Help with attracting more followers?

[jamontoast98]

I regularly post updates to my comic every week. I post on Twitter and Webtoons mainly. I'm planning on getting into GlobalComix and Instagram too. I also post on Reddit (albeit only to a dead fighting game subreddit) and sometimes on Facebook/Discord too. I just wonder if there's anything else I COULD be doing, as my comic hasn't gained that much traction and I'm kinda shouting into the void. I ain't no businessman.

I'll link my socials below:
https://twitter.com/TJammy98/status/1331632997607624707

WEBTOON

https://tapas.io/series/World-of-Fighters

[pilot-obvious]

How much do you interact with others? It really helps to build genuine connections with other webcomic artists by supporting works you enjoy. Most of my 'regulars' have been made from chatting and interacting regularly with them on Twitter, Instagram, and Tapas forums. (hi to any of you reading this, you probably know who you are! )

Aside from that, some people like to go down the fan art route. If you draw fan art of IPs you enjoy, you'll probably attract people who also like them. And if it's similar to your original content in any way, they may end up enjoying that as well!

Best of luck promoting yourself! It can be frustrating when you don't get any attention, but we all start somewhere! With time, I'm sure things will start to improve.

[Kaydreamer]

I just had a post on the r/webtoons Reddit blow up a little and send nearly 30 new subscribers over to my WEBTOON, which is the biggest single-day burst I've seen since starting three weeks ago. Not that there's any guarantee that will happen, usually my page updates on Reddit languish in unseen oblivion, but it's possible. r/webtoons and r/comics are both friendly for self-promo.

Other than that, here's what I do:

• Post updates on Twitter/Instagram.
• Record speedpaints and patch parts of them together for TikTok + Instagram Reels. (I haven't seen much audience growth through this, but TikTok is HUGE, and Procreate records automatically, so I figure I've nothing to lose.)
• Hang around here a whole bunch. These forums are lovely, and I'm quite sure most of my Tapas audience are forum-goers.
• Have eye-catching cover art and a summary which makes people curious to read more.

That's about it. I've been at this for three weeks now and, while my audience is not large by any stretch of the imagination, it's big enough that I feel quite beholden to it. Which means getting updates out on time and working at my comic like it matters to more than just me, which is the kick-in-the-butt I was hoping for in order to maintain my momentum in creating it when I inevitably get bored and want to draw something else.

[kitschensyngk]

I've joined some Tapas and Webtoon groups on Facebook that have grown my readership significantly. In fact, last month, after I started promoting Nachos Con Carne on Webtoon via the Facebook group, I gained about 30 subscribers over there.

Here are a few to consider:

Tapas Group

TAPAS CREATORS SHARE GROUP

Facebook Groups

[jamontoast98]

@pilot-obvious Thank you so much! i always heard it's good to make connections, but I didn't really know what that means. I've been wanting to read more comics anyway, so this is perfect. I could draw fan art from time to time too

@Kaydreamer r/webtoons and r/comics huh, I'll try those out. Reels are a good idea too. This forum is amazing, the advice that people give and community here is astounding. I'd only discovered just yesterday that it can be fun to hang out here a bit rather than just ask questions

@kitschensyngk niiiice, I will check these out

[mcarrowolga]

You are missing a ton of other things.

Check out this list of resources for webcomic promotion.

[uglygirlnextdoor]

Very nice said, couldn't say it better myself
I would add, if you are looking for big numbers, be trendy, know what you audience wants and not just what you want to tell.

I don't follow this last rule but noticed that those who do, have higher base readers.

[Kaydreamer]

Yeah, I don't follow that last rule either, haha. If I were going to, I wouldn't have made a sci-fi/fantasy comic.

Not that it isn't a trendy genre - it is, just in a different medium. I feel like Blue Star Rebellion - and especially the project I have planned next - would fly off the middle grade/YA graphic novel shelves in a bookstore. They'd also do great as TV animation... not that I think that's likely to happen, given how tightly I cling to absolute artistic control. (And my lack of any actual connections in that industry.)

I'm more interested in telling my stories than fast popularity. It'd be nice if I could one day make most of my income from them, but just creating them is enough for me, for now.

[uglygirlnextdoor]

We are in the same page i see

[gabriellabalagna]

Yeah, I find promotion hard as well. Some other things you could do are
- make a gumroad with some freebies
- make a trailer on YouTube
- share on DeviantArt
- post more on the forums
- organize/join a holiday collaboration

[KJWhitten]

On twitter, you can follow this account that promotes comics and novels: https://twitter.com/PWebserials

You can also try on twitter the hashtag tapascomicschat to promote your comic.