Webtoons - Something is Amiss?

[Alyssa]

Hi everyone! I'm having trouble with Webtoons, quite a few readers now have commented that they are surprised there isn't more readership. I'm just thinking I have to plug away at it and put in my time, but so many people have pointed it out now that I'm thinking I may be doing something exceptionally incorrect? Someone thinks it may be due to the cover, and I think the banner that show when it is shared on social media doesn't help (since it takes a square avatar and crops it to a skinny rectangle). Does anyone know how to edit these things? It seems the only thing I can change is the avatar. And I don't even know what the cover is...

I'm not looking for a magic trick to increase my exposure overnight or anything, I just want to make sure I haven't completely missed something. I'm pretty new to Webtoons and am having trouble navigating it... it's no Tapas!

Edit: Also, can I not click into commenters profiles? Or see subscribers comics?

Thanks

Mr. McAbre's Masquerade Menagerie

[beta1042]

you only have 4 updates, and really on webtoons it's hard to get exposure unless you update. Otherwise you only get exposure if you get promoted by webtoon or a popular creator, or use your own fanbase from somewhere else to promote it.

I do think the thumbnail could be more eye catching. The character is quite small for a thumbnail.

Have you been doing anything to advertise it?

[Alyssa]

Beta1042, I've just posted on my personal social media, but nothing very aggressive. I've also been pleading with my Tapas readers, as I have 8x the viewers here, but I stopped when I felt I was annoying them with the constant urging :3 Do I have any other advertising options?

I have heard Webtoons algorithm for new comics is difficult, so was pretty happy with how my subscribers were consistently climbing. I'm just confused that readers are surprised?

I see what you mean about the thumb, I will work on updating that sucker, thanks!

[Hodge]

Like the intro of your comic btw, what you did with the train is really cool! And yeah you're limited in knowing your subscribers. Can't see what they're subscribed to. I think changing the thumbnail could help, maybe see about the cross promotion thread as well. Other than that, it's sad but there are just underrated comics in discover that get overlooked and don't get promoted by webtoon staff. But I think if you keep updating you'll get noticed so good luck!

[beta1042]

i get the impression that it may have been easier to gain readership a yr or 2 ago, but based on how things are lately especially since there is a contest going and a higher influx of comics to compete with, your numbers seem about right for a comic that's not an anime-style rom com.

[yozhikisblue]

Hi Alyssa- firstly, I'd like to say I've been reading/liking your comic quietly on Webtoon in my spare time, and I really enjoy it! :3

As for reader response, I've noticed the "I can't believe there aren't more people reading this!" comment is very common on Webtoon in particular, but I've encountered it everywhere over the years (I'm also new to Webtoon, and even Tapas- but I've been around/creating comics elsewhere for a number of years) I think many readers use it as a way to express their affection for the comic and encourage the creator to keep going- perhaps without realizing that it may cause a may worry-prone creator to then start wondering if they're doing something wrong.

If I recall correctly, Mr. McAbre's Masquerade Menagerie was promoted on Tapas not long after you posted your first couple of episodes (which is awesome, so a belated congratulations!) Promotions do seem to cause a spike in viewership which is difficult to follow up purely through one's personal social media efforts. I have a feeling that you are doing everything right and that it's a matter of waiting for the next boost, more than anything. Of course, if commenters on Webtoon believe you should be getting more views, you could always remind them that it is ultimately within their power to make that change!

Personally, I do feel your avatar could stand out a little more. I like it, but feel that a close up, perhaps of the mask itself- or something similar that fills the whole space- might be more eye-catching at first glance. Of course, since I am also relatively new, do take my advice with a grain of salt.

[scythe]

Commenters remarking that they're surprised there aren't more readers is a normal comment you'll get on Webtoons. I probably get at least one or two every update. I think the best thing to do is just agree and take it as a compliment.

On Webtoons, it's changed a bit over the few years I've been uploading there. Yes, it is harder to get new readers now than it was a couple of years ago, but it looks to me that that's down to an explosion of new titles. I do get the feeling that the site is growing overall. But yes, without any kind of promotion from Webtoon itself, it's going to be pretty hard to get a large following.

I agree with what everyone has said, make your thumbnail as appealing as possible. For that, I just looked at what the most popular comics have as theirs and did something similar, but also different enough to stand out in the crowd.

[Alyssa]

Hodge, thanks so much! That's good to know about subscribers, here I was thinking it was a setting I had to turn on or something

[Alyssa]

Yozhikisblue, that's so cool to hear you've been reading it, thanks! That's good to hear it's a common comment, I tend to get caught up in my head about things and overthink them! I think because I've never gotten it on Tapas before, and then a few back to back on Webtoons, I started doubting my entire existence XD Thanks for the reassurance

[kytri]

Well you've got a lot more readership on webtoon than I do, most of my posts there get no comments at all.
Clearly some people are reading it. I've seen people leave comments like that on wildly popular comics, so I wouldn't read too much into it.

As for profiles, near as I can tell Webtoon has none? It's weirdly lacking in a lot of basic site functionality. I sent in a feedback form a while back asking about notifications so I can see when someone has commented on my comic and they basically told me they don't do that.