How can I drive more readers to my stories?

[desirablygreen]

Hi all! I'm relatively new to Lit but LOVE writing about my personal, sexual experiences. Having others read and comment on my stories is like having that person in the room, watching when it happened. It is SUCH a turn on. Yet I'm not getting that many comments.

Any suggestions on how I can increase the visibility of my stories?

[PennLady]

Originally Posted by desirablygreen

Hi all! I'm relatively new to Lit but LOVE writing about my personal, sexual experiences. Having others read and comment on my stories is like having that person in the room, watching when it happened. It is SUCH a turn on. Yet I'm not getting that many comments.

Any suggestions on how I can increase the visibility of my stories?

You'll find that in general, you don't get a ton of comments compared to the views. A small -- very small -- percentage of readers vote on stories, and an even smaller percentage leave comments. Some authors get a lot of comments, but it seems to me those are pretty rare.

To get more visibility, I guess the first thing is to write more stories and build up a reader base, which is more easily done in some categories than others. Next, when you do post a story, you can put a link in the new stories sticky, at the top of the story feedback forum. A note at the beginning or end of the story thanking the readers and requesting comments might help. You can also, for specific stories start a thread in this story feedback forum and include a link to a story and ask for feedback or comments.

I'd also be specific as to whether you want comments on the story in terms of how much a reader enjoyed it, or feedback on how the story was written.

[lazyhobo]

Originally Posted by desirablygreen

Hi all! I'm relatively new to Lit but LOVE writing about my personal, sexual experiences. Having others read and comment on my stories is like having that person in the room, watching when it happened. It is SUCH a turn on. Yet I'm not getting that many comments.

Any suggestions on how I can increase the visibility of my stories?

Take a good look at PennLady's signature, see all those links? Link your stories to your profile, so random people in the forums can just click it if they feel bored / notice your stories and are curious.

You can also post a link in story feedback - story ads. Giving a link the the story so people know if it.

[PennLady]

Originally Posted by lazyhobo

Take a good look at PennLady's signature, see all those links? Link your stories to your profile, so random people in the forums can just click it if they feel bored / notice your stories and are curious.

You can also post a link in story feedback - story ads. Giving a link the the story so people know if it.

Good advice. I don't have sigs displayed, so I tend to forget about that as another way of garnering views.

[desirablygreen]

That's great advice, Penny. I'll give these a try. Thanks so much!

Originally Posted by PennLady

You'll find that in general, you don't get a ton of comments compared to the views. A small -- very small -- percentage of readers vote on stories, and an even smaller percentage leave comments. Some authors get a lot of comments, but it seems to me those are pretty rare.

To get more visibility, I guess the first thing is to write more stories and build up a reader base, which is more easily done in some categories than others. Next, when you do post a story, you can put a link in the new stories sticky, at the top of the story feedback forum. A note at the beginning or end of the story thanking the readers and requesting comments might help. You can also, for specific stories start a thread in this story feedback forum and include a link to a story and ask for feedback or comments.

I'd also be specific as to whether you want comments on the story in terms of how much a reader enjoyed it, or feedback on how the story was written.

[PennLady]

Originally Posted by desirablygreen

That's great advice, Penny. I'll give these a try. Thanks so much!

LOL You're welcome. I don't think anyone's called me "Penny" before.

[mike2010fc]

Ya I definitely concur about the links in your sig. Also try to remember which of your buddies is into which topic, and send them stories that might interest them as they get approved. If you have a popular thread in forums, you can add a reply there as well if it's related. I only got 1 comment on my first story, but 7000 people read it and like 50 people voted, and it got 4 favorites, which was pretty cool.

Does anybody know what a high number of views is these days, say in the first week?

Mike

[soflabbwlvr]

Originally Posted by mike2010fc

Ya I definitely concur about the links in your sig. Also try to remember which of your buddies is into which topic, and send them stories that might interest them as they get approved. If you have a popular thread in forums, you can add a reply there as well if it's related. I only got 1 comment on my first story, but 7000 people read it and like 50 people voted, and it got 4 favorites, which was pretty cool.

