Fringe Fiction Unlimited discussion

I've never had a serious amount of viewers to my website in the thousands but then again I never really tried. I have tried to incorporate and put together a well rounded site with plenty of content for people to take interest in. However aside from throwing my website link and others on the site around I don't really try pulling anyone in any other way.

So my question is, if you have a website how do you draw in visitors? Do you hold contests, weekly blog posts? How an event? What do you do to get people to your site and how have you found the results to be?

I'm still working on this same issue. I participate in a weekly flash fiction contest, so I have an on-going story updated weekly according to the contest prompt. I'm also holding my own flash fiction contest. It's a pretty slow-going process, though. I don't know of a sure-fire way to generate traffic other than just keep putting out content. It might also help to note what days of the week generate the most traffic - wordpress keeps track of those things for you, so I've been trying to go by that as well.

Katheryn wrote: "I'm still working on this same issue. I participate in a weekly flash fiction contest, so I have an on-going story updated weekly according to the contest prompt. I'm also holding my own flash fict..."

It's good to hear that your at least trying something. That's really all you can do. A few months back I tried to do a giveaway on my website and despite my promoting and mention of it, it went unnoticed. I think in many ways it's good to try something and dedicate yourself to it, don't force it but try a little something every day to get the word out on it, maybe you get interest maybe you don't but as long as you know your trying and made that effort.

Its funny because I can give the advice and even try it myself but I likely know where my results will end, though I'm always a half full kind of guy so may I should keep seeing things that way especially when it comes to this. :)

It's definitely tough to stay optimistic, especially when it seems like your efforts are going unnoticed. But Rome wasn't built in a day, and the grind is really the only way to get there.

I actually had a blog post a while back asking for suggestions on how to attract participation in my contest, and another blogger who runs her own contest said the best way is to promote others. So depending on the content you're putting out, maybe you could try to find other bloggers with similar stuff and interact/promote them.

In my case I'm participating in other people's flash contests and promote them weekly.

And yeah - it's definitely easier to give advice than it is to apply it :)

I've seen some people kinda place teasers around social media, but if you want to full blog/art/interview/etc. go to the website kind of thing. I don't know if it works, but it seems like a good idea.

Website kind of thing? I don't know what you mean..like ones own personal website?

sorry, I was talking and typing at the same time haha kinda got twisted in there.
so I've seen them post snippets of an interview or blog or just a special announcement. they post enough to kind of capture the reader, and if they want to read the rest, then they have to go to the author's website to read it.
from there, i'm guessing, the reader can browse the site and see what they like and everything.

Oh okay. I do that on BookBlogs. I post some of my articles but then leave a link to my website to read the rest.

In the past year, I've tried three different things to increase interest in my website.

1) Increased, intelligent postings on my blog. Not fluffy memes (which I love as much as the next person, but I save those for FB). I ask questions that relate to my blog-specific-genre. I post my own reviews of books within the aforementioned genre. I post snippets of my work in progress, and so on.

2) I participated in a Words For Wednesday bit of fun. One person hosted for a month, put a random list of words up on their blog, and others came to the blog. They could create short fiction of poetry from the hosted list and either leave their creation in the comment section, or post it on their own blog, as a way of increasing readership on their site. Then someone else would host, and we'd all go round again. I did gain a few loyal readers this way, and followed a few back as well. It stretched my writing muscles too, which was a good thing!

3) I've also recently participated in a blog-hop. This was less enjoyable than the words-for-wednesday, but I still learned a great deal, both about myself and other writers.

All of that being said, there is a lot to be gained from putting yourself, and your blog, out there, but never forget that it's all a process. You have to keep being authentically you, and keeping putting intelligent content out there. It might take time, but think of it as establishing your voice in the universe. You never know, one day next week or next month, one person might find your website and become your next rabid fan.

Thanks for sharing! I need to try to make my website more engaging.

I feel like everything I do to gain attraction happens outside my website. I don't do anything to draw interest to it aside from my blogs and books. I still feel I could do plenty more I just need to figure out what that more is..

I'm similar to you, Justin. I write my books and write a periodic blog piece. Could I do more? Probably. The day job gets in the way, though.

I've been thinking of ways to improve traffic to the site once I return. One of the things I'm thinking of is maybe offering some people a chance to blog on my site alongside me. Be it other book reviews (pushing outside the circle of authors I tend to revisit a bit too much for readers looking for new content), book reviews and even game reviews. Or just maybe some side content that they're interested in doing?
I mean so long as they don't take over my site completely, of course. But that's an idea I've been having for the site. Not sure how it'll work or anything though.

I'm possibly sticking my nose in, but why are you sending them there? What do you do with them once you've got them that makes it worth this effort? They can add your next book to their to-read list on goodreads and buy it on amazon (I assume). Are you driving them towards a blog or e-mail list that has a call to action?

I don't have a website, but I'm active on my GR Blog, which gets lots of traffic often in the double and triple digits of views and a number of likes, but it depends on the content I post. I also do guest blog posts, interview other authors which pulled lots of views and likes.

When I wrote about my experience with beta readers my likes when up and my views skyrocketed in triple digits.


Usually when I post something it gets views and likes automatically within split seconds, which often makes me burst out laughing because I don't think I'm that interesting, but somehow what I say and because I'm real and brutally honest about what I say matters to people, which I'm grateful for, don't get me wrong. But it's so weird that what I say has always resonated with people, particularly when it's about my own experiences or interests.

I guess what I'm saying is relatable content is what audiences gravitate towards. I'm also an avid reader and avid reviewer and use that same realness and honest in that also, which brings daily interest in my reviews, what I read and my Goodreads author profile. I deal with people on a basic, and deeply human level. I don't try to peddle myself to them as an author but a person, a human being who happens to write books. That's how they see me and that's how I've been able to keep their interest.

I've been running a website for a few years now and was religious at blogging once a week for a long time but it was so hard to get much interaction I've back off and now only post when I have something specific to say. I'd like to find more ways to get traffic there. That Words for Wednesday thing Carolyn mentioned sounds like fun.

These are great suggestions. Thank you everyone. ☺

Having a blog is a great way to build and draw website traffic but I can't get blog traffic lol. So if it's not one it's the other.

I write reviews of books/movies and share them on Facebook

I think a lot of it has to do with content. It might be best to diversify a bit in what the blog/website is and does.

Once I get all my things in order, I'm thinking of getting some close friends to help and post a variety of things. Game reviews, movie reviews, and the like.
Not only will the content be widespread to catch the attention of a wide audience, but with other people's personalities there to help mix things up, it might help things from going too stale too fast.

Just an idea I've been working on.

It's suggested to keep up your website and refer people to it and to also keep up an active blog.