Here I go again... But trust me, this will more or less get you or your graphic shop known. 

1. Make sure that your shop is organized, neat and easy on the eyes.

The description and foreword should tell me everything I need to know about your shop in one glance. Like, give me every information I need to know about your shop the moment I enter. Keep it short and sweet. 

1. the status of the shop [open and accepting requests, busy and not accepting requests, hiatus/closed]

2. the rules 

3. the form

4. the quality of the service through your previous works. Post some of your best works in the foreword/description and then provide a link to your graphic portfolio. This is one way of advertising your graphic skills through your shop. Because if we like what we see, we stay to browse for more and eventually, place an order in your shop.

I don't get what affiliates are for, other than added advertisement space. It's very nice of you to advertise other shops who offer the same products as yours but I am at your shop, hence, I'm more interested in your shop. Put it at the very bottom. The staff list can just go in the first chapter, as well as the status of the requests especially since the latter gets long. The foreword should be uncluttered.

If all I can see is the background and all these larger than life design elements, and not the text, I'm sorry but I'll just click the back button. Not being able to read it with my 20-20 vision means that you have to change the font size and the color scheme. (So if you wonder why your customers are breaking the rules, maybe just maybe, you made it hard for them to read anything at all.) 

The appearance of your shop should enhance the content of your shop. If you are going through all the trouble to advertise it, be sure that we would see something that would make us stay. (Otherwise, it's like you advertised a story that only has an author's note in the foreword. Where's the story?)

2. Don't advertise in walls. Instead of spending all that time and energy going from wall to wall, make graphics. Offer up wallpapers and display photos so people would visit your shop. Potential clients want to see the products first. Besides, some AFFers don't like it when you advertise in their walls (like me). Some do. It is best you check their Profile Status, Personal Message and About Me sections first, see if they allow people to post ads. I don't know if advertising via walls work though. But if you ask me whether or not you should do it, don't. Just advertise in your blog: Free cellphone/desktop wallies! Visit us at Starlights Graphic Cafe! or the most common, Join our giveaway!

3. Go out of your shop and take requests. Go to Social, then enter the Requests section. Choose Graphics. (Social > Requests > Graphics). Browse the requests. Find one that you are able to make based on what the author is looking for. Click the green 'Apply' link. Read the Author's note and the note from AFF (especially if you are new to this, read it). Fill up the box and click Apply. Not only will you be able to advertise your shop, you will also gain a customer and add a new poster for your portfolio. If client didn't like it, edit  the title and author name out of the poster and just add it in your portfolio or offer it as a pre-made poster in your shop. Or go to those adoption shops or those that buy posters. Another place here in AFF where you can take up poster requests is Discussions. (Social > Discussions). Lots of clueless newbies there asking where to get a poster and some who don't want to wait in line. They offer karma too.

4. Join graphic contests. Always bear in mind that you have to market your skills. So put your works out there. It doesn't matter if you lose, what matters is that you are able to show off your poster-making skills. 

5. Get a poster review. 

If you are a writer, and you happen to stumble upon this post, I am certain you can apply some of what is written here. If using a layout for your story, just make sure readers won't be distracted by it. Keep it simple. Content is more important, anyway. Join writing contests or fic exchanges. If a user sees your entry via the contest thread and likes your writing style, they will surely check out your other stories. Don't waste time advertising a story with only a foreword. Keep writing and add more chapters to that story. Have it reviewed and pray that it gets recommended, haha

If you are a reviewer, build your portfolio by taking up requests in the Request and Discussions section. Or host a contest, where you will provide each entry a review. If you find contests too troublesome, apply as a judge. There are many resources on the net on how to review stories, soak up everything you read and make your own system. Writers will come back to you if you have helped them and didn't make them feel like the lowest life form on earth. Remember that what you are giving are your subjective opinions and your constructive criticism should be able to help. Hmmm. How about you ask the author what kind of review they want - focus on grammar or the plot? I think that is a nice feature for your shop.

- Keeper

/pahaha xDDD IDK why I end up writing stuff like this lol