What makes a reader click on your story?

[ScarletWeeb]

I recently uploaded 30 chapters in a week that I had previously posted on RR and garnered over 1400 views. This made me question why readers aren't clicking on my story, even though it appeared in the recently published section five times in one day. Could it be the title, the cover art, or the chapter names?

What do you typically consider before deciding to click on a story?

 

[Bartun]

I wish I knew

 

[RepresentingWrath]

On SH it's better to post 30 chapters in a month rather than a week. Also, forums are non-representative.

Answering your question. Genres and tags. I might click on a work because of a cover, but I won't read it if it's, for example, BL.

 

[Corty]

On SH, it usually goes like this, but please note that this is my subjective opinion:

Cover -> Synopsis -> Tags -> 1st chapter

Pass all four, and you have a reader. If they pass the first 5-10 chapters there is a high chance you will retain them too.

 

[Astrolust]

On my Star Wars fan fiction, it didn’t get a lot of views until I put a big busty woman with cleavage on it. I felt shame briefly but so many others do it too. ?‍

 

[Enkiari]

I sacrifice a goat for every click I get. It works - guaranteed!

 

[AncestorDuck]

I recently uploaded 30 chapters in a week that I had previously posted on RR and garnered over 1400 views. This made me question why readers aren't clicking on my story, even though it appeared in the recently published section five times in one day. Could it be the title, the cover art, or the chapter names?

What do you typically consider before deciding to click on a story?

Name?

 

[beast_regards]

That's a very good question...

 

[Indicterra]

Thirst trap of a novel cover

 

[Jemini]

Thirst trap of a novel cover

Used to work, but Tony worked in some kind of AI detection or something that punishes those now.

As for what actually does work, I think the title definitely plays a factor. I added a subtitle to my "Key to the Void" series for exactly that reason. Namely, the fact that it allowed me to work the word "Isekai" into my title.

Bottom line, you want a clever way to work in what amounts to the most attention-getting genre tags into your title in some way or another.

 

[LightNovelNovice]

I just have a target audience I *know* will look for my genre of story, and it just works

 

[Panthers426]

They read for the Kitty!

 

[Tempokai]

I read title, read synopsis and then read tags, if there are reviews and I'm conflicted then I read them. Novel cover is just a cherry on top, is ignored unless it's cool looking. I ignore the chapter names because why they would be any helpful in first impression, and glossary is no go whatsoever.

 

[Deleted member 84247]

I don't even read synopsis a lot of the time. I only read the tags after looking at the cover, and then I read the first chapter.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Posting repeatedly in the same day will get you flagged as spam so that's probably why less clicks. Most of time, views are based on the site audience, the cover, title, tags, 1st chapter, and synopsys in that order usually. I would suggest you check out some other sites like Ritoria, Tapas, and more to see of you can build an audience there as well.

 

[ScarletWeeb]

Name?

On Top of the Food Chain

 

[Rezcore]

Bottom line, you want a clever way to work in what amounts to the most attention-getting genre tags into your title in some way or another.

I read that in Michael Weston from Burn Notice voice... I should go rewatch that

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

I go Title>Tags>Genre>Reviews>Cover>Synopsis>Three chapter rule

 

[Lysander_Works]

Mostly the same for me. Title first, cover (though it does not sway me away if I've clicked on the book already), tags, synopsis. I don't usually start with chapter 1 though. I pick anything higher than chapter 4 and quickly skim random parts to see how it is written. If I'm not driven away then I'll start chapter 1 and read it.

 

[WinterTimeCrime]

I hope no one actually looks for stories like mine. But other than the 1% that do, the majority, 99%, stumble upon it with an 'I'll give a shot' mentality.