Advice on earning new readers?

[MegaStorm252]

Hey!

I've recently began a web series on here called 'Secret Identity Shorts' and it hasn't been receiving many reads and especially no comments. I know it's still early days, but I was wondering if anybody has any advice or suggestions on reaching an audience who would enjoy the type of comic I make?

I've linked the newest chapter here for people to glance over and check out for reference.

Thanks!

https://tapastic.com/episode/397891

[JessJackdaw]

Don't get discouraged! It takes a lot of time for webcomics to get a significant number of followers! With 4 pages, it's still a bit early for readers to get invested, but the important thing is that you keep with it!

All webcomics are like seeds. Sometimes it just takes a bit of time and effort to really get them growing!

[BlackMantaStudios]

There has been a number of few similar threads before, but I can't find where they are right now. In any case, just keep updating and the readership will slowly build up. Luck plays a significant role in attracting new subs/readers too, so there can't really be one foolproof way of acquiring 'em, so your only choice is to maximize your visibility and reach. I advise that you go read and comment on other people's stuff, but never to shamelessly plug your own series--that's obviously bad form. Try being active on the fora too, linking your comic where appropriate. If you're on social media networks, you can use them to your advantage. While you're at it, keep improving on your craft.

That's all the pointers I have.

[Kayke]

Here is a link you might find helpful

Are you new here? - Advice for creators starting on Tapastic

[J.Z.Castillo]

I know living in this age of instant validation (facebook likes, instagram likes, etc) it's really weird when we post something and it's not immediately recognized. I am like that sometimes! You are still sooo new here that it's really soon to start to worry about getting your comic to be big. About the comment situation, don't worry about it, you'll probably won't see many comments until you hit the 500 subs mark (I'm at 300 and I JUST started getting more people commenting on my stuff). It's a process and it takes time, so don't give up!!

How can you reach out to more people? Be active in the community, comment on other people's comics (not to advertise but genuinely because you want to comment). There have been times when I see a person often in the comments on other comics and curiosity makes me click their name, and they happen to have a series, and that series happens to interest me, so I subscribe to them. It's "simple" stuff like that, and I say "simple" in quotation marks because it really comes down to chance. But, yeah, be active on the forums, on Tapastic, and keep pumping out content. Also talk about it on your social media since word gets around faster there. Also, use your friends and family (black-mail them if you have to, it worked for me!) and ask them to share your comic on their social media accounts!

I am telling you now, though, gaining subs is not a night-to-day process. Like everything, you have to put in hard work to make your comic grow! Just don't get discouraged when you don't see the results you want, just keep working hard at it and eventually you'll reach your goals! (I realize that sounds like a cliche shounen thing MC-shounen-guy-with-pink-or-red-hair would say, but it's the truth!)

[jono_thompson]

I'm new to Tapastic too, been on here for a week - but have been drawing comics for 10+ years.
It's a slow crawl for me to get subscribers too, and with patience hopefully I can gain a substantial audience.
However in terms of views, I found a neat trick - draw comics on trending topics (and tag them).
I did a little experiment a couple of days ago, drawing a couple of comics on Pokemon Go (link here), which is a very hot topic all over the globe at this current moment. I shared it to social media with the tag linked to the topic of Pokemon Go and had a huge surge in views - as opposed to what I was use to. As of now the view count for both of them is almost 600 views.
However, this did not affect my likes, comments and subscribers on Tapastic - they stayed at normal levels - as the outside audience needs to create an account in order to do that.
I only recommend this method only if you just want to build circulation (views) over dedicated followers/supporters.
Also, and I can't stress this enough, don't do this if it does against your normal comic style and story. For me, I just do gag strips, so it's easy for me to just do short humorous strips, on trending topics (now and then) without consequence of it affecting my comic overall.
The truth is, as other are saying, it is a long haul to having dedicated supporters, and there is no 'quick fix' way to do this. I don't personally have any experience with a large follower base - but I believe 'the popular ones' started out just like us and slowly built up an audience.

[mariusthered]

join in Comicbookhour on twitter Link here that will help get you out there a bit and there is also webcomic chat on twitter link here
and you could put yourself forward to have a interview with best web comics that also gets your name about Link here

And if you want you could take part in my comics on pj's wall
Link to thread.

hope this helps

[Rhyzue]

Welcome to Tapastic! I'm also new here, but I've been finding Tapastic a very friendly place.
Sites like Tapastic are as much social media as art - so make sure your art is good quality and that you go around the forums often. Also, remember to check out Tapas's guide to creating comics:
https://tapastic.com/series/Creator
Hope I helped!

