I'm socially awkward and slightly introverted person

[Zannen00]

I'm pretty much screwed in going around the various social websites, meet other artist and promote my comic, aren't I? HAHAHAH *sigh *....

No, seriously now. Part of promoting is communicating with other people. Meaning one needs to mingle around and approach and strike a conversation with random strangers. But... being the socially inept person I am... I usually cant keep a conversation going for more than 5 minutes... Or even know what to talk about. How'd you guys manage to mingle around in your various social websites?

[ChipGod]

Cracks fingers I was born for this.
Being the extroverted person i am, i like to meet people. A lot of my close friends are like you, shy and refuse to talk to strangers IRL. But its even easier on the web, you dont have to worry about them judging you. They are names on the screen, they cant affect you in the future in a bad way.
Tapastic Forums is the best forums ive ever seen in my life. People are nice, they respect each other, they offer fine advice. You dont need to have 5 minute conversations, just quick texts and messages.
Forums dont have random conversations wherever. They talk about what the thread is about. IF the thread is about a new update, then thats what subject itll be.
For other websites, it depends on what you feel like. If you want to meet people, your gonna have to either join into a conversation, or start one.
If you need any help, im here. ANy questions at all, send me a message.
_LUKEEEEEE

[shazzbaa]

How'd you guys manage to mingle around in your various social websites?

Not by striking up conversations with strangers!!

On tumblr, a lot of my mingling happens in fandoms -- I talk about my headcanons or draw my favourite characters or silly quick doodles of them interacting in ways I imagine would be fun. I don't often reblog things, so like 90% of my interaction just comes from putting my thoughts out there and responding to the people who respond to me.

On twitter, I might talk to someone if they're talking about something that I agree with or am curious about, but most of the time I don't jump into conversations with people I don't know. I'll engage with things like #webcomicchat, which does feel like a big conversation, but I'm not coming up with things to talk about -- the main account is asking "what do you guys think about X?" and we all put in our two cents, and maybe respond to other people who have interesting thoughts.

I'll also try to respond to things I like -- if I'm reading a webcomic and following the creator on twitter, I'll definitely tweet at them if I love a page and it made me feel emotions. Sometimes creators respond to things like that, and sometimes they don't.

I've never tried to "keep a conversation going" on twitter, and if someone else did that with me, it would honestly be a little weird!! It's usually more like, they tweet something, I respond to it, they respond to me, and that's probably it. I don't think I've ever "struck up a conversation" with a person I didn't know online, and I'm honestly prettty cautious about responding to things if I'm not sure that I'm the audience for it. I think those qualities don't have to be awkward -- being thoughtful about how you interact on social media, and not assuming everyone wants you jumping into a conversation if you don't know them, are pretty socially adept qualities!! You can still engage with social media without losing that thoughtfulness.

I lean more on finding conversations that already exist, and joining in those conversations (and fandom is really just another kind of conversation). I'm sure you can get good results by being the kind of person who's unafraid to run up and introduce yourself and strike up conversation, but it's definitely not the ONLY way to mingle.

[Shanny8]

Welcome to the club. I'm kind of socially awkward and really introverted person; if I had the money I'd probably have a PR spokesperson & a promotions marketing group. I can socialize, but it's only with folks I feel comfortable with. I really dont care to most days, but as how being an indie comic artist and webcomic artist is drumming up interest in your creation, I try to do my best. I've gotten pretty good about doing it...

You just gotta develop a mindframe where you need to get others interested in your comic- that's the only way you(and your comic) are going to get noticed.

[lunaartemisasama]

I have enough with RL social interactions. So I don't even care about my social interactions in the Internet ....
Sorry I can't help, but I feel like the users here are nice. So just do what you feel like.
That's it.

Regards!

[Aspie_Gamer]

Hiya Red! Having Asperger's Syndrome, I know what its like being frustrated over not knowing what to say to other people. In terms of promotion, the easiest bit of advice I can give you is to say hello. I gained about one fourth of my sub count just from striking up a random conversation with people with something as simple as that or better yet, making a comment whether funny or personal about say their avatar for example. Of course, I've also commented on other people's comics leaving genuine comments to show I'm more than just a sub and again something funny or something personal if I can relate in some way to what's going on in the comic I'm reading.

[WakaXO]

I totally get where you're coming from, overcoming social anxiety and promoting my comic on social media has been a real hurdle for me as well. I think the only advice that I can really give you is just naturally incorporate webcomic promotion/social media in your day-to-day life. Don't let the fact that your "socially inept" stop you or limit you. You can only get better at something if you do it.
Also on the point of keeping a conversation going, if in a conversation you hit a point where you think the conversation has naturally ended let it end. If the other person has more to add fine, but if not then it's clearly over. You don't have to force a conversation to continue, it will only make the conversation stale.

[indagold]

You make an effort to, silly! That's how I overcame it years ago. You gotta force yourself out of your comfort zone or you'll never succeed in communication. Skies the limit. Just communicate with who you can trust.

[NickRowler]

I am a very very shy person however most people I've met IRL tend to not think that of me.

A lot of it has to do with how you project yourself and pushing back the anxiety that encourages you to be shy.

I have a similar issue with losing friends once I stopped having a class or face to face interaction with them. I find online chatting and texting to be very impersonal yet that is what everyone uses these days.

When it comes to extending a conversation, try building off of the other person. If you both have pets, then talk about your pets while also asking them about their pets. The concept of pets might lead into a conversation about something else, like vacation, movies, family, etc. If the current topic seems to being "dying down", than move on to a new topic. That is how you keep a conversation going.

When it comes to using social websites to promote your comic, it is good to be somewhere which has other content creators or people who are interested in comics. You can find things to relate to other artists by talking about work process, struggles, characters, writing, etc. If you are interacting with fans, the topic might be more just about your own personal work.

[nattbear]

I'm just like you... gah.. it's so complicated! The brain simply doesn't want to formulate conversations to have with people kkkk. I think the bain gets in the mode "please leave, please leave, please leave" EVEN WHEN I WANT TO TALK!!!

.I have a hard time even talking in the internet as well, my comic promotion is something har for me >.>;
I wich I could have an answer for you.. The only thing I end up doing is... Smiling a lot... Urgh...