Traffic Surge on HubPages - Google Traffic Up

I've noticed alot of discussion in the HubPage forums about Google traffic surging and Google traffic plunging since the sub-domain change here at HubPages.

Without getting into the technical side of SEO or back-linking and key words, I thought I might share my personal experience about the latest changes in my own sub-domain and what has been happening in my own account here at HubPages.

I have included some screen-shots that I took of my stats showing the increase - along with a screen shot of one of my hubs on painting Christmas windows. Although that is a niche topic, the fact that it is number #1 pretty much affirms my thoughts that I've captured that spot now.

Perhaps something I share here with you may help you with your writing/and/or give you some ideas of things you can do with your hubs to help them succeed. Along with almost everyone else here, I was also a victim of the Google Algorithm Panda change. I have to admit it WAS disheartening to see my page views sink from 1,500 page views a day to 800. Not only did my page views sink but my Google Adsense earnings did also. Then in steps the new HubPages ad program -and gratefully through that I recaptured some of my lost earnings. I also lost my Amazon account because of the tax issues surrounding California (I am a California Amazon affiliate - or at least I should say I was) Pretty dismal I must say.

One thing I did during post-panda was to check into the forums once in awhile to see how people were doing. I did not pay too much attention to the drop though because I felt that things would work themselves out in the wash. Meanwhile, I didn't write much but always checked my comments, my earnings, and did a few hubs on things near and dear to my heart (my hub about my missing co-worker Michelle Le- who is still missing and presumed murdered )

Then in comes the sub-domains change. I made the switch and kept my fingers and pinkies crossed. A few days after the switch my hubs started improving, a nice bit, then dropped back down again. Then, 3 weeks ago, I saw a huge up-tick in traffic. As of this date, Sept, 14, 2011, my traffic has went from 800 views a day (post-panda) to close to 4,000. This pattern has been holding strong and all my hubs, even the ones that didn't get much traffic pre-Panda, are also getting picked up by Google. Many of my hubs are on the first page of Google. Some are the first entry.

I'm elated to say the least.

So in the interest of sharing knowledge, I thought I'd share what I do here at HubPages. Some of these things are just good practice, but some of these things may help my fellow writers here at HubPages (spreadin the love) And hopefully, my traffic holds steady, because otherwise I may be sitting here with egg on my face - but I will still know that I have provided some valuable marketing writing tips here. These are not all of my tips for sure (you can check my other hubs for that) but these are tips and things I have been doing POST Panda, and post Sub-domain - which may or may not be helping me right now but I think they have (and all of these tips are basically things I have always done here at HubPages) I have my Facebook, Twitter and YouTube links on my profile. I use these accounts with my writing consistently. And I did update my profile with a longer description recently (my profile views are also up)

Things I do daily:

1. I check into HubPages (sign-in)

2. I check my earnings (sometimes obsessively but that's me)

3. I check my comments (I may not respond right away but I do try to respond within a day - depending on how many comments I have)

Things I do on an ongoing weekly basis:

1. I check and review older hubs. Spelling, keywords, bolding, title additions, and I twitter and like older (and newer) hubs based on what I think is appropriate to send out. I don't spam but I regularly get my links out there (I think it's good to look at older hubs and make the best out of them that you can)

2. I don't do alot of keyword research but I have started using the Google adwords keyword tool. This has given me good ideas and addition for titles and keywords that I might not have thought of. I keep the keywords in mind but I don't stuff them. I use them appropriately in the context of writing and making points. I have them at the beginning and at the end of my hubs. Like I said I'm no SEO expert but my marketing background helps me feel the direction I should go while writing.

3. I am very conversational. People have told me that that is one thing that has appealed to them in my writing. I try to stick to that because that is me. I found that when I tried to write technically it wasn't me (and it honestly it wasn't as much fun) So if you are conversational writer I would embrace that. Readers like real - when you are conversational it bridges the informality of the Internet - so embrace it!

Things I do randomly:

1. I pop into the forums. Honestly, I am a little concerned about writers here putting too much time and effort into figuring out why there are traffic plunges, surges and wild swings. I think sometimes there are things that we are just not meant to figure out and we can waste valuable time and energy that could be better spent writing or with your family. Maybe it's a little easier for me to say this because my Google traffic is surging, but I feel I am going to leave the technical side of this to HubPages - which is what they do best. They want us to succeed too! So far from what I've seen they are making changes to improve HubPages (they always have as far as I'm concerned) I do think it is valuable for them to know the stories of traffic surges and plunges but I also worry that some people may get caught up in obsessive traffic checking and brooding about page views. None of that is productive. I figure that IF I plunge again, I will ride the tide again. It happened after Panda and yes, it could happen again. Who are we to try to figure out a Google Algorthm change? As long as we continue to write quality hubs, do some sort of marketing, keep communications open between your readers and fellow hubbers, it will all work out in the end.

The last thing I have to say on these Google/HubPages traffic swings/purges and dropping traffic is that I think Google is tweaking their systems. I think they are ferreting out the bad as best they can and unfortunately, even some of the good writers have got cought in the cross-fire for whatever reason. Could it be something related to their writing somewhere else - a blog - poor spelling? Not enough connection with their readers? Not enough words - or too many keywords? Short hubs? The list could go on and in and we could make ourselves crazy trying to figure it out. If you know you are a good writer just stick with it and I feel the rewards will come. You will figure out where you need to improve and make the necessary adjustments. If you know that what you write is lacking then work on it! And as for me, I always feel that I can better myself and my writing, There is never too much to learn and everyday I try to improve on what I have done, am doing and plan to do. Right now I am about to tackle writing summaries for all my hubs - which is going to be a bit of work for me - but if HP says it's helpful - then I am going to do this too.

Good luck hubbers! We will ride this out together!

(Dorsi Diaz is a freelance writer/publisher, photographer and artist. She writes on a variety of topics)