Finding Fault with Triond

Triond is a popular online publishing platform. Users can write just about anything and their writing can be just about any caliber. Therefore, when I say popular, I do not mean great. That is not to say that Triond does not have its upsides. However, the purpose of this article is to outline all of the faults of this publishing platform. We can save the good stuff for another, very short, article.

Triond fault #1: Pay structure

Triond pay is based on ad revenue only. The users’ share of ad revenue is not disclosed. The average “pay per click” is not disclosed. What types of articles pay better is not disclosed. This is highly uncommon for an online publishing platform. Most sites want to help users make more money because it means more money for them. Triond is a scrap yard in this way. Throw us what you have and we will pay you some of what we make from it. That is all there is to it.

A. No upfronts

Upfront payments are a small or large sum that online writers may be given in lieu of or in addition to ad revenue. Triond has never offered them. Online writers should consider it a must if a site pays poorly in the revenue department. The only reason this should be ignored is if you are not writing for money. If you want to write for the fun of it or publish something that other sites would not dream of publishing then Triond is your place.

Now, the major problem with Triond’s lack of upfront payment is not the poor ad revenue (though this is pretty lame), it is the fact that Triond wants first rights to everything you publish there. This is highway robbery. You have no chance of getting an upfront from any other site before publishing here. Other sites that offer only revenue, like Bukisa, only ask for usage rights, meaning you can publish at other sites both before and after publishing there. Triond minimizes your earnings in every way possible.

B. Constant glitches and inconsistent pay

Triond publishes your work on numerous sites that belong to them. Each site pays on a different scale. Triond does not explain this in any way. Users are left to figure this out in their first few months fumbling about the site. Furthermore, glitches and changes in revenue share happen so often that you virtually never know what you are going to get.

Triond fault #2: Articles/poetry/stories look like crappy billboards

One thing that is certain for me is that if I am browsing the web and I click on a site, which then allows two or more ads to pop up on the screen, making it impossible for me to see the text underneath, I am going to click away instantly. That is why I very rarely read anything on Triond (including my own work on the site, which is rare and has an obvious agenda). There are simply too many ads and they are not discreet in the slightest. Great publishing platforms and advertisers know that annoying your potential customer does not work. Tricking them into clicking is only going to piss them off.

Triond fault #3: Formatting

Triond formatting is as inconsistent as its pay scale. I have seen some great articles broken up into some very strange clumps, for lack of a better word. Not to mention the random errant ad that is not a pop up, but is actually “glued” over half of a paragraph.

Triond fault #4: Administrator/user relations or lack thereof

Getting answers from Triond regarding glitches, plagiarism, blatant disregard for the TOS, etc. is like pulling teeth. Their only method of communication is through email (good luck getting an answer) or through the hilariously named “getsatisfaction.” (I would give you links and addresses, but they are utterly worthless.) Other sites have great or at least good communications with their users. They are there to help you, help them. You write, both of you are paid. Working together seems like the right thing to do. Triond just wants your text so they can post it on their virtual billboards. If you expect them to tell you anything about pay scale, site changes, etc., you can go defecate in the proverbial hat.

Triond fault #5: Oh, the crap that gets through

Are you a plagiarist? Do you not know the difference between two, too and to? Do you think grammar is a cross between a hammer and a Grammy award? If you answered yes to the above questions then Triond is the site for you. You loosers [sic] can lol (gag) your way through hundreds of posts earning you 5 cents each or more!

I am sure there are many other faults to be found with Triond, but these are the ones that get on this writer’s nerves the most. I know some people just love Triond; we all have our own opinions, but there are certainly better sites out there. Even with the upsides to Triond (short article coming soon); there are just too many downsides to bother spending any serious time writing for the site.