Does anybody know what a high number of views is these days, say in the first week?

Mike

It depends upon category. A high view count in say, Fetish, may not register in the top 100 of Loving Wives or Incest/Taboo.

[desirablygreen]

Well I'm honored to be the first ... even if I am wrong. haha

Originally Posted by PennLady

LOL You're welcome. I don't think anyone's called me "Penny" before.

[Hubs_in_hose]

If you are active on the boards and are generally not an ass and have a link to your stories in your sig, then you will get some new people to look at your work.

[YDB95]

My methods to date are:

1. Link to some of my own stories, especially the ones I'd like feedback on, in my sig-line. (This, oddly, has led to me getting more feedback on stories I don't have direct links too, but that's fine. It's easy enough for readers to find your other stories through a link to any one of them.)

2. Leave feedback on other stories you like. I say "stories you like" because positive feedback is of course going to engender more goodwill than even the most constructive and diplomatic of negative feedback; and if you like another writer's stories, there's a good chance s/he will also like yours. For my part, when I get comments of any type, I always check to see if the person leaving the feedback has any stories of his/her own to peruse; and I leave positive feedback of my own if I can do so honestly.

3. This is less immediately gratifying but perhaps most important: The more stories you post, the more loyal readers you'll get. The more people there are looking forward to your next story, the likelier you are to get feedback to that story.

[nicecthulhu]

Taking the advice I'd read from some others on these threads and entering a story into a contest seemed to bring forward some readers for me.
Asking for comments, votes and feedback might help get some criticism and praise.
Otherwise, I think the people above have given you some useful ideas.
Good luck!

[SevenSquared]

Originally Posted by Hubs_in_hose

If you are active on the boards and are generally not an ass and have a link to your stories in your sig, then you will get some new people to look at your work.

You could also buy yourself a couple of one-bombs too if you ever have a disagreement on the forums. Maybe that's what you meant by 'generally not an ass', but there are a lot of sensitive folk on these forums and chances are someone will take exception to something you say eventually.

[sethp]

I give away free used underwear to every thousandth reader. It works.

[desirablygreen]

Looks like I'm got some homework to do! Great feedback everybody. Thanks so much. Keep the helpful hints coming.

P.S. READ MY STORIES... haha (I'm learning)

http://www.literotica.com/s/lustful-inhibitions
http://www.literotica.com/s/primal-passion

[oggbashan]

Entering the themed contests such as Nude Day can help attract attention but some of it might be unwelcome.

The Nude Day Contest is now closed for new entries and we are waiting for the last day and the results.

The next themed contest is:

Summer Lovin'
themes: warm weather, summer activities, bikinis, etc.
starts: August 21
closes: September 6
winners announced: September 13

Edited to include: This is The Support Thread for the Summer Lovin' Contest.

[sethp]

Originally Posted by oggbashan

Entering the themed contests such as Nude Day can help attract attention but some of it might be unwelcome.

The Nude Day Contest is now closed for new entries and we are waiting for the last day and the results.

The next themed contest is:

Summer Lovin'
themes: warm weather, summer activities, bikinis, etc.
starts: August 21
closes: September 6
winners announced: September 13

Edited to include: This is The Support Thread for the Summer Lovin' Contest.

Great point. Especially the Halloween and Christmas ones. Those really drive your overall readership up.

[oggbashan]

Originally Posted by sethp

Great point. Especially the Halloween and Christmas ones. Those really drive your overall readership up.

I wrote a How-To about entering the themed Literotica contests...

[simpletimes]

Originally Posted by desirablygreen

Looks like I'm got some homework to do! Great feedback everybody. Thanks so much. Keep the helpful hints coming.

P.S. READ MY STORIES... haha (I'm learning)

http://www.literotica.com/s/lustful-inhibitions
http://www.literotica.com/s/primal-passion

There is also a new story board you can submit to, not sure how many actually go there.
Also join in on some of the other threads, it will get your sig line out here for many to see.

*going to check out your stories now*