Want to be on the What’s Hot list? Take over a genre? Win a Watty Award? Here’s how to promote a story QUICKLY, so that it will rise to the top.
Wattpad does have a help page that tells you how to promote your story; I’m going to tell you how to make those tips work.
First of all, these methods are off-limits and guaranteed to get you yelled at. Trust me.
- Don’t vote trade. (I’ll vote for all your chapters if you vote for mine!)
- Don’t spam. I have gotten in trouble for this one a lot. Posting on someone’s story and asking them to read yours is rude, and will get you a lot of dirty looks. If you post on their wall, they might not mind, but Wattpad will get angry with you if you do it excessively. Don’t post on the wall of anyone who has only been on Wattpad for a month or less, and DO NOT post if they tell you not to in their about me. I don’t know why, but some people think the message board is as sacred as the comments, (it’s not), and they will tear you apart if you spam them. Even if they don’t warn you that they hate it, don’t try it unless they say you can, because Wattpad will report you. Private messages are sometimes better, but again, don’t ask if they tell you not to, and always try to be personal with those.
- Be honest. Don’t say you’ll read a story and not read it. People hate that, and a lot of them won’t read yours in return.
- Don’t advertise in any clubs other than Share Your Story.
Now, to things, you CAN and SHOULD do.
Facebook/Twitter
There is a convenient “share” button on the side of every story. If you have 1000 Facebook friends like me, this is a very effective tool. Even if you only have a few friends, they know you and love you, and they will read what you post. Now if you want specific friends to read, or you want to ensure that people notice the link, don’t be afraid to post a link on a friend’s wall or chat them with it and personally beg them. Even without a Wattpad account, they can read and like, which gives you attention. You may even convince a few to MAKE an account, just so they can vote for you!
Sharing on a friend’s wall opens your work up to a new audience, as well, since you probably don’t have all the same friends.
Wattpad also has a Facebook page and welcomes people to post links and beg for feedback. About 20,000 people like that page, so that’s a big audience. Try posting a simple description and the link; draw people in. Make sure your description has proper grammar, as well. That can be a major turn-off for some readers.
Tweet your stories and let your followers know whenever you post a new chapter!
Share Your Story
Here’s how to get attention, fast. First, go to every discussion that offers to read or read for a read, and post your description, link, and whatever else they ask for. Go through at least the first three pages. Open up a tab with every story that you promise to read, then when your tabs get too small to read, go through and read every story and leave a comment.
After this, check back for new posts and continue. When the posts start to run low, post your own read for a read offer. Be sure to make it clear that you will only read stories of the people that read yours, and don’t read theirs until you see a comment on yours. Otherwise, people will take advantage of you and not read your story.
Posting Stories
Post often! Not only will readers following a story like this, it gets you on the What’s New list. Believe it or not, some people actually look at that, and if your name is on there a lot, someone is bound to click on it.
Try writing in a genre with less attention. I have found jumping to the top of the Spiritual category exceptionally easy, and some of the other rare categories will do just as well. If you hold the top spot in anything, people will fan you just because of that.
