First off, I'm still a reader and not a creator.
I like the current font, and it's good that the app and desktop version are being unified, because them being so different is a bit confusing. The site in general comes off as fresh, clean, and professional. But there is one thing I don't agree with:
The initial screen and first "scrolls" are premium, app-only content. As a reader, this is a turn-off in three ways:
- I'm on desktop, and I need to go to the app to access these comics? I'm on desktop for a reason: big screen, access to a real keyboard for typing replies, doing other stuff as well as reading comics.
- Everything is paid content - let's face it, people love free stuff, and stuffing our faces with free comics is probably the reason most come here. I'm pretty sure that the vast majority of readers will at most want to buy into one or two comics, and the rest of the time they're around for the free ones. If they're not seeing any free content at first glance, they will assume it's only paid content.
- The independent, free comics are gone? The not-promoted-or-officially-endorsed comics are pushed so far down that they simply aren't visible unless you scroll pretty far, and even then it's not clear that they're actually free. The site comes off as exclusively curated as opposed to free creation - which IMO is not as attractive.
To sum it up, I think it would be beneficial to both the site and the users to show both premium and free comics on the top screen, because readers will be more inclined to get invested into tapastic if they can get more out of it than the few series they pay for! As this article succinctly points out: It's better to convert 5% of 2 million visitors than 50% of 100'000 visitors, and you will be getting more visitors with prominent free content. And you'll have more creators on tapastic - which all funnel more people to the site through their promoting their own comic.
I think that it really comes down to that there are two directions for Tapas/tic to go: Aim for the small number of well-paying readers and make the site focused on curated pay-content (reader-focused site), or promote the forums and the free content and have premiums as a bonus (creator-inclusive site). Both are legit business models, but if the former is what you're aiming for, which it looks like right now, I think we'd appreciate a clear statement on it, because up until recently, Tap seemed to be the second model and many creators are feeling cheated right now. I also do not feel terribly compelled to upload my upcoming comic to tapastic anymore, simply because I don't think it stands a snowflake's chance in Sahara in getting noticed.
I should add that I feel the same about the app. I come for the free comics, and it's alienating to be bombarded with all this premium content and ads.
EDIT:
I somehow completely missed this on my first readthrough. Good to know. I'll still leave my post as-is because there might be something of interest to you in it anyway.
Edit2: I don't mind the font much, but when typing a reply to a comic it feels redundant to bolden the text.