How can I promote my new story?

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

My first Literotica story was just posted. And I'm interested in the monthly competition. I gave the story what I felt were a compelling title and description. What more can/am I allowed to do to promote it to Literotica readers? (The title is "Resistance thwarted" -- assuming I'm allowed to cite that, here!)

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

Definitely always place links to your story onto your 'profile page.' That's one thing.

I'll read your story; so that's two things...

There's a few smart people around here who know how to promote stories - and I hope/trust they will chime in. I have no clue! Good titles do help I think, though.

Also - what category was your story published in? 'Non-Con...?' (I'm guessing).

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

Thanks!

My story's in Erotic Couplings. I'll post a link on my profile.

 

[KeithD]

The first thing you can do to promote your story is to show where to find it and identify its category in your initial post. It's here:

https://www.literotica.com/s/resistance-thwarted

There's a place on the board where you can announce new stories and give further background on them, if you wish. It's here:

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=181349&page=140

If you want and can take direct critique of your story on the discussion board, you can ask for feedback on it. That will increase the number of readers for it. You can ask for that here:

http://forum.literotica.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1

 

[SimonDoom]

My story's in Erotic Couplings. I'll post a link on my profile.

The best way to promote your stories is to keep writing stories and accumulate followers. That way, each time you publish a story it will show up in their activity lists. And definitely include a link to your submissions page in your profile, so people can easily find your stories.


Tooting one's own horn here can backfire, unfortunately, because there are some people who will bomb other people's stories with bad scores out of spite, to knock others down. But that shouldn't stop you from being an active participant in the Author's Hangout, where you can get some added exposure.

Some people, myself included, have Twitter accounts, but I'm not sure how much extra traffic they generate. My sense is, not much.

I have long thought that a great value-added feature for this site would be author blog pages. I don't think there's any prospect of it happening soon but it would be a great way for authors to promote what they do and connect with readers more successfully. There's nothing like this now.

When you publish a story, take care in how you select a title, a tagline, and story tags. Go to the tag page to see which tags are most popular.

 

[KeithD]

Tooting one's own horn here can backfire, unfortunately, because there are some people who will bomb other people's stories with bad scores out of spite, to knock others down. But that shouldn't stop you from being an active participant in the Author's Hangout, where you can get some added exposure.

Tooting your own horn constantly isn't just an "invited the trolls" issue. The discussion board is inhabited by a lot of Lit. authors who are, in essence, your competitors for attention. They'd like readers too. If you constantly push your nose in to promote your stories, to some extent you are pushing yourself into their light and they won't fully appreciate you doing so. just a natural response. To combat that if you're going to promote on the discussion board, you might want to promote the writing of others around you as well.

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

The first thing you can do to promote your story is to show where to find it and identify its category in your initial post. It's here:

https://www.literotica.com/s/resistance-thwarted

There's a place on the board where you can announce new stories and give further background on them, if you wish. It's here:

http://forum.literotica.com/showthread.php?t=181349&page=140

If you want and can take direct critique of your story on the discussion board, you can ask for feedback on it. That will increase the number of readers for it. You can ask for that here:

http://forum.literotica.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1

Thanks for the info!

 

[ChloeTzang]

Tooting your own horn constantly isn't just an "invited the trolls" issue. The discussion board is inhabited by a lot of Lit. authors who are, in essence, your competitors for attention. They'd like readers too. If you constantly push your nose in to promote your stories, to some extent you are pushing yourself into their light and they won't fully appreciate you doing so. just a natural response. To combat that if you're going to promote on the discussion board, you might want to promote the writing of others around you as well.

And enter stories in the story competitions too. That does get you more readers generally. The biggest thing is to keep writing new stories.

 

[KeithD]

And enter stories in the story competitions too. That does get you more readers generally. The biggest thing is to keep writing new stories.

Agree with both--especially the "keep them coming" advice. One of my accounts, despite not having posted a story for over a year, is perpetually at or near the top of the "popular" list in the major category in which it published. There are readers who will go to the category hubs and be swayed in their reading by that "most popular" listing. If you look at those listings, most of those listed are the ones who have kept the stories coming in the category. There are readers who will go to those authors regardless of the comparative quality of their stories. The most prolific author on Literotica--by miles--is one frequently dinged for quality of story. He's still at or near the top of the "popular authors" list on multiple category lists.

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

I appreciate the useful advice!

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

Good advice. Thanks!

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

Thanks! I appreciate your help!

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

I appreciate your counsel!

 

[SimonDoom]

Tooting your own horn constantly isn't just an "invited the trolls" issue. The discussion board is inhabited by a lot of Lit. authors who are, in essence, your competitors for attention. They'd like readers too. If you constantly push your nose in to promote your stories, to some extent you are pushing yourself into their light and they won't fully appreciate you doing so. just a natural response. To combat that if you're going to promote on the discussion board, you might want to promote the writing of others around you as well.

A good point. If you are going to contribute to the boards, the contributions should be meaningful rather than transparently designed to increase one's readers.

 

[Emirus]

A good point. If you are going to contribute to the boards, the contributions should be meaningful rather than transparently designed to increase one's readers.

If you refer to one of your stories it should be to illustrate the point you wish to make rather than in an attempt to get someone to read your story.

 

[TxRad]

The monthly competition went the way of the Dodo Bird several years ago. Nothing official was ever said but no winners have been announced since I can't remember when and the year end contest has also disappeared.

 

[RedBloodedAmericanMan]

The monthly competition went the way of the Dodo Bird several years ago. Nothing official was ever said but no winners have been announced since I can't remember when and the year end contest has also disappeared.

That's unfortunate. Thanks for telling me.

 

[WoolyWorm]

That's unfortunate. Thanks for telling me.

Well, you were never going to win any awards posting alt-right drivel masquerading as erotica anyway.

 

[rescatooor]

Another idea is of course finding your audience. And once you have found it, pandering to it.

I've been told that one reason I suffer from fewer views sometimes is that I am too experimental. Which means I've written to Lesbian, Voyeuristic/Exhibitionistic, First Time, Romance, Incest/Taboo, and I will still definitely try my hand in BDSM and Loving Wives. my latest story (not up yet) was technically Interracial but it ended up in Romance. And that costs me some. So if you want to steadily grow your audience, you should pick a sub-genre that fits you both. A faithful audience will help you get to your goal if you want to try win any of the contests.

Greetings from the one who has yet to win any competition.

 

[gordo12]

Well, you were never going to win any awards posting alt-right drivel masquerading as erotica anyway.

This isn't the place for messages like that. Take your comments to the political board.