How the heck to market a story?

Status
Not open for further replies.

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
Everywhere I go across the internet, you can't advertise a fanfic. You can't promote. You're not allowed on the trending lists. You're penalized in the algorithm.

I follow every suggestion and marketing tip out there. I do daily drops. I have consistent 5 star reviews. I have nearly a million words. And I get 2-3 reads a chapter. How the heck do you do this thing and not get buried under junk?
 

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
 

Dieter

the Writer
Joined
Mar 15, 2021
Messages
358
Points
133
You can't earn from a derivative, which a fanfic is, but you're allowed to get on the trending list. There's almost always one fanfic on trendo.
The rating system means nothing on this site, everyone gets 5 stars and 1 stars, so don't think much of it.
The problem why you're not getting readers despite exposure from consistent uploads is because no one is looking to read Ranma fanfics.
 

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
You can't earn from a derivative, which a fanfic is, but you're allowed to get on the trending list. There's almost always one fanfic on trendo.
The rating system means nothing on this site, everyone gets 5 stars and 1 stars, so don't think much of it.
The problem why you're not getting readers despite exposure from consistent uploads is because no one is looking to read Ranma fanfics.
I'm not trying to earn. I'm trying to get people to f***ing read it. The story stands alone with no canon knowledge required whatsoever. "Have you tried writing a different 24-year project" is.... not exactly the most helpful advice.
 

Tyranomaster

Guy who writes stuff
Joined
Oct 5, 2022
Messages
746
Points
133
I'm not trying to earn. I'm trying to get people to f***ing read it. The story stands alone with no canon knowledge required whatsoever. "Have you tried writing a different 24-year project" is.... not exactly the most helpful advice.
Regardless of whether canon knowledge is required, this is a Ranma 1/2 fanfic, and many people have cursory knowledge of it. You have 50k views. 350-ish readers. You're probably already at market capture for people who are interested in it. If I had to say what would actually get you more views, it'd be rewriting the whole thing 50 Shades style to make it into not a fanfic. Then you'd have a broader appeal, as it stands, it's a fanfic, and that narrows, not expands, your audience. Boy stuck in a girl's body is a popular tag. The fact your description doesn't have them flipping back and forth between male and female, means it's barely even Ranma anymore, it removes the humor aspect from that series, so why even keep it as a fanfic at this point. Rename characters, add some details, boom, new series that doesn't alienate potential readers.
 

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
Regardless of whether canon knowledge is required, this is a Ranma 1/2 fanfic, and many people have cursory knowledge of it. You have 50k views. 350-ish readers. You're probably already at market capture for people who are interested in it. If I had to say what would actually get you more views, it'd be rewriting the whole thing 50 Shades style to make it into not a fanfic. Then you'd have a broader appeal, as it stands, it's a fanfic, and that narrows, not expands, your audience. Boy stuck in a girl's body is a popular tag. The fact your description doesn't have them flipping back and forth between male and female, means it's barely even Ranma anymore, it removes the humor aspect from that series, so why even keep it as a fanfic at this point. Rename characters, add some details, boom, new series that doesn't alienate potential readers.
Ah. So let me see if I get this right:
1. Make it suck.
2. Give up.
3. *Add some details.* On a 900,000 word epic that left canon behind in chapter 2 and has a cast of more than 50 original characters.

50k views means nothing with 100 chapters. Yay, I managed to tickle the fancy of Google's spider bot.
 

RepresentingWrath

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 7, 2020
Messages
13,556
Points
283
Wait, what? Your story is fairly popular, also is it finished? Anyway, if I had to say somehting, that would be inconsistent uploads, and the fact you upload too much. 6 chapters in one day is way too much. When I say inconsisten I mean that you upload one chapter in 1 day, but three chapters the next day. Web novels tend to grow the most when you have a somewhat slow, steady, and consistent update schedule.
 

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
Wait, what? Your story is fairly popular, also is it finished? Anyway, if I had to say somehting, that would be inconsistent uploads, and the fact you upload too much. 6 chapters in one day is way too much. When I say inconsisten I mean that you upload one chapter in 1 day, but three chapters the next day. Web novels tend to grow the most when you have a somewhat slow, steady, and consistent update schedule.
That was when I was catching the story up with other platforms. I do daily drops pretty consistently and I get crickets. 2-3 comments a chapter.
Wait, what? Your story is fairly popular, also is it finished? Anyway, if I had to say somehting, that would be inconsistent uploads, and the fact you upload too much. 6 chapters in one day is way too much. When I say inconsisten I mean that you upload one chapter in 1 day, but three chapters the next day. Web novels tend to grow the most when you have a somewhat slow, steady, and consistent update schedule.
I am getting ready to do a massive repost of the whole thing, from the beginning, with remastered content, and not break it up into multiple works. And I'm trying to maximize my chances of success, and getting massively frustrated with everyone telling me "well you're a fanfic so have you considered f**king off and dying?"
 

