Using HubPages Ad Program to Pay for My Web Hosting Costs
64Needless to say, there have been a lot of changes since the Google Panda update to the HubPages web site. One of those changes has been the development of the HubPages Ad Program. This Ad Program is an attempt by HubPages to change its business model and contact companies directly to advertise on its site thereby relying less on Google's AdSense. I have seen my AdSense revenue decline rather precipitously since the Panda update. I had been on pace to earn a Google check every other month. Now, I will be lucky to get one every five months.
HubPages Smackdown Got Me to Move
I don't want you to think that I am complaining, though. I am actually glad that the changes have occurred since they forced me to adapt and actually get out and develop my own site. In fact, I have just started a second site and am building up traffic to it as well. My first site was started almost immediately following the Panda Update. I started optionsdude.com at Weebly. The cost for the domain and one year's worth of hosting was $40 but Weebly does a 50/50 AdSense split much like HubPages. Setting up the site was reasonably easy. After a few months, however, I decided that I liked a blog format better than a static site with articles.
Started a Second Site
Then just this past 2 weeks, I started another personal finance blog. It took me about 6 hours on one of my days off. I bought the domain name, loaded WordPress onto my hosting account, got AdSense and Analytics set up and even wrote the first post. I ended up paying about $23 for the domain name and the first month's worth of hosting at hostgator.com. From now on, the hosting will cost just under $10 per month.
The plan is to use the earnings from the HubPages Ad Program to pay for the hosting. It is great since I am making about $10-$12 per month with the Ad Program. This will cover my hosting costs so that any AdSense money I make will be pure profit. I hope to be able to grow my 2 personal sites to make up for the loss of traffic at HubPages which is still declining although I am hoping that it is getting real close to the low.
The best thing about using Host Gator is that I can add another blog for simply the cost of the domain name. The hosting account I have allows for unlimited domain names. I have a few ideas and can set up several blogs now that I am getting an idea of how WordPress works. I am sure that the next time around, I can get a site up and running in much less than 6 hours. I plan on setting up at least one more blog by the end of the year.
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What Are Your Plans Following PandaLoading...
Are some of them still making $1200 per month. I know that there were quite a few who could make that much before Panda. But now, I have not heard of that much success. It might be possible if you have tons of traffic. I don't have that much so am building my own sites. In fact, my blogger blog made more AdSense than HubPages for me last month.
Every cent helps! Flag up!
You can't go wrong with having your own sites, or using WordPress. Well done on your decisions. HubPages should not be neglected though, as it's great to use HubPages hubs to link to articles you have on your own sites (if the article is related.) HubPages has a super community too. I've been receiving an Adsense cheque every month for the past 3 months now, these earnings being generated from my own sites.
I hate to write but I am so glad to hear this from people who know what they do in the computer world. I was devasted this morning when I saw my Google Adsense Account -- guess what -- £0.52. My views also keep going down. I don't know what to do. I keep backlinking like mad but to no avail. I left a note on the forum asking for help and one said that social backlinks do nothing for it. By now I don't know whether I am coming or going. I really put my heart and soul into it and wrote, I am sure, white good content hubs. Sorry to cry on your shoulder but I am really devasted. All that hard work for nothing.
It is a shame but I have a lot of work as well with 200 Hubs and earned about $3 last month with HubPages. Personally, I think it is time to move on and try to build up content on another site. You might just have to develop your own to make it work since the content farms have been smashed in the SERPs.
Thank you for your comment. Have you any good suggestions? I agreed with smashing content farms but to kick the honest writer in the teeth was not necessary. Let's face it we weren't overpaid before. If you have any good suggestions I would be greatful.
Interesting hub. Do you think HubPages intent to switch everyone to their own HubPages subdomain will be helpful in boosting revenues again?
I don't think that it can hurt. Unfortunately, my HubPages revenue is now below that of my own site which is 2 months old. I would advise getting your own site.
Thanks for your advice and opinion that's based upon your own experience. I greatly appreciate it.
Aman with a plan, and a good one! Thanks for sharing tips.
Hi Kidgas,
I've read some of your hubs and also on how much you earn with your 200 hubs. Seems you are not earning that much with your 200 hubs. I think it's on the topics you are writing about. I suggest you write on other topics, those are mostly searched by people online. Product reviews will also help increase your income both in adsense and in Amazon. Just my 2 cents. Goodluck! :-)
Nan Mynatt 11 months ago
I agree it is hard to earn money on hubpages. I don't know how some of the hubbers are making $1200 a month, just pure luck? M marked you up on this one.