How to Write Multiple Hubs From a One-Hub Idea Part 1

I live within ten miles of two of the largest gambling casinos in the world--Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Mashantucket, and Mohegan Sun, in Uncasville, both in Connecticut. I could write about both as an all-inclusive one-hud idea, or one of them. That would give me only one hub; or I could write about each one separately, which would give me two hubs. Instead of these scenarios, I decided to look at the various layers of each casino. After all, these huge enterprises weren't built in a day, but day by day from the bottom up like a triple-decker sandwich but on a much grander scale. Let's examine how to cultivate one hub into many using The Breakdown Method.

The Breakdown Method

Following are the various levels I've identified from visiting both casinos. My plan of attack is what I call identifying HP or Hub Potential. Below I've listed 18 potential hubs from what could have originally been only one.

1. The Sun was built on the site of an old power plant. The construction of any casino could be one hub by itself, but this one would include the story of razing everything that was there and cleaning the environment of all contaminants produced by the power station before building could even begin. All types of local, state and federal guidelines would have to be covered.

2. The story of preparing the site for Foxwoods is as dramatic as The Sun, but in a totally different way. This hub would include the stories of many families "selling out." Homesteads, farms, property and businesses that had been in families for years were sold for the all-mighty dollar. Some families lost, but many became richer than they had ever dreamed.

3. Some of the special aspects about each construction story would be the Indian contributions. The colors and Indian motifs clearly show the Indian influence inside and out. Indian artistry makes a huge presence everywhere you turn. Unknown artisans are now famous in their own right.

4. Besides gambling, there are restaurants, retail shops, nightclubs, kiosks, theaters, child-care facilities, employee-only gas stations, fire stations, museums and hotels just to name a few. Each one of these has a story to tell.

5. The security is made up of personnel in plain clothes, uniforms and the inevitable camers. They are everywhere. Both casinos have massive security measures in place with state of the technology.

6. The gaming attendents--all personnel--make up a United Nations of employees. Special gaming tables are identified for nonEnglish-speaking visitors.

7. The personal facilities (WC) are also state of the art. The toilets flush when you exit the booth, the water starts running when you pass your hand under the nozzle and the paper towels dispense when you wave your hand in front of the red light. Most rooms have attendants taking care of everything as it happens.

8. The sites, the sounds and the smells assault your senses from every angle. You can't experience everything there is in one day.

9. "People watching," a famed past-time everywhere these days, would provide a number of hubs. You have the winners, the loosers, the fashions and people watching people. Of special note are the senior citizens and handicapped visitors. The seniors, with trembling hands, feed in what looks like their last dollar hoping to hit it big--just once.

10. You wouldn't think parking would be fodder for a hub, but at these complexes it is. There's regular parking al fresco, parking in the multi-level garages (Piegon Holes for those that didn't know they had a name) and there's the complementary valet service that will park for you. You can go there by bus, limos, cabs and private services for hire--no parking required.

11. Than there're the services that most people never think about because they don't use them or they are behind the scenes. They include: coat check with wheelchairs and motorized carts for rent, a lost and found that is always full and medical staff round the clock. Administrative services for Players Cards, coupons and guest passes. ATMs and cashiers just waiting to help with your money needs. People handling all the office duties that keep the place running and e-mails landing in you laptop with freebies and come-ons whispering: "You can't win if you don't play. Customer service abounds. Little booths where you can go and give them the name of whomever you lost. They will announce the names and tell them where to go to be found.

12. The electronics are phenomenal. You'll become aware of them even before you arrive, especially on RT 2 to Foxwoods. Garage-size monitors flashing coming attractions and neon signs welcoming you to the world's largest casino. "Signs, signs, everywhere signs."

13. Both casinos own and operate other tourist attractions in various parts of this state and Rhode Island. They can offer you lovely packages at the Norwich Inn and Spa, famous the world over even before it was "acquired." Both casinos own golf courses for great out-door activities and Foxwoods owns many acres including a mountain for skiing.

14. The high ways and by ways that were built to accommodate the planned and realized influx of traffice are some of the best in the state. These roadways--used by thousands more than just gamers--were paid for by the Indians. I personaly watched the day-by-day building of these roads and was amazed at the speed with which they were built and how they did it with the least amount of interruption in everyday life.

15. Finances. It goes without saying. The money that moves in and out and around these complexes is astronomical! The impact on employment and now unemployment because of huge layoffs has had a unbelieveable impact on this state's economy for the good and for the bad. The millions of dollars these casinos dump into the state's cofers should have Connecticut in the black, but for some reason it isn't. Now there's a hub! People moved here to get a job so they sold a home somewhere or left an apartment. Now that the economy's bad and they have lost their job, many have lost their home here. Connecticut's real estate market has been greatly influenced by these resorts.

16. Many people that had an addiction had no chance to escape. Many gambled away their life savings, college tuitions, family homesteads, cars, boats, RV's, the food budget and more. Marriages have failed and families destroyed. There has been more than one suicide directly attributed to gambling problems.

17. The crime rate has risen because of gambling woes, mostly losses, and the influx of persons associated with the gaming business. There have been numerous cases of child neglect and child abandonment. Children have been found locked in cars in the parking lot while the parent(s) were in gambling. They have been found in rooms by maids; the parents down in the casinos gambling awa the kid's future.

18. Special holidays are celebrated in glorious style. As a veteran, I marched last year in Foxwoods' Veterans' Day parade. It was wonderful to participated and share in the pride of our service. A full Indian color guard and other Indian veterans in uniforms and plain clothes lead the parade.

The Breakdown Method not only allows you to close in on a more specific subject, it gives you more room to provide more details and practically guarantees you'll be able to write a more viable title for reader interest and SEO. The more specific your hub, the more chances it will get picked up on a search. There's too much competition to write in generalities.

The examples above are the layers I peeled back to reveal the HP (Hub Potential) of the one hub I started with. Like a master chef, peel back the layers like you peel and onion. You've probablly gotten the idea by now. The trick is to identify a subject that would make a good hub and look at it as though through a jeweler's loop, every subject an uncut gem. I know, that's stretching it a bit.

I will cover the Build-up Method in my next hub.

If I were to give one piece of advice it would be to look for the human element. Remember, you're readers are human and humans are emotional so they will always realize the greatest impact if you write for their senses. Whether you bring them to tears, set them off with riotious laughter or just make them think about something--you've written a good hub!