Casual readers VS dedicated fans

keii4ii 2015-08-05 23:06:36 UTC #1

Many of us are concerned about the number of subscribers, and it's very understandable. But what about the kind of readers you have?

Are you ever worried that you may not have many, or even ANY, fans who are truly invested in the story you want to tell?
For those of you who already have dedicated fans... got any advice?

Of course, the best advice is to make your comic better, while still being faithful to your story. That's always easier said than done, though...

Edit: Investment is not equal to engagement.

They're related, but are not the same thing. You can have a silent reader who loves your comic more than anything else in the world. That love is investment, and that is what I want to talk about. (though obviously, we can't talk about it without talking about engagement... After all, if they never engage, a creator has no way of knowing about their investment)

noxfox 2015-08-05 23:34:00 UTC #2

I've recently launched a giveaway that can be entered by answering a few questions (as many as people want to answer) through a form. When it came to writing questions about my series, I realized that most of those I had imagined, I didn't want to ask them because I was afraid of the answers I might get. Afraid to realize that maybe many of my readers didn't understand the story or the characters, or didn't care for the plot at all... I prefer not to know if they happen to get everything all wrong.

I don't hope for all my readers to be dedicated fans but it's true I feel much happier when I see those who are following the story and really getting to know the characters more deeply. I treasure those persons, they mean a lot to me. Still, I also have a lot of appreciation for those who might be a bit less invested in understanding, but are invested in the community, if I can say so. I really like when I see readers starting to talk with each other because it makes me feel like I managed to bring people together a bit. Maybe some of them are getting acquainted thanks to my series (and others on Tap) and that's somehow very rewarding.

I guess it's because, as a reader, I tend to be very excited and need to talk about all those feelings I have. When I'm done reading, I don't want the entertainment to stop, and so commenting and replying to other readers allows me to fuel the excitement, share it. That's why I try to reply to all the persons who comment on my series, to fuel this emulation... even if it's silly sometimes.

I guess that seeing people happy matters more to me in the end than that they understand my story in depth. Understanding is awesome, it makes me fulfilled, but triggering emotions makes me proud and blissful. I find it a proof of dedication when people keep on commenting page after page, talking with each other, having fun. Sure it annoys me when everybody seems to miss an important point because they're too focused on Speckles being cuter than I expected... but somewhere I'm sure that there's always a part of them who just doesn't find the words to tell about the deeper topics and so simply follow with the "awws".

So my pro tip would also be: keep faith in your audience!
Sometimes they just don't know how to express it, but they get the thing. That's why they keep on reading and liking.

PotooGryphon 2015-08-05 23:37:23 UTC #3

Great point/question!

It was nerve wrecking in the beginning when I just had silent readers that didn't engage with the comic at all, just read and left, because I have no idea how to improve from that. Feedback is key is certain areas.

Other than creating the best content you can, I think it's also important to be engaging to get active dedicated fans. So far my method to that has been to be open and active with my readers. Talk to them, take an interest in them, check out their comic (if they have one) and give support, do fun activities just for the fans, and asking them question to help get a dialog going.

The readers on Tapastic are super great for being so open to being engaging with us creators. I haven't seen this on many other sites, and it's something I hope to never take for granted.

I think fan appreciation is key to getting dedicated awesome supportive fans back.

noxfox 2015-08-05 23:40:54 UTC #4

Those are very good detailed points!! OuO

PotooGryphon 2015-08-05 23:45:24 UTC #5

You as well! Your form idea was very interesting and something I might look into doing one day (I was one of those fans that took your survey <3 )

Fans and being engaging content creators has been something I've discussed a lot with other creators all over the internet. I even asked the question here on the Tapastic thread and got a lot of great response back to it. (it's the first question in the Webcomic Shop Talk thread):

dakotasapphire 2015-08-06 00:41:39 UTC #6

Hey there. I KNOW I have ONE dedicated subscriber (we became online friends on inkblazers and have always been checking each others stuff out since). The others, not so much. I only have 8 subscribers right now. And it's understandable since i've only added a few episodes, and my art isn't up to 'standard' and I have a long way to go with it. I do feel sad about not knowing or the lack of subscriptions I have. But i'm just posting my stuff and committing to it to gain knowledge and experience and get better at my art and writing/drawing comics.

keii4ii 2015-08-06 01:01:58 UTC #7

I think we may be talking about two different, though highly related, topics. Being an invested reader doesn't necessarily entail commenting or even liking a lot. I've commented and liked comics without being a super hardcore fan, and the flipside is true as well; I don't express my love for all of my top favorites. Some of my dearest favorites are just so perfect, they leave me speechless, and I don't want to do fanarts for them because there's nothing I can add.

Of course, if they never engage, you'll never know they exist regardless of how invested they may be. The two issues are definitely connected.

keii4ii 2015-08-06 01:06:40 UTC #8

But does the comic stay with them after they've hit 'like'? Or do people just forget about its existence until the next time it pops up in their update feed? What can I do, as the creator, to make my comic something more than a 5-second entertainment? To make people remember it and talk about it even after the ending?

