What gets you most fired up on your activity feed? Favorites, followers, or comments?

[pink_silk_glove]

When someone favorites a story, even better if they favorite, comment and then follow, or any order of that.

Whenever someone faves one of my stories I check out their fave list. Almost always that list is thousands of faves long. Not only that but almost all of my faves happen within hours of posting. Obviously the reader is just browsing the new pahes compiling an indiscriminate list of stories that he will never have time to read before dying. So not only is my story not one of his faves, he hasn't even read it and likely never will.

Of all my stories I have thirty-something faves, and of those I don't think even five are legit. Yeah, maybe in a few years I'll get popular and this will change but right now faves mean jack to me.

 

[Paddleboardpnw]

Whenever someone faves one of my stories I check out their fave list. Almost always that list is thousands of faves long. Not only that but almost all of my faves happen within hours of posting. Obviously the reader is just browsing the new pahes compiling an indiscriminate list of stories that he will never have time to read before dying. So not only is my story not one of his faves, he hasn't even read it and likely never will.

Of all my stories I have thirty-something faves, and of those I don't think even five are legit. Yeah, maybe in a few years I'll get popular and this will change but right now faves mean jack to me.

Oh wow, I’ll have to try that as well now out of curiosity!

 

[KeithD]

I'm sure comments jazz me the most when I get them.

 

[FifthEstate]

My attitude is to pick and choose types of feedback and story data like I'm at a buffet, feasting on whatever I find.

I really think this all comes down to perspective. What are you trying to accomplish with your work on Lit? If getting kudos or potentially relevant feedback via comments is your top priority, then focus on that.

But if “building your brand” in the larger sense is important to you, don’t disregard favorites, views, scores/red-H’s, and/or followers too. I copied SimonD’s excerpt from this thread because while he doesn’t say it here, I think he has a very good perspective on this. Paraphrasing from other posts: The more positive attributes you gain from each work you publish can only help build your brand. Potential readers are more likely to check out your stuff if they see your library littered with bling.

If 500 readers want to fav my story whether they ever read it or not (of course I would prefer they read it), then more power to them. Because I now know 500 more readers will be more apt to check it out as a result. The more popular it becomes, the more likely it is to reach Toplists and the coveted Similar Story Lists at the end of every story/chapter published on Lit. From there, your story and you as an author in general, are more likely to have longer term appeal than just the short window it resides on the New Story page.

 

[SkyBubble]

Comments, by far. I don’t get very excited over numbers.

Followers make me suspicious, like there’s now people expecting something from me

One of the editors I used on a recent story started following me.

 

[AlexFourways]

Reads are the life blood of knowing whether anyone is bothering to even l look at what you have written so I suppose that has to come top but YMMV.

I like comments because they are a rare as gold dust and show someone has cared enough to put finger to keyboard, but negative Anon's are a bit like iron pyrites*. I noted someone say they don't check back on stories, but from the My Home page, you get to see any new comments, that can then be seen and moderated on your Works page. However, as well as the bin, I would really like a 'thumbs up' as a quick way of leaving a thanks. Idea for someone?

Ratings are evidence that they have (probably) got to the end and have a view, so are a smidgen less valuable than comments, but not as rare, so that compensates.

Follows are next as it implies that they want to come back and read some more, it also means they get a notification when you publish a new story. I often look at their profile to see if they have published and if so I have a gander to see if I might want to follow them back.

I don't really understand the value of Favourites (OK I have about four) but I'm unlikey to ever re-read those stories and they provide a doorway to the Author, but now use Follows everytime.

Actually, they all have a value as they serve different needs. OK, I messed up and haven't a clue except for not being wowed by favourites.

*fools gold

 

[cypressknee]

Pms and quotes on my post

 

[Seadog777]

If you're talking strictly about published stories, for me it's the comments.
It's always fun to see the anonymous dumbasses.
I like the positive feedback and I always like constructive criticism.

 

[drobert44]

Alerts and messages.........new friends to make.

 

[Achingluv]

Comments, definitely. Though if I'd had more negative ones, I'm sure my tune would change.