I also think that "Call to action" is a much more neutral term, as "like fishing" sounds similar to "fishing for compliments" or other terms, which have a slight pejorative twist, as if somebody would try to lure people to click "like", although they actually don't want to.
In my opinion, centering this debate on the "top 10 chapters" or any ranking is jumping too short. Likes are more than a competition, and I strongly believe that everybody who just gathers likes to rise in some statistical ranks should go somewhere else. Facebook for example, or Instagram. Likes are, just as comments and "follow this story for updates" clicks, more or less the only feedback us writers will ever get for our stories (maybe except for comments here on the forum, or the occasional PN in our inbox). While I consider "likes", per se, as rather unimportant, I see feedback as very important. We don't write these stories for ourselves. We write for an audience. Maybe there are some of you who don't mind at all what the audience thinks, but in my opinion, feedback matters. It feels good to notice that your stuff is being read and being appreciated. The best reaction are always comments (or Personal Messages), and I for example have started to concatc other authors when I love their work. But those are really hard to get, and it probably needs a fellow author to share these. Likes are easier.
Yet, despite being easier, a lot of readers still forget them. They loved a chapter, they might enjoy the plot or the story, they might have gotten aroused or started to masturbate, but while being so entranced and focused on reading, they certainly have else to do than to click "like". Even I myself quite often observe this reaction. Chapters I REALLY like are those where I click "next chapter" most eagerly. I don't really want to stop. I often make an effort after having reached the end of a story to go back and belatedly hand out likes to chapters I enjoyed, because it's the least I can do.
Call to actions at the end of a chapter can make readers aware of the simple fact that they can give a little bit back. It's not even a tip. It's the grateful smile of somebody we just made happy by giving him directions in the city, or holding open the door for them. It's just a token of gratitude. Some readers might have never thought about it. They don't think about how much effort it must have taken to write a chapter, chart a story, plan different branches. And rightly so - why should they? But some do react after being nudged, or winked at or smiled at, or whatever metaphor you want to use for these "call to actions".
Some here mentioned that they hate these paragraphs because they distract from reading. That might be true, especially given what I said earlier about how I myself sometimes forget to hand out a like, because I am captivated in the story. On the other hand - is it really a distraction, if the author talks to you in a footnote? If said footnote is marked clearly as something different (set in italic, etc.), then you can easily ignore it, just as you ignore the blinking ad at the bottom of each chapter, or all that other stuff on the site. I personally like it, if an author talks to me. I love to read acknowledgements at the end of a book, or a brief personal chapter. Obviously, tastes are different, of course.
Yes, I do occasionally use this "call to action". My important rules are that I never bluntly and pushy ask to Like!Like!Like! my chapter and mine alone, but instead raise awareness how handing out likes makes authors on CHYOA happy. Not only me, but probably everybody (even those here who say they don't really care). Granted, the chance that they will click "like" on my chapter now is higher than that they will do it two days later at someone else's chapter - but I strongly believe that they might remember, at least a bit. My second rule is that this "call to action" is, hopefully, written in a smooth, entertaining way, maybe even picking up some aspect of the story. It should not feel like an annoying advertising sign, but like something clever, personal. A message from the author.
Not only do I see "like fishing" NOT as cheating, I actually think that we all as authors would help and support each other if we'd do it more often. It's good to raise awareness among readers. Especially in an environment where so many people work dedicatedly and passionately for absolutely no money.
