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Dec 2023

Heyo, it's been a while since I've posted here :hype_01:

I've mainly just been working on comic stuff (as we do on here LMAO) and was feeling very happy with the growth of my comic, especially concidering how much work marketing is! And as most of us on here are small comic creators, I think we all understand how hard it is to build an audience for your comic.

Something I've been noticing for a while is that (this may sound a lil depressing) but some comics will reach success without having to do a ton of heavy lifting. Looking at the popular webtoons on canvas or even tapas, it's kinda undeniable that BL seems to sneak its way to the top spot in so many genres. And I get why! Like it isn't rocket science to see that's what people are looking for in indie comics, especially with romance being popular and being able to find queer rep in comics you'll enjoy. Hell, that's why I love making queer horror comics/novels.

But, I would be lying if I said that it isn't a bit discouraging to see a comic with like five to ten episodes out, marked as bl in the horror genre (speaking from my own experience) which has gained so much traction so quickly. And, they sometimes barely qualify for that genre. (Finding popular horror comics that are actually cute slice of lifes is not as uncommon as you may think!)

Obviously- good for the creators. I'm happy that they're making work they enjoy and doing well. But sometimes I think about the sheer amount of work it takes to market a comic in a genre that's less popular and sought after. And knowing that you'll be busting your ass to build an audience for your comic while it's significantly easier for others. Like me not having any romance in my comic isn't doing me any favours!

(and watching an old romancy comic that I haven't updated in three years still gain readers makes me sigh a little, but tbh I can definitely use that to my advantage in the future lmao)

Idk. it's interesting. Obviously this is no shade to anyone who makes comics in these genres, but I find it interesting to look into why comics gain traction, and looking at what audiences search for in comics.

But also- I'd say a thing to concider is that the audiences for the genres are different. They have different expectations and preferences.

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    Dec '23
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    Dec '23
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Personally I’d like to see Tapas make it so that the other genres you pick for a series actually mean something. The way it is now you can choose 3 genres but only one main one, and that main one is the only one that counts for anything at all. You should be able to set Horror as your main genre and maybe LGBTQ or Comedy or whatever as secondary genres, and the series should show up in all if the chosen genres.

I guess what I’m saying is that Tapas genres are too broad. There are dozens of types of horror. There are dozens of types of comedy. There are dozens of types of romance. Dozens of types of LGBTQ content. Tapas should allow people to choose genres that better fit their stories.

I know what you mean. As someone who also has a comic in the thriller/horror section, it really does feel like the reader base is tiny. My comic tends to hover consistently around number 15-40 in the popular section, but I hardly get any new readers for it. It's difficult to not constantly question your own skills/material (like if my old first chapter is the real horror in my story, scaring away people... LOL), and to also wonder how much luck plays into success. And if luck will ever decide to be on your side. :sweat_smile:

It is incredibly frustrating to watch other people float to the top with ease, but it's important to remember that success is a bad teacher. As you struggle to overcome difficulties, you'll learn skill sets that you can carry with yourself anywhere in life, not just in comics.

Hey! Didn't recognize the new face for a sec! Missed ya!

Yeah, genre and target audiences are difficult to pin down. I suppose BL/Romance is so popular because it's oversaturated and I guess people want to escape and romanticize instead of dealing with everyday problems (the real horror show). Tho given how AI is fecking artists and everything else, I have reason to suspect that some of these viral growths are not all genuine views, but I could be wrong on that.

I feel like the forums are the best marketing place for anyone, and tho I initially thought the use of tags were useless, I have thought about using them more to take advantage of SEO and filters, which I feel narrows down series besides genre.

For example, in some posts, I've left the generic tags with my link
Dramedy, Drama, Comedy

Then, I picked a few broader themes,
Family, Order, Belonging, Modern_Day

I'll admit though that it feels like guessing how your story encompasses certain themes, and it's kinda hit-or-miss. Like searching for subreddits that I don't know exist, yeesh!

Then, detailed things, that include subjects/title/anything really that some populations are interested in.
Friar, Chicken, fryer, animals, animal_welfare

And, because it's comedy, a few joke tags that actually don't serve a purpose, just captures a viewer's attention, if they actually read the post.
not_the_Colonel, chicken_religion,

^Nothing will actually come up if they search these last terms, to be fair, but it's sorta my way of leaving a subliminal footprint in their subconscious, if ever they feel tempted to search.
But a few of these are actually tags I've got in my description, though I may go back and change/edit a few for the heck of it. It isn't perfect, but they can be a tool. albeit a mildy annoying one.

At the end of the day though, people are biased, they know what they want before they put the search terms into google, or tapas, or any search engine, and no amount of SEO can help if your story doesn't reflect what the so-called "target" wants/expects. I don't hate BL, or LGBT fiction, but it's the trend of the modern day, least for a little while, and it'll be at the top for some time.

Not sure my tags/advice help tbh, but I'm finding that the best way to get attention on the Internet, is to be a cancer, and it's no one's fault, but everyone's, lol. I still like my niche, and I'm experimenting with tags/whatevers on other platforms. Only time will tell if I get lucky.

And I wish the very best of luck, work, tag-BS, and prosperity to all of you. I'm a fan of you three atm, and I love what y'all do, despite "popularity". Long as Tapas keeps existing, and the communities here stay together, we'll get somewhere, even if by inches...

Back to drawing!

Yes, it definitely plants a seed of frustration in oneself to witness that. But do keep in mind that lots of popular series are made by creators who have large followings on other platforms and social media. Or they have made series before and have had the time to know what clicks for an audience.

As for this

Tapas doesn't do this for the very reason of preventing a popular series from showing up across 3 whole genres. Like if you're tired of seeing a series dominate the top spot in one genre, imagine the fatigue of seeing it in 2 more.

Muhahaha! Thanks for the tips! Muhaha!

Seriously though; audiences can be shallow and even if you bleed into your comic and have intentions to reveal something awesome and/or genuinely entertain people.. They'll drift to something completely mindless....

Yeah it's discouraging but people are... Um...
To be blunt yet kind: my siblings and I all do art, and we know we're not the best but DO try with every art piece. Some will draw a line, with a tail and eyes and will be famous for the rest of their lives for that..and it's unfair..........

OMG SERIOUSLY. This has been on my mind a lot, and I almost mentioned this myself. I don't think enough people question this possibility... Sure, it's against the rules to do stuff like this, and these sites probably have systems in place to help detect suspicious activity, but still. With AI imitating humans better and better so rapidly, as well as becoming so sophisticated? It's been my suspicion that some people might be "making a deal with the devil," so to speak.

On Twitter, I've got a bunch of bot followers. I didn't ask for them, or pay for them, or in any way seek them out, they just started following me. And on Instagram... The sheer number of bot spam comments saying "Promote this send us your pic" or "Want to turn this into a NFT?" Oh, and I can't forget to mention the suspicious accounts with loads of followers getting loads of high praise on the dinkiest images.

(Sorry for the long post, just very passionate about this subject, LOL)