Unique way of promoting your stories

[lc69hunter]

There is a writer, @BenLong, I do not think he ever posts up here, who actually dms everyone who has favorited one of his stories, or who has made a favorable comment on a story, or whom he has corresponded in the past, when he is about to publish a new story, giving a 30 second Cliff Notes version of what the story is about

I know that many writers do not want that interaction with readers, but it seems to work for him.

Several times we have discussed where he wants to take the next chapter and why. For me, it gives an insight as to how a writer thinks

 

[THBGato]

I think there's a few other writers who keep mailing lists and do the same...

 

[lovecraft68]

I 'spoke' with Ben a couple of months ago, great guy, but very busy with his job, I'm surprised he can keep up with this.

If someone sends private feedback with an e-mail I can reply to, I generally will do that, but it would be way too much work and time to respond to everyone that favs or comments.

Going further, many readers use a toss away e-mail address to set up an account here and most likely wouldn't see it anyway.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

When the OP mentions sending readers a DM, my first thought was that he was using the conversation feature in the forums and not sending e-mails.

 

[TheLobster]

When the OP mentions sending readers a DM, my first thought was that he was using the conversation feature in the forums and not sending e-mails.

Probably the DM feature of the site itself (Send Feedback), since you normally don't know the emails of your followers unless they've sent you feedback first and checked the box that their email should be shared with you.

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I'd guess he grabs their user ids and keeps a comma delimited list somewhere so he can just cut and paste. It's what I'd do if I were inclined to work that hard.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Probably the DM feature of the site itself (Send Feedback), since you normally don't know the emails of your followers unless they've sent you feedback first and checked the box that their email should be shared with you.

I understand that, but if I wanted to send more detailed feedback to you or another author that I knew subscribed to the forums, I would use the conversation feature here. That's what I have done in the past and had some very insightful conversations as a result.

The key is that they must subscribe to the forums and not every author or reader does.

 

[TheLobster]

The key is that they must subscribe to the forums and not every author or reader does.

Right, that’s the reason why forum DMs do not work as advertising channels to your followers, since most of them probably never visit the forums. I doubt you get any notification anywhere other than the forum itself when you get a forum DM, so it’d just get lost.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

Right, that’s the reason why forum DMs do not work as advertising channels to your followers, since most of them probably never visit the forums. I doubt you get any notification anywhere other than the forum itself when you get a forum DM, so it’d just get lost.

I agree, but someone who subscribes to the forums likely visits regularly and would see the notification. I wasn't advocating that forum DMs be used for promotion of stories, but they can be more effective regarding feedback conversations.