High votes, but few reads...

[MrIllusion]

Hello,

Just wondering if I'm missing something as far as "publicity" goes. Some of my stories have gotten pretty good ratings, but relatively few reads when compared to other stories with similar or lower ratings.

Am I missing something, or some way of making my stories more easily found?

Thanks

 

[sr71plt]

There's so many variables going on in the story file that making comparisons like this isn't going to get you much of anywhere, I'm afraid.

 

[RejectReality]

Steady production is the key to gathering readers. The more often you put out new stories, the larger your readership grows. It's a combination of keeping your name in the heads of the readers who have already found you, and attracting the interest of new people.

Entering the themed contests can help, because contest stories get top-billing on the new story list, which catches more eyes. They also appear on the contest page for the entire duration of the contest, which gives them at least a little longer life than the average story.

As far as comparing stories, you absolutely cannot compare stories in different categories. The readerships are so different in size and temperament that any such comparison is a complete waste of time. Comparing your work to other stories in the same category has a little more relevance, but there are still a lot of factors that are beyond your control.

 

[Serafina1210]

There's so many variables going on in the story file that making comparisons like this isn't going to get you much of anywhere, I'm afraid.

But some examples may help.

1. A lurid title or description line can draw in more readers even though the story disappoints.

2. A strong story posted on a Tuesday may draw fewer readers than a weak one posted on a Friday.

3. A story posted on the 4th of July weekend (or some other holiday) may languish, however strong or weak it is (I know it for a fact!).

4. A story that happens to be posted on a day when many stories are posted may get fewer reads than one posted on a day when few are posted. This is pretty random.

5. Stories with lower ratings than yours may be by better known writers who have followings. These writers may also attract 1-bombers who drive their scores down artificially.

6. Oddball, apparently irrelevant stuff like story length can affect both the number of viewings and the ratings.

You should be happy if you're getting good scores OR lots of views OR plenty of favorites OR a decent number of appreciative comments.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Hello,

Just wondering if I'm missing something as far as "publicity" goes. Some of my stories have gotten pretty good ratings, but relatively few reads when compared to other stories with similar or lower ratings.

Am I missing something, or some way of making my stories more easily found?

Thanks

Always ignored is WRITE BETTER STORIES. No one ever recommends better wares.

 

[MrIllusion]

Hello,

Thanks for the comments and ideas, I'll keep some of them in mind.

JBJ, the point of my question was that while the readers who *do* read my stories like them, not so many seem to find them. While I always strive to write better stories, I was asking about how to get them read more widely.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Hello,

Thanks for the comments and ideas, I'll keep some of them in mind.

JBJ, the point of my question was that while the readers who *do* read my stories like them, not so many seem to find them. While I always strive to write better stories, I was asking about how to get them read more widely.

My guess is, the readers who 'like' your stories aren't recommending them to friends. Really good stories catch fire. All the drum beating in the world wont make a story better.

 

[lovecraft68]

A good rating, but low readership calls out category to me.

If that is the case then the only way to get those numbers up there is to either continue to post material in that category to become a "go to" author there or branch out into others and maybe those people will like one story and follow your others regardless of where they are.

 

[Serafina1210]

Browsing your list, the only stories I see (looking only at the recent ones) whose numbers would be disappointing to me are the "Midsummer Weekend" ones. I don't know how the numbers usually run in Exhibitionism and Voyeurism, but I think it's likely that the problem there is a colorless title and undescriptive descriptions.

A group of friends under the influence of Midsummer magic...

Our group of friends delve deeper and deeper into the magic

These don't tell me much about what to expect. Are you invoking A Midsummer Night's Dream with real magic, or is your magic figurative? And it's midsummer--promising maybe outdoor nudity? Who knows? What's the motivation to open the story and read?

I opened the first one--and liked it! But if I were browsing through a list of stories, trying to decide how to budget my time, I'd very likely pass it by.

