Reader statistics

[gardentuber]

I'm curious...

 

I look at the statistics on readers of my story (just the one so far...) and I wonder how they differ or are consistent with other authors on eFiction. Right now, the first chapter has lots of hits, in fact, half of the total hits for the story. The second chapter has about a third of the hits of the first, the third has about half of the second, the fourth has 2/3 of the third, the fifth has over half of the fourth.

 

I'm trying to interpret this. First, it seems a lot of people look at the first chapter and decide they're not interested since they don't bother to go on to subsequent chapters. It seems that I'm losing readers as I upload more chapters, but at a slower rate.

 

Is this a pattern that other authors have? How does your statistics page look? Do you fret about losing reader interest? Do you feel proud when readers stick with your story(ies)? Is this just hubris, worrying about this?

[Cia]

I'm answering as reader, not a writer. I know that I typically won't read and review a chapter unless it has something big in it after the first one..otherwise I do every 2 or 3..just as I go along a story..Doesn't mean that I am not enjoying it..I guess it must be hard for authors to tell from those numbers alone. Also I normally only give each story 2-3 chapters to hook me, if not, I'm done reading. I don't know how many other readers are like me. If I check out your story I will make sure I will review it so you can have verbal feedback as well as numbers!

Edited November 6, 2009 by Cia

[Graeme]

Don't forget that the various search engine bots are more likely to hit the first (default) chapter, artificially inflating that figure.

 

The rest would be normal, as differ readers read through the chapters as differing rates.

 

Just my opinion

[paya]

I'm curious...

 

I look at the statistics on readers of my story (just the one so far...) and I wonder how they differ or are consistent with other authors on eFiction. Right now, the first chapter has lots of hits, in fact, half of the total hits for the story. The second chapter has about a third of the hits of the first, the third has about half of the second, the fourth has 2/3 of the third, the fifth has over half of the fourth.

 

I'm trying to interpret this. First, it seems a lot of people look at the first chapter and decide they're not interested since they don't bother to go on to subsequent chapters. It seems that I'm losing readers as I upload more chapters, but at a slower rate.

 

Is this a pattern that other authors have? How does your statistics page look? Do you fret about losing reader interest? Do you feel proud when readers stick with your story(ies)? Is this just hubris, worrying about this?

 

Well I, as a reader, I give second chances. So I read the first chapter and if it is at least a little interesting, I read the next one too. Then I either stick with the story or hardly ever come back.

 

 

The thing is that the real core of the readers is really small. Usually people look for a short story to entertain themselves and then go. That's why the first chapters are most read. If they have time, they read the second chapter after the first one, or they're curious how ended the partial plot from the first one. If they're not hooked by then, they'll never return...

 

Also, do you have a discussion thread to the story? Is there any means how they can find quickly your story if they remember it?

Edited November 6, 2009 by paya

[David McLeod]

Um, I can't find statistics by chapter; although I have recorded total hits for specific stories, over time. When you say hits per chapter, do you mean hits after a chapter is posted and before the next chapter is posted?

 

A quick run of some numbers through a spreadsheet and a line graph seems to indicate a fairly steep rise (45 degrees) during the time a story is posted, chapter at a time, and then a leveling off (about a 30 degree rise) after that.

 

Of course, the numbers are "hits," and don't necessarily mean someone's read the story. There's also the problem that clicking on a story link in an eFiction announcement may lead the reader to the first chapter rather than the most current chapter...depends on how you set up the link.

 

I would agree with readers' comments: a chapter has to hook me within the first few paragraphs; a story has to hook me in the first chapter. I only wish I could write to that goal.

[Nephylim]

Well I haven't analysed as much as you have but my experience is pretty similar. There are always a lot more hits to the first one or two chapters and then it levels off and pretty much stays the same, some more some less for the rest of the story. The stories I post a chapter at a time have a lot more hits than the one I posted in one go and the poems have hardly any.

 

As for reviews I find that one or two people comment regularly (you know who you are and I love each and every one of you), usually about one story at a time... with odd hits from others along the way. The comments don't anywhere match the number of people who read though so I can only assume that people don't know what to say or just like to be tortured by reading bad stories but don't want to hurt my feeling too much by telling me so

[Toast]

When I wrote my first story, I too discovered the count by chapter page. It freaked me out. Every one seemed to stop at the first chapter. I almost didn't write another chapter. But I am glad I did. The writing is a great outlet, emotionally and creatively and I laugh alot at my own stories. So for me it is a win situation. I don't watch the numbers any more. But I do like the reviews, inflated as they are.

[Nephylim]

When I wrote my first story, I too discovered the count by chapter page. It freaked me out. Every one seemed to stop at the first chapter. I almost didn't write another chapter. But I am glad I did. The writing is a great outlet, emotionally and creatively and I laugh alot at my own stories. So for me it is a win situation. I don't watch the numbers any more. But I do like the reviews, inflated as they are.

 

 

Are you suggesting that your reviewes lie? Shame on you.

[old bob]

Whe had allready such a discussion a few years ago.

IMO, the number and the quality of the comments in the forums are much more important than the number of hits. It's why, when I like the story, I post my comments, positives and sometimes the negatives ones, just to let the author know that I really read his story. Usually, I never make my opinion on the first chapter alone. At least, I'm waiting till the second or the third .

BTW, about the hits, it's the same with the published works. A book with 500'000 readers who bought it is not obligatorily better than one with 10'000 purchasers, but mostly it is !