A Guide to Getting More Followers · 4:29pm Aug 5th, 2013

• Join Groups. Join plenty of groups that you like and be sure to get notified for some groups’ threads.

• Participate. Participate in threads. Answer people’s questions, offer advice, comment. This also counts for your fics; when someone comments on your story, respond. Who knows, it might make their day.

• Be Kind. Please rewind (JK). Don’t be a jerk. Don’t be obnoxious either. No one (or at least very few) will follow you.

• Create unique stories. Or at least get an editor. While some people will follow you because of your personality or conduct on forums, some choose on a combination of both personality and stories. One thing to definitely, without a doubt do is get an editor. They can help immensely.

• EDIT: Help others. (Suggested by Mr Pones) Not only do you need an editor, be an editor or proofread someone's fiction. They'll credit you on their story (which will help you get more followers) and they might follow you.

• Collaborate. Collaborating with other authors will get your name out there. It’ll get you more recognition.

• Give a shout-out. Maybe once a month, do a blog post saying thank you to your new followers for following you, and possibly show them a cute picture or something.

• EDIT: Have a user-friendly user page (suggested by James Rye) People want to know who you are, what you do, etc. Put a biography up, at least. It'll help them in deciding whether or not to follow you (potentially).

• EDIT: Show that you're not dead. (FrontSevens)

[P]eople will follow you if they get the idea that you will be writing more stuff (i.e. that you're not dead). If they liked one story of yours, and they want more, following is a way that they can get notified once you post a new story.
One idea is to have a section on your page listing projects you're currently working on. This might entice people to follow. Point is, people will follow if they get the idea that this author has more to offer in the future.

• Be a follower too. This following game isn’t one-sided. Follow other people, and when someone follows you, at least check out their page. On their user page, maybe say “thank you” for following you.

• EDIT: This is optional. Don’t be afraid to ask. I recently posted a blog post asking my followers to ask their friends to follow me. It’s alright to do that (at least I think so), just don’t spam them asking over and over, “Please tell your friends to follow me! Please tell your friends to follow me! Please tell your friends to follow me!” EDIT: Only do this if you have, say, 10 - 20 followers. If you ask when you are over that, it may seem that you are a little greedy.

EDIT: The following is by bookplayer:

• Post blogs other people are interested in. Not just blogs about yourself or your stories, but about writing in general, recommendations of fics or webpages, your thoughts on headcanon or recent pony-related news. (I personally will follow someone with interesting blogs, even if I'm not nuts about their stories.)
• Sound as intelligent as you can in blogs and comments. You don't have to be perfect, but check your spelling, use punctuation, and try to offer opinions that are more than a sentence.
• Become involved in the communities for the genres you write. This is a sub-tip to joining groups. If you write dark fic, find or make an active dark fics group. If you ship, be involved on threads in Shipping and in the group for your ship of choice.

I have to admit that I don't do all these things, but you don't have every single thing, just a majority.
Well, that’s all! If you can think of anything else, go ahead and tell me!
EDIT: Lilith911 says "Be an insane stalker "