 

[MSTarot]

I have one that has puzzled me. It's got nearly 50 comments 99% of them good. It's been Favorited almost 250 times since I posted it in march.

Yet the score struggles to keep a red "H"

Puzzling.

http://www.literotica.com/s/saturday-morning-cartoons


I've all but given up on trying to understand the voting, scoring, statistical numbers part of the site. It's beyond me. I'll just write what i want to wite and hope it's enjoyed.

Thant's about all you can hope for after all.

MST

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I have one that has puzzled me. It's got nearly 50 comments 99% of them good. It's been Favorited almost 250 times since I posted it in march.

Yet the score struggles to keep a red "H"

Puzzling.

http://www.literotica.com/s/saturday-morning-cartoons


I've all but given up on trying to understand the voting, scoring, statistical numbers part of the site. It's beyond me. I'll just write what i want to wite and hope it's enjoyed.

Thant's about all you can hope for after all.

MST

Its a common problem.

 

[sr71plt]

I have one that has puzzled me. It's got nearly 50 comments 99% of them good. It's been Favorited almost 250 times since I posted it in march.

Yet the score struggles to keep a red "H"

Puzzling.

That's classic grudge (against you or a single element in the story) voting. I have hundreds of stories here where the comments are glowing and the rates aren't, ones that, despite the rating, get story and author favorited to the point that I perpetually am at the top of the GM hub "popular authors" while GM writers around me are cleaning up on high ratings. But I'm usually at the top of the popular authors list because that stat is based only on comparable favorate voting and doesn't include negative grudge spoiler votes.

After a while you just shrug and let the zappers do all of that work and are happy with the readers who find and appreciate you without being fooled about what the rating system doesn't mean.

In your case, I haven't seen anything controversial from board activity, so that story must have had an element in it that ticks off a large enough group of zap voters here to be ignoring all other aspects and voting negative on that single element. Voters do such single-issue voting in national elections too, so it's not uncommon.

Each time I see a comment going off the deep end over a single element of an otherwise excellent story (like the argument over historical medical accuracy in the recent FAWC 5 story on the Civil War) I want to scream "majoring in the minors."

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

That's classic grudge (against you or a single element in the story) voting. I have hundreds of stories here where the comments are glowing and the rates aren't, ones that, despite the rating, get story and author favorited to the point that I perpetually am at the top of the GM hub "popular authors" while GM writers around me are cleaning up on high ratings. But I'm usually at the top of the popular authors list because that stat is based only on comparable favorate voting and doesn't include negative grudge spoiler votes.

After a while you just shrug and let the zappers do all of that work and are happy with the readers who find and appreciate you without being fooled about what the rating system doesn't mean.

In your case, I haven't seen anything controversial from board activity, so that story must have had an element in it that ticks off a large enough group of zap voters here to be ignoring all other aspects and voting negative on that single element. Voters do such single-issue voting in national elections too, so it's not uncommon.

Each time I see a comment going off the deep end over a single element of an otherwise excellent story (like the argument over historical medical accuracy in the recent FAWC 5 story on the Civil War) I want to scream "majoring in the minors."

OFFICIAL TRANSLATION: If I know squat about the subject accuracy doesn't matter.

 

[sr71plt]

The concept of "accuracy" is subjective, as you found out when your head was handed to you on your claim to accuracy in that particular instance, James.

 

[lovecraft68]

I have one that has puzzled me. It's got nearly 50 comments 99% of them good. It's been Favorited almost 250 times since I posted it in march.

Yet the score struggles to keep a red "H"

Puzzling.

http://www.literotica.com/s/saturday-morning-cartoons


I've all but given up on trying to understand the voting, scoring, statistical numbers part of the site. It's beyond me. I'll just write what i want to wite and hope it's enjoyed.

Thant's about all you can hope for after all.

MST

My opinion? The Title gives a bit of underage connotation. Obviously the story did not feature that, but people judge quickly here and most often without even readin the damn story.

