One Long Update VS Many Short Updates

[Riza_Creator]

My current plan for my comic is to post a lot of pages (multiple episodes) once ever mouth, however would you prefer a few pages every week? I want to give enough material for people to be interested every update but I also do not want people to loose interest because of waiting. Also depending on which side your on how many pages do you think should be per update? Thank you for reading!

[silverraven0]

The problem with the updating cycle for me is like this:

1. Updated once a month with many page.

People's will understand the story better and the flow is maintained, but too long of a time for an update, some peoples might not be able to remember the previous story and the traffic is kinda low of you post once a month.

1. Post once every week but with only one page or two.

People's sometimes doesn't really understand the story or what happened because of the time gap when you updated, and they might be forced to read the previous update again (but for those who is lazy to read the previous page, the story might not make sense some times), but it brings more traffic to you because it appear more often on the Fresh section.

I actually don't have any reference, as long as the author did not wait until half a year to post 5 pages a time, I'm okay with anything.

(Lol, I didn't help at all wasn't I? XD )

[laiscnogueira]

I agree with @silverraven0's points.
Still vote for many short updates, because I'm an anxious pup who is totally willing to reread if I ever get lost.
And I dunno, when the author doesn't post that often feels kinda like they have dropped it, so it's a little sad/lonely.

[Riza_Creator]

No that makes perfect scents I'll probably make like 20 pages before I start releasing so if I get behind I'll be fine. Then when I upload I'll experiment with how many pages I post each week. Thank you for your opinion!

[ar-ninetysix]

I'm not sure how often something like this is done, but has anyone tried posting page updates and then doing a huge chapter update with the same pages anyways? That way people can still get the frequent pages, but now others have the option of reading the chapter all the way through without breaks in between if they prefer that over small updates. I prefer chapters over pages, so an option like this would be nice for certain webcomics. I mean, you can try both, I guess~

[Riza_Creator]

That sounds like a good idea but I personally wouldn't like duplicating pages. I was actually thinking of posting pages weekly then when I have enough pages maybe I would open up a new series but it would be the same but post finished chapters there. I don't really now how good that will work but I don't really have to worry about that yet.

[Oksa]

I'd say few pages per week. Ideal update to a reader like me is something like 2-3 pages per week. It's often enough to not forget what happened, and usually enough pages so something actually happens in the update. one page updates per week is not my fave thing, but I do understand why people do it, since usually most of the artist are a bit slower in making them. it takes a lot of work to do a single page after all.

I agree that big episode per month would give more material to actually read, but there is always that time between the last episode, and personally in these kind of cases I need to go back and read the earlier ones so I could remember whats happening. also the waiting time is frustrating XD

[punkarsenic]

for tapas, many short updates > one long update

one long update: puts you in fresh and trending less often, meaning less exposure, and is deterring to many readers on this site who prefer bitesize updates, and causes subscribers to forget you between updates

many short updates: get you into fresh and trending regularly, encourages more readers who find shorter updates more welcoming, and keeps you in your subscribers consciousness by not disappearing for months at a time

personally, i think going for 2-6 pages is a good idea, and at least weekly updates. however, starting with a slightly longer update is a good idea imo - apparently it helps you get into new & noteworthy, and it means from the get go theres enough content for readers to hook onto

[laiscnogueira]

I think that's kinda what this author does:

Undine Adventurer | Tapas

They have a shorter update schedule and then move the pages to a single file after a while.
The downside is comments are either kinda lost on the single file or get erased if someone doesn't pay attention to the author's note.

Maybe it would be better to have a very short and simple recap if your readers are getting lost?

[hjfsdh2222]

Tapastic likes few pages and frequent updates.
Webtoons likes many pages and far between updates.

The size of my updates vary (4 to 10 panels, sometimes more) because I like to leave an update on a good note. That I feel is most important.

[ar-ninetysix]

Maybe it would be better to have a very short and simple recap if your readers are getting lost?

Yeah! But instead of reusing the same pages and just mashing them together for a chapter, it could done as a stylized recap maybe?

For example, you can have your characters reflect on everything that's happened so far to see their own take on it and how they feel about everything. Or, you can turn this into a letter meant to be read by characters away from the plot. Like an adventurer writing to his family. As long as it's done more naturally than a huge "LAST TIME ON.." type of thing.

[Riza_Creator]

That is actually a really good idea! It could be like the bare bones of the story so new readers will still want to read the previous chapters and for regular readers it is a quick reminder. I also really like the letter idea you came up with!

[charliesackett]

My friend, you are a genius. 8D

[ar-ninetysix]

Not my ideas lol these were done in animes already. I was specifically reminded of Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Death Note for the character's recap and Hunter x Hunter (2011) for the letter recap.