A Guide to Getting More Followers Revised Edition! · 9:20pm Sep 4th, 2013

So you’re perusing Fimfiction, looking for a story or just going through your threads, and you click on someone. You look at what they have in terms of stories or blogs, but then you notice their follower count.
“How can this be?!” you gasp. “How can they have so many?”
Well, there are multiple things they may have done — and you can too — to get many followers. Here are the different things:

• Join Groups.
Join plenty of groups that you like and be sure to get notified for the groups’ threads. Also, become involved in the communities for the genres you write. If you write dark fictions, find or make an active dark fictions group. If you ship, be involved on threads in Shipping and in the group for your ship of choice (Words quoted almost verbatim, originally by bookplayer).

• Participate.
Participate in threads. Answer people’s questions, offer advice, comment. This also counts for your fictions: when someone comments on your story, respond. Who knows, it might make their day! Participating ties into the next point.

• Show that you're not dead. (FrontSevens)
Now, I’m sure everyone assumes that you’re not dead; after all, you have an email and your account, so unless you’re a smart zombie, you are not dead. As FrontSevens said, “[P]eople will follow you if they get the idea that you will be writing more stuff.... 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.”

• Post blogs other people are interested in. Also, sound as intelligent as you can in blogs and comments. (bookplayer)
I can’t add anything on; s/he said it well enough: “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….” Plus, “you don't have to be perfect, but check your spelling, use punctuation, and try to offer opinions that are more than a sentence.” And if people say that you have some mistakes, fix them as soon as possible. Also, no one wants to read a blog that’s just one sentence (unless there is nothing else really to say about it); if it’s an opinion, state your opinion and then why you have that opinion (I learned that from my Language Arts teacher).

• Be Kind. Please rewind (JK).
Don’t be a jerk. Don’t be obnoxious either. Or at least, don’t be one if you don’t do anything else. So if you’re obnoxious, but also edit other people’s fictions (presumably not being obnoxious then), then that shows that you’re willing to do more than just be a jerk.

• Try to avoid getting into arguments (added by Stygian359):
“Though you may gain the respect of a few[,] you could actually end up doing more harm to your chances of gaining followers b y making a fool of yourself[.] Plus[,] people remember what you say and will judge you accordingly in the future.

• Create unique stories. Or at least get an editor.
“But Pump It Up!” you might say, “I didn’t want to do work to get followers!” Well too bad. Even if the scientific definition of work is “expending energy to do something,” flipping a light switch or just putting on your page “I am awesome and that’s why you should follow me” will not get you followers. While some people will follow you because of your personality or your 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.
But 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. (Suggested by Mr Pones.)

• Collaborate.
Collaborating with other authors will get your name out there. It’ll get you more recognition. Plus it’s fun! There is one group, called the Collab Cage, where you can either look for someone to do a collaboration with or ask for one.

• 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). Plus, people like to see that someone cares enough to give information or make the page look presentable.

• 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. It always does well to show gratitude.

And Lilith911 says "Be an insane stalker "

Hopefully this helped you gain more followers. Now, I know not everybody does this for the followers; for them, followers are just a perk. But regardless, I hope this proved helpful.
Wishing you luck,
Pump It Up

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