The Doom Advice on Subtitles

[ElectricBlue]

@SimonDoom has often commented about the importance of subtitles, and he's right.

The third chapter of my latest piece, with the boring as fuck subtitle "Adam Takes K and Frankie back to his Apartment" - which, for readers following the story, makes sense:
Score = 4.33/15, with 1340 views.

Chapter Four, on the other hand: subtitle = "Two Cocks are Better Than One"
Score = 4.67/12, with 1630 views.

22% more views because of the subtitle! Never underestimate the complete lack of sophistication of Lit readers. Clearly, not everyone goes back to read earlier chapters either, coz in theory the view count should be roughly the same, 3rd and 4th chapters and all that. Maaaybe, some readers have read the latest chapter twice, but that might be wishful thinking.

So for all you folk who agonise about chapter release strategies, don't bother. It's only the latest release that matters. And an eyes grabbing subtitle.

 

[AwkwardlySet]

22% more views because of the subtitle! Never underestimate the complete lack of sophistication of Lit readers.

Plebs, the lot of them!

I'm sure that the chaps at The Australian Club will appreciate the subtlety.

 

[SimonDoom]

@SimonDoom has often commented about the importance of subtitles, and he's right.

The third chapter of my latest piece, with the boring as fuck subtitle "Adam Takes K and Frankie back to his Apartment" - which, for readers following the story, makes sense:
Score = 4.33/15, with 1340 views.

Chapter Four, on the other hand: subtitle = "Two Cocks are Better Than One"
Score = 4.67/12, with 1630 views.

22% more views because of the subtitle! Never underestimate the complete lack of sophistication of Lit readers. Clearly, not everyone goes back to read earlier chapters either, coz in theory the view count should be roughly the same, 3rd and 4th chapters and all that. Maaaybe, some readers have read the latest chapter twice, but that might be wishful thinking.

So for all you folk who agonise about chapter release strategies, don't bother. It's only the latest release that matters. And an eyes grabbing subtitle.

I wouldn't call it lack of sophistication. I'd say many readers know what they want and they want to spend as little time as possible finding it, so as an author you might as well help them.

 

[SimonDoom]

Based on this thread, I will be naming my next series "The Clitoris."

I like it. Or kick it up even a notch higher: "Smoking Hot Clits."

The incest version: Mom's Hot Clit.

The non-con version: My Bound Clit.

The BDSM version: Box Ties, Floggers and Clits.

Fantasy: Journey to Clitalia.

 

[Bazzle]

I like it. Or kick it up even a notch higher: "Smoking Hot Clits."

The incest version: Mom's Hot Clit.

The non-con version: My Bound Clit.

The BDSM version: Box Ties, Floggers and Clits.

Fantasy: Journey to Clitalia.

Hmmmm

Smoking Hot Clits...oh...not that sort of smoking...

back in the box Bazzle.

 

[old_prof]

Hmmmm

Smoking Hot Clits...oh...not that sort of smoking...

back in the box Bazzle.

We were discussing that kink in another thread yesterday.

 

[TheLobster]

I like it. Or kick it up even a notch higher: "Smoking Hot Clits."

The incest version: Mom's Hot Clit.

The non-con version: My Bound Clit.

The BDSM version: Box Ties, Floggers and Clits.

Fantasy: Journey to Clitalia.

Lesbian: Two Clits Are Better Than One

Gay: Everything But The Clit

Mind Control: The Clitnotic Therapy

Transgender: My Brand New Clit

Erotic Horror: Attack of the Killer Clits

Humor & Satire: Clit Happens

Letters & Transcripts: The Clit Monologues

Non-Erotic: Classic Literature, Including Tolstoy

 

[crookedletter]

Based on this thread, I will be naming my next series "The Clitoris."

Some folks might have trouble finding it.

 

[old_prof]

@SimonDoom has often commented about the importance of subtitles, and he's right.

The third chapter of my latest piece, with the boring as fuck subtitle "Adam Takes K and Frankie back to his Apartment" - which, for readers following the story, makes sense:
Score = 4.33/15, with 1340 views.

Chapter Four, on the other hand: subtitle = "Two Cocks are Better Than One"
Score = 4.67/12, with 1630 views.

22% more views because of the subtitle! Never underestimate the complete lack of sophistication of Lit readers. Clearly, not everyone goes back to read earlier chapters either, coz in theory the view count should be roughly the same, 3rd and 4th chapters and all that. Maaaybe, some readers have read the latest chapter twice, but that might be wishful thinking.

So for all you folk who agonise about chapter release strategies, don't bother. It's only the latest release that matters. And an eyes grabbing subtitle.

Not to throw a damper on the theory, which I think is broadly sound, but the presence or lack of an H causes more than a 20% difference in views for me. So which one was it?

And two be honest, if I knew nothing about you as a writer, I personally would have chosen the first subtitle, because I would have expected the second to be a silly stroker, which is not what I'm ever looking for.

I think it's important for your tag to communicate the style of the story and enough content to attract readers. Advertising one form of story and delivering another will end up with poor engagement and ratings, relative to the views.

 

[SimonDoom]

Hmmmm

Smoking Hot Clits...oh...not that sort of smoking...

back in the box Bazzle.

Don't be too sure. With a little imagination . . . why not?

 

[Bazzle]

We were discussing that kink in another thread yesterday.

I am surprized that no one tagged me in!

 

[VerbalAbuse]

Based on this thread, I will be naming my next series "The Clitoris."

is this for benefit the male audiences, or female ones?

