How can I be more "friendly" to my followers?

[NickRowler]

I want to come off as more friendly and hopefully increase interaction between me and my readers. I am a shy person who is very socially awkward and I don't really know how to do this.

I see other people do requests and live streams...but I am not sure how many of my current follower are active enough to even want to do those.

I want to at least build up enough people that if I made a reader poll at one point in the future, I would get at least 10 or 20 responses.

(I'm sorry if this all comes off as jumbled and weird)

[LordVincent]

Answer to comments! That is the biggest one, imo, and try not to take possible criticism too hard or let your feelings get to you. (I was really bad with the latter one because I was in a really stressful life situation and bla bla excuses, it's not okay regardless and all I can do to fix it is to do better in the present and learn from those mistakes)

If you don't get many comments yet, start using the author's comment/description field to your advantage! Make little jokes about something in the update, say something about your life, or say something else to open up a discussion. You could even remind the audience that if they have any opinions on the way your art is developing, they're welcome to voice them. Having a connection with your audience isn't only a nice feeling, but it's also educational for you as an artist.

[Vanesalisa]

compliment and answer their comments

[NickRowler]

@JohnVincent @Vanesalisa
I try to respond to comments but I don't get many...or it's something simple and I just say "thanks".

I don't really get critical comments...actually I don't think I've ever got one (and I've posted 250+ pages)

[Vanesalisa]

maybe do a drawing request or a cameo

[NickRowler]

That is sort of what I was asking. If your followers don't interact much, how do you know if they would want requests or cameos?

[NickRowler]

One of the reasons I am sort of bringing this up, has to do with whether or not to continue with my current series (if there is a demand for it) or put it on a temp hiatus so I can work on something else.

I can't really determine this right now. I don't get much interaction so I sort of feel like there isn't much interest in it. I dunno, it's hard to say. I wish I could discuss it with them.

[LordVincent]

Getting attention online as an artist takes years. I have been posting my art online for a little less than ten years and it's only in the last year or two that I get much recognition.

[NickRowler]

I'm not really looking for huge amounts of recognition. (Heck I said at least 10 people).

It's just, my comic is turning 3 this year (in June) and part of me wants to sort of work on something else. But if my current readers still wants my current comic, I will just stay with making my current comic.

[Vanesalisa]

dude listen it takes time for viewers to interact, my viewers didn't interact me much but that doesn't mean I give up, you're a creator not a quitter suck it up man suck it up

[Vanesalisa]

you might get more subs if you do and they might interact or they're sleepy because they're from other countries that's nighttime

[PotooGryphon]

Yep, I'm going to echo @JohnVincent and @Vanesalisa, replying back to commenters is very important even in the beginning when you're not receiving many comments. And when you can/where it makes sense, try to reply back with more than a 1 word reply. Perhaps start to start a conversation? I've had a few emotional pages where readers could relate to the situation and then talked about it with me in the comments. Stuff like that is when you start building a friendship with readers.

Also Q&A events where readers ask comic characters a question and you answer it in a comic is fun for everyone. Art request livestreams is another one. Maybe tipper rewards?

It does take time to build up a readership and then coming across as engaging also takes a lot of work, especially when shy. Just take it in strides. Each successful interaction will help boost your confidence making it easier to engage. For me, sometime I wait a few hours before responding to comments just because it takes building up that confidence and figuring out what to say.

[NickRowler]

OK...I'm a little confused about your tone. I'm not really asking for more subs. I'm talking about interacting with my current subs.

My current comic has 160 pages...it's not like I am easily "giving up".

[Vanesalisa]

I know but sometimes unexpectedly more sub and why it's so important

[NickRowler]

What are tipper rewards?

[PotooGryphon]

Can be anything really. A simple reward for readers that tip your series on the Tapas app.

[NickRowler]

How do you know if people tip? I don't have the app and I don't have a device that can run the app.

And what are tips anyways?

And what kind of rewards would you suggest?

[PotooGryphon]

Hm, Currently there isn't a way to see who tipped you on the desktop site. It was available it the very beginning when they launched the tipping feature.

Tips are in app coins that readers can either earn by watching ads or buy with real money and then they toss those in app coins at creators of their favorite series (that has the feature turned on). Those in app coins turn into real money that creators can cash out, much like ad revenue on the site.

I've done art request raffles for tippers. Put all their names into a random number generator and pick about 3-4, and they get a sketch from me. I've also done custom avatar images for tippers.

TIPPING IS HERE! You're gunna want to get in on this

[NickRowler]

OK, thank you.

(On a personal note, I don't want to pressure my followers to give me money.)

[Stickly]

Act casual. Joke around. If you simply say "Thanks" or just stay quiet, you might come off as professional and serious, which could intimidate some people.