Content Generation
If you're like me, and coming up with ideas for articles is the least of your worries, then feel free to skip over this section. Your problem is more likely time management or promotion. For those of you having trouble coming up with that groundbreaking article, please read on.
Now, this is not to suggest that your experience on Triond should be one of catering to the majority. If you build a steady following writing prose/poetry or film reviews, for example, then by all means write about that. On the other hand, if you're willing to do a little research, you can delve into topics you didn't even know would interest you!
First all, be aware. As other users have said, pay attention to the "Hot Users" section and see what they are writing about. To get into that section your article has to be something original that will capture people's attention. (Don't forget a snazzy title as well.) Take a look at your interests--what are some interesting things about, say, stamp collecting, drag racing, baking, or even writing that you think people may want to know? Exploring your own interests first will also give people the idea that you've done your homework and you know what you're talking about. I've noticed that articles that seem to be thrown together some attention, but fade rather quickly.
Secondly, look into some new interests; or synthesize your current interests with something you're unfamiliar with. This can also help to produce original and thought-provoking content. Let's say you're into stamp collecting, but you're not that great with history--and perhaps you'd like to be. A little Google/Wikipedia search could help you track down some well known people who were secret stamp collectors. See? You've taken your specialty and given it an intriguing twist!
Finally, a little healthy competition never hurt anyone! If you're cruisin' Triond--and I suggest you do--and you come across an article to which you would like to respond, then that is another possibility. You don't simply have to comment, you can write an entire article as a response. Rememeber, however, that displaying maturity is the best way to be taken seriously.
Quality and Quantity
One of my major problems is quantity, which is connected to the next topic. Anyway, I like to think that I put a good deal of effort into writing my articles--editing them even after publication for clarity or the inclusion of additional information. When it comes to content writing in the form of advertising revenues, it is important to have both quantity and quality. In order to earn a decent part-time income from Triond, you're going to have to write a few to several articles per day that will accrue a great deal of views and comments.
Your articles are going to have to transcend time--meaning that they are relevant no matter when they are read. For instance, should I write an article about the upcoming election, the fervor would most likely get me a good number of views, but as the election passes and passions cool, fewer and fewer people are going to be interested in my predictions of said election--for obvious reasons. There's nothing wrong with writing sometime time-specific, but you must understand that that time will pass.
On the other hand, continuing to produce content keeps an interest going in your overall content. If someone reads an article you recently published, they will be more likely to go to your profile and read other articles that you've published in the past. The longer your articles sit around, the less likely your other content is to be viewed.
About editing, I believe it is important to keep your content up to date, possibly responding to new media resources or reader comments. For example, my article "How to Cope in an Interracial Relationship", is one that covers sensitive material. Thus, in order to ensure that my message was received as I intended it, I had to edit the first couple of sentences for clarity. In addition, as I mentioned in "How to be a Bad Fiction Writer", revision is your friend. It will also ensure you keep your content fresh and interesting.
Not to mention, if you think your content is killer, but for some reason people aren't reading, try changing your title to something a little more eye-catching. There's nothing wrong with that!
Time Management
If you're like me, constantly running around trying to get a million things done at once, then writing for Triond may serve as more of a hobby. To combat the lengthy intervals between articles, I find it quite useful to keep a notebook handy. It doesn't have to be anything special, just something in which you can jot down article ideas--or even write drafts to be copied online at a later date. In fact, this section of this article was written in a notebook during some down time.
I'm still working on that first dollar.