t have return customers. If you are hopping all over the forum reading, commenting and following people left and right but in turn you aren’t getting many views then I suggest you spend a bit more time at home working on your craft.

Socializing is only a small part of it and unless you also put in the effort it’s not going to happen.

• Follow Other Hubbers

This goes along with the previous tip, after reading and commenting if that person’s work is interesting to you and you think you might enjoy reading more of their work in the future go to the list below their picture and click on “Follow.” Depending on your account settings you will get email notifications or at the very least find them on your home page so you can keep up with any new articles they write.

• Advertise

Any other places you frequent and chat, is a good source for letting people know about your work. Facebook, Google+, RedGage and many other sites are good places to post a notice. Be sure, if it is a social media site that you don’t randomly show up and post a link. It helps if you are already known there and have friends you chat with on a regular basis otherwise it will just appear to be spam.

One day I saw a car with the guys Blogger site printed on his back glass. I wrote it down while at the traffic light and when I got home gave it a gander. It wasn’t bad, not my style of reading but none-the-less it made me look.