[SpaceWeavil]

[Sulriel]

interesting topic. - how do we know if they like our work?

Reviews are nice, but sometimes hard to come by (... hmmmm, I don't see a jealousy smilie emoticon to aim at authors who get lots of reviews )

I like the chapter counters a lot, but I agree sometimes they are hard to understand. It would be nice to have one that would keep totals and a seperate col for "since last update".

I think that it's reasonable to disregard the first, and maybe the last, chapters because of the shoppers... people just checking in to see if they might be interested. I like to see the clicks on each new chapter as it's loaded, and the read-thru from the 2nd to the 2nd to last chapter. I think that's a reasonable indication of if the people who like 'your kind of story' and/or 'your writing' enough to read the first chapter and click onto the second - will go ahead and read the rest of what's posted.

[dolarabee]

[Robbie]

Actually, if we know who you are then we don't let the counter go up more than once. Same applies if you're in the same "session".

We also try not to count search engines. But it's still a hit-and-miss thing and about as reliable as an INHERITANCE OFFER FROM THE LATE DR NIGU PATHWALI IN NIGERIA WHOM I BELIEVE IS YOUR UNCLE AND HAS LEFT YOU A LARGE SUM OF MONEY.

So yes, it's a guide as to which is most popular, but does not tell you how many people visited and read as computers also visit webpages (I'm sure you get my drift).

[Sulriel]

Ah yes, Beloved Uncle Pathy - ...may he rest in peace...

I assume, due to the age of this archive, that the chapter counter has been requested and declined by the admin for valid reasons. (?) - I don't mean to restart an old discussion, I haven't been consistently active here to know if that's the case.

Some web counters will separate unique and repeated hits/visits, I've used various ones on my homepages and not been completely happy with any of them.

but all the data in the world still has to have interp (what readers love, what keeps them reading). Reviews and recommendations are great for that.
- what readers hated, what made them 'click off' is a little harder as it's often difficult to separate personal opinion from valid critique. And I personally don't feel it's appropriate to leave a critical review on a completed and published story unless the author specifically requests it.

- - and even the best counter in the world can't tell you why someone continued to read or clicked off and went elsewhere.

[Robbie]

It's never been requested or declined. Unfortunately it probably never will happen as it's a bit late now to start implementing it.

We've also got a MAJOR update to the site hopefully coming soon, but due to "family committments" it's taking avery long time to get that done....

[Rhapsody]

To be honest, I find hit counters by story or chapter disheartening. I admit, it has mainly to do with my experience by another archive where chapter counts were in place and you saw you got enough hits and no feedback by reviews. And everytime you uploaded something new it was right in your face. I like how it is done here, I hardly look at the hit counter anymore. So for me it isn't a necessity.

Just my 2 euro cents.

[Sulriel]

[ghettoelleth]

Just out of curiosity, does everyone call Dr NIGU, Sugar, for short, or just his wife? Sometimes, we just stretch clear on over to pathetic. Soz

[krazykataave]

I respond to reviews by PM, its just courtesy to thank someone who has taken the time to read and review a story and i want to make sure that everyone is thanked and PM is the best way to do it.

Thanks for asking the question about the hit counter, i knew the answer already (i guessed it went up when the author hit it as well) but having it answered is nice.

I also check on my stories by using the hit counter and have a way to keep track of how many read without raising the counter to much. I keep a log and update it every Monday on how the stories fare each previous week. That way i only hit the story once a week and i can tell by the log if the raise in number is caused by me or not. Maybe a little anal but it seems effective.

Kat

[NeumeIndil]

Sort of along the hit counter and review vein: has anyone suggested adding a "review alert" for authors of posted stories?

I ask because a few times now I've received reviews on stories I haven't touched in a while and missed thanking those readers in a timely manner (which I usually do by P.M. or email).

Just a thought since the site update's coming soon,
Neu

[Robbie]

[NancyBrooke]

[Sulriel]

[NeumeIndil]

Cool. Thanks Rob.