BETTER ALTERNATIVE TO THE "LIKE" BUTTON FOR STORIES

[bondagefreak]

I've lost count of how many times threads have popped up in which recently registered members have asked/suggested the addition of a "like" feature on here. I get it. I really do. Comments don't always show up and we authors sometimes just wanna know if someone - anyone - is even following and enjoying what we've written. We've decided against the addition of a "like" button on here, as most of us feel it would only make everyone lazier and further exacerbate the low-comment issue that's consistently been decried.

But for those of you who still wish we had a like button on here, I have a much better alternative to share with you. One that will give you the satisfaction of tracking how many registered members are following your story, as well as boosting interactions on said stories. It's something I've been doing on here for years and it's something some of my M/M readers have noticed and begun implementing on their end as well.


So what is this magic alternative? POLLING!
Most of my larger stories feature a prominent story poll at the top of the thread. Click HERE to see an example.

At some point during the story (often near the end of the third or fourth chapter), I will introduce a relevant reader question and invite the reader to do three things: 1- scroll up to the top of the thread, 2- vote, 3- share his/her answer(s) with us down in the comments. Not only does this allow me to track how many readers are actively following my narrative, but it has also proven extremely effective at promoting commentary, discussions and interactions on my stories. Some of my stories have garnered over 200 individual poll responses.

Such polls work especially well with first-person narratives and can be blended into the end of a chapter seamlessly through the act of "breaking the fourth wall". Here is an example of how I tend to integrate a story poll into the ending of a chapter:




For maximum effectiveness, follow these suggestions:
Don't rush to introduce a poll simply for the sake of introducing one. Wait for a critical moment in the story and come up with a relevant and interesting/fun question that will genuinely interest your readers. Don't just randomly put up a poll. Be sure to incorporate it at the end of a chapter, ensuring that none of your readers will miss out on it. Use bold and/or larger font. Think of some interesting/thought-provoking poll choices. Invite your readers to vote and share their answers in the comments.

If you've never experimented with the polling feature, remember that the "Preview" button is your friend.

[AlexUSA3]

Ironically, I have been doing story polls for over a year, often including polls where the readers are forced to make personally tough decisions (such as choosing one fetish over another) with little to no success. I just now accept that there will be something greater than 0 views on a given story installment and be happy if anyone answers the poll. I say this realizing I write in perhaps the most niche genre on the entire site (slice of life fiction).

My advice to authors is thus this: don't be afraid to try, but don't be surprised if the results are disappointing. I will bite my tongue before I get into specifics.

[blackbound]

Agreed. Polls are so demotivating that I've stopped doing them.

[ExcessivelyCurious]

I don't think Bondagefreak's experience is really transferrable to the average writer on this site. Also, if the problem is "laziness", then isn't asking people to scroll back up, answer a poll, scroll back down and leave a comment even more effort?

I don't generally leave comments on stories because I don't feel I have anything significant to say and when I do force myself to whatever I come up with just feels generic (despite actually enjoying the story).

[tiedinbluetights]

I don't think Bondagefreak's experience is really transferrable to the average writer on this site. Also, if the problem is "laziness", then isn't asking people to scroll back up, answer a poll, scroll back down and leave a comment even more effort?

I don't generally leave comments on stories because I don't feel I have anything significant to say and when I do force myself to whatever I come up with just feels generic (despite actually enjoying the story).

Ah @ExcessivelyCurious, I am someone who likes to write and have written on this site and I would love to have generic or even repetitve comments that add nothing new. It is comments that bump stories back to the top of the first page in each category, and increases views. As comments dwindle, so does the will for most of us writers to continue writing.

For example, I added a poll, and the views started increasing on one of my short story series. No comments after three days, and the series is back off the first page where most viewers won't even bother to look.

Even the most meaningless, yet positive, comment, keeps stories alive.

Just my two cents.