Sub for sub - for or against?

[justanothernerdling]

Hello!
It seems that many people here do sub-for-sub agreements. While I absolutely see how that can be useful for reach, I was wondering what you guys think of it? Does it really work for tapas, or does it simply result in many 'ghost' subscribers that aren't interested in your content?

For people who have done this, have you found series you enjoy by doing this, or do you simply participate as some kind of 'contract'?

I'm curious!

[Hoku_1]

i've done a few sub for subs and for me in my experience, they resulted in ghost subs since then i stopped asking for sub for sub. I'd rather promote my novel you know. Though there might amazing people out there who won't ghost you. The ghost subscribers will mostly care for their series getting a sub and not the other series. Another reason they could ghost you is because they might not like your novel/comic but still want the sub. This is all in my experience.

[RedLenai]

Against it but honestly I don't care much if others do it.
Most of the time result in ghost subscribers that aren't interested in your content, other times is people that unsub from you a few days later as if you wouldn't notice.

The times I've participated years ago, I've done it mostly as an obligation than actually liking a series that I'll continue reading.

Still, I'd like to mention that one thing is when you know, participate in these threads of sub-x-sub, an another completely different thing is when someone approaches you in your DMs and ask you to sub to them just because they subbed to you (Not because they liked your stuff but because they wanted to generate a sense of compromise), the first kind I usually don't participate, the second happened several times but I've learned to say no

[Hoku_1]

same i subbed in the starting and they did as well but they would take back their sub. Some don't even sub and tell you to do it and they will get to it later. I guess i'm gullible but i don't do this anymore, i'm quite against it but for other people they can do what they think is right.

[moontokkym]

I don't do it and if anyone asks if they should I advise against it. On Tapas it's more likely than not to actually hurt your work's visibility in the long run (the things that actually help boost you are mostly people bingeing through your comic or novel while liking and commenting, subbed or not).

I don't judge people for doing it though, it can be kind of a last ditch attempt to get any eyes on your work or just product of really really wanting those numbers to go up to feel like the work is worth it. That and some bright eyed optimists who are absolute angels who actually do read every comic they sub to, but too often their generosity isn't returned. It's usually not that productive and sometimes not necessarily healthy depending on the reason but telling them that while they're doing it is just going to rile people up.

[Hoku_1]

honestly you can tell my the home page of the novel if they are doing sub for sub looking at their views and etc.

[kalmia]

I personally don’t do it and am on the same page as others in this thread.
It seems everyone cares more about numbers than actual engagement when using sub for sub, which I don’t like. Id rather have 30 dedicated followers that like and comment on my updates and enjoy my story versus 200 subs that don’t.
Id encourage people not to do it but if they do, there’s not really a harm to it other than the lack of interactivity versus the amount of subscribers you have.

[conventurecomics]

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[NetherSlayer]

I feel like sub-for-sub is almost guaranteed ghost subscribers, unless you've really got something to sell. But in that case, chances are your content doesn't need that kind of number-inflating to begin with. I'd much rather something I'm seeing here and there, which is a chapter/episode review for review; usually just the first one, and it shows that each creator has at least tried reading each other's content. If done well, the feedback can also be immensely constructive, especially compared to a comment from a random user just saying "hey cool story bro."

[EncryptedWriting]

Against it. It is constantly spammed, and some people just copy and oaste a link over and over again flooding the forums. Mad annoying. When I see that, I DONT want to read that thing.

[WorldBreakerNovels]

100% for it. On a site like this where sub count gets you to monetization, it's just people trying to break certain barriers to get that far. I can promote literally anywhere else to find readers.

It's easier to get the sub count through the generosity of other writers here, which this forum is mostly made of, because too many people don't give shots to new works or underwhelming artwork in most cases.

[thepenmonster]

I'd only sub to comics I like.