One of the things that makes Wattpad so special among reading and writing sites is the community. It's made up of readers and writers, all supporting each other with feedback and encouragement. The Wattpad community can be found in the clubs (information on how to access the clubs is in the last chapter of this guide), chatting on people's profiles (publicly and privately), and especially in stories (commenting, communicating through author's notes, and giving dedications).

The power of the community is tremendous in helping authors get noticed, especially brand new authors. Unfortunately, many new authors don't even know there is a community on Wattpad. They post their stories but don't interact with anyone, and then despair because readers aren't finding them.

If you're interested in tapping into this great resource, it can enrich your Wattpad experience in many ways. I've already listed some of them, like how reaching out to your readers can help you get more feedback, but there are other benefits too.

One – friendships!

I, and almost everyone I know on Wattpad can point to at least one, and probably several deep and profound friendships we've formed with other Wattpadders. Whether it's a personal connection you've made with one of your readers, someone you've met in a club, or a fellow author whose story you've just started reading, those people can become dear friends.

Having friends on Wattpad is a necessity. Those are the people who will be there with encouragement when you're feeling low, congratulate you on your accomplishments, and be a sounding board when you need advice. I've heard many say their lives were changed for the better because of someone they met on Wattpad.

Two – knowledge!

There is so much to know about Wattpad, and for many new authors it's like they're feeling their way through a dark room in a stranger's house. It was exactly like that for me until I stumbled upon the clubs. That's where I found a whole bunch of authors who were more than willing to answer my questions and give me advice. I really appreciated their kind help and when I saw newer people who needed it, I didn't hesitate to step forward and help them.

Whether it's navigating the website, help with writing a tricky chapter, or getting insights into the publishing world, there are many people with a lot of knowledge on here who just might have the answer you're looking for.

Three – success!

I knew it was true for me, but research from Wattpad HQ bears it out - the best way to become a successful writer on Wattpad is to be an active member of the community. And the best way to do that is to be positive, friendly, and helpful. Before I was a Wattpad ambassador, I had many people follow me or find my stories because of my interactions with them. Being friendly and helpful builds up good will and naturally draws people to you. For an author, this is essential for success.

However, because Wattpad is a community, those who choose to conduct themselves in a way that's seen as harmful or goes against the ethics of the community, quickly gain a reputation. Trolling, being particularly negative when giving feedback, or spamming lots of people's profiles is frowned on by pretty much everyone and can turn off a whole lot of potential readers.

Then there are some who exploit the tools Wattpad gives us so we can engage with others in an attempt to cheat the system, sometimes hurting others in the process. One method of cheating I've already mentioned is vote trading. Another is the tactic of following the maximum 1,000 people allowed, and then unfollowing them a day or two later. Then following and unfollowing the maximum number all over again.

Why would someone do that? Because out of those thousand people, a whole bunch will do the polite thing and come to their profile to thank them. A fair number of them will follow them back. And a lot of them will check out their stories, either out of curiosity or because they want to do something nice for that person who just followed them.

Yet another tactic I've seen is to dedicate the same chapter to a whole bunch of people. As each one of them gets a notification, they usually go to that chapter to thank the person, not only giving them a read but usually a vote in the process as well. There may be even more methods people are trying out that I haven't seen.

The appeal to those who choose to go this route is easy to understand. It gives quick results without having to do all the hard work necessary for success. But before someone decides to go down that path, they should consider the consequences.

All the people they've targeted are elated when they find out they've been followed or received a dedication by some stranger. Hey, that person really cares about me! Enough that they want to honor me. They might even be one of my silent readers! I'm making progress! People are noticing me!

And then they realize they've been unfollowed. Or their dedication has disappeared, replaced by another person's name. How do they feel then? Cheated. Used. And angry.

As more people are drawn to that person's profile, word spreads. People contact the new victims, not wanting them to be used like they were. Those who were reading because they wanted to be polite or show gratitude, stop reading. And because so many in the community are also active outside of Wattpad, it's possible the bad news could spread even further, following them to other sites, or if they decide to publish their stories.

At the end of the day, any advantage that was gained is hollow. Their numbers are an illusion, built up with trickery while true Wattpad success eludes them. All they've gotten to show for their efforts is a tremendous amount of bad feelings. This is not a way to gain a loyal following of readers. Nor is it a way to build friendships with others, the kind that bring you up and make you a better writer. Success based on cheating, only ends up hurting the cheater because it turns the community against them.

In all the years I've been on Wattpad, I've never seen anyone achieve true Wattpad success by using tactics like these. Most of the authors I've encountered doing this are never able to grow as authors because their reputations have been damaged to the point where no one wants to have anything to do with them. In the end, they leave site because they find themselves isolated, pariahs in the community.

Don't make that mistake, and if you see someone else making it, let them know in a very polite way they're not doing themselves any favors.

Another aspect of the Wattpad community I see authors not understand - What do I mean by that? Everything you post publicly is visible to your followers, including your readers. If your readers see you get in a fight in the comments of your story, they'll be a lot less likely to comment. If they've posted a comment that says 'Please update', and then see you complaining that you hate it when readers ask for an update, they may be so upset they stop reading your story. If you're having a conversation with a friend on your profile that involves mature or obscene language, they may be turned off enough to unfollow you. If you're in the clubs constantly posting negative comments, your followers will perceive you as a negative person, and not someone they'll feel comfortable going out of their way to interact with.

I'm not saying never say what's on your mind. I'm just saying you should be aware that what you post in public may have an effect on how successful you are. This is something I've taken into account since my first days on Wattpad, and I know some of my success is due to the fact that I've maintained a positive spirit in spite how I might be feeling.

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Dedicated to former ambassador, Wattpad employee, and all around great guy. He runs several threads in the clubs to help people and provide useful information in addition to his duties at Wattpad. And he's a writer! I highly recommend his terrific guide, 'I Want To Be Famous'. It's a must read.