Hottest 100 voting opened this morning not with a whimper but a banger.

To kick it all off we spun last year’s number one, Flume’s ‘Never Be Like You’, before voting officially began at 8am. At 8:04 am we called the first person to get their top 10 in, Matt from Wanneroo in Western Australia.

Matt had his list ready to go, set his alarm to wake up and be ready for 5:00 am (AWST). His #1 song for the year was ‘Golden To Thrive’ by Samsaruh and he attributes his speediness to the fact that “a few of the artists started with the same letter, so I had to click less.”

Whether you spend all year lovingly and painstakingly curating your list or vote with your gut on the day or just for one song (y tho?!), there are literally no wrong answers. It’s just, like, your opinion, man.

But while you are taking your chance to have your say on what the best songs of the year were, there are certain rules that you can self-impose. Here are some of the ways our first voters have narrowed down their lists:

Have your list ready and avoid temptation.

Elijah from Windsor went into voting this year with a game plan: “I did my shortlist up beforehand and was like ‘Alright, I’m not gonna get enticed by all these other songs floating around on the website, just gonna get in and get it done.’” And so he did. Elijah, whose #1 was ‘Sweet’ by Brockhampton, didn’t browse the triple j presenter picks or have any second thoughts.

Hold off till the end of voting

☏ These people that have already voted...they're over achievers =( Alisha from Gippy)

☏ You've gotta be careful not to premature vote! I remember the year Matt Corby released 'Brother' right over New Years then it came in like top 3. Sally, Sydney

Pull all the stats from your various listening platforms

Our first voter Matt had his list all ready to go and had a stats based approach to it all. “I’m sort of an obsessive person with my listening,” says Matt, “so I just keep track of my iTunes and Last.fm and all things like that, so I know what songs I’ve been liking throughout the year.”

Make a mix of local and international

Matt also thought of the mix going into the vote, even though he did say “in the end it’s just what I like the most”. His top 10 featured a mix of local and international artists, with Gang Of Youths, Gretta Ray, and then Kendrick Lamar, Wolf Alice and Lil Uzi Vert. “I’ve never been strict with that obviously,” says Matt, “since I did vote for two Kendrick songs, but I do try to get a mix – so, get some Australians in there and then just different representations.”

Be aware of the freshness effect

☏ My rule for voting- can't let that newly discovered song bias creep into my top 10

Don’t include Like A Versions

Georgia also has another rule that she votes by: “I try and not include any Like A Versions”. But this year was different. “This year I’ve broken that rule,” says Georgia. “It was Paul Dempsey taking on Middle Kids.” So, you know, rules are made to be broken.

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No doubling up of artists

Georgia from Werribee voted for ‘Creature Comfort’ by Arcade Fire as her #1 but despite loving the rest of the album, limited herself to just one Arcade Fire track: “ I try not to have a double up on the artist.”

Keep a rolling list throughout the year

James from Moss Vale had created a playlist for the year, ‘Triple J Hottest 100 Long List 2017’, which he added to whenever he came across a potential top 10 track.

☏ 17hrs in the long list, wish me luck! James from Moss Vale

Do your research and know which tracks are eligible

☏ Boys I'm trying to vote here, but I can't find Daryl Braithwaite's The horses?!?! What the hell guys??

☏ Hottest 100 hotline Question: is Ben's Poppy's cover of Flume eligible?? Skex.

Choose the songs that sum up what an amazing year you’ve had

Jessie from North Sydney knew what her #1 would be as soon as she heard it: “I voted for Baker Boy ‘Marryuna’; as soon as I heard it the first time, when it first came on, I was like ‘This is the best song I’ve ever heard in my whole entire life’. Like, it’s the best. So dope. It just really sums up a great year for me, in music, in life, in everything.”

Dedicate your list to all of the unforgettable musical memories you’ve made throughout the year.

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Be like Jack and just choose 10 King Gizz songs

So, Jack from Narellan Vale, what’s your #1 track this year?

“‘Nucleur Fusion’ from King Gizz.”

Cool, what was #2?

“Just after that one I think was ‘Sleep Drifter’ by King Gizz.”

Nice. So, #1 and #2 were both King Gizz?

“Yeah. Couldn’t look past those, they’re good tracks, like, you have to vote for them.”

What was #3?

“’Lord Of Lighting’ also by King Gizz.”

Okay, so to save you some time, what did you have for #4 through to #10?

“Also all King Gizz.”

Just by voting, Jack, Matt, Jessie and everyone else who's got it in, goes into the running to win triple j’s Golden Ticket. You could end up walking away with a ticket to every triple j supported festival in 2018.

If you’ve got your votes ready to go or even if you want a bit of inspiration before committing, head here.