What do you do to get eyes on your work?

[LessThanAWord]

Apologies if this has been posted before, it seems like it would have been. Interested in how/where people are reaching new readers. So far I've mostly been content to post stories and come what may, but I'm feeling a little dissatisfied with the slow uptake and it takes a bit of the fun out of it when responses are a slow drip over several weeks. Do people advertise anywhere else? When/where did you start seeing a difference?

 

[Erozetta]

Some people post links to their stories on Twitter while tagging Lit to get more eyes on it. There's also a Lit Reddit board. Getting others to read your stories by posting on story feedback can help, as well. (I linked to one of yours in the recommended stories over there not too long ago, actually.)

 

[Rob_Royale]

Post more work. All of my stories get huge bumps in readership when I post a story. I get new readers that read the new one, sometimes follow me then bookmark a half a dozen additional stories.

 

[TheLobster]

I post in the "What have you posted recently?" thread in AH and the "New Story Advertisements" in Story Feedback forum.
I also have links to my story page and direct links 2-3 most recent stories in the signature.

I haven't advertised anywhere outside of Lit forum.

 

[LessThanAWord]

Some people post links to their stories on Twitter while tagging Lit to get more eyes on it. There's also a Lit Reddit board. Getting others to read your stories by posting on story feedback can help, as well. (I linked to one of yours in the recommended stories over there not too long ago, actually.)

No way that's so nice of you!

 

[Erozetta]

No way that's so nice of you!

Mrs. Bonkers. So good! Absolutely nothing I'm into and I still read every word fully engaged in the narrative.

 

[LessThanAWord]

Mrs. Bonkers. So good! Absolutely nothing I'm into and I still read every word fully engaged in the narrative.

Hahaha thank you <3 that story was conceived in a post-threesome haze. It's not really what I'm into either, but you have to follow an idea

 

[SimonDoom]

Some suggestions:

1. Include the link to your stories in your signature line (see my example below).
2. Post stories often. Every time you post, other stories, especially those in the same category, get a bump.
3. Stay engaged in this forum and be positive. People will check out your stories.
4. Post stories in popular categories, like Loving Wives, Incest, Mature. Your stories will get more views and attention.
5. Post stories in a range of categories. You will expose yourself to a broader range of readers.
6. Write the best stories you can. Write with clean grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Every little extra edge helps.
7. Enter stories in contests.

I have an X/Twitter page but I'm not sure it does much. I think your best bet is staying actively engaged here at Literotica.

 

[Erozetta]

Hahaha thank you <3 that story was conceived in a post-threesome haze. It's not really what I'm into either, but you have to follow an idea

That makes sense.

And absolutely follow the idea!

 

[THBGato]

Comment on stories you read. I'm fairly certain I've picked up some followers that way (wasn't my intent, but it was a happy side effect).

 

[LessThanAWord]

Some suggestions:

1. Include the link to your stories in your signature line (see my example below).
2. Post stories often. Every time you post, other stories, especially those in the same category, get a bump.
3. Stay engaged in this forum and be positive. People will check out your stories.
4. Post stories in popular categories, like Loving Wives, Incest, Mature. Your stories will get more views and attention.
5. Post stories in a range of categories. You will expose yourself to a broader range of readers.
6. Write the best stories you can. Write with clean grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Every little extra edge helps.
7. Enter stories in contests.

I have an X/Twitter page but I'm not sure it does much. I think your best bet is staying actively engaged here at Literotica.

I've got a bunch of stories that could go in Loving Wives but I think about some of the infamous hate that category endures and it always goes in Group Sex in the end.

 

[THBGato]

I think I've shared this before, but this is a very insightful and useful piece: https://literotica.com/s/passive-marketing-in-lit

 

[THBGato]

Oh, also, follow more people. Some writers out there will always follow back as it's their thing to support other writers: that's good, as often the way readers find new writers is via favourites lists. The more lists you are on...

But also, most writers are also readers. I can't speak for other writers, but anytime somebody follows me, I check their profile. If they are a writer, I will take a look at their stuff. If interests me, I'll follow back and probably leave a comment on stories I read.

But then, I mostly write in Lesbian Sex, and that seems to be a very supportive genre, with writers actively supporting and promoting each other. I don't know if that's the same in other genres.

 

[LessThanAWord]

Oh, also, follow more people. Some writers out there will always follow back as it's their thing to support other writers: that's good, as often the way readers find new writers is via favourites lists. The more lists you are on...

But also, most writers are also readers. I can't speak for other writers, but anytime somebody follows me, I check their profile. If they are a writer, I will take a look at their stuff. If interests me, I'll follow back and probably leave a comment on stories I read.

