How do I get more reads, votes, and comments?
If you find yourself asking that question, then I have some answers for you.
What can you do to reach out to readers and potential readers? How can you encourage readers to comment and vote? What are...
Yet another tactic I've seen is to dedicate the same chapter to a whole bunch of people. As each one of them gets a notification, they usually go to that chapter to thank the person, not only giving them a read but usually a vote in the process as well. There may be even more methods people are trying out that I haven't seen.
The appeal to those who choose to go this route is easy to understand. It gives quick results without having to do all the hard work necessary for success. But before someone decides to go down that path, they should consider the consequences.
All the people they've targeted are elated when they find out they've been followed or received a dedication by some stranger. Hey, that person really cares about me! Enough that they want to honor me. They might even be one of my silent readers! I'm making progress! People are noticing me!
And then they realize they've been unfollowed. Or their dedication has disappeared, replaced by another person's name. How do they feel then? Cheated. Used. And angry.
As more people are drawn to that person's profile, word spreads. People contact the new victims, not wanting them to be used like they were. Those who were reading because they wanted to be polite or show gratitude, stop reading. And because so many in the community are also active outside of Wattpad, it's possible the bad news could spread even further, following them to other sites, or if they decide to publish their stories.
At the end of the day, any advantage that was gained is hollow. Their numbers are an illusion, built up with trickery while true Wattpad success eludes them. All they've gotten to show for their efforts is a tremendous amount of bad feelings. This is not a way to gain a loyal following of readers. Nor is it a way to build friendships with others, the kind that bring you up and make you a better writer. Success based on cheating, only ends up hurting the cheater because it turns the community against them.
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In all the years I've been on Wattpad, I've never seen anyone achieve true Wattpad success by using tactics like these. Most of the authors I've encountered doing this are never able to grow as authors because their reputations have been damaged to the point where no one wants to have anything to do with them. In the end, they leave site because they find themselves isolated, pariahs in the community.
Don't make that mistake, and if you see someone else making it, let them know in a very polite way they're not doing themselves any favors.
Another aspect of the Wattpad community I see authors not understand - being an author means you are a brand. What do I mean by that? Everything you post publicly is visible to your followers, including your readers. If your readers see you get in a fight in the comments of your story, they'll be a lot less likely to comment. If they've posted a comment that says 'Please update', and then see you complaining that you hate it when readers ask for an update, they may be so upset they stop reading your story. If you're having a conversation with a friend on your profile that involves mature or obscene language, they may be turned off enough to unfollow you. If you're in the clubs constantly posting negative comments, your followers will perceive you as a negative person, and not someone they'll feel comfortable going out of their way to interact with.
I'm not saying never say what's on your mind. I'm just saying you should be aware that what you post in public may have an effect on how successful you are. This is something I've taken into account since my first days on Wattpad, and I know some of my success is due to the fact that I've maintained a positive spirit in spite how I might be feeling.
In the next chapter, I give specific details for how to find and engage with the community. I hope you're excited to get out there and start meeting people!
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Dedicated to nick former ambassador, Wattpad employee, and all around great guy. He runs several threads in the clubs to help people and provide useful information in addition to his duties at Wattpad. And he's a writer! I highly recommend his terrific guide, 'I Want To Be Famous'. It's a must read.
