Monetizing as a Featured Comic on Webtoons?

[TomDellaringa]

Not sure if anyone here has been a featured artist. I am wondering how successful they have been in monetizing their comic as a featured artist. While I assume there is some pizza money to made from ad placement, I can't imagine that being a real source of revenue.

Seems you need to be able to publish your comic as a book or get a contract from WT to make any positive revenue. Wondering if anyone can speak to this.

I personally have had very little success marketing to my audience on both Tapas and Webtoons. I'm not sure why yet. I think part of it is a lot of younger readers. Part of it is readers outside the US that don't want to pay shipping, and part of it is that just people want to read for free and don't really want books.

I have my next graphic novel about ready to go. Considering WT as an option.

[Hodge]

Well being a featured artist would mean that you have a contract with Webtoons. As for the people who make money on Discover, it's not really just ads but also ongoing pledge programs from Webtoons if you reach a certain level of popularity, along with patreon supporters. I imagine combining that with kickstarter/indiegogo campaigns and you can do rather decent monetizing your comic. I recommend looking up Jason Brubaker on youtube for his knowledge on monetizing comics as he's been featured on Webtoons and currently doing his own thing. It's also worth checking out the recent indiegogo campaigns for comics that have been hugely successful, maybe see if that's a better comic scene for you than Webtoon and Tapas.

[TomDellaringa]

Yep, I'm aware of Jason and pledge him. I know him and we have spoken. I'm trying to see what other perspectives are out there, what are others accomplishing. Would be great if some featured artists could speak up.

I'm most interested to understand if their readers actually backed them on campaigns outside of WT.

[Hodge]

Oohh I see~ Well as for kickstarter/indiegogo campaigns there's not much from what I know. However, a lot of the featured artists have patreons you can look at. Some do better than others but you can look at what they're doing. Every now and then the creator of Lets Play streams on twitch, so maybe try to catch her there. You've already mentioned the younger audience as part of the difficulty. But there are older audiences on Webtoon willing to offer financial support, it's just that the demographic tends to gather around the romance genre.

[TomDellaringa]

That's helpful. Thank you!

[keii4ii]

Very much worth noting: if you're a featured creator on WT, they pay you an actual salary that's separate from the ad revenue.

[ghostmaya]

I wish there is someone who can teach or tell us what other monetization for webcomics. I'm really out of option. and Jason Brubaker Is our Hero!

[TomDellaringa]

I think most people who find success craft their own way. You see that with Jason. But it's MUCH harder than it was even 5 years ago, much less 10-15 when this all started. SO much noise in the system, it's hard to stand out even if you are exceptional. You have to build your own audience, that is one thing that has stayed consistent. I think the two platforms here have potential for that, but I'm not sure how much you can convert the readership here.

Doug Tennapel is having success crowdfunding basically collector's items. It's something I'm thinking about for my next book. The key is he has an established and growing supporter base to market. That takes loads of time and effort to build and cultivate. That's the hardest part IMO.

[Hodge]

Yeah, I think what works for Doug Tennapel is kinda specific to him. He's a decently big name and tapped into the earthworm Jim fans. I also think his method might not work in the long term as much as Jason's, which focuses on building a patreon. Though it's interesting how much he's willing to engage with fans on youtube, kinda like a twitch stream. What Jason does is also collecter items, but without putting all your marbles into a kickstarter.

It's hard growing a base and finding an audience but I don't think it's impossible. Especially if you're willing to tap into an audience that's already there with a high demand. I don't think people like Jason just craft their own way towards success, he even describes success as just "preparation + opportunity." If someone is exceptionally good and really productive then an opportunity will arise. Imo there's more opportunities now then there ever has been in comics, and I'm seeing all sorts of great creators get the attention they deserve. If anything, I think there should be more comic creators as there's still so much room for growth.

[beta1042]

I think the author of Rebirth was on this forum, but I forgot the username they use to ping them XD But maybe they'll come by and shed some light on the matter?

[TomDellaringa]

Fair points, although Doug T. has been doing this for his books for awhile now - those not specific to EWJ. But I agree about Jason and prep and opportunity.