[MissMagicGirl]

I read, commented and subscribed to you comic. I like it a lot. The humor reminds me of my comic haha. Keep up the great work and link to you comic everywhere. Not everyone has tapastic so upload it to other sites as well to gain different audiences on different sites. Good luck! I look forward to more pages from you

[demthorshie]

It's a little discouraging when you first join Tapastic, especially when you see all the subscribers that the more popular comics have! I think the best way to get more readers is to keep your comic interesting, provide your readers high-quality content (art and dialogue), be consistent with the timing of your comic's uploads and make friends on social media. Twitter is my favorite at the moment. Other than that, you just have to be patient and keep at it I guess .

[ahkwardkat]

That is like telling people to sell out. Selling out is NOT the way to go. They might end up being known for things they don't want to be known for . Take Sakimichan for example. They sold out to NSFW and Fanart and Fanart+NSFW drawings and got at one point almost 80,000$ a MONTH. And while that money is appealing, she got know for that. Dunno about you but I don't want to be known for fanart. I want to be known for MY comic and MY original stuff. Luring people to you via selling out is helpful short term, but for most of them, as soon as you stop making that material they came ot you for, they'll leave. It happened with me when I was in my anime weaboo phase. As soon as I stopped, my watcher count was cut in Half, easily. Sakimichan has lost easily 10-20k a month by not doing as much fanart and more original, still nsfw... but not as much fanart...

So selling out is great ways to gain short term attention, but not a good way to get long term followers and supports who actually care about YOUR cause.

[jono_thompson]

@ahkwardkat this is why I stated this:

I only recommend this method only if you just want to build circulation (views) over dedicated followers/supporters. Also, and I can't stress this enough, don't do this if it does against your normal comic style and story.

I'm not saying you should 'sell out'. Quite the opposite really, I only think this approach works if your comic is set-up in a way that doesn't take away from itself or damage it.

For me, I just need to get my comics out there as hardly anyone has seen/read them - so are a lot less likely to follow and support me unless they are familiar with the comic. It's a common idea in advertising where it is said that the average consumer has to see an advertisement at least 3 times before he will pay attention or care about what it is saying.

[JessJackdaw]

@ahkwardkat Kat, I love you, but... erm, are you feeling okay? I know fanart is a touchy subject, but if people want to do it, you can't really stop them. Jono is still sort of figuring out what's best for his comic, and if he wants to comment on what's hot right now, he and anyone else is free to do so.

I know you personally feel you want to be known only for your original work, but... not every artist is this way. Many use art as a way of expressing their love for something. Just like you likely express your love of birds through your comic's characters, others draw art of their favorite things too and enjoy it just as much. It doesn't necessarily mean they're selling out.

Some people honestly like drawing porn. Others really like drawing game or anime characters.

Is it easier to get popular this way? Yes, certainly without a doubt, but that's just the way of the world. I think it's great people can make money doing what they love. Heck, if you can make money making art that's an achievement in itself!

So in short, artists will make art. Whether you want to carve your own path with originality or just have fun making art of things you love, we're all out to have fun with the medium in our own way. : > If people are honestly making art to only sellout their skills, ehh, who cares? I'll just be over here improving my own craft making both fanart (because I like to) and making original stuff too!

[ahkwardkat]

@jono_thompson I read what you wrote, but I guess I don't like the idea of even suggesting it? I understand using it to get attention for yourself and your comic.... I guess I see it (fanart) as a cheap gimmick, but that's me personally.

@JessJackdaw

Doing it because you legit love the idea or having something to say is totally ok though, even I do it from time to time, but I don't do it as a way to attract people to me. Other wise it isn't really fanart.. it's gimmick-attention art I guess? That was more my point.

I've spoken to a lot of people, especially on patreon who have told me they do it ONLY for attention and advertising, they don't even know what the series are about and who the characters are. It is literally being used as a gimmick and THAT is the part I have an issue with.

I'm the sort of person I extremely dislike honesty, and I don't follow or support people who use it as a lure tool. I just can't, it seems immoral and wrong to use it that way. However if that person legit is making it for fun and they make money that way and it works out they can draw fanart they love and get paid for it, more power to them! That's great they can enjoy what they do and be paid for it. I sell fanart at cons myself, but my focus is always the comic and it takes up like 90% of my table and the prints a small book at the end. But it isn't what I make sure people see the most of. Plus I only draw series I know and love, though many of those are old series and movies that ended long ago.

[J.Z.Castillo]

I draw my OCs in porny scenarios that would never make the comic (because it's not the tone of the comic obvi, and it would just be distracting) sometimes as bonus things for readers. It usually gets me 10-15 followers lol. I don't consider that selling out, that's me catering to the thirst of these people, lord knows they are parched sometimes.

Here's an example of my most recent raunchy raunch slightly nsfw, (but I work in a pretty chill environment so I really don't know what nsfw means to people).

[quakeulf]

I gave up and am now only drawing for myself.