 

[StillStunned]

Based on this thread, I will be naming my next series "The Clitoris."

I think perhaps you're in the wrong thread. Did you mean to post it here: Plot Bunnies From Myth & Legend?

 

[AwkwardlySet]

Based on this thread, I will be naming my next series "The Clitoris."

Whenever I see you post on the forum, I get an urge to play Civilization 4.

Damn, I have issues from my gaming days.

 

[alohadave]

Based on this thread, I will be naming my next series "The Clitoris."

You want your story to never be found?

 

[KittyOfSteele]

TIL to use the Short Description as a subtitle instead. That makes things way easier.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

You want your story to never be found?

Wow, what a dick!



Speaking about all this Clit nonsense, you're going to need to be creative with Anal.

 

[Britva415]

Title: "C.L.I.T. Commander"
Description: "I make that shit work."

 

[SimonDoom]

Wow, what a dick!



Speaking about all this Clit nonsense, you're going to need to be creative with Anal.

Working title: Clit-Crazy Anal Massage Therapist.

Tagline: Magic happens when the hole and the hood get together.

 

[BeechLeaf]

World's largest and most flexible clit can wrap around.

 

[SimonDoom]

Not to throw a damper on the theory, which I think is broadly sound, but the presence or lack of an H causes more than a 20% difference in views for me. So which one was it?

And two be honest, if I knew nothing about you as a writer, I personally would have chosen the first subtitle, because I would have expected the second to be a silly stroker, which is not what I'm ever looking for.

I think it's important for your tag to communicate the style of the story and enough content to attract readers. Advertising one form of story and delivering another will end up with poor engagement and ratings, relative to the views.

The key is to understand what you are looking for, and to my mind that means, in particular, understanding the readership for your stories and how to reach them. I also think it's important to understand what kind of story you are writing and to understand that some stories by their nature will get more views than others. You shouldn't "chase" views any more than you should chase any other number, but it's always helpful to be mindful of how marketing your story smartly can make a difference. It means putting yourself in the shoes of the kind of reader you are trying to attract. Too many authors, IMO, ignore this aspect of things, and get caught up in pursuing the highest possible score. High scores correlate with better views, but they're not the only way to get there.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Not to throw a damper on the theory, which I think is broadly sound, but the presence or lack of an H causes more than a 20% difference in views for me. So which one was it?

The view count difference was in place before Ch.4 got its Red H, and the differential has increased overnight, now that the H is there. Ch.3 is lagging behind, both in views and its score.

I know my audience, they're both arty fuckers and straight porno, because I can deliver up both. Particularly my short stories, which these chapters are.

And two be honest, if I knew nothing about you as a writer, I personally would have chosen the first subtitle, because I would have expected the second to be a silly stroker, which is not what I'm ever looking for.

Since I spruiked both chapters as "Pretty much gonzo porno, getting down to quick spicy trans action" (in the New Story Advertisements Thread) you're on the money.

What's a little strange is the kick up in views for Ch.4. By the usual logic of a series, the fourth chapter should be down to the steady state of readers who are sticking with the story from the beginning.

I have several short chaptered stories where readers keep proving this wrong. In this instance I have no doubt the subtitle has done my lazy work for me.

I think it's important for your tag to communicate the style of the story and enough content to attract readers. Advertising one form of story and delivering another will end up with poor engagement and ratings, relative to the views.

I use tags to list the kinks in a story, there's no science or artifice about that.

In this case, readers got what was advertised, and they're still wandering into Chapter 4 at a faster rate. The third chapter is the outlier in this one.

 

[ElectricBlue]

The key is to understand what you are looking for, and to my mind that means, in particular, understanding the readership for your stories and how to reach them. I also think it's important to understand what kind of story you are writing and to understand that some stories by their nature will get more views than others. You shouldn't "chase" views any more than you should chase any other number, but it's always helpful to be mindful of how marketing your story smartly can make a difference. It means putting yourself in the shoes of the kind of reader you are trying to attract. Too many authors, IMO, ignore this aspect of things, and get caught up in pursuing the highest possible score. High scores correlate with better views, but they're not the only way to get there.

Yep, that's why I posted this little observation. It's not rocket science, but it definitely supports your good advice. I know my audience, the bulk of my readers I'm sure know what to expect when they open an EB story.

What it does demonstrate in the end is that Lit is a sex site, and don't ever forget it. And your audience might not be as sophisticated as you'd like to think they are .

"Two cocks are better than one," is as unsophisticated as you're ever going to get.

 

[SimonDoom]

Yep, that's why I posted this little observation. It's not rocket science, but it definitely supports your good advice. I know my audience, the bulk of my readers I'm sure know what to expect when they open an EB story.

What it does demonstrate in the end is that Lit is a sex site, and don't ever forget it. And your audience might not be as sophisticated as you'd like to think they are .

"Two cocks are better than one," is as unsophisticated as you're ever going to get.

I'm not sure if I accept the implied dichotomy here. There are sophisticated women who want to be fucked hard by two cocks. Sophistication can be an aspect of erotica, but it doesn't necessarily enhance it.

 

[Britva415]

There are sophisticated women who want to be fucked hard by two cocks.

They weren't saying the characters were unsophisticated. They were saying the tagline was. And I agree - it's straightforward, un-obscure, blunt, plain language, nothing implied, nothing to infer, no metrical or rhyme tricks, no alliteration, etc etc etc. Just a prosaic statement in perfectly plain language.