Donations and Promotions

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

One thing I like about the site (WordPress) I have our story/stories on is that you can get a daily tracking stat and what is being read and where it is being linked. Admittedly we have only been 'live' for about six months. I know that many of you have been around much longer.

We are getting promoted here and there (Woot! Some search engines have picked us up!), but I noticed we were getting a lot of views of our donation page. We are also getting very few comments, which either means that the story is very entertaining or people don't think it is worth the effort to leave any kind of comment. *shrug*

So, in trying to think like a person who might enjoy the story, but is unsure why we have the brass to ask for donations, I wrote this about our our reasons for requesting donations for our work. And people are reading it. Hopefully they are also thinking about it. Or maybe even promoting the site in their own blogs.

So, what are you telling (theoretical) questioners about your reasons for requesting donations or payment for you work? Artists who put out tangible product have the physical object, but what about those of us who do intangible things like web-published stories and such? What kind of response do you get?

Comments

Re: Hmm...

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

I guess I did (do?) sound like I'm doing a "Broke. Send money." spiel with that, which was not my intent.

Some of it is pure frustration at not even getting commentary. I think jolantru understands that aspect, as do others, I'm certain.

sordak and I won't stop putting up what each of us is writing, but I don't have any clue as to what people think of our stories. We enjoy writing them, but I get the impression that most people who swing by the site consider the stories not quite dreck, but maybe on a par with "See Dick Run. Run Dick, run!"

I know my perceptions are skewed. I would just like to know how badly without being flayed alive.

Re: Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com]

>>I guess I did (do?) sound like I'm doing a "Broke. Send money." spiel with that, which was not my intent.<<

It's hard not to. People blame you for being broke, then attack you if you try to do something that will make you less broke. Right now, the Poetry Fishbowl is the only earned money regularly coming into our household.

>>I don't have any clue as to what people think of our stories.<<

Building audience interaction takes time and effort. Look in the Memories section for this community -- there is a post about how to make your audience more lively, or bigger.

Re: Hmm...

[ladyqkat.livejournal.com]

I'll check it out. Thanks.

Re: Hmm...

[jolantru.livejournal.com]

*nods* Yes, on the not getting commentary aspect. I think I am coming to terms regarding story feedback/commentary: people won't normally comment.

As for the donation part: well, I will keep on doing what I am doing, that is, to write and hone my craft.