Where to go if Tapastic goes down?

[Kura]

I got my own website so my comics are always going to be up as long as I keep that up (and don't break it... again... my friend who plays webmaster has effectively banned me from editing anything on my site anymore), but I honestly still prefer to be in comic communities, so I'll still be seeking them out. I'll probably just play the pick and choose game between one of my current mirrors (which for the most part has a list that can often change because new sites go up and old sites go down all the time)

To be honest the support program is actually the only reason I bothered with this site (I came from inkblazers and was getting paid through them as a featured artists, I needed an alternative way to get funds through my comic if it was at all possible or else back to drawing shitty commissions), as well as a reason as to why it gets the most recent updates and not really thrown in with the other mirrors. Despite being on the support program my comics are not formatted in the way that tapastic prefers, meaning no promotional exposure as well as having to fight with just trying to upload a story telling format that doesn't really click with it's upload system. So yeah, once that support program is gone, (depending on what the alternatives are if there are any. As what ever alternative they have may work, we don't know yet at this point) there's honestly no reason for me to stick around, especially if the big go to is 'use patreon' cause then it would just be much easier to use patreon and host on a website that actually is compatible with my comic formatting.

[AnnaLandin]

I host on my own site, which I am from now on going to promote a lot more. :T

Frankly, this whole Support Program-killing is making me feel a bit troubled. I can't say what the future of my comic on this site looks like - I mean, we haven't really gotten any answers yet - but as someone whose comic is NOT suited to the whole bit-sized sharing thing (I'm doing a long-form graphic novel, not any kind of gag-strip or vertical scrolling thing), I do feel worried.

And encouraging people to switch over to Patreon isn't super-great either, as there ARE flaws Patreon has that people are legitimately worried about. Tapastic had a good thing going with their Support Program, and I have no idea what it will be replaced with.

[GFalconDX]

I post my comic on my Deviantart and Tumblr accounts. Although I think it's way too early to think about jumping ship. Sure, the Support Program was good, but perhaps Tapastic has something better in mind. Although I'm still kind of hesitating on Patreon, though.

[Pandastrophic]

Due to my comics webtoon format I pretty much have no where to go other than webtoon so I'm seriously hoping Tapastic stays orz

[Tanisha]

My next migrating place would probably be deviantart, since I have a good amount of watchers there already or just back to smackjeeves I guess ;/ idk though cuz this was the first site I got a lot feedback from and I never got any feedback on smackjeeves and nobody cares about my comics on deviantart ughhh

[joannekwan]

Take away any talks of money and I still think Tapastic has the best platform. And frankly I'm not sure about any site that pays the creators, I always wonder if they can sustain that and not fail financially. I've yet to see any other hosting site that looks as good or is as accessible as Tap. I really like the diversity of the series here, from the mobile friendly stuff to the paged layouts of the graphic novels. But if Tap ever does shut down (fingers crossed it never does), I guess I'll just have to host my own site or stick with tumblr.

Now factoring in money, I would prefer not to host my own because I'd have to pay for the domain. So depending on my financial situation at the time, I might just migrate to another free site despite them having terrible interfaces.

[WintreKitty]

Hmmm. I have already done the migration once to this site, I really hope Tapastic doesn't go down.

And frankly I'm not sure about any site that pays the creators, I always wonder if they can sustain that and not fail financially.

I came from Inkblazers. The reason they shut down was because of cost. They were paying the creators and it bankrupted the company. I'm sure Tapastic has taken notes on previous companies that have come and gone because of the financial burdens that come with this type of industry. I'm not entirely sure what all of their reasons are for getting rid of the support program (I'm sure they weighed the pros and cons heavily), but I don't think that will be the thing that ends Tapastic either. Being realistic here, if Tapastic continues to get funds from outside sources (i.e. ads and possible supporters) and keeps growing at its current rate, then it should be a platform that sticks around for a while. Nothing is guaranteed however, but I like to stay optimistic

As for where I'll be if that ever happens, well, I'm already located outside of Tapastic. The only thing that will really upset me about its shutdown would be the disappearance of an amazing community (and trying to find all of the new locations of the comics I have to review ).

[SpavVy]

I plan to abandon ship but I'm not sure where I'm going to upload yet. Yeah I know I could use Patreon but I've had rather unpleasant experience that I prefer not to go into details with and I plan to delete it eventually. Maybe I'll just have up to four chapters uploaded and if readers want more then they will have to purchase the book, I know two creators that have done it.

[Kecreed]

I never expected to gain any money here so I am still gonna stay on the site with or without the support program. I have facebook that has basically all my friends following my comic and I could make a tumblr blog specifically for comics but otherwise I wouldn't really make any comics if it weren't for tapastic.

I can vaguely remember back then being excited to be on tapastic because of primetime which is similar to what LINE does. It gave me a goal to achieve. I've heard a lot about the vertical format and its flaws but tapastic was originally going for mobile wasn't it? I'm actually pretty excited to design a comic for that format that isn't a gag comic.

[Vikiro_Hop]

That makes sense. Obviously there are a lot of people who have a lot more at risk than I do, and no one wants to get blind sided. I won't fault anyone on being pragmatic especially with such a big change.

