Timing is everything: When to Publish a new Hub?
63Learning through mistakes
Timing, as they say, is everything. Therefore, as the annoyance at myself is beginning to subside I've decided to write this hub on when best to click on that 'publish now' button. This is because I've recently fallen foul of missing a couple of ideal publishing dates. One hub was for Halloween and the other for Bonfire Night. I'd done the work, nice photos and text, then for some reason forgot to 'publish'.
What a fool! What a fool! What a fool!
So it got me to thinking; how can I better plan my hubs? The answer was quite straight forward...PLAN! Secondly, since we're all hubbers here and I've seen some great sharing of thoughts and ideas, it is only fair that I try and make a positive contribution to this online community as well, therefore I thought I should write up my thoughts in hub format.
I will set out the outline of a plan format below, keeping it simple, and only including basic headings. It's mainly off-the-top-of-my-head stuff, so is open to interpretation, free for you to use as a guide, starting point for your own plan, or to inspire you to think, "I've got a better idea" - which is great, if you have.
I hope you do find something in this hub that is of use to you.
Learn from books? Yes, please!
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Developing a Simple Method
Often, it is the most simple things that can be the most effective. The table below is just that. Here are a couple of thoughts on how that table could work:
Column 1: This is where you put the main theme, an over arching subject header. For the example below, I have used Event/Festival/Celebration. If you can't think of a wide range of events etc, then try this link: A Calendar of British Holidays in the UK
2009 - 2011
Column 2: The Hub Topic is the name of each individual idea. There is nothing wrong with putting in ideas for hubs in these spaces. You don't have to do them. You might have lots of ideas, but only enough time to write up 3 or 4.
Column 3: Set yourself a date to complete writing your hub. Try and stick to it. You want it ready to go at the right time. If you build in a few days gap between completion and publishing, you can revisit and reflect on the content with a fresh pair of eyes.
Column 4: The final act, pressing the 'Publish' button. There is no exact science to this date setting, but obviously you need to build in at least a few days prior to any event, so as to maximise the traffic possibilities of people searching for the knowledge you have!
The dates I've used in the table are completely random, so don't pay much heed to them. Everybody will have an opinion on when best to publish, it really is down to your own discretion.
Simple Planning Method
Event / Festival / Celebration
| Hub Topic
| Hub Completion Date
| Hub 'Publish' Date
|
|---|---|---|---|
Christmas
| How to make roast potatoes
| 2011-11-30
| 2011-12-15
|
Best way to cook Turkey
| 2011-12-05
| 2011-12-17
| |
Make your own Christmas cards
| 2011-11-15
| 2011-11-30
| |
Halloween
| What to do with Pumpkins
| 2011-10-01
| 2011-11-24
|
Great Halloween Recipes
| 2011-10-07
| 2011-10-18
| |
Bonfire Night
| How to make Bonfire Toffee
| 2011-10-20
| 2011-10-25
|
Get stuck in!
Like I said, this is by no means a hub claiming to be a complete solution to planning.
What I am definitely saying is that, if you don't want to be a fool like me, missing opportunities that are staring you straight in the face, then PLAN. Make it your own way, copy mine, adapt it, use it, add to the idea, but PLAN, PLAN, PLAN.
Yours, with the whole hub community in mind.
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Some good thoughts. I am still a newbie and I am finding my Hubs are taking longer to get up than I would like, maybe this will help. Thanks!
Your example of the table is very useful. Thanks!
Very good ideas. I tend to struggle with timing my holiday hubs just right. I'll have to take your advice on my next holiday hub. :) Voted up!
Thank you for your comments guys and gals. I just need to start taking my own advice and planning ahead. Hope you all find it useful.
Spencer: You've made good suggestions here. Planning is important, especially with seasonal topics. On the other hand, I sometimes like things out of season because then excellent writing isn't lost in the sea of similarly-themed hubs! That works for me because I am usually somewhat aware of trends but rarely follow them. Good luck in putting your good intentions into effect!:-)
Hey stessily. I like your thinking there, and get your logic. I'm pretty poor at motivating myself...I admit to being naturally lazy...so planning works better for me. Following the plan is a whole different ball game though!! :-)
Excellent Hub! I have also missed deadlines, and using a table seems to be a good idea on how to stay on deadlines. It would also show me which subjects I tend to miss deadlines. It would show me which titles I am not so excited about.
Thanks Carolyn. You make a great point about how it shows you "which titles I'm not so excited about". I'd never thought of it like that, but I will now :-)
A great and useful hub!
I'll be taking your advice and start planning ahead.
Voted up and useful.
Thanks!
Thanks SanneL. I'm glad you think it's a useful hub. I've only just started to use it myself really. Shhh, don't tell anybody ;-)
Encouragement to carefully plan is always good--thanks.
Sometimes, responsibilities keep me from the best timing so I have to hub when I can, but when I am able to make and stick to a plan I am always more satisfied with the result.
Hey RTalloni, thanks for the comment. I too find that responsibilities keep me from the best timing for posting hubs, and I really should utilise planning techniques more, but still, I just do'em when I can :-) Like most of us I guess!
Perhaps I should try this, and stop procrastinating. I tend to write when I want and immediately publish, but also miss out on writing up some good ideas because I simply don't feel like it at the moment.
So true for me too, wilderness...which is one of the reasons I wrote this hub. Still need to practice what I preach I bit better though!! :-)
Like some of your other commenters I find I write when the mood takes me and then just post it. This was really helpful and got me thinking about devoting a specific time each week to draft out ideas so that I always have something on the go.
Thanks Daveybee. I'm glad you found it useful :-)
point2make Level 6 Commenter 6 months ago
A great hub Spencer! I have to admit that I don't give enough attention to the timing of my hubs. You certainly have given me something to think about. Thank-you, I voted this hub up......now I must go PLAN!!!