Ok, so TIL I am not very good at forum replies. Sorry if you got two notifications while I struggled to figure out multireplies for the first time lol.
Glad it's starting to grow for you, and thanks for the encouragement! If you're planning on trying Webtoons, I would actually suggest trying to update on a regular schedule, as most comics on there (including mine) update that way.
A really good thing to know is that on Webtoon, the most recently updated comics appear at the top of their respective genre lists (when sorting by "date," which is somewhat common). Because of this, spacing out your posts and making them more regular is good for getting your comic seen more often. It's also nice seeing your comic next to some of the bigger ones.
Just try to pick an update time where you can get to your computer every so often (according to your schedule) and click the publish button. It's a pain, but hey that's Webtoon.
Good luck! (Also sorry for late reply).
Good points!
- Anime-style comics do best
Definitely.
- Comics about people do better than those about animals.
Personally, I'd say it depends on where you post it, and the style. There are some animal comics that have deep stories that are kind of hard to get into, but there are others with short, skit-style ideas that have larger followings (e.g. Awoocomic, False Knees, etc.)
- Tapas is heavy on BL, romance, with a thread of independent comics.
Yeah, for sure. It's simultaneously easy and difficult to stand out in that situation.
- All these platforms are about socializing/making friends who will support you and hopefully give you enough visibility to garner a spotlight.
Definitely. This is why I suspect more typical social media is for the most part doing better for me than the dedicated comic sites.
- Marketing to a niche, beyond comics, if possible, is often a good strategy.
Yeah, this is where most of my success has come from as well. At least with animal comics finding the right niche is pretty easy, in my experiences.
- Webcomic audiences, especially on the larger platforms, are a little bit like category romance readers. They're usually not looking to be challenged or try new stuff. They like what they like and want more of the same.
Yeah, that is a problem. I consider that issue a prompt to focus more on the non-comic social media platforms more (ie. Instagram).
That's interesting. I think another important factor is (from what I hear and have experienced):
Webtoon is more comfortable for readers. The app UI on mobile is (IMO) easier to use. If you have a comic that updates frequently it'll be easier for readers to keep up on Webtoon.
Tapas is easier for creators, because it has features like scheduling, png uploads, and larger file sizes. It's better for more in-depth stories where visual detail is important, at least from what I've seen. This is probably also why I haven't found as many comics to read on Tapas as on Webtoon.
That is definitely possible. I've been meaning to experiment even more than I have already with different times for different platforms.
That's a good insight! I definitely intend to experiment with timing more. I can definitely agree with Tapas being less organized and harder to navigate from a reader's standpoint (even I prefer reading on Webtoon myself).
Lol, thanks to this forum topic (and the people who viewed it) I did gain a couple new readers over the last few days, which I really appreciate. The forum is definitely a key piece of my perseverance on this platform. It's the best of its kind.
I don't think you should give up though! I've been working with running brand pages since 2014 (just not for comics) and it always takes a good amount of time (usually at least a year) to truly hit a curve of growth. You have to keep at it and be adaptable!
That's an interesting experience. Huh. Looking at your comic though, I think I know one potential reason. The genres you picked for your comic are some of the more saturated genres on Webtoon, and as such it might get buried pretty quickly in the "recent" sort option (which is the only one newer comics have a chance to be seen in, honestly). I would suggest trying to change one of your genres to something smaller. You can actually see how many comics are in a genre if you look on the mobile app. Anything under 2000 is usually a good choice.
For example, my comic is set to Comedy (which is saturated) and Animal (which is not very saturated at all, there are only around 30 comics I have to compete with regularly). I get most of my views from people who are clearly animal fans.
On Instagram, if possible I would suggest trying the $3 promotion over 3 days ($1/day) strategy I've been trying. It's helped me grow but not too fast and it allows me to make adjustments to my marketing over time. Just make sure you do some good research into what audience is best suited for your comic.
I'm glad it helps! The responses are definitely encouraging and helpful. To make consistency easier, I suggest trying to make a content buffer so you have a few weeks worth of comics ready in advance. That way when life is busy, you can still update regularly and maintain consistency. My comic is simple, so I have upwards of 2 months worth of posts ready at any given time.
Creating a buffer would make you feel less stressed in the long run, plus it's a good way to practice your art style without any pressure. If you still consider yourself small at the moment, it might not hurt to take a break from publishing to create a buffer, then once you get back you'll be way ahead of the game.
It's up to your perspective though. Looking at your (great!) comic and its description it looks like you make them as real life inspires you. In that case making a buffer might not be as realistic, but if it is, you'll be less stressed and you'll have a chance to get back that enjoyment, which arguably is more important than anything else.
Good luck! And key lime pie is another one of my favorites too!
Thus concludes the longest reply ever written, lol.