I've been working on a feedback form as well. What kind of questions would you recommend for the form?

Little_Bigfoot 2015-08-06 02:06:36 UTC #9

I am a very dedicated fans of some creators, and I'm a Big Follower of Mika Weiseth at the point that I'm asking for money to my friends so I can support her. I don't think that casual readers belong here to Tapastic.

keii4ii 2015-08-06 02:37:07 UTC #10

I don't think that's quite true. I am a casual reader for some of the comics I follow here, and I definitely appreciate all of my readers, including casual ones.

UzukiCheverie 2015-08-06 03:14:11 UTC #11

Uh . . . what? Tapastic's very system is built on both regular and casual readers. The mobile app was built for casual readers. Just because some readers aren't throwing money around doesn't mean they're any less dedicated to the series than you (especially because some of these people just can't support with money, which is completely understandable.)

It depends on the comic. I'll read stories like A Better Place, Plastic Kings, and Monster Pop religiously. But then the ones I don't feel as dedicated to, I'll read just whenever I feel like it, ex. A Gentleman's Armchair, Lunarbaboon, etc. It has everything to do with your preferences and tastes and reading habits, and nothing to do with how much money you may or may not be willing to give to a creator (I'm sorry if I'm taking what you said the wrong way, that's just how it came across to me).

As long as my readers enjoy my comics and return for updates and I get the feeling they actually enjoy reading the stories and jokes I write, that's all I can really ask. The monetary support and ad revenue is just an awesome bonus that Tapastic offers (and not a lot of other websites can proudly talk about that).

I have a nice mix of casual readers and dedicated fans. The dedicated ones I find are the same ones that come in and comment every day (I can name off quite a few cough hyena421, amet, Saru-Hime etc etc. cough) but I also have the same readers who simply read, leave a like, and then check back again tomorrow. And then I have readers who are a mix of both - they come in and read every day, hell, some of them even support, but they don't comment much (but when they do, it's usually because they're genuinely interested or curious in what they're reading, which is a fun progression to watch as the story unfolds).

Advice? Make your readers feel like you care. Don't be one of those creators who can only seem to find the time to post and run. I see too many creators who do that and it rubs me off the wrong way something fierce. I get it, some artists are SUPER busy, but if you can't even make the time for the reason why you're so busy in the first place, then you're abandoning your roots and taking what could have basically been a miracle for granted.

Whenever you can, WHENEVER you possibly can or feel the urge to or have the time to, do different things for your readers. Host fun livestreams. Do Q&A's. Do some fun contest giveaways. If you really have time, do some guest strips or something. Just do something to let your readers know that yes, they matter, and yes, there is an actual person who is making these comics they love, and this actual person is damn grateful for every single one of you, even the ones who may not comment or support or whatever. Make them feel like they aren't just numbers. If you can't find the time, make the time. They're one of the biggest reasons you are where you are today.

It's one thing to be a creator who's part of a website; it's a whole other thing to be a creator who's part of a community.

ratique 2015-08-06 03:15:08 UTC #12

...I don't know if I have even one dedicated fan that looks forward to my updates. I realize that some subscribers at least look at them and some post comments regularly (that alone is already quite impressive to me). But they could just be supportive - who knows if they consider themselves to be a true "fan".

I myself am a dedicated fan of Perpetual Flux, a series that just hits me at all the right places in my comic lover heart. But the creators obviously don't know how much I love it and how often I check their actual website, because I never told them.

In the end only time will tell if my comic will be able to gain dedicated fans, because they will be the ones that stick around. They will read the comic even years after it's start. They will return month after month to see if there is something new to read.

So... ask me again in 2 years. : D

AnnaLandin 2015-08-06 05:42:35 UTC #14

Of course I'm worried that there's a bunch of my subscribers who simply have it in their reading list, but rarely read and never engage with it - but I can't be running around demanding they are prioritize my comic - there are a LOT of wonderful comics here to contend with, after all.

I do seem to have a core group of dedicated fans, though, I know that. Heck, I've even got Supporters who think my comic is nice enough to throw money at me!

The number of times my comic pages get shared has gone up lately - and sharing is a more active kind of appreciation than merely liking a page, after all. It means they're trying to get others to read it, which is nice and encouraging.

I've got readers who comment on pages - some of them regularly, some of them only occasionally. I try to answer as many of them as I have time to (at least the ones asking questions, or telling jokes, or being confused about something; I don't reply to ALL the "Oooh, I like this!"-comments), and if I can't find the time to reply individually, I try to reply in general in the author's comments of the next page. The number of comments per page has gone up as well, showing a growing number of people wanting to participate.

When I get a new subscriber, I post a thank-you picture on their wall - which a.) shows my appreciation for them, whether they're an actively engaged reader or not, and b.) lets other people see my art when they click on that person's profile, and maybe get interested in reading my comic. I've certainly found a few of the comics on my reading list that way.

