How would you advertise your Story Hour?

[Tumakhunter]

So, how do people advertise their Stories? I've been writing Norannar for a little while, here, and no one seems too interested in it. I'd like to see more people reading it, and possibly commenting, so I can get some feedback. Any thoughts?

 

[pogre]

Howdy,

First, I think you should change the title to reflect the uniqueness of your world - I had no idea it was a steam technology world until the second post. The world has a lot of unusual twists - try to think up a couple word description to describe it and put it in the title.

Second, put it in your signature and read other peoples' story hours and comment on their work. People who read story hours are the most likely persons to read yours - aside from the folks in the campaign. It looks like your only posts have been to your own SH so far - nothing wrong with that, but see below.

Finally, assess why you are writing a story hour. Mine serves a few purposes for me:

1. It's a DM Log of our adventures;

2. It's inspires me to write complete adventures and paint figures and scenery to match.

3. If people I don't know enjoy reading it or getting ideas for miniature scenes that is truly gratifying, but it cannot be my main goal or I would run out of gas.

If your goal is to have tons of people read your story hour you may be quite frustrated. Even orthe well written story hours like yours only have about 25 people who check them. There are exceptions: PC and Sep - but they are the exceptions.

Your story hour definitely has things to offer - an unique world with alternate tech. Just keep at it - you audience will find you.

Take care,
pogre

 

[megamania]

As Pogre said. I wish I had better feedback but that is the way it goes. To make matters worse for me, I was unable to update for about a month which may have driven away the few readers I had. It's frustrating at the least.

However- are you doing this for yourself, to entertain others or get feedback?

I wanted to do this as an outlet for my creative juices involving a game world few keep up on. I do it for myself first, then to entertain second. I want feedback but have learned not to expect it.

I'll have to check out your Storyhour. Pogre brought up another good point. Read and comment on other Story Hours to get known. People recognize user names and associate things to them.

Keep smilin'

 

[pogre]

Check out the titles to Megamania's Story Hours - exactly what I was talking about.

 

[Enkhidu]

Short answer - what they said.

Long answer - I co-write the Small Beginnings story hour, and have been since last summer. Here's a few tricks I've learned:

*Read other people's story hours and comment in them from time to time. This has been said a number of times before, and I can't tell you how many readers have been brought to the SH because of it.

*Change you title to show that you've updated - this is a new trend in the forum, and one that I really like.

*Interact with the readers you do get, and publicize their story hours too. For example, Small Beginnings is going through a bit of a dry spell as I deal with my 7 week old newborn right now, so I would point you to Rel's Faded Glory II. Rel's one of our regular readers who writes a bit himself, and I recommend his when you can't get your new update fix from us. It doesn't get as much traffic as some other SHs, but its solid. Plus, his SH is set in Old One's campaign world - and he has a SH of his own.

*Make sure you link to your SH when you mention it by name. Lots of people tell you to put links in your sig, and you should, but try doing it in your posts too - not everyone keeps sigs turned on.

*Most importantly, stick with it! A loyal readership attracts new readers!

And remember to have fun!

 

[spyscribe]

Seconding the above, especially:

1. Post in the story hours you read written by other people. Feedback breeds.

2. Pimp your story hour in your sig.

3. Blatantly exploit your tenuous connections to well-known figures in the community.

4. Take comfort in your page view count. They can't all be you... right?

 

[Xiryc]

I would have to agree with everyone else who repsonded. The first one of these I read was PirateCat's, mainly because of his username. I found Sagiro's through there, and then I found (contact)'s through Sagiro's.

Also, post some stuff you made for your world in the House Rules forum. I found a couple good story hours from there.

 

[megamania]

I wouldn't worry about it much. Half way through the first message I stopped and put on The Rockoteer soundtrack and finished reading.

Keep it up.
As far as reading others...I don't read Piratecats simpily since I would be reading it for weeks and weeks before getting caught up.

 

[Nifft]

Mass unsolicited email with the subject "HOT U~N~D~E~R~A~G~E CO-ED CHEERLEADER SORRORITY CAUGHT ON BANNED CD!!!!!1! CLICK HERE FOR FREE V~I~A~G~R~A SAMPLE!!!!!1!"

... and the link leads to your story hour.

-- Nifft

 

[megamania]

that would work better than a sword+5