RepresentingWrath

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 7, 2020
Messages
13,556
Points
283
That was when I was catching the story up with other platforms. I do daily drops pretty consistently and I get crickets. 2-3 comments a chapter.

I am getting ready to do a massive repost of the whole thing, from the beginning, with remastered content, and not break it up into multiple works. And I'm trying to maximize my chances of success, and getting massively frustrated with everyone telling me "well you're a fanfic so have you considered f**king off and dying?"
Catching up is cool and stuff, but no one is going to read your work here, on SH, if you upload 100 chapters in two and a half weeks. That's how this site works. You are really lucky that you got such stats. Usually people get around 10 comments overall, across all 100 or so chapters, when they do it. Anyway, I'm not telling you this because it's fanfic, I'm telling you this because it's a novel on SH. If you want more, you have to slow down to a certain degree and let your readers slowly accumulate. This is simply how the site works, and there are no cheats or loopholes to it. Even popular authors can be greatly hurt by mass uploading on SH. WN(WebNovel) is different. This strategy might pay off there, but not here.
 

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
Catching up is cool and stuff, but no one is going to read your work here, on SH, if you upload 100 chapters in two and a half weeks. That's how this site works. You are really lucky that you got such stats. Usually people get around 10 comments overall, across all 100 or so chapters, when they do it. Anyway, I'm not telling you this because it's fanfic, I'm telling you this because it's a novel on SH. If you want more, you have to slow down to a certain degree and let your readers slowly accumulate. This is simply how the site works, and there are no cheats or loopholes to it. Even popular authors can be greatly hurt by mass uploading on SH. WN(WebNovel) is different. This strategy might pay off there, but not here.
Webnovel has been even worse. And they also actively make fanfic second class citizens, as does Royal Road, Inkitt and Neobook.

My plan for the repost is dropping 11 chapters on day one (Saturday, timed with the reboot of the Ranma 1/2 anime) to give people something to hook into, and then one new one every Tu/Th/Sat. And to not break the story up into three works, because Scribblehub's "this is a series" functionalty is so weak.
 

Ruti

Your toes are now forklift. Get licensed now!
Joined
Jan 5, 2022
Messages
289
Points
133
one of the most important things is, knowing a sites reading audience and community. Some things work here, but work horribly elsewhere. its fine to do a large post to catch up, but do it over the course of a few days (rather then 12 catch up chapters in a day, then 1 for the rest of the week, do 3 per day for the week)
people (atleast, I do) tend to be less likely to read immediately if a story suddenly goes up 12 chapters in a day, regardless of if it returns to 1 a day right after
 

Alski

Stray cat
Joined
Jan 10, 2021
Messages
1,399
Points
153

Tyranomaster

Guy who writes stuff
Joined
Oct 5, 2022
Messages
746
Points
133
Ah. So let me see if I get this right:
1. Make it suck.
2. Give up.
3. *Add some details.* On a 900,000 word epic that left canon behind in chapter 2 and has a cast of more than 50 original characters.

50k views means nothing with 100 chapters. Yay, I managed to tickle the fancy of Google's spider bot.
No one is 'entitled' to getting more readers and views. I stated that I believe you're at full market capture already. Outside of holding people at gunpoint to read your story, I think you're going to have trouble getting new readers (at least on scribblehub). My statement was that one of the most successful books of the 21st century started out as a twilight fanfiction, but was rewritten to appeal to a larger audience, and that's how it got so many views.

Many, many readers won't read a fanfic. Even more won't read a fanfic of a series they don't care about. Maybe the reboot of the anime will help your numbers, maybe it won't. Having written 900,000 words doesn't entitle you to suddenly having more people interested in your story. Sometimes you need to accurately assess the work you've done. It just is what it is. People spend their entire lives working on something they're passionate about and end up with nothing to show for it. You've got an audience already. You've proven the plot works. If you want a bigger audience, APPEAL TO A BIGGER AUDIENCE.
 

AnneOminous

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 31, 2023
Messages
80
Points
48
No one is 'entitled' to getting more readers and views. I stated that I believe you're at full market capture already. Outside of holding people at gunpoint to read your story, I think you're going to have trouble getting new readers (at least on scribblehub). My statement was that one of the most successful books of the 21st century started out as a twilight fanfiction, but was rewritten to appeal to a larger audience, and that's how it got so many views.

Many, many readers won't read a fanfic. Even more won't read a fanfic of a series they don't care about. Maybe the reboot of the anime will help your numbers, maybe it won't. Having written 900,000 words doesn't entitle you to suddenly having more people interested in your story. Sometimes you need to accurately assess the work you've done. It just is what it is. People spend their entire lives working on something they're passionate about and end up with nothing to show for it. You've got an audience already. You've proven the plot works. If you want a bigger audience, APPEAL TO A BIGGER AUDIENCE.
Sure. Let me go sprinkle in a bunch of vampire dicks. Apparently that's the secret.

My audience would fit on a bus.
 

