My First Year with Triond
On November 27th, 2008, I posted my best-selling Triond article. As that date fast approaches for 2009, I reflect on a year of writing and publishing with Triond.
A Year with Triond
On November 27th, 2008, I posted my best-selling Triond article. I didn’t know it was going to be my best seller. I had always pictured myself as the author of an epic fantasy, a pithy poem pointing out social exigencies, or even an article with a telling political statement: but no. None of these things graced my Triond charts. Instead, my “best seller” is a hasty article dashed off because I was tired, my eyes hurt and I desperately wanted to receive at least my basic fifty cents in my PayPal account.
Image via Wikipedia
Today, with 1,165 views during the past year, and earnings of $3.08 (USD), it is my most consistently viewed article.
It seems that November is a low point for me when it comes to writing. One year ago, my writing brought in precisely 50 cents–barely enough for a PayPal deposit. Today, my earnings for this month come to $1.21. While this is certainly not impressive, it represents something of an experiment. Although born primarily of an over-whelming schedule and fatigue rather than intent, it shows how Triond articles can continue to work for an author while that author is busy doing other things. Since this is my first post since November 1st, and I have had limited time to even read friend’s news, that tiny sum is entirely residual income.
Would those articles continue to earn if I did not continue posting? Possibly. Possibly not. Triond success (as has been noted elsewhere by more experienced writers than myself) rests on three things: articles which continue to earn month after month because the topic is appealing, cogent or useful; continual posting of new articles to keep up fresh readership and interest; and last, but certainly not least, reading and placing meaningful comments on articles written by others.
There have been a number of articles written about how to drive traffic to your articles. Triond offers connections to tools such as Stumble-upon, Facebook and Twitter. Occasionally, someone will come up with an idea for creating connections to content. Mnofdichotomy’s “Directory” is probably one of the latest of these in his article “Triond Roll Call 2″. Interestingly, there are only 37 responses to his article, out of the 150,000 he claims are registered members of Triond. I don’t think he’s in much danger of being over-whelmed with income from this article, despite his stated fears of negative feedback. It should be noted that when I inquired of the Triond staff, they replied that while Mnofdichotomy is a registered member of Triond, he is not a staff member. His “Roll Call” is a personal effort.
Registering for blogs, referral services, and so on, can be useful in locating traffic. However, I have found my best method to be looking through the Triond “recently published” or searching Triond for topics I enjoy, and then posting comments on articles I found to be outstanding. At least fifty percent of my friend list was created on this basis; the other fifty percent left a nice comment on something I wrote. Other readers include family members, co-workers, and random persons who just happen to need the information I have posted.
While it is true that even the best work will be dormant if not noticed, ultimately success lies in posting quality work on interesting, funny or useful topics. Beautiful things collected together can also be a best seller–as in the case of Joe Dorish’s Waterfall series.
What do I look for when I am reading? First, I check the friends who have consistently posted and replied to my articles–who just, incidentally, usually have articles I enjoy and/or find useful. My top three are: Ruby Hawk, B Nelson and PR Mace. They are closely followed by Annie Hintsala (who doesn’t write nearly enough–she is a very busy person), Ken Bultman, who is almost always good for a laugh–unless he has you dissolving in tears, Karen Gross, who has the cutest kittens, Aldrin A Wilding West (who used to be known as Buzz Lightale) for good space stuff, Milton H Peebles III’s lovely fairy houses, Atanacio (for when I need some gritty gloom), and Bitter Sweet (who hasn’t written anything since school started–probably for the same sort of reason that I haven’t written much).
My current friend list contains 132 people who post a wide variety of materials. I never lack for reading material when midnight insomnia comes calling these days.
The bottom line: Sure, make those connections; blog away. But write quality stuff, pay attention to what is popular, note what succeeds. Read articles by others, write good comments. If you need to say something cogent to the quality of the article that might be embarrassing to the author, send a message. Most folks appreciate a bit of privacy for spelling or factual errors. There is no substitute for good writing, reading, or courteous constructive criticism.
Image via Wikipedia
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November 22nd, 2009 at 11:46 am
Nicely written and a very interesting analysis.