Hopefully things will work out.
If not see ya all on the other side.

[Zanreo]

I already host my comic at Comicfury (which is really my "main" base of operations for webcomics, and which I can recommend a lot as a comic host and community in general, Tapastic is more of a "mirror site" for me. Tapastic is ok but I really prefer the "own site" feeling of CF where you can make your own layout the way you want (including a bunch of premade layout templates), to Tapastic's same plain layout for all comic sites - I get it can be convenient for some readers, but for me, the creator, it's just so boring) so I'll be fine - CF is where I get most comments and feedback anyway. I also post at dA but only got a few (but dedicated) readers there - it can be pretty hard to get attention with an original comic series, but I post all my art there anyway just as a personal online art gallery.

I don't earn money from my comic, or plan to do so, so the Support Program getting axed doesn't really have anything to say for whether I'll stay or not. Too bad for those who got money from it though... If I wanna earn money at some point I could do Patreon I guess.

[PotooGryphon]

Yeah, definitely think it's a bit too soon to have doubts like this, we've just been given a heads up to the prospect of future plans. Nothing has been implemented and not all the information has been given yet.

However, moments like this are a good reminder that it's definitely a good idea to try out other sites and see how successful you can be in other places. If nothing else it may get a few more people reading your comic and spread your reputation.

My comic Oops, is every where for the most part. Comic fury, Smack jeeves, Comic-Rocket, tumblr, facebook, twitter, google +, DA, Top Webcomic List, the webcomic list, Comic Basement, Comixology, Ink Outbreak, Belfry Webcomics, Project Wonderful, Patreon, Tapastic, and my own official comic site.

A personal home base for a comic is super important. If all other sites go down (for whatever reason) you still have your home base and it yours to add any feature you want to it. And you're comic is always the daily feature on your home site ^u^

Same with revenue generating methods for your comic. It's smart to have many different avenues you're generating income through, so if one goes down you're still drawing something in and you're not building from square 1. Generating revenue takes a lot of time to build so restarting is always a big set back. I recommend looking into Patreon or other micropayment sites, adding a paypal donation button, and ad revenue opportunities (like Project Wonderful and Tap's ad revenue) right away for all creators. The moment you start a comic and decide you want to pursue it professionally, setup a tip jar/donation button and add ad boxes to earn ad revenue.

[ToonDoctor]

For anyone who's interested, I've been hosting other webcomics at ComicBookBin.com besides Johnny Bullet. The Bin is not a web comic portal. It's a comic news site. We don't have many comics yet but they definitely get a better spotlight than Tapastic and I don't force the vertical format on people. We have enough traffic that any comics will get a lot of views, but not enough web comics that they will be lost in the shuffle. We only host three comics now, and I was hoping to get a few more. Check out http://www.comicbookbin.com/

I'd also recommend having your own site ultimately.

[Wolven_Sister]

I really hope Tapastic doesn't go down. Coming from Inkblazers, it was a sad time when they shut down and it would be really disheartening to lost another amazing community with so many great people and stories.

I had webcomics on Smackjeeves and I really don't enjoy that place. It's hard for original series to be noticed on that site, no matter how active you are. And the forum is slightly inactive, so it's difficult to make any worthwhile conversations and they tend to be less than civil (at least in my experience).

I have my own site, so I would probably advertise that more. And I would probably promote it on Belfry, Top Webcomics, The webcomic list, and send it to websites for reviews and such. I would consider of also trying out ComicFury again since I did like the feel of that place, and DA and Facebook.

[Doubtcent]

Honestly, hosting my own site would be the best bet. It would just be a bugger to promote myself all over the place...

[purrlpankras]

I came from Inkblazers to, so if Tapastic would to shut down, I'd probably die.

Yeah but atm I put my comics on SmackJeeves (It's kinda lame but its an audience)
Deviantart (because why not)
Facebook (Tapastic group)
Twitter (Only when I remember lol)
AND only my own website! (which no one visits sad times)

I found this one yesterday "MangaDojo" I don't know if its any good.

[FlamingReaperComics]

Comicfury is a great place if you're not looking to make money, but be to noticed. The community is really friendly, and the forum is casual. Its the site I use mainly.

[AffectedMind]

idk though cuz this was the first site I got a lot feedback from and I never got any feedback on smackjeeves and nobody cares about my comics on deviantart ughhh

That's so damn true. None gives a damn about my works on DeviantArt either. There was a time where they cared, but something bad happened to this site. And SJ? I just deleted my account there last comment was half year ago.

Let's not talk about abandoning the ship yet. They are getting rid of support program, but they gonna replace it with something else, so I wouldn't worry that much. Besides some of you guys earn more money on Patreon than here, so I don't understand why is it so sad, that SP is going away. Can someone explain?

[rosette]

I have no updates anymore with SJ, I have no clue what im doing there at their site lol.

[rosette]

Also are you not happy with Ad Revenue??? atleast we still have side line with tapastic, let's just wait for other tapastic's option for funding the artist, i know you guys are not enough with the revue and so Am I but tapastic is doing their best and I love the site because it's my 1st time to get money with my comics and my girlfriend was very proud to me of it.