Hot take: I do not need subs. I need readers

[nostalgicroxas]

Except that if I, personally, see a person practically always crying for sub4sub I suspect that their work is bad due to their lack of confidence in it generating natural growth. Might just be me.

[Scarlet_Cryptid]

I never actually look at someone else's stats. I have no idea how many subscribers any of the comics I follow have, or how long any of them have been running. If I like it, I like it.

[Lirina]

That's because you're on the forum. The vast majority of readers are not and will never know where the subs come from.

I sometimes do sub for sub and I don't lack confidence in my work. It's just another form of promotion for me. In fact, I do it because I'm confident that I can turn a proportion of those soulless sub-for-sub subscribers into genuine readers over time

[Kaydreamer]

Does the subscriber count affect the comic's wellbeing on the platform?

It can actually affect the comic/novel negatively on the platform, as a high subscriber count with low engagement unbalances the algorithms which determine what is/is not trending. I can only assume the people doing sub-for-sub don't realise they're actively kneecapping themselves.

So glad I didn't fall into that trap early on. My first front-page boost on Tapas was via the algorithm. That wouldn't have happened if I'd messed it up with unengaged subs.

I much prefer having a smallish but comparatively active readership. It feels cozy, and I like knowing that the people subscribed to my work are there because they want to be there, not because they feel obligated.

[Fedriz_Marini]

That is why I stopped going to sub4sub topic, Not only I made a fool of myself and looked desperate, but I realized how many of those subs where in the end... fake!? I rather have them come on their own or through promotion, rather than trading... even though... interaction still is quite lacking (But I do appreciate when those 1-2 make their comments, and those 10-20 put their likes).

[LadyOttoline]

Do you need 20 subs to be posted to the app? I've read that on the forum but I could never find it in the official guidelines anywhere. Poking around the app it seems to true. If it is true than getting those first 20 subs seems hugely important since most people are reading tapas on the app and not on the browser. That's the reason I've done sub 4 sub in the past anyway.

[iHateFridays]

Yeah sub for sub just feels like people care more about numbers than actually getting people who are invested in the story itself ya know

[Caro]

I feel like this isn’t really that hot of a take! I’ve only ever seen sub4sub convos take a negative stance and the only genuine sub4sub attempts I’ve seen look to be younger kids who probably don’t know any better yet.

[crowstories]

I believe the number is 15. Pretty sure that's when mine appeared on the app, but I could be remembering wrong.

[crowstories]

Absolutely agree, OP. I'm writing a novel for people to READ, not to use as a trophy case for numbers. Even without doing sub for sub, a lot of my readers haven't engaged much, so I think dead subs are kind of inevitable, but I'm not gonna spend a lot of time trying to rack up more when I could spend that time working on my novel, or trying to reach people who might actually read it.

[jensrichard77]

This is kinda why I've been spending more time writing scripts for YouTube VAs,

Oh? Not sure what that is? But sound interesting.

[rajillustration]

Like honestly, I've had projects with only one reader (and it was my brother) and that's what kept that project fun and alive for me. Now I have a few more readers than one (I hope, haha) and don't get me wrong, I'll need more subs to make any of my side projects a part time income, but as far as if I would ever stop creating--it would be if I felt no one was actually reading it. If it was just empty subs that would drain me so, so fast.

[Bokyongyo]

I much prefer having a smallish but comparatively active readership. It feels cozy, and I like knowing that the people subscribed to my work are there because they want to be there, not because they feel obligated.

This.

Every single one of my subs on Tapas and Webtoon I know at least LIKE my work. And even though its a relatively small Sub family, slowly growing with each update, I rather take that. It feels good to know that the people who read my stuff and sub do it because they are enjoying either the story, characters, art, whatever it is; because making content is a long process and to have the payoff be people enjoying it is something I'll take any day of the week.

Can't imagine making content and the people who are subbed either don't care to read or look at, or just subbed due to obligation from a Sub for Sub thread

[skyfarron]

Numbers help people too! They're a show of quality to new readers who aren't sure if they should jump in.

[Questionable_Liquid]

I don't understand why that is the focus when creating content in Tapas. Sure, you get followers, but do you get actual followers who will read and look at your content?

That's what I want. People who have an interest in your works and will spend time off of their life just to observe other creative writing or projects.

[jmhenry]

I agree, and that's why I never got the whole "sub for sub". Genuine, engaged readers are way more worth having than thousands of people you made a sub-4sub deal with

[Scarlet_Cryptid]

Heck I'm still subbed to several comics that haven't updated in at least months, if not years in one case. Why? Because I love them, even if it's just going back and re-reading what there is of it. These authors will never subscribe to my work-- they're probably not even on Tapas anymore.

All I want is that kind of fan: Someone who's there because they like the comic, the characters, the art, the story.

(although I won't lie-- I think I'd die if someone ever liked my work enough to cosplay it.)

[Shazic]

I get what your saying completely but i still love the sub even if they aren't real
but yeah probably is true what you are saying

[CommanderMarty]

I agree with your take, its why I encourage people to use read 4 read threads instead.

[mcarrowolga]

Sub for subs are not done to find readers, at least not directly. Their purpose is unlocking milestones and having nice numbers at the series' page that will attract actual readers (people will more likely give a chance to a series with 200 subs than with 2 subs).