November 22nd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Great for you.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
i too have been on just over a year, funny how time flies by so quickly good read,sandie x.
November 22nd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Ken cracks me up too!!!
thanks for the mention, indeed certain things get views no matter what, while others, not so much….
congrats on 1 year!
November 22nd, 2009 at 1:26 pm
You have hobnobbed with your friends through your article.But my name is conspicuously omitted.Nice article.Thanks for sharing.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Here\’s to your second year!
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:24 pm
An enjoyable article, Daisy. I hope your second year brings big rewards.
Christine
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Apologies to Southgate and the many others on my friend list that I did not mention. Christine Ramsay also frequently comments on my writing. Unfortunately, unless I wanted to do a roll call of 132 people (which would have gotten really boring really quick), I had to leave someone out.
November 22nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Thanks for hanging in there. Keep posting. I’ve never read a piece from Daisy I didn’t enjoy.
November 22nd, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Thanks for sharing your experience. Part of what keeps your articles widely & consistently viewed are:
1. Smart keywords
2. Great titles
3. Adding links from your past articles to your new publications
4. Adding links to your articles as much as you can because the more links the higher the article will show up in the Google search results.
Blessings.
Sincerely,
-Liane Schmidt.
November 22nd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I just hit my year mark too. It’s but a trip of peaks and valleys.
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:00 pm
Thank U for mentioning me. That helped perk me up. Even though I was already in a good mood.
I posted 6 articles the first day I was on Triond last November and one of those is my highest viewed article. It wasn’t one I expected to get viewed more than others.
Take Care, DreamSweet and Let Your Heart Shine
~ milty
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Congrats on your 1st year Daisy! Thanks for the mention about my waterfalls content which does OK. I know there are other topics that would do better but waterfalls really interest me as we have discussed. As old Will himself might say – second star to the right and on to the 2nd year!
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Hi Daisy,
Congrats on your first year, I am working on year two and next month will receive my second pay check. I like having a check in my hand. Keep it up ,it took me 18 months to get that first check and now I am getting one in 5 months. See you can make a little money. I am honored to be named as one of your favorite three Triond friends, thank you. I have to agree that Ruby and Ken are some of my favorites and of course I love to read your down to earth articles, and my favorite is a day in the life of Daisy. I miss you went you don’t have the time to write or comment but I surely understand how busy life can be, I have to same problem finding time. Take care and keep up the good work.
Read you later, Pam
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Daisy, Thanks for mentioning my name. You know you are one of my favorite writers. You always have something that is a joy to read. I also have some of my earlier efforts that bring in a little money. I’m afraid that I don’t reach out to bring in more traffic as I should. I don’t have any friends or family who read my work. (all busy people) and I list on very few sites. I depend on my Triond friends to keep the ball rolling and you all do a very good job. My thanks to you all. I miss your articles since you are back to school and your time is limited.
November 22nd, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Congratulation for your first year and hope years ahead will be better.
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:30 am
Well, it’s good to have you back and this is a well written article with a lot of common sense in it.
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:06 am
Thanks for sharing your views about this, very useful and I get some thoughtful advice..Great work!
November 23rd, 2009 at 7:17 am
Nice advice for a beginner. Thanks. I afraid that even the most beautiful poem is always going to be a tough sell, but it does feel good when you fist top the $0.50 mark. I’m in it for the money too.
Guess now I’ll have to go read more of your stuff. Just found you this morning.
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:57 am
Thanks for sharing your story.
November 24th, 2009 at 1:03 am
Congratulation for your first anniversary! Hope we can still read many of your works in the coming year. Thanks for sharing your experience.
November 24th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Thankyou for the enjoyable read, Triond is a great way to spend time, and it’s so nice reaching out to so many people of all walks of life. Congrats on being here a year.
November 25th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
Thanks for sharing and for being honest about your earnings.
December 11th, 2009 at 8:08 am
Very candid and insightful but not forgetting the values that we should carry as regular people into virtual relationships. You should write more often.
Keep it up
December 11th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Nice article. I thought it touched on important values as well.