Is it really hard to get views?

[e.e.v.e.s]

Hi!! Greeting from a new user.
I’ve made a small batch of comic and posted it on webtoon. But somehow it doesn’t even get views? Like it’s very little views. I understand that I’m a new artist without following and I don’t expect much engagement but why somehow it’s really hard to get views on webtoon? I remember years ago that it’s much easier to get view on webtoon. Is it normal at all?
Here is my webtoon in question. Thank you for replying

Through the Moonlight

[BoomerZ]

It's a number game. You just keep plugging away and hopefully your story is what people want to read.

[Kelheor]

Yes, when you're publishing for 4 days give it time.
But yeah, I don't know when you posted last time, but I bet there are now much much many comics on the platform.

[e.e.v.e.s]

Hi! Thank you for answering.
It’s true that the number of comics must be many times higher, but back then(2016-2019) even the smallest comic has atleast thousands views, if not tens of thousands. And that’s excluding the promotion by the staff! Idk it feels very different and I wonder if it’s because webcomic hit its peak and now in its downward trajectory, or it’s because ai art somehow? I feel like anywhere art(youtube channels i’m subscribed to etc) is not appreciated the same, their numbers are also dropping. I’m trying to make sense of everything. Haha.

[joannekwan]

It's definitely harder to gain traction now than several years ago. In part because social media algorithms (particularly twt and ig) have been pretty bad unless you're already established.

And the fact of the matter is that there are way more series right now than in the past across all platforms.

[e.e.v.e.s]

Yeah. I noticed that these webcomic sites have also lost their readers somehow, when i checked their statistics. For example, webtoon several years ago hit 60 millions visitors regularly, but now it’s only in 30 millions range. Somehow it feels like webcomic sites right now not only compete with themselves but also with social media apps like tiktok imho. Is the future just post comic on…tiktok? Lmao.

[hakei]

I haven't been publishing that long but I've noticed a decline in readership and traffic compared to when I started.

Several WT Original creators have mentioned on their Twitter how their recent releases receive MUCH fewer views compared to their earlier works. Back when I started, new WT Originals would easily reach 300K+ subs during their launch week. Now many of the new launches barely pass 100K.

I think this is partly due to platforms prioritizing money-centric features that drives away free-to-read audiences. Plus the growing number of creators on these platforms means more competition for attention.

Not to mention you're also fighting for attention from the fast-paced social media and endless other content out there for people to consume. People want things quick and fast while art takes time to be made.

[e.e.v.e.s]

Now you make things more clear. I think I agree that maybe the more paid style is one of the big reasons, if not the biggest reason people flee. When I think about it, webtoon is/was (idk about right now) the most popular webcomic app because of their free contents. And now it’s changing, and it’s in line with declining readership. Make sense.

[hakei]

Yeahhh I know reddit isn't the best representation of readers, but a lot of people on webtoon subreddits are not pleased with how everything requires money now (at increasing prices too). Some might just pay, but some turn to illegal scanlation websites instead.

[e.e.v.e.s]

Yeah i heard it’s increasing. Is it crossing the threshold people willing to pay? I’m in a dilemma here. On one hand i like that artists get paid more because of the fast pass etc but they are also losing view numbers. In the end which is better for them? Idk i’m not in their position. But it’s affecting new authors pretty badly lmao.

[NickRowler]

I never felt like Webtoon was friendly for newbies or smaller creators. I would recommend also posting your series on other sites too.

[yawattahosby]

Hi, Nick, that's good advice for e.e.v.e.s. What other platforms do you recommend? I've heard good things about Tapas, Comic Fury, and Duck Webcomics. My comic is on those sites; most of my views come from Comic Fury and Duck Webcomics. Tapas is a slow burner for me.

I'm also on Tumblr and Global Comix, but I don't really like them. Nonexistent views, creators don't reply to comments posted to their webcomic episodes. Plus, bots tend to spam comment section on your own episodes (this is more for Tumblr).

[conventurecomics]

You just got to go with what works best for you. For me I post on both tapas and webtoons, socials, discord. You can even have your own website telling about your characters, art gallery, info about your comic or comics, links to your comics that also helps add views.

[Garchompula]

Yeah, it's unfortunate but we're in a social media age where every piece of content you click on has been fine tuned to all hell to keep you watching. The future is video, but that doesn't work so well for us. And there's no real alternatives! I use NamiComi, which is very up-and-coming, but it's extremely small and unfinished in comparison to even Tapas. The glory days of early internet where everyone and their aunt had a webcomic is long gone.

[RedLenai]

Well, to be honest as someone who came to Webtoon a bit later than you, this is pretty average and normal for a series which romance isn't its main genre.
Right now Webtoon has such a big amount of creators from all over the world, a lot of people making several series besides that now peeople don't bother engaging much with subscribing, commenting or giving a like, and it has been a common phenomenon since a few years ago. Right now is the "Be satisfied with the view" era if I have to be honest.

Not to mention that changes in algorithm + Webtoon favouring creators that already don't even require their support to get noticed or be considered a hidden gem, its become harder to gain readers. And let's not forget that there are even more websites / apps where people can read, so there are less readers overall in a single place compared to artists.

You can always try to share on all your social media whenever there is an update, tiktok, youtube and even twitch could be used to share the process or sneak-peeks of episodes. And to post your comic on multiple platforms and be satisfied with the sum of engagement from each place.