Need a bit of a guidance on advertising without having to build my own social media presence

[JogVodka]

I've watched some videos on how to get my webcomic some attention or an audience. A lot of them say that I would need to go on social media and do whatever to get followers. Here's the thing, I've already had a couple of social media accounts where I've become active for years. None of them were successful in gaining an audience except for one account I've created back when I was 12 but that was because of me being associated with a popular group. That site is nuked to the ground and I have no real audience or group. I've tried to do some drawing posts on Tumblr but that stopped getting attention after a point. I have posted links to social media but with no success and I've relied on asking my friends to read my stuff.

I know I've rambled on social media but I hope this helps demonstrates my position and why I would need advice on how I can promote my webcomic effectively without relying on being popular on a site.

[MK_Wizard]

My advice is staying on social medias like Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram. Also, there is ComicAd.

COMICAD NETWORK

[Anithia]

Well. I'm no expert in ads... but i'm an expert on being a shy person thats hates social media.

What i did was to pay some ads

[BlueDragon]

You could try participating in community projects like crossovers, or things like VDSD (if you're old enough.) I got soooo many people visiting my main page when I signed up this year. I didn't have to talk much to anyone but the coordinator (although, I have friends I spoke to just 'cause.) Or like during Inktober, people often have threads where you just share your art. You don't have to talk (if you want want to :3)

Or you could do art trades, or just fan art and ask that your comic be linked or name or whatever (most people LOVE getting fan art, and don't mind linking the person's comic in the comments :3

Those are a few ideas.

Edit: tags, also. Tag tag tag :3 Maybe you can find what's trending and do something related.

[JogVodka]

I just checked what "VDSD" is. I mean I get what you're getting at but it sort of goes against my standards of keeping everything I create SFW since I'm asexual and I'm super careful on what kind of audience I want checking my stuff out.

I'll check out on the tags and stuff. It's a bit hard for me to get into community stuff because I'm out of loop on things or I feel like I'm too busy or have no where to go. I guess I'm more of a "self-focused" person because I really don't read other people's work online. Maybe when I have time I'll check on what's being held at the time.

[BlueDragon]

Well, I wish you the best Just remember also, things take time, too. If you're not going the community route, then I think what the others have mentioned about ads might help you out.

Oh! And web rings and collectives! And Top Web Comics (though, admittedly, it's hard to climb up the ladder.) Stuff like that, though.

I can't believe I forgot that. Like Aradia, all you really have to do is put their banner on your comic site. You don't have to get super involved. There are other s like that (I need to look for more, too.) But that's something that doesn't require a lot of socializing.

Last thing, relating to what MK said. On ComicAd Network, I think there is an option for free ads. Like, some people set aside free spaces that don't charge. I haven't started advertising yet, sooooo I don't know how that works or how many sites have them, so you'd have to check it out

[33rdCenturyCaveman]

When everyone am guerilla marketer, words of "guerilla" and "marketing" lose meaning.

[JogVodka]

Sorry for late response, but my webcomic is only like two hosted sites. And I believe I'm prohibited from getting ads for those urls because of that. I'm not sure if I can even make a site on my own because I'm horrible at coding and stuff.

[monotone_ink]

It's going to be nearly impossible to advertise without using social media--it's what everyone uses, and not using it as your tool for advertising is practically shooting yourself in the foot.

Though you might 've been unsuccessful in the past, I think you should continue trying it anyway--it's a really good way of slowly forming a dedicated group of people that like your stuff, especially if your interests are a little niche.

I've had good experience with Twitter so far--it's a good platform for talking to your followers directly while stil posting stuff. However, do what you feel is best.

Best of luck mayn.

[JogVodka]

That's the thing. I'm mostly active on Twitter but I'm usually not going anywhere with it but I do advertise my comic there. I've had that comic network account retweet it once before tho. I don't really have a 'following' and ever since 2 years ago my follower count went from 120 to 75. I just don't know what to do to change that. Just being active doesn't just change it. It's why I'm looking for wherever to just slip in a link to my webcomic. I scavenge for an audience, because I find it harder than attracting them by just posting a link and advertise it. I try to compensate by working on how I sell my comic with my description.

[monotone_ink]

link me your twitter, i'll crit your account

[Mellize]

Oh, my friends have the similar experience as you do. So what I did was create a server that caters to novels and webtoons in Discord which helps me advertise them easily (since I like advertising or letting people know) without having my friends being pressured to do it especially if they're shy about it.

[JogVodka]

https://twitter.com/BonnieKnight0

Alright thanks.

[JogVodka]

Can I join? I resort to going on servers like these actually

[Mellize]

I'll be posting about this later, so others interested can also join in.

[monotone_ink]

I've scrolled through your twitter feed and I've identified a main problem: the account lacks focus.

Assuming that you're a comic artist, I expected to see some of your art there--however, I found that the majority of the tweets and retweets were unrelated. In short, it looks more like a personal account, and not many people will come to follow this.

If you want to create a twitter account that will reliably draw in an audience, you should ensure that:

• The majority of the content be related to your art and to your work
• Your account be geared towards a certain aesthetic, as to maintain consistency and draw in the audience of your choice.

The following are some examples of online artists that I believe do this well:

https://twitter.com/m_o_g_m_o_g_555

https://twitter.com/avogado6

https://twitter.com/loika

https://twitter.com/HamsterFragment

https://twitter.com/hamukukka

https://twitter.com/toriyuuhan

https://twitter.com/paxiti

and if you're curious about my own approach:

https://twitter.com/monotone_ink

When it comes to creating a presence on social media, you need to approach this as if you were providing a service of some sort. Carefully think about the types of things you pick, and ensure they line up with the end goals.

Regarding personal accounts, I encourage that you set up a separate account for that kind of thing.

Best of luck man.

[lwflouisa]

Interesting, I seem to have had the entirely opposite experience. I have a personal twitter, and social media influencers swarm around that like flies and poo emojis.

But when I make accounts specifically geared toward showing off my art, it's like nobody even pays attention to it.

[JogVodka]

I have a Tumblr account that's specifically focused on drawing and stuff. I don't have much people checking it out but it's where I post all my sketches and stuff

Father of Lilith Aensland

[monotone_ink]

Good. Keep posting stuff.

[lwflouisa]

I'm leaning toward going back to mainly using Diaspora and maybe GNU Social. And then being on an instance where hosting my art is what I mainly do.

The problem with Diaspora, is your surrounded by a bunch of conspiracy theorists that clutter the timeline, that it makes it very difficult to get scene, without also having a Static Website where you link your profile from there.

I'm highly not considering Twitter, as an extreme introvert.

My Diaspora Profile for example.