Building an Audience: tips on how I got 30k subscribers on Webtoon and Tapas

[summermcallen]

ah ok thank you. <3
Social media sadly didn’t work by me
I tried it for so long, but don’t get follower and nearly no likes or retweets, even when I use the hashtags to support webtoons.
I think that works mostly only for accounts with a lot follower. Some accounts only get fucked up from the twitter algorithm XD

[ml_eaden]

This is great advice! I started by writing on blogspot, and then moved to Tapas. I've had more engagement on Tapas, but not much. I like Tapas as a episodic platform. It's much easier than posting to blogspot. I haven't started an instagram, but twitter has been fairly helpful, and posting on the tapas forums have worked well too. I'm working on a more professional cover - which I know is very important. I'm looking forward to doing more projects here. Thanks for the forum post!

[Humbug]

I havent had any luck on Twitter and Instagram and I've been using relevant hashtags. I've got the numbers I have now because I have been featured briefly on both sites, but I cannot seem to grow organically on social media. I'm pretty sure I know my audience, but I have no idea how to reach them.

I only have the first two points down, but that's only helping me so much.

[byelacey]

A lot of the growth I could control on twitter came from interacting with other creators. Start following webcomic creators, comment on their posts, and make yourself known! Admittedly, hashtags can really be tough on twitter on account of their "top" feature boosting already popular creators to the top of the hashtag. The big accounts get all the eyes.

Sometimes, folks do art share threads where they ask you to post your art and they'll retweet it! I did one for webcomics a bit ago, and you've inspired me to make another!

Here it is: https://twitter.com/byelacey/status/1295444793171083264

[domisotto]

I do, but folks are promoting their stuff, hoping to make a sale, they are not there to find someone else to read.

And, well, I rarely get likes or retweets when I advertise--honestly, I think people are actually less likely to want to read you if you advertise your book, no matter how clever a quote or a pitch I put in.

There is always this dead silence apart from my already existing nice friends.

The other day, i hit my Twitter best with 167 people liking my first line from the 'Write the first line for a novel inspired by this picture" and that made zero difference in people looking at my profile/links to my books. Only 3(!) out of these 167 people retweeted my line. Probably zero of them visited my profile.

Social Media just baffles me. I end up talking about what interests me on Twitter, but it doesn't translate at all in my readership numbers.

[byelacey]

Well, let me give you a boost. Maybe I have readers who want to read your comic. https://twitter.com/byelacey/status/1295444793171083264

[domisotto]

I write novels, so I can't really participate

[byelacey]

Oh shoot! Sorry I assumed.

[foxnflames]

Social media boosting can be beneficial, whether comic or novel creator. Plenty of people read both. I’ve seen some topics where people post their social media accounts. Wouldn’t hurt to help each other promote and gain followers.

Of course, this is on top of engaging outside of the forums under comments on our updates and such. Increase your visibility so people will say “hey I know that profile, I see it everywhere.” Some people shout each other out in their author's notes (I got a sub that way). Definitely don’t beg people to do so, but it’s another option

[byelacey]

Actually you know what, if you wanna post your novel links I'll boost it too! I tend to forget tapas has a thriving novel community, my head's always in comics. T_T

[domisotto]

Oh, I do that, but the only SM I really grew comfortable with are forums, because one can actually talk about writing.

[domisotto]

Thank you. I am just starting

[foxnflames]

I had to start over on twitter so I lost all my followers. So I’m ever so slowly getting back up there. I like the forums too but I want to tap into the non creator audience of tapas. As far as people to talk about regarding writing, I’m fine here

[foxnflames]

You could do the same for novels: pitch, link and cover art (if you wanted to)

[domisotto]

And thank you for the retweet, much appreciated!

[byelacey]

yeah!! i tend to only think in comics sometimes and that's my bad! I'll also boost novels!

[WolfUnderTheMoon89]

Thank you for sharing and I read through the thread. also Thank you for the support you give others!
For me: Thank you for the amazing advice about Twitter

[domisotto]

I have a modest following, but they sure don't follow me to read my immortal prose. In fact, I consider it one of the mysteries of the universe why people follow me.

[byelacey]

I got a lot of my twitter platform from corny jokes might as well do something with it!

[foxnflames]

That works! I’ll follow you and idk if you want this thread clogged with novel links or if you want to make a separate one.