As our site is becoming more and more popular with authors and surfers alike, it doesn't take long for new stories to get shunted off our main page.

This system is fair to authors who submit new stories, but means once it happens, your story is less likely to get read by casual surfers who typically hit our main page first, or head to the first page of the category of their choice.

As an author, you obviously want as many people to view your stories as possible, to vote and comment on them, and send you feedback. How can you increase the visibility of your stories therefore? Here is a quick guide to hopefully point you in the right direction.

If anyone has any helpful suggestions, please feel free to add them to the following.


1. Promote your story or profile page (http://www.lushstories.com/username e.g. http://www.lushstories.com/Curious2c or http://www.lushstories.com/roccotool) on other sites / web pages you have.

This could include your own blogs, other web sites, myspace page, youtube page, other social networking sites etc.

If you don't have a blog, set one up! Start writing your own blog - see this excellent blogger article on blog promotion.

Recommended free blog hosts: blogger.com / wordpress.com / bloglines.com

Social Networking sites: Myspace.com / Facebook.com / Friendster.com / bebo.com / habbo.com - click here for a comprehensive list of social networking sites which suit your country / interests.

Free Webspace Sites: freewebs.com / geocities.yahoo.com

You could add story snippets to your blog / web sites, and a link to your lush pages to read more of the story. Or simply add a link to us.

You then need to promote your blog / myspace etc pages in as many places as you can.

2. Do you have any friends / colleagues who would be interested in reading your stories? Choose them wisely though (!) and email them a link. Of course if you want to get an objective view of what independent voters / surfers think, then it's best to avoid this technique, as it will bias results.

3. Other Forums - if you are active in other forums online, add a link to your lushstories.com profile page in your signature / profile area.

4. Article submissions - submit an article with a link to your lushstories.com profile page in it - this can be one of your stories, or another article you have written. there are thousands of article submission sites you can submit to.


If you know of any other useful ways to get more eyeballs on your stories and wish to help other authors, please add to this thread

I want to thank lush for posting this forum, I am new at writing and have found only the tip of the icefurg, so to speak. I will follw the guidelines set forth in the initial post here, and see where it takes me from there. I have only been writing since late November 2007, so I am in much need to learn the tricks of being viewed and voted on. I think I'm doing OK, so far, as one of the top ranked authors here on lush, there are now a few loyal readers of the tales I spin, and true stories I write about, but as you guys said, if you're not on the first page (which is sometimes for ony minutes) then the casual passer by probably won't get to see.

Agaion, thanks for the tips, I will try them. BTW, I love the site, it has been a blessing for me as a struggling newbie to the task.

Gerald

Im really impressed and grateful for the site, its quite therapeutic releasing ones fantasies, and being able to realise that (because Im such an uptight prig lol) that they arent dirty, or nasty, but just an expression of sexuality.

I hope to really sharpen my writing skills and my creativity here, and Im really glad to meet you all.

Thank you for the kind words freddy. We try and keep this place as open and helpful as possible

One of our top authors has been experimenting with podcasts recently and his story views have shot up - bravo Knightofpassion for your creativity!

Another way to increase views of your work is to read and comment on other members' stories. If someone reads my work and leaves a comment (with their username), I return the favour by visiting their profile to check out their writing. I've noticed a few authors do this. It's a great way to support each other, too.