But then, I mostly write in Lesbian Sex, and that seems to be a very supportive genre, with writers actively supporting and promoting each other. I don't know if that's the same in other genres.

Reciprocity is good yes (I just followed you after reading Pygmalion 3.0, but don't feel any pressure - I feel like my tales are possibly outside of your tastes)! I need to be more vocal about what I read I think.

 

[THBGato]

Thanks! Yes, I should have said that I only really follow those who primarily write Lesbian erotica.

 

[LessThanAWord]

Thanks! Yes, I should have said that I only really follow those who primarily write Lesbian erotica.

It's easy enough to guess I'll enjoy reading yours!

 

[ElectricBlue]

When/where did you start seeing a difference?

After a dozen or so story/chapters, after a year or two. There are no instant rewards, you've got to be in it for the long haul. Write more stories.

 

[Cagivagurl]

My advice for what it's worth...
Try posting stories in different categories...
Not sure how many stories you've written, or where they're posted, but...
There are a couple of categories which get far more views than any other....
IT and LW, there are others I'm sure, but those categories get the most readers, commenters.
A story posted in LW, will get 20,000 views in the first 24 hours, and upwards of 30,000 in the first week.
I have never posted in IT, but I think the responses there are even higher...
Those categories may not be your thing, but if you want to grow numbers of readers. That's where you go...
I'm not sure being a member of the AH will get you many readers, it's a very small community, although I guess it all helps.
Others here have offered excellent advice. Post stories as often as you can, and there are good days to post and bad...
Stories posted on Mondays get the highest reader numbers. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays the lowest... (In my opinion) I don't have data to back up that statement. Is is an opinion only based on my experience.

Cagivagurl

 

[onehitwanda]

There's also a Lit Reddit board.

Oh wow. I just took a look and, my god, radioactive dumpster fire doesn't even come close.

 

[Erozetta]

Oh wow. I just took a look and, my god, radioactive dumpster fire doesn't even come close.

Lol. It's really not all that bad. Just stories and story links mostly, some looking for a story, some looking for recommendations, not much in the way of conversation but it happens here and there.

People are nicer there than here when that conversation does pop up, though. No one, that I've seen so far, has ever been rude or dismissed a question written by a writer or would-be writer there, and no one jumps in and derails the convo away from the question asked, it just gets asked and answered, often by multiple people who add on to previous answers without bickering over minor details or differences. All of that can be boring at times, but I wouldn't call it a dumpster fire.

But I also don't spend a ton of time there or click into anything but writing/author related questions, so it's entirely possible I've missed such dumpster fire interactions.

 

[LessThanAWord]

The first 3-4 stories I wrote, I posted on Reddit. I moved them here and stayed here after receiving a ton of abuse and demands for sex in my inbox, and being classed as a spam account and shadowbanned for absolutely no reason.

 

[Erozetta]

The first 3-4 stories I wrote, I posted on Reddit. I moved them here and stayed here after receiving a ton of abuse and demands for sex in my inbox, and being classed as a spam account and shadowbanned for absolutely no reason.

On the Lit subreddit? Or one of the other erotica reddits?

I've been posting on the erotica and eroticliterature subs since earlier this year (after a three year break 'cause I got some death threats... That was fun.) so far it hasn't been bad. No one has acted inappropriately and I've noticed those subs have new mods and rules in place from when I was last there. Haven't posted anything story wise on the Lit sub, though.

 

[LessThanAWord]

On the Lit subreddit? Or one of the other erotica reddits?

On a few erotica subs. If you haven't had DMs full of dick pics and increasingly angry demands for reciprocity, you're doing better than me

 

[Kumquatqueen]

Lol. It's really not all that bad. Just stories and story links mostly, some looking for a story, some looking for recommendations, not much in the way of conversation but it happens here and there.

People are nicer there than here when that conversation does pop up, though. No one, that I've seen so far, has ever been rude or dismissed a question written by a writer or would-be writer there, and no one jumps in and derails the convo away from the question asked, it just gets asked and answered, often by multiple people who add on to previous answers without bickering over minor details or differences. All of that can be boring at times, but I wouldn't call it a dumpster fire.

But I also don't spend a ton of time there or click into anything but writing/author related questions, so it's entirely possible I've missed such dumpster fire interactions.

Yeah, I just checked too, and figured anyone calling that a dumpster fire hasn't seen that much Reddit! Seemed remarkably civilised, even.

Unless there's a Reddit thread on Lit somewhere, which I could well imagine being like the Politics forum...

 

[StillStunned]

My approach to publicity is to just go on endlessly about my stories. I even created the whole WIWAW event just so I could talk about them even more.