So....how do you get and keep fans?

Uncaringmachine · Post by **Uncaringmachine** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:27 pm

I basically know how to GET fans, just do a good comic. But what else can you do, and how does anyone out there KEEP them around? Always add new material to your site other than the comic? Update all the time? Anything else?

http://gothymcgee.keenspace.com

Nicotine · Post by **Nicotine** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:30 pm

I haven't been doing this web comic thing for long (about a month), but what makes me stop reading things is when people are not consistant. I don't really care about and site extras, I just like people keep things in order...like have a consistant update day(s)/schedule (I don't like to visit a comic everyday because I don't know when it updates). Also, I don't really like it when people do things like one stip in color, one in black and white...then 3 more in color and the next 2 in black and white...it just looks a bit wonky to me.

Risky · Post by **Risky** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:31 pm

Ask Joel Fagin.

If you have something worthwhile, let people know about it. And be a good fan yourself. If you read other people's comics, and enjoy them, show it.

The side material isn't entirely necessary, but I noticed that a lot of popular comics have rants / news posts. Text is good for people finding your site via search