Shameless plug: tips and tricks

[ivanskilling]

I've only recently re-started my Twitter account and have been promoting my novels there. But it seems to only translate to views and not subscribers (for the most part). It's hard to entice people enough that they'll make an account on a website. I also have a deviantArt account where I cross-post my stuff, although I don't think people have crossed over to Tapas lol.

Mostly I've been posting on Tapas forums here! There are cool threads that talk about certain genres, ask interesting questions, or ask you to promote in a different way (e.g., use 3 words only). So those are fun.

Normally if it's just a normal promotion thread, I dump the following info (with variations depending on what the thread asks for)

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Psychological Thriller
Unravel the secrets and mysteries hidden in a small town through the eyes of a singer, a policeman, and a school counselor. Clues to the subsequent murders are hidden in human relationships of the past and the dark abyss of the Internet!

Devil's Triangle | Tapas

Genre: Historical Romance, Fantasy
Follow Empress Wu Zetian's treacherous journey from the hands of enemy Tufan soldiers back to the Forbidden City where she battles foes from within her own kingdom.

Shackles | Tapas

Genre: Scifi, Action, Thriller
A short story collection that involves science fiction, fast-paced action scenes, and dystopic universes.

Dark Bytes | Tapas

[Bree_Mana]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

[foxnflames]

I had to make another twitter account because i got locked out of my other one so i have that hurdle to jump. I was thinking about making another account on another social media (haven't decided) to post my artwork to draw people in as well.

And i do like the forums with the threads with fun promotions so i'll keep doing those. I think it's also me being a tad impatient, you really need to put the work in and grind to get where you get a good number of faithful subscribers.

And your stories look interesting! I love thrillers

[BrambleberrySquirrel]

I post individual panels from whatever I’m working on at the moment on instagram and Twitter. I just make sure that they don’t give away any key plot points since I’m working with a buffer and don’t want to spoil the episodes they’re in before they come out. I also have my link tree posted at the end of every episode on tapas and webtoon as well as on those 2 social media accounts.

Instagram has gotten me a few subscribers and every panel I post there is pretty much guaranteed to get likes. Twitter is another story entirely. That platform feels like I’m just yelling into the void. This is probably because Instagram is more geared towards visual media. I’m planning on venturing out to reddit to do some promotion there. I’m also contemplating making a furaffinity account since my comic has an all anthropomorphic animal cast.

With something as ubiquitous and simultaneously niche as a webcomic you have to cast your net as wide as possible. At least that’s my strategy. But I’m still under 25 subs so what do I know. I’m just hoping blasting my creations out into the net will somehow someday get someone to notice it and bring a smile to their face as they read it.

Anyway here’s an example of the kind of advance panels I post on instagram that have had some traction and gotten me a few subscribers.

If you’re going to be juggling multiple publishing platforms and social media accounts I really can’t recommend link tree enough.

Here’s mine so you can see what it can look like:

@Golden_Acorn | Linktree

It’s free and real easy to set up:

Linktree™ | The Only Link You'll Ever Need

And finally if you have read this far into this post you can check out my comic too. It’s about a bookstore cafe run by animals who get into messy workplace relationships. My next update is set for tomorrow morning.

Cup & Quill | Tapas

[foxnflames]

Thanks for the tips! i've contemplated making an instagram for my artwork as well as for postings. I'll also finally get on reddit and see whoi can rope in there. And i'll check link tree out!

I'm also under 25 subs so i'll give your comic a look and i def don't mind subscribing. (of course i'll like pages too)

[ivanskilling]

Oh if you make artwork, that will definitely draw in more people! I can't really draw, so I don't have that option lol.

Also, since your work falls under BL, I think you'll find a large audience on Twitter if you use LGBTQ+ related tags and such. There's an increasing popularity for that, so I don't think it's niche.

And thank you very much! I hope you'll enjoy the story.

[foxnflames]

Will do! I don't think i made it through them all before smashed the subscribe button lol. I can't wait to see where it goes

[ivanskilling]

Haha that's ok, take your time reading!!

[DeleteThisAccountFag]

I've happen to have much more luck here on Tapas than any other social platform. I've got my comic on DeviantArt, Instagram, Webtoons, and here on Tapas. Tapas seems to be getting much more traction with DeviantArt being in second place. But the thing is, I've only actually promoted my comic here in these forums when it comes to Tapas. I just participate in those promo threads and so far managed to get 18 subs in a month. Yeah, it's isn't even the 25 sub goal Tapas challenges you with, but I've gotten a lot more engagement here than even in DA, which is an odd case.

