Yes, Hub Pages is a social networking site, not a direct advertising site.
However, what I am advocating is not placing large advertisements on Hub Pages, but rather providing the Hub Pages community with solid information that they can use while giving those who like the content you provide a way to get more information.
Whether you are selling commercial goods, religion, politicians, ideas, or anything else…you are in fact selling when you communicate unless you are simply relating a store.
Hub Pages for Marketing Purposes
As those who run Hub Pages note, they don’t want their site used for marketing purposes ( by which I assume they mean commercial marketing / product sales / etc. ).
Purely promotional offers and Hubs designed only to promote other sites or businesses are not allowed. In particular, the following actions are likely to get your hubs flagged:
* linking repeatedly to the same site within a hub or across many hubs
* including links to a page that contains largely the same content as your hub
* linking to products or services unrelated to a Hub’s content
* including more than 2 links to any one domain
* short “teasers” with links to “read more” at another site
* including promotional links on content that is unoriginal (i.e. not exclusive to HubPages); promotional links can only be included on content that is exclusive to HubPages
* linking to the same domain in the body of the text AND in an RSS feedPlease note that promotional links are links that you have any interest in promoting (your blog, your Website, affiliate offers, etc.). Links to well-known Web resources which you don’t have any personal interest in (like Wikipedia, news sites, encyclopedias, open directories, etc.) are exempt from this limitation.
However, with that said, you certainly can promote your site and/or store via Hub Pages as long as you pay attention to the above rules _and_ provide real content that has value for people.
For example, if you sell parts for making something or finished products which people can make themselves, you could create a how to article showing people how to make something…and point people in the direction of your store (offering the needed tools) or an article on your site (containing a list of necessary tools or in depth information about them), or even an example of the finished product.
The main thing is not to be overly promotional ( I think that such is a bad marketing idea anywise…but perhaps I am overly critical of having people trying to sell me things. ), but to provide useful information along with links that support such information.
Create more than just selling hubs
If you enjoy writing, share other things as well!
As Hub Pages has a profile page, you can place a few links within it…and those who come across your content might decide to find out more about you…and visit the sites you link.
Done in this manner you don’t even need to provide links to what you sell. In fact, you could sell shoes and write about skydiving…and you would still get some traffic ( and a good backlink ) for your efforts.
Getting setup with Hub Pages
Be sure to use the "guide" link at the bottom of Hub Pages when you first get started as it will walk you through everything in a very nice manner. Normally I write up a guide…but they did such a good job that I don’t much see the point.
You might even make a little extra money without selling anything.