The Hot Content List: Dispelling The Myths
How can I get onto the hot content list? What do you do to get onto the hot content list? How is the hot content list chosen? My answer has always been for writers to keep doing what they are paid to do, and that is to keep writing. While the hot content list may increase views by ten percent or so, it has nothing to do with quality or popularity. Read on to see what I mean.
How can you get onto the hot content list?
Many young writers keep asking for my views on the hot content list while others ask for the secret to get onto the hot content list. I will briefly answer this question and hope to put a stop to the numerous questions that plague me on the same. How can one get onto the hot content list?
To be sincere, none of us knows the secret. I have only come across one writer who brags about being on the hot content list every day of the week. Perhaps he knows the secret but for the rest of us, unless Triond reveals the mechanics used, the hot content list shall remain nothing but a top level secret.
Believe you me when I say it took me more than a year to get onto the hot content list at a time when I never knew of its existence. I write this article on The Twenty Greatest Writers of all time which was actually my own opinion as to who I thought was the greatest among writers. A friend of mine alerted me of the article’s presence on the hot content list, and off I went in search of that list. I found it and wasn’t as impressed as I felt to make the list.
Could it be about…
1. Quality – Is the hot content list about quality? Of course not! Some of the articles on the hot content list are poorly structured, poorly written and with glaring grammatical errors that can’t be made by my six month old baby but the articles get there every single day of the week. Read those articles and you will understand what I mean. Some of them can be rightfully accused of urinating on the writing profession itself. To be sincere even some of my articles that have appeared on the list have left me wondering what it is that made them make the list!
2. Popularity – Is the hot content list about popularity? Of course not! If you think only the most popular articles make that list, you are mistaken. I have had articles on the hot content without as many as five views or comments. Some of those authors who enjoy the highest traffic like Nobert Soloria Bermosa have never been on the hot content list for a long time. I have written articles in the past that got more than a thousand views within a day or two but never had them on the hot content list.
3. Promotion – Is the hot content list about promotion of content? Let nobody cheat you. Promoting content online and offline will get you views and earn you money but not a spot on the hot content list. Promote all you can and get the views, get your content out there and have people read you, comment on your work or simply give you a like but then don’t expect your efforts to result into a spot on that list. It obviously doesn’t work that way.
4. Keywords – Probably you think it has something to do with key words and search engine placement. Let me assure you that it isn’t. Stop going after the yahoo search trends or the Google keyword tool, it might get you views, it might get you traffic and some good earnings but not a spot on the coveted hot content list.
5. Controversy – Perhaps you should stir up controversy or write something so appalling that it will get readers talking. Of course not, one of the writers who constantly appears on that list is an old girl known as Ruby Hawk who is shy of everything controversial and sticks to the conventional more often than not. This should tell you exactly what I want you to know. Controversy may earn you clicks, it may get you views and comments, but it is still not good enough to get you a spot on the hot content.
What should you do to get onto the hot content list?
What then should you do as a writer to get onto that list? Nothing! Instead of copying those on the list, instead of bashing them, instead of trying to write on the same issues they doodle on, instead of asking how to get onto that list, just do what you are paid to do. Write and keep writing. Some of the shit on the hot content list should not bother you at all, sometimes I don’t even look at it myself even though it adds me some two or three clicks. If this answer is not sufficient, ask the Triond owners, they know best!
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October 3rd, 2010 at 6:39 am
Very Insightful Stuff.
October 3rd, 2010 at 6:48 am
The hot content list is a virtuous act if it allows the writer to improve their article but becomes vicious if there are biased means of chosing those in the list. I haven’t been in the hot content list that I’m aware of so basically I’m not hot about writing to get to it. One proven technique for a few is to make some celebrity killing in a blog and admit your mistake later on. This is a controversial topic, Jimmy. As for Nobert’s examples, give the readers what they want and the views will just accumulate.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:07 am
wow
it looks really confusing but i guess its all about luck
i ‘ve been here at triond for more than a year still i’ve not had a single article yet in the hot content list..
i hope i have it soon one day
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:08 am
The hot content list works by popularity. Popularity of the Author. Not the Article itself. The more comments you receive, the more views you get all contribute to your ranking on the top Triond authors list. Take the example of Mnofdichotomy. The minute he writes an article, it gets placed on the Hot Content.
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:27 am
Thanks for another great info piece, Jimmy!! I don’t worry about the hot content list. If I make it there someday and it benefits me then I will consider it a bonus and will appreciate the kudos for all my hard work.
I do love YOUR style anyway, so keep on writing and accumulating views. And enjoy your hot content time too, you darn well deserve it!!