My experience with Tapastic has been that you don't need to encourage people to comment - they do it anyway. The best way to keep those commenting readers engaged is to, well, talk to them. Answer their questions, respond to their comments as best you can. Show yourself to be nice and friendly, and you can encourage the readers who are a bit shy about engaging that it's perfectly nice! Also, asking questions to your readers in the author's comment below the page works too - it gives people something specific to respond to.

I also post thank-you pictures on my wall for every 100 subs I get, and thank my subscribers. This shows my appreciation for them, and I think helps them feel welcome and important - which they are!

I appreciate all of my readers, whether they're casual or dedicated. Just knowing that people are reading my comic is really nice - it's what I'm doing this for.

keii4ii 2015-08-06 05:57:41 UTC #15

This is 100% true for me too, and probably for the vast majority of creators out there. But that doesn't mean I have no desire to create a story that really matters to people.

This isn't about engaging, though. Engaging is important because it's often the only way we can confirm the existence of investment, but it's different from investment.

I believe the only way to encourage investment is to make a great comic that speaks to people (whether or not they speak back to the author). To that end, I've been seeking critiques, but it's been difficult. Maybe I should create a new thread on how to best seek critiques/feedback...?

AnnaLandin 2015-08-06 06:18:55 UTC #16

Yeah, engagement has to be my yardstick for investment, because there is no other way for me to know. To see the view-counter on my Ad-Program tick upwards only tells me people are scrolling through the comic; it tells me nothing about whether they like what I'm doing or not, or whether it's remotely important to them.

My goal has always been to create a story that matters to people - because it matters to me. I get seriously emotional when I think about my comic - and if other people get that way too, well, then I've truly achieved something. But unless they tell me, I can't know.

ratique 2015-08-06 06:26:51 UTC #17

It is difficult. Probably one of the most difficult things out there once you reached a certain level of skill. A really good critique is very hard to come by, because there are only few people who can spot issues but are also okay with being honest with you.

If a critique is what you are looking for, I would definitely write one for you if you want it. You want to improve and that deserves all the support we can give you. Also: You washed my back, I wash yours... errr... that's how that saying goes, right?

mappypaint 2015-08-06 07:08:13 UTC #18

I also appreciate all the subscribers I get, casual and dedicated. I make sure to send thank you drawings for every new ones that subscribed. Now whether they read my story or not is a big question mark. I wouldn't know, stats might show spikes but there's no way to find out who of them has read it. All I can do is hope that they enjoy it and also hope that I made them happy. Then there are those dedicated ones, showing their appreciation through comments, likes, and shares. You will know if they are reading judging by their comments (it's fun when they try to guess what will happen next in the story XD). I make sure I reply to them too, I don't want them to feel that i'm ignoring them.

I appreciate them both but I would give more to the dedicated ones than the casuals. To show my appreciation to them, sometimes I would draw their characters (if they have one) in the backgrounds, replying to their comments, making fan art for their comics (again if they have one), etc.

Now if I have to choose between 100 silent subscribers vs 1 dedicated fan... i'll go with the dedicated fan.XD

UzukiCheverie 2015-08-06 12:32:17 UTC #19

Aside from the willingness of giving honest opinions, some people just don't know how to properly critique a work either (even when they try). They just don't know the proper etiquette or format to critiquing artwork or writing, and often leads to just stuff like "I like it because the art is pretty and the writing is funny." (<<< often times they just don't know how to describe what they specifically like, or don't know the right words, like when it comes to talking about composition, lighting, linework, etc.)

And then there's the willingness to TAKE critiques, which is a whole other can of worms lol Some people just have a hard time reacting to different people's opinions of their work, positive and negative, which, yeah, can be hard for anyone, especially if the comic is really important to them or they consider themselves to be at a level where they shouldn't be hearing anything that isn't "I LOVE YOUR ART AAAH"

Buuut I digress.

Little_Bigfoot 2015-08-06 14:27:39 UTC #20

When I said that, I meaned for those who are only posers. They read comics, because it's popular. I have nothig with the ones who read a comic once in a while.

JigokuNeko 2015-08-06 15:52:27 UTC #21

I won't lie; the dedicated fans are what keep me doing what I'm doing. If people didn't respond emotionally to my stories, I'd probably still keep doing them but not as frequently or as passionately. Telling a story in a silent void is not fun.

As for how to get people to engage...
a) give them interesting characters:
People will read a story for great art, cool worldbuilding and a fresh plot but ultimately what will make them love it are the characters. Memorable characters that feel alive are what makes readers check for updates....well, at least that is what my experience tells me. The most beloved stories (in any medium actually) aren't loved for their plot structure or excellent composition, they are loved for their iconic characters.

b) be a gracious hostess:
What I love about webcomics is the social aspect. Having a party in the comments section sometimes makes my day. Replying to people and having good-natured fun with them will make more people want to join in. By contrast, if an author is being a dick, not bothering and generally not making an effort, that turns people off. I've personally unfollowed comics because I hated the toxicity of their interactions with their fans. If a prospective friend came over to your house and you just sat there ignoring them and playing video games chances are they probably wouldn't come again. Well, they might if your house was a mansion with a pool but they wouldn't come for the friendship.