Which platform's approach to promoting your fiction do you prefer?

[Eldoria]

Visibility vs. Recommendations vs. Rankings​

Visibility is a platform's approach to promoting fiction, focusing on showcasing the fiction and making it easy for readers to access it.

For example, promoting fiction through the latest updates and using searching, tags and genres to access fiction.

Recommendations is a platform's approach to promoting fiction using recommendation algorithms that link fiction to each other, either organically or artificially.

For example, promoting fiction through "You might like this fiction..." sections, typically displayed at the bottom of the fiction homepage. Or, it could also display paid fiction ads on other fiction pages.

Ranking is a platform's approach to promoting fiction through fiction rankings (usually measured by fiction engagement such as views, favorites, and bookmarks) by displaying a ranked list of the best fiction on the site's front page, which is updated regularly (usually daily).

For example, promoting the most popular fiction of the day on the site's front page. Or, it could also rank fiction based on genre categories, tags, and keywords.

 

[CanOfTuna]

I must say I used to find novels on NU by searching by rankings

 

[FRWriter]

Speaking about SH, I dislike the trending system. It's pure randomness, and the algorithm isn't even clear. When my story sucked and barely anyone read it, I managed to land on the number one spot multiple times!

After that, whatever I did, I barely trended, despite reaching 5k views on an especially good day.

What I really LOVE about SH, though, is the Fandom system, as well as the tag rankings. It's so awesome to click on a specific tag and then see the most popular stories featuring it. Gives you a real goal to aim for and rewards people who stick with a story.

This is why I voted for Visibility and Ranking.

I hate Recommendations... the whole Shoutout and Review swap system on RR has thoroughly tainted the word for me.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Speaking about SH, I dislike the trending system. It's pure randomness, and the algorithm isn't even clear.

By design so writers can't game the system. There are a lot of theories (mostly that it involves comments, "Favorites," and number of reads - and some of these are weighted differently, based on how long it has been in Trending).

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

I dislike the Latest Series section. It's unfair and I have posted so many stories here never once has any of my stories appear on the Latest Section. The ones appearing get instant exposure, I think this is random.

 

[Envylope]

I dislike the Latest Series section. It's unfair and I have posted so many stories here never once has any of my stories appear on the Latest Section. The ones appearing get instant exposure, I think this is random.

It is unlucky. So many stories get approved at once, and some are pushed to the next page.

 

[Eldoria]

I dislike the Latest Series section. It's unfair and I have posted so many stories here never once has any of my stories appear on the Latest Section. The ones appearing get instant exposure, I think this is random.

Better to have than not have... the latest series feature is still an excellent feature that makes SH relatively friendly to new fiction compared to other platforms.

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

Better to have than not have... the latest series feature is still an excellent feature that makes SH relatively friendly to new fiction compared to other platforms.

Just saying not all new Fictions appear on the Latest section. But yeah, those that appear have a good chance of getting exposure.

It is unlucky. So many stories get approved at once, and some are pushed to the next page.

I have been subjected to this every time I published one ?

 

[Eldoria]

Just saying not all new Fictions appear on the Latest section. But yeah, those that appear have a good chance of getting exposure.

I have been subjected to this every time I published one ?

As @Envylope explained, this happens because new series are piling up on an unlucky day.

I might be luckier, as three of my four fictions were published in the latest series. The solution?

You should choose a relatively quiet release date. Avoid releasing new fiction on a busy day, when SH traffic is high. Chances are, many new fictions will be released on that date.

Release new fiction on a quiet date.

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

As @Envylope explained, this happens because new series are piling up on an unlucky day.

I might be luckier, as three of my four fictions were published in the latest series. The solution?

You should choose a relatively quiet release date. Avoid releasing new fiction on a busy day, when SH traffic is high. Chances are, many new fictions will be released on that date.

Release new fiction on a quiet date.

Got it, sensei!

 

[Firestorm22345]

Visibility is my best choice to promote my faction

 

[Omarfaruq]

Just saying not all new Fictions appear on the Latest section. But yeah, those that appear have a good chance of getting exposure.

I have been subjected to this every time I published one ?

Don't feel bad sis. It's that the latest series section is afraid of your novels, if it appears on the latest series section then the other series won't get any attention.

It is unlucky. So many stories get approved at once, and some are pushed to the next page.

Shifu you really are experienced.

 

[FRWriter]

I dislike the Latest Series section. It's unfair, and I have posted so many stories here, never once have any of my stories appeared on the Latest Section. The ones appearing get instant exposure, I think this is random.

If you really are desperate for exposure you might as well create and delete your story until it finally lands there. If you are just starting out there are no consequences. There needs to be a better system, such as rotating all stories on the list every hour or so, rather than removing them every day.

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

There needs to be a better system, such as rotating all stories on the list every hour or so, rather than removing them every day.

Agreed.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I'm in favor of any system that does the promotion for me.
Most effective one I've found so far, was telling mom.