Enhancing The Longevity Of Our Work
More Observations And To Keep Our Work Being Read
Introduction
Last week I created a story about how to get on Vocal's Leaderboard but it was hit by a situation that happens with so many of our stories, after a few hours it drops off the lists and then doesn't get read again. The only way we usually get a bit of longevity from stories on the platform itself is if it gets a Top Story or a Challenge Placement and even that does not guarantee reads.
While hearts and comments get you on the Leaderboard, reads are what bring you in the money (although the bonuses for Leaderboard placements, Top Stories and Challenge places help).
This was the story:
So What Can We Do To Keep Getting Read?
Once someone has read a Vocal story and you get credited for it, that is it for read count/money. So if someone comes back to re-read your story it will not count as another read although they can always leave another comment to let you know that they have been back.
My challenges seem to get a lot of reads and comments although a Top Story placement helps because it brings in more Vocal Creators:
I think the only way to get story longevity on Vocal is if you get a story placed in resources, as you can see one of mine is on the front page of the tips and guides and that is in my top twenty most read stories and still gets reads most days, so people must dip into the resources:
My Top Ten Stories and the top seven were not Top Stories or Challenge Placements, the ones marked in yellow are my most read Top Stories.
By sharing your stories in places other than the Vocal Facebook groups you might benefit from long terlong-termso although my top stories have very few Vocal hearts they do get a lot of reads from non-Vocal readers. These are two articles I have published on the subject:
Conclusion
A lot of gaining longevity for your work is luck but you do need to publicise yourself, just publishing on Vocal does not give your story a long life.
Thank you for reading and I hope that this has given you a few ideas.
The music is "Long Time Coming" by The Delays
About the Creator
Mike Singleton 💜 Mikeydred
A Weaver of Tales and Poetry
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Comments (7)
Thank you so much for the info!
Oooo, the Resources. You're right, I'm sure many people, especially new writers would go there
It just depends on how hard one wishes to work to get the reads on their stories.
Points well taken, Mike.
Lots of good points in here and I am so impressed by how many reads you get. That's awesome. I am horrible at promoting my own work. Too crippled by self doubt to put it out there (apart from publishing on vocal). Well done Mike.
It all comes down to self promoting, which I feel is good if you a re publishing a book or novella. However, and this in MY VIEW ONLY, promoting single stories each and every time feels like selling AVON or any of those pyramid schemes. You tend to harass the same people over and over again. My immediate family reads my works the extended and friends I no longer send anything or expect them to read. My choice. I will once I write something I truly wish to sell and market. You have made valid points regardign Vocal.
A lot of key points here, and I think that we still have to hustle to be read beyond an initial look.