I have 43 watchers on DA. I have posted on 4 comic groups, but believe it or not, that is not the reason why I got those watchers. Currently, the Sailor Moon Redraw challenge has gone on for some time, which it's still going, and I one day decided to collect every single redraw on DA. So I went everywhere on DA to fav every single Sailor Moon Redraw I can find. Every. Single, One. I have amassed 5700+ of the redraws and they're still coming. The only intention I have is to make a video where I showcase every individual one but originally I just wanted to collect them for reference purposes to see how I can improve my art (at least back before I decided to quit elevating my art). However, a side effect has occurred: people started to communicate with me. The majority of communication has simply been people giving me a thank you on the comments, which started getting out of hand that I've had to close comments and redirect them to a particular spot, but I've gotten some actual watchers. But I don't know yet if this is actual engagement. I feel this is more of them thanking me rather than actually being interested in my work. Still, out of all those 5k people I've gotten attention, I have received some readers.

Webtoons is practically barren due to me not actually engaging on that site and just uploading, and Instagram, I do get the occasional like and view, but only because I just upload and use hashtags, which you gotta be careful with because if you use too many, Instagram will hide your submission from being seen. I have a feeling that I can get more readers if I can figure out how Instagram actually works and put some actual time to engage there.

Phew, that took a while to type. Might as well take up your invitation and plug my comic. I found also that having an image along with the link to your work also works wonders, even if it's just the cover. At least that works for me as I'm more likely to click on a comic that has a preview picture of some kind.

Mimsy's Kitchen | Tapas

[AmandaJ-art]

I've never gone for the sub for sub posts as I've heard that they aren't good for your comic's growth.

My comic has 49 and 46 subscribers. (Webtoon, Tapas)

I feel like it's a lot harder to gain an audience for a comic that isn't romance.

But I've shared my comic on my social medias. (It brought in very few subscribers)
Posting my comic to the forums has helped a lot! I recommend anyone doing it. (Just not sub for sub)

The lives we live | Tapas

[RainbowCat]

I think promoting on Instagram also helps a bit, at least for me. With the hashtags, it really helps to get at least a few more people interested in your work.
And I'm on another writing forum without many other Tapas creators but many readers, so that helps me as well
I guess promoting is just something you have to keep doing all the time to get a chance at really getting readers.

[ivanskilling]

Just curious, which writing forum is that?

[SagaHolmgaard]

I'm in a couple webcomic discord servers where I'll self-promote my updates.
I also announce updates on Twitter and Instagram, and I'm trying to get better at writing text that prompt my followers to actually press the links and read the comics. I think that actually helps a lot in reeling in readers, but I don't have that many followers on either site to notice a HUGE difference, lol.
On twitter I often get retweeted by webcomic promo accounts, but I don't think it contributes to a lot tbh. Those accounts retweet so much content and I don't feel like they have very active followers.
I also cross-post on webtoons and have a single follower there LOL. But I don't really promote that one so it's just kinda there.
I also have my comic on the Webcomic Library (https://tagpacker.com/user/webcomic.library?t=Submission&sf=TITLE&so=ASC) and I saw an influx of subs when I was first added, so that's also an option! I think it's good to be visible on as many places as possible as a small creator.
And on that note, I might start posting on Deviantart after reading this thread! I honestly prefer DA's platform visually despite its reputation, so maybe I should start posting stuff there, lol

Every place I post gives me maybe a couple views and the occasional subscriber, so it's a slow journey, but the progress is there!

Also here's my comic:

Reclaim | Tapas

(I'd pitch it more but my family wants me to come walk the dogs now BYE)

[RainbowCat]

ShanniiWrites Forums!

[ivanskilling]

Oh cool! Thank you!

[foxnflames]

I keep up with the topics and post. This topic actually helped my gain some views and subs. I post on twitter and make sure to put a lot of hashtags lol

[SupperYass]

Update: I tried sharing my comic page link in Reddit comics' communities and I got a good amount of views (unfortunately, only views but neither likes nor subscribes).

Update number 2 : forgot to share my link

TheMsMs | Tapas

[foxnflames]

Thanks for the tips! I looked at your comic and gave you some likes

[darkone4587]

The only thing I can recommend is keep at it keep putting he word out anyway you can and as far as you can.

If anyone's curious I have my own works here on the site I'm working on.

Dual Soul | Tapas

Blade Quest | Tapas

[alsemcoraz3]

Thanks. If you like sci-fi, lgbtq+ experimental comics, give mine a try. https://tapas.io/series/Not-About-Us