Is It Normal to Have Literally Zero Views on Day 1?

[AAHarris]

I just launched a story on ScribbleHub today, with five chapters uploaded over the course of the day, and I'm wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong. Some marketing trick that people do, or some other aspect I've missed.

As implied by the subject line, I have literally zero views according to the website. Is that normal? Is Sunday a bad day to upload? Do people not take a look at a story until it has a lot of chapters? What's going on, in the opinions of people who use this platform more? Is there something I should be doing to get traffic?

 

[Tyranomaster]

Stories get manually approved. May not be visible yet. Don't expect much though, <100 views in the first week often happens.

 

[Eldoria]

Can you provide a link to your novel?!

I observe, a quiet novel is usually caused by many factors including: (1) an unattractive and too stiff cover - I suggest you use a cover with anime/light novel style illustrations; (2) a convoluted synopsis that has no hook - make a synopsis that has a strong hook whether it is a unique story or something interesting that the story offers to the readers; (3) maybe your novel sank in the initial release because other popular novels were published that day - I suggest you re-release the novel at a less than prime time/ golden time to give exposure to attract early readers; (4) the prologue is too convoluted and has no hook for new readers, write a short, clear and interesting prologue, 800 - 1500 words is recommended.

But considering you said your novel has no readers then maybe the problem is not the prologue but more with the packaging of your story especially the cover of the novel which is often stiff and gives the impression of a textbook rather than fiction.

 

[DireBadger]

You forgot 4. The novel has not been released to the general public yet. There is a certain delay until the mods let a novel be seen, to make sure it doesn't violate any rules.
This time period is usually no longer than a day, or a weekend in rare cases.

 

[RennVoller]

Yes, it's not that strange. Participating in the forum is not a bad idea. New stories with only a few chapters often get ignored, and SH seems to have a less promotional algorithm than other platforms. I'm suffering from the same problem. No feedback, because no views.
Yes, it's not that strange. Participating in the forum is not a bad idea. New stories with only a few chapters often get ignored, and SH seems to have a less promotional algorithm than other platforms. I'm suffering from the same problem. No feedback, because no views.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Usually you get about four - the approver, yourself, yourself again, and someone else. If you're lucky, you get a few more within the first 24 hours.

 

[AAHarris]

Stories get manually approved. May not be visible yet. Don't expect much though, <100 views in the first week often happens.

Darn. I thought I had gotten it approved in advance. I had submitted my story to both ScribbleHub and Royal Road in advance of launch just to try and smooth things out. Had no idea of exactly what the process might be beyond that. I checked a little earlier and confirmed I have three views, which at least tells me the page is working for other people.

 

[DireBadger]

It is. Scribblehub is nowhere near as 'active' as RR, but you also don't have to worry about legions of insane SJW's (including the moderator) getting your story banned because your male protagonist isn't polite about getting his junk groped by a dude.

 

[frostednightfall]

I also just posted a new story. It's my first for Scribble.
Link :

A LIGHT BULB: You’re A Prisoner Of Your Own Mind

When you're a part of darkness, will you ever meet the light? Once you force yourself up to the light and forget how you lived your life, Are you even alive? A Psychological Horror on human behavior and adaptedness. *The entire premise is metaphorical*

www.scribblehub.com

 

[Anonjohn20]

I just launched a story on ScribbleHub today, with five chapters uploaded over the course of the day, and I'm wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong. Some marketing trick that people do, or some other aspect I've missed.

As implied by the subject line, I have literally zero views according to the website. Is that normal? Is Sunday a bad day to upload? Do people not take a look at a story until it has a lot of chapters? What's going on, in the opinions of people who use this platform more? Is there something I should be doing to get traffic?

Yes, it's normal. Some people haven't noticed it yet, some people won't start reading it until it has many chapters (it shows commitment, that you won't abandon it after a bad day), some people will wait for more reviews, ratings, and comments (they love interaction), etc.

Just write and they will come, eventually.

 

[DireBadger]

I also just posted a new story. It's my first for Scribble.
Link :

A LIGHT BULB: You’re A Prisoner Of Your Own Mind

When you're a part of darkness, will you ever meet the light? Once you force yourself up to the light and forget how you lived your life, Are you even alive? A Psychological Horror on human behavior and adaptedness. *The entire premise is metaphorical*

www.scribblehub.com

You know, it's one thing to have an advertisement for your work in your sig. That's a normal, expected part of conversations.

It's quite another to just dump an advertisement in a thread without even saying anything about the thread's content or response to another post.

In other words, it's F&cking rude.

 

[frostednightfall]

You know, it's one thing to have an advertisement for your work in your sig. That's a normal, expected part of conversations.

It's quite another to just dump an advertisement in a thread without even saying anything about the thread's content or response to another post.

In other words, it's F&cking rude.

I should have checked that I can post my stories in my own separate signature. I wasn't aware since I'm new here. Thank you for enlightening me.

 

[DireBadger]

I should have checked that I can post my stories in my own separate signature. I wasn't aware since I'm new here. Thank you for enlightening me.

Well, I figured you didn't know, that's why I just let you know it was rude instead of insulting you in return. Sometiems I am proud of my restraint :P

But you can still put your stories in your sig.

 

[OniKaniki]

i'm also new here, so good luck!

 

[goth_dropping_in]

I just launched a story on ScribbleHub today, with five chapters uploaded over the course of the day, and I'm wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong. Some marketing trick that people do, or some other aspect I've missed.

As implied by the subject line, I have literally zero views according to the website. Is that normal? Is Sunday a bad day to upload? Do people not take a look at a story until it has a lot of chapters? What's going on, in the opinions of people who use this platform more? Is there something I should be doing to get traffic?

In my opinion, your cover is weak (not the right genre of cover for scribblehub, anime art is more preferred) and your synopsis does little to separate your story from many other similar LitRPG Harem situations.

Reading your introductory chapter, it's dark and gives little hope of things getting better. Perhaps your work is simply not my genre, but the part of me that's interested in your story is interested in Tybalt eventually managing to redeem himself for his actions up till now; I don't want this guy to have a harem when he's mostly been killing innocent people up till now.

I could read on — your writing is technically sound, if with an occasional limping phrase — but it's hard for me to care when I don't even like your protagonist.

That said, it is always a tough row to hoe for new series. Best of luck, and I hope you find your audience.

 

[Xam_I_Am]

It is. Scribblehub is nowhere near as 'active' as RR, but you also don't have to worry about legions of insane SJW's (including the moderator) getting your story banned because your male protagonist isn't polite about getting his junk groped by a dude.

Or you accidentally alert mr John himself and he tells you that your book exceeds the no where mentioned in the tos 15% hard cap on sexual content. And he threatens to delete your book unless you fix it/censor it. Cause there's totally not thousands of books on RR that are just pure smut. Surely not.