Tyranomaster

Guy who writes stuff
Joined
Oct 5, 2022
Messages
746
Points
133
Sure. Let me go sprinkle in a bunch of vampire dicks. Apparently that's the secret.

My audience would fit on a bus.
I see, so your entitled and also vain. 350 readers for volume 1 puts you in the top percent of authors. People have written more than you for less. Even a packed bus in a third world country can't get 350 people on it. Take a moment to actually appreciate what you have.

Your audience is exactly the audience you signed up for when writing a fanfic of a semi-fringe show. Again, maybe the reboot will change that, but I don't know.

I also didn't say you needed to change the story and make it more sexual. The twilight fanfic was already sexual. Just rename characters from Ranma, and give them different descriptives, like change hair color, eye color etc. If you story already diverges heavily, then it doesn't change much.

Or you know, bang your head against the wall that people don't actually care that much about Ranma, but you desperately wish they did.
 

Representing_Tromba

Sleep deprived mess of an author begging for feedb
Joined
Jan 29, 2020
Messages
5,988
Points
233
Scribblehub shadow bans mass uploads to prevent bots. If you post more than 3 a day then the site flags you as spam. You can appeal it but that won't change the upload rulings. Most of the people here aren't telling you to change your story but rather that 350 is pretty good for SH and that may be your market cap for this site. Fanfics in general do better on Ao3, fanfic.net, and wattpad. There is a market here and other sites but they are significantly smaller.
 

ArlindoFrancisco

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 18, 2024
Messages
89
Points
48
Is it the case of a market cap? There are only so many people who are interested in it.
That is when you finish and try something different or make an original story with the things you learned from this project.
 

Tyranomaster

Guy who writes stuff
Joined
Oct 5, 2022
Messages
746
Points
133
To make an over the top comparison, say I made a really nice TV, and it was well priced. Then, I decide to shape the TV like Shrek's head. The TV works great, and even comes with all the Shrek movies preloaded in it. Sure, I'd get some people who are huge fans of the TV, and put it in their Shrek rooms. However, a vast majority of people just want a regular TV they can display in their living room. I'm then upset that people don't want to buy my better-than-average TV. People tell me that if I made it non-Shrek themed, it'd do better, but I don't want that. I want everyone to have a Shrek TV in their living room.

Edit: They even tell me I can keep the preloaded Shrek movies, they like that!

This is the situation we find ourselves in here.
 
Last edited:

John_Owl

Per aspera ad astra.
Joined
May 20, 2023
Messages
948
Points
133
Sure. Let me go sprinkle in a bunch of vampire dicks. Apparently that's the secret.

My audience would fit on a bus.
I understand frustration. I've been there myself. In a former life, I wrote clean, LotR-style fantasy (no smut, not romance, just adventure and action and a splash of comedy) and got MAYBE 2-3 views. 1-2 reads. 0 comments. I spent 5 years working on that daily. That is to say, 5 whole years dedicted every available moment to working on it. you have any idea how frustrating it is to spend literally every waking moment working on a single project and have nothing to show for it? And I do mean every waking moment. at work, I'd think and plan. on break, write down notes, at lunch, eat and type, go home and type some more.

So yeah, I get your frustration. but as has been said, you need to consider how many people like ranma 1/2, how many people like fanfics, and how many people like your writing style. make a venn diagram and that little section in the middle? That's your audience. and I'm not saying your writing style is bad. I don't know. I haven't read it. but each author has a style, just like each painter does. not everyone likes van gogh or da vinci, or rembrandt.

I know it sucks. I know it's frustrating. and I know it hurts. But the reality is that you limit yourself by calling it a ranma 1/2 fanfic. I LOVE ranma but i'm not a fan of fanfics. that said, if your story were original, I'd likely be more willing to read it, if it were "inspired by" ranma rather than a straight up fanfic.

You say you left canon behind in chapter 2. so why keep the fanfic tag? Why suffer under that banner? do you not have faith that your story could succeed without riding on the coattails of an existing title?

Finally, your uploading. Take advantage of the scheduled uploads SH offers. schedule maybe 2-3 a week, rather than a large dump that people have to slog through. My main stories aren't the most popular, but they are getting noticed. my key is that I planthe uploads carefully (if maybe a little playing dirty). My main uploads are AWLAYS on the same days at the same times. if I have an important announcement, I post it at any other time (helps increase exposure to a crowd that isn't on at my usual times). but most importantly, I plan each chapter to "take as long as a standard poop". the idea is that they can sit down and do their business while they read, then be done when they're ready to leave the toilet.

but in the end, you just sound bitter. you come here asking for advice then effectively shoot down and mock anyone that gives advice because it's not what you wanted to hear. so my advice? Take a step back. step back and consider if it's really worth it. consider what you want specifically. do you want to be noticed by more people? Then drop the fanfic tag and instead make it "inspired by" ranma 1/2. if you want a ranma fanfic, then give up your notion of being famed for your fanfic, because fanfic authors rarely if ever get major audiences.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top