Influential Relationships: Lessons from HubPages
Building a great product
When we started HubPages I had a belief. If we created a great product people would use it. I still think that's true. However, building a great product is only part of it. In an area as dynamic as ours it takes influential relationships to have the opportunity to be successful. Many of the influential relationships we have were built over several years of history.
Let me give three critical examples to how we've built influential relationships with partners, and media that shaped HubPages.
1. Before we launched HubPages we were able to convince Google to let us into the AdSense API program. This was the backbone of our revenue generating service for the first four years of HubPages. Without this agreement, we would have been operating in a dangerous ground outside of AdSense TOS.
2. The initial PR. Before HubPages was launched TechCrunch covered us. When we launched, they covered us again. I believe this PR is what jump started the HubPages community.
3. When we saw a recovery from Panda, we turned to the Wall Street Journal to get the word out. We wanted it known broadly that there was now more than hope of seeing HubPages recover.
How We Created Influential Relationships
I met Michael Arrington when he was COO of a company called Razorgator that was a secondary ticket seller to premium events. I was working for Microsoft after they acquired MongoMusic. Michael liked the story of how Mongo had been acquired. We became friends and stayed in touch over the years. Michael started TechCrunch. He was the only influential blogger I knew when we started.
I met Alan through my wife. Alan's wife and my wife were teachers at the same elementary school. Alan worked at Google. Alan and I crossed paths at Microsoft as well when we were evaluating paid search partners. Alan was the key contact to getting the AdSense API deal done.
Since starting HubPages I've met several influential writers. Most of these people we've met when there is major industry news, like the case with Google Panda. Once we meet someone, we try and stay in touch and to foster a relationship. Sometimes we can be a source for a story they are working on and we can quickly reach out to them when we have news as well. It was several months after meeting Amir that we reached out to him to cover the HubPages recovery of Panda.
The Key Lesson
The lesson I've learned is that the people we've developed a relationship with in the past can turn out to be the key influential relationship to our future. These friendships weren't created because of what I thought they could do for us, but they certainly have been helpful. We can all benefit by having more friends.
Comments
"The lesson I've learned is that the people we've developed a relationship with in the past can turn out to be the key influential relationship to our future"
Good point. Me too had similar experiences in my professional life.
Btw, don't forget to follow my hubs, who knows I may be the Google CEO after 10 years. Then you may remember that you read my boring, uninteresting and quite stupid hubs in Hubpages :-)
Another great hub Paul
I think it worked even better BECAUSE you had no immediate agenda when you cultivated the friendships--they just happened because you genuinely liked the people and liked and respected their work.
Consciously networking, "working the room" on the internet, via Twitter and Facebook, is a whole different story.
I'm glad you shared this one. This is how life should happen!
Thanks for sharing. Networking is what's all about, in just about everything.
Great hub and very true! Thanks, Kevin
This is so true, and as an introvert, I find that somewhat frustrating! I'd much rather hide away in my apartment- socializing and networking is exhausting! Nevertheless, I guess going out and meeting cool people is the way to go!
I agree with Paradise7 - it seems that these relationships came out of genuine interest in building a relationship, not just the hope of some material gain.
I've also had to learn to take the step to reach out to people I already have genuine connections with and ask for help - I think I have some fear of that cheapening the relationship, or making them think I was only in it because of ulterior motives.
Thank you for providing great examples of how to do this - I'm sure that these people were also glad that you reached out, and it lead to gains for both parties!
Great lessons. I agree that relationships are important and we certainly need them to go far. However, I also believe that there is nothing wrong with building a relationship with an agenda in mind. Why else would you just build a relationship? I think a healthy relationship is one that has mutual benefits even if they are not equal in value. Authenticity and honesty is paramount in building lasting relationships.
Refreshingly honest. Thanx.
HubPages is a great product with talented staff, well rounded writers and a good writing platform... but to be well established,you and your staff at HubPages are doing all the Networking and business relationship....and for that I salute you..... well done!!!
You can certainly never have too many! Sounds like a fair amount of synchronicity was on your side, too. When you discover the solution to thousands of brilliant people with daily brilliant thoughts with no immediate place to put them, success is yours. Thank you.
drbj 6 months ago
Networking with both influential business and social relationships, is the key to success for a business person, an entrepreneur and a job seeker. It was gratifying to read your endorsement of a technique I have preached to outplaced candidates for more than two decades. Thank you, Paul, for the affirmation.