[relledge]

The default sorting order within categories has been slightly modified. Here are the details of determining listing order.

AGE = defined as the number of days a listing has been listed on HotScripts.com

OUTOFDATE = defined as the number of days since last update of listing


1) Points = 0

2) If AGE < 15, Points = Points + (2000 / AGE) --- this gives new listings two weeks of bonus points to enhance their order. Each day, their bonus points drops until 2 weeks has passed, at which time there are no bonus points given.

3) If OUTOFDATE > 180, Points = Points + (180 - OUTOFDATE) -- this peanlizes listings which haven't been updated in 6 months. The purpose of this is to encourage people to keep their listing information up to date.

4) Points are next added/deducted for valid member reviews based on the following scale:

If Review = 5 stars ---- POINTS = POINTS + 6
If Review = 4 stars ---- POINTS = POINTS + 3
If Review = 3 stars ---- POINTS = POINTS + 0
If Review = 2 stars ---- POINTS = POINTS - 3
If Review = 1 star ----- POINTS = POINTS - 6

5) Points are next added based on hits/downloads. To ensure equity between new and older listings, this is based on an average per day.

POINTS = POINTS + ((HITS + DOWNLOADS) / AGE)

6) Points are next added based on visitor votes. This is based on average per day.

POINTS = POINTS + ((# VOTES * RATING) / AGE)

7) Referral points are added next. These are havily weighed. If a listing was on HotScripts.com prior to 9/1/2003, we use 9/1/2003 as the starting date for the script, as that is the date we began the referral program.

POINTS = POINTS + ((REFERRALS / AGE) * 5)

8) Other points. We then add or deduct "other points" which are assigned a listing by HotScripts.com administrators. These points are generally deductions which are assigned when listings or listing partners appear to be manipulating the voting/review system.

POINTS = POINTS + OTHER POINTS


The higher the point total, the better the default listing position.

Of course, sponsored listings always appear at the top of each category or search results.

This information should prove helpful in enhancing your listing. We have added a new section to the MyAccount section of HotScripts.com which details your Referrals. Also, on the MyListings page, we now show you the sort order point total (determined from the method above) for each of your listings. And, we are in the process of adding a detailed information page to the sort order where you can see exactly where that sort order number comes from for each of your listings.


Please note that the default sort order is updated once per day, at 2:00 am Eastern.


Thanks!

[CodeHouse]

Well, whatever new system you're using, I don't think it's very fair. I actively bring in hits to hotscripts each week via my rating combo, which is located on almost every page of my site. And what you do is bury my listing #36477 at the end of the category, after listings which have been there longer and have fewer and lesser ratings. Please do the math. There is something wrong. Listing #36477 should not have a ranking of -974.316. I'm going to stop linking to your site if this continues. It does not pay for me to give you free advertising for nothing in return.

[Gridiron]

We are pleased to announce that the enhancements to HotScripts.com just keep coming! You will likely recall that just a few weeks ago, we introduced the new Premium Listings on HotScripts.com, which can be instantly purchased by logging in and clicking “Enhanced Listings”. We have now made it easier than ever for you to make your listings Sponsored. All Sponsored Listings appear at the top of the category and the search results, regardless of a visitor's preferred sorting order. There is simply no better way to drive traffic to your site from your HotScripts.com listing than to make it a Sponsored Listing in its category. To make your listing Sponsored, simply log into HotScripts.com and click Enhanced Listings. Follow a few simple steps and your listing will become Sponsored in your category!

Other reasons to become a Sponsored Listing include:

1) You can display an 80x60 image promoting your listing. This helps draw attention to it.

2) Just like Premium Listings, your listing will appear in yellow which, again, helps capture the visitor's attention.

3) Just like Premium Listings, you can include up to three screen shots in your listing, accompanied by text that you supply.

4) Your listing will have a “SPONSORED” icon appear by it.

5) We only allow a maximum of eight (8) sponsored listings in each category, so you are guaranteed first page placement in your category.

6) Though HotScripts.com's policy is to allow a listing to only appear in one category, we do allow your listing in multiple categories as long as it is sponsored in each category it appears in.

Prices for Sponsored Listings vary based on the category it is in. You can check pricing by going to the Enhanced Listings section while logged into your account. We allow payment methods of monthly, quarterly, and annually for Sponsored Listings, with a generous discount for quarterly and annual payment terms.

Yet another reason to enhance your listing, be it sponsored or premium, is that effective May 1, 2005, HotScripts.com will be modifying its default sorting method. If your listing is deemed commercial, based on its licensing information, it will be placed behind all free listings unless it is a Premium or Sponsored Listing. Once this new sorting method is in place, Premium Listings will maintain their current position, based on the current sorting algorithm. Of course, Sponsored Listings will always be at the front of the line.

It is important to remember that any script which does not list its licensing information will also appear at the end of the results. Additionally, any listing which is reported for improperly listing its licensing requirements will be investigated by our staff. Should we determine that the licensing information is listed inaccurately, to bypass the default sorting method, we will remove the listing permanently from HotScripts.com. As such, it is important that you accurately list all licensing requirements for your resource listed on HotScripts.com.

We deem any listing to be commercial if the user has to pay at any time for any version of the listing. Thus, if you offer a stripped-down free version and a full-feature pay version of your listing, it is a commercial listing. Likewise, if you offer a free trial period after which a user must pay to continue utilizing it, it is considered a commercial listing. Please note that HotScripts.com does not allow multiple listings for the same resource (unless they are Sponsored) – thus, you cannot list a free version and a pay version in two separate listings on HotScripts.com.

In the days to come, we will be providing a link to a FAQ which will explain everything in more detail.

Please note that if your listing is currently Sponsored and you have been paying through https://my.inetinteractive.com, you will no longer use that method for keeping your listing Sponsored. You will need to log in to HotScripts.com and set up your payment method for your listing through the Enhanced Listings section. Failure to do so will result in your listing not being Sponsored after the expiration date.

We thank you for listing on HotScripts.com, and hope that the continued enhancements to the site will prove beneficial to you.

See you on HotScripts!

Regards,

Your HotScripts.com Staff

[sean_]

Hi there,
Appreciate if someone can enlighten me on the sorting order.. mine is free & all this while on the first page just below the sponsored script..apart from any new listing.. suddenly drop to 3rd page.. most those in the front page now are either lowly rated & low hit .

My gained point is 150+.. mine is free...license under GPL

Appreciate if you can advise how the new sorting order works ?

[mvander]

those in the front page now are either lowly rated & low hit

I agree, I am noticing the very same thing.

Poorly rated, low hit scripts are appearing first in many categories, while popular scripts with high ratings and hits etc... are buried at then end.

[Gunner]

I dont understand this either. According to the above, my scripts should be ranked higher, yet scripts that have fewer hits and haven't been updated for over a year are ranked higher than mine...that doesn't make sense according to formula above! Is hotscripts going to do something about it. Like someone else said why should I link to hotscripts if there is no benefit for me?

[DieterW]

Originally Posted by Gunner

I dont understand this either. According to the above, my scripts should be ranked higher, yet scripts that have fewer hits and haven't been updated for over a year are ranked higher than mine...that doesn't make sense according to formula above!

Exactly this thing has happened to my listings too.
The default sorting order doesn't work!