October 3rd, 2010 at 7:40 am
Thanks for the secrets Jimmy. Well done, thumbs up!
If one day you see me appearing in hot contents, could be another glitch from Triond. Till today, I still don’t know what’s going on, or you can say I just don’t want to bother, or don’t have the confidence so don’t bother or lazy to go about it.
It’s already a miracle for me to become a part-time “writer” suddenly, I’m happy and shall living happily ever after.
However, if one day I happen to be there and not a mulfunction of Triond, it will be a pleasant surprise for me.
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:03 am
Great share friend… Still remains a mystery..
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:17 am
hats off… no doubt you are a pro… good job!
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:19 am
very interesting
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
Very true. Writing should be a passionate experience rather than being a rat race to the hot content list. Hot or not, writing quality articles generates ultimate satisfaction, and thereby earnings too
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:22 am
Thanks for share . nice informative material !
October 3rd, 2010 at 9:38 am
hot content list is still a mystery
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:19 am
I think at one time the Hot Content list was more accurate. What is a real puzzle is the HOT USERS list or whatever its called, that thing use to be correct but now seems to have some random names mixed in to and apparently some names havent even got articles published!
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:23 am
Very nice article. I often wonder how some of those articles got there with such low quality. And I must agree with what you have said here.
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:27 am
The hell with the hot content lol… Ups sorry for my ‘H’
Well for me, earning more creates more sense 
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:27 am
Great article. I see the same names all the time. I have no idea how that works. I have like 1000 views myself of some articles and have only been on Hot content twice since I have been writing, but I don’t pay attention to that. no big deal. It’s usually those fake celebrity deaths that get up there
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:30 am
I agree Jimmie, Sometimes as I have said before, I think they put a bunch of writers names in the hat and pull a handful out. The hot list means very little. I get as many clicks and often more on articles that never make the hot list.I advise everyone to publish often and make many, many comments. That’s where you earn your money
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:46 am
nice work
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:05 am
oh, sorry Jimmy, you know I’m a poor reader, sometimes I read too fast and got the wrong idea, but at times when I sit down and read one more time, then I will think “OMG”… haha.
thanks for the compliment!
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:09 am
You are so correct the hot list is a big mystery like which came first the chicken or the egg virtual controvery
This is a winner
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:12 am
Nice Share
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:35 am
You are right my friend cheers
October 3rd, 2010 at 11:56 am
Very Good Share Jimmy. Precise.
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:13 pm
Thanks for the share. I am one of those newbies here. I hope I’ll be on the list soon.
October 3rd, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Interesting information.
October 3rd, 2010 at 1:04 pm
Another helpful topic. Though i have joined here 1 year back, but started writting regularly for last one month plus. Still trying to learn the chemistry to earn more. But right at this moment focusing on developing the writing skill. Thank you.
October 3rd, 2010 at 4:12 pm
I think the Hot Content list appealed to me more when I’d never been on it. I do remember the delight of first appearing there. Haven’t been there for ages now. As you say, rather than trying to work out the complexities of it, just get on and write!
October 3rd, 2010 at 8:49 pm
LOL, I hardly read any artciles there unless they are on a subject I am interested in. I am one of those people that titles like “hot list” don’t impress me.
October 3rd, 2010 at 10:18 pm
Interesting post. Let hot content list continues to be a mystery and we writers continue writing with our greatest effort. Thanks for sharing.
October 4th, 2010 at 2:22 am
Thanks for sharing your secrets Jimmy. lol.. Yeah we always do wonder how some of you make it to the hot content list so much..
October 4th, 2010 at 5:46 am
I wasn’t sharing the secrets. You should have read the article before commenting.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:28 am
I too was looking for ways to get into the hot content list, but left it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m now happy if I get views and comments from my friends. It’s a bit confusing when it comes to hot content list.
October 4th, 2010 at 6:46 am
You are right one should not bother too much on whether it makes it to the list rather should keep on writing
October 4th, 2010 at 7:50 am
I guess, it has to do with the new algorithm that was used. Nevertheless, I find those making it to the list deserving. hope I can make it there.
October 4th, 2010 at 4:59 pm
I was wondering about that list just the other day. I liked the article Karen Gross wrote but couldn’t figure out how anyone got on the list. Best to just keep writing as you say. Seems fair someone should tell us. I suppose we should ask them.
October 7th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Thanks for sharing. I only have one article published because I have been busy. But, I expect to posts lots of articles in the future. Jennifer, if she can ever settle down, plans on writing a lot more.
October 9th, 2010 at 4:37 am
Good article. I think it is the number of contents that opens the doors to hot content list.
December 14th, 2010 at 3:46 pm
The hot content list means diddly squat to me. I never even look at it anymore….