Jul 2015
10 / 21
Jul 2015
Apr 2018
AnnaLandin
Jul '15

1.) Be active on the forums, and link your comic in relevant threads. Updated with a new page/episode? Post in the "Post your latest page!"-thread! Are you in a thread discussing the villains in our comic? Link to your comic when you talk about it! Also, put a link to your comic in your forum-profile - Tapastic doesn't do this automatically, so you have to do it yourself. I see you've already done this - that's great!

2.) Update as regularly, and as frequently, as you can manage. The more often you update, the more often your comic appears in the Fresh-section - and the more opportunities people will have to discover it by accident.

3.) Promote your comic via social media/other sites than Tapastic. I use Twitter and Tumblr, but if you've got facebook, use that too. Don't be shy about promoting yourself via your own social media accounts - try not to be spammy about it, but in the end, it is YOUR social media. Use it.

4.) I just had a look at your comic, and you started updating 2 days ago. Of all three of your comics, the oldest one is 6 days ago. That's practically nothing! People just haven't had the time to check out your comic! Take a deep breath and be patient. Building an audience takes time and effort.

5.) Try to let go of the negative attitude. I know what it feels like to post things and get only crickets chirping in return - but being negative, and especially writing things like this:

... does NOT inspire any urge in me to read your story. You come off as a little bit arrogant there, which is hardly an attractive thing to potential new readers. If this is an attitude you take with you elsewhere, that in itself might be hindering you.

And, to reiterate, you've been posting for a week. In terms of building an audience, you've barely even started. Be patient and work hard, and you will get more readers, I promise.

scythe
Jul '15

Yeah, I'm not planning on worrying myself too much about promotion until I have at least an entire chapter finished, which at this rate will take another year. So less than a week is hardly worth caring about. This shit takes time.

heterodont
Jul '15

@AnnaLandin just summed everything up!

Art (and by extension, webcomics) is by no means an easy way to popularity. It takes time to receive recognition for your efforts, so being patient is a necessity! Many 'big' webcomics have been updating for years - which is why they have the amount of attention that they do.

Just be patient and continue doing what you're doing - eventually you'll see your efforts pay off. Put your passion for your webcomic first, prestige second!

gateofselidor
Jul '15
1

I took a look at the first couple of episodes from my phone, and your art is very nice, but as a comic it's difficult to read. The curving lines of the lettering don't do a great job of leading the eye across the page, and in some cases, the flow of the text even goes from the bottom of the page to the top. When you're scrolling down through pages on mobile, it's jarring when the flow of text is in the opposite direction to the way you're reading it. Also, because of the richness of the colouring, the text looks a little indistinct. You might want to consider either using a bolder font and white text (if it isn't already, I actually can't tell what colour the text is now because the thin letters make it difficult to judge), or adding an outline to it.

Other than that, give it some time, as everyone else has said. Some comics explode into popularity very quickly, but the vast majority take a long time to gain enough readers to get any/regular feedback.

CWCHASE
Jul '15

It does take time, and I think you have to establish yourself and keep updating like Anna said. She knows her stuff. It just takes time, just keep at it.

getsuart
Jul '15

Also this, a huge list with tons of tips :


Even if you're not new, it is interesting smile

the biggest thign I can say is PATIENCE. I saw you just started to post two days ago. It took me 3 month to get more than 20 readers, mostly because I took part in a huge collaboration.
So yeah, patience is one of the wisest advices I can give you + all of the tips people already told smile

jecie
Jul '15

Thanks guys, just had a moment of weakness.
Sorry to whine

getsuart
Jul '15

It's okay to feel a little bit sad. It's your story, you want it to be read by people. Now you got everything, so go go go ! smiley

jecie
Jul '15

*trips trying to run out of the room and work on the comic

lol, thanks

17 days later
bsienk90
Aug '15

I think the word "patience" is really the over arching concept here. I actually came across your comic not to long ago. The best thing is learning patience. Take patience in making your comic, take patience in gaining followers. Also if you don't enjoy making it just the pure pleasure, why make it? That's the real question. Now, do I want my comic to be seen and have tons of followers and fans? Well, of course! But really I make it because I love what I'm doing. And I keep doing it because I love what I'm doing. When you love what you do and put time and effort into it, people notice. Anna is right too about the comment you made. That type of comment really turns people away. No one wants to deal with you whining or being arrogant.
When I subscribe to a comic, even if they are still beginners
I look for these things:

  1. Passion for what they are doing.
  2. Giving back to their followers/interaction with followers
  3. Positive and open personality

On a more technical side. Follow other people, comment on other people's work, Get on forums, upload cover pages and other sketches/artwork as treats for your followers, get into art groups, advertise on FB/twitter etc...
Keep your name consistent across all platforms, Update regularly (once a week or more), promote others....Anna covered most of it.

Also your link is broke in the top.

10 days later
qcbl
Aug '15

besides replying to comments do you have any other ways to interact with followers on Tapastic? An outside social media presence is nice but having interaction on the site is good too right?

getsuart
Aug '15

Interaction with followers also comes from posts on profiles. Interact with them both on social media and tapastic itself is good smile

gabmonastrial
Aug '15

im not really sure how effective this is but a "thank you for subscribing!" banner/artwork might be good. ..
i think its also a way of advertising because people will be able to see your art and if they like it maybe theyll check out your comic too.... smile

3 months later
shaylafarley5
Dec '15

Same here, I have 19 followers and that makes me very proud to know that there are readers out there that like my work. When I reply to forms or others people art I just gain more views, but no comments. It makes me think that something is wrong with my comic, but how am I suppose to know if I have no comments.
I've been asking around what should I do to gain more reader/followers and most of the time it's fan art which I really don't want to do.

8 months later
info64
Aug '16
AnnaLandin

Good post, I need to get my self in gear for a proper social media push. It's a great deal more work than I anticipated. Might as well be the same amount of time I spend creating pages and writing!

1 year later
amortelito
Apr '18

Hi, I know what you mean. It is overwhelming the number of creators and content on this platform. I have been writing and drawing for myself for years. But just recently came here to share it with the word. I know for a fact that I will keep making this comic for myself no matter what but as you said. If nobody outside cares why botter to hare? Stay strong my friend If I will definitely go to your page to like and comment. I hope I could do more.