That's just a theory of course, can't prove anything.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

According to the PILOT METHOD word definitions are machts nichts, too. Use whatever pops into your skull and make your tale the ultimate mystery.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

The concept of "accuracy" is subjective, as you found out when your head was handed to you on your claim to accuracy in that particular instance, James.

Please refresh my memory.

 

[sr71plt]

Notice how JBJ always trips off the issue into irrelevancy and nonsense real quick? There's a reason for that.

You could easily research how that came down yourself, James--it's all on the FAWC 5 thread. Not that it's in your interest to do so. As usual, JBJ, with you there's no there there.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Notice how JBJ always trips off the issue into irrelevancy and nonsense real quick? There's a reason for that.

You could easily research how that came down yourself, James--it's all on the FAWC 5 thread. Not that it's in your interest to do so. As usual, JBJ, with you there's no there there.

OFFICIAL TRANSLATION: PILOT has no idea and is talking outta his ass....again.

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

I read a couple of your stories just now, MrIllusion.

And I'm kinda a believer... You made me a believer that you are the real deal, more or less.

You're a pretty good writer, dude. A touch too slick and professional though, if I may say so. And I'm saying this because I'd like to see something from you that isn't coming out of the best psych school in NYC. You know, stop releasing all the ID/TRUTH like someone outta Lee Strasberg and show me some REAL card playing. Like, something still left up your sleeve. This is a writer's joint. There are some big bears here.

I hope you are taking this in the spirit it is being given - like the best jazz or rock guitar after 12 p.m. cut joint. I mean, I think you can show some stuff... Is that what you are trying to tell us. You've got it?

I'm a believer. I read enough in the two I saw.

What's your best?

Do we have your best game yet?

'D.'

 

[PayDay]

Always ignored is WRITE BETTER STORIES. No one ever recommends better wares.

Lies and slander I type this----^

 

[Hypoxia]

Am I missing something, or some way of making my stories more easily found?

A link in your .sig might help a little.

 

[lovecraft68]

I read a couple of your stories just now, MrIllusion.

And I'm kinda a believer... You made me a believer that you are the real deal, more or less.

You're a pretty good writer, dude. A touch too slick and professional though, if I may say so. And I'm saying this because I'd like to see something from you that isn't coming out of the best psych school in NYC. You know, stop releasing all the ID/TRUTH like someone outta Lee Strasberg and show me some REAL card playing. Like, something still left up your sleeve. This is a writer's joint. There are some big bears here.

I hope you are taking this in the spirit it is being given - like the best jazz or rock guitar after 12 p.m. cut joint. I mean, I think you can show some stuff... Is that what you are trying to tell us. You've got it?

I'm a believer. I read enough in the two I saw.

What's your best?

Do we have your best game yet?

'D.'

I like that "Have we seen your best game yet?"

I doubt I've seen my best game yet, or at least I hope not

My best came to date in my opinion isn't here, it couldn't be for many reasons.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Lies and slander I type this----^

All stories at LIT are 5's. The problem is Laurel hides most stories so her pets get all the reads. She's a fool for sensitive gay poets with cats stories, and those are what readers find first. If you write such tales your reads soar.

 

[LWulf]

I have one that has puzzled me. It's got nearly 50 comments 99% of them good. It's been Favorited almost 250 times since I posted it in march.

Yet the score struggles to keep a red "H"

Puzzling.

My naive, simple understanding of how the "Hot" system works is simply based on readership. Look at the threads. Does a thread go to "hot" because of people commenting? No. (It COULD but a person has to READ it first before they comment thus commentators are adding to the "reads") It gets hot because of number of people reading it.

Likewise, I believe, about 10-15 people per periodic measurement are required to read a story for it to maintain a "Hot" rating. The only question then becomes how often is the periodic measurement?

I'm not certain about this but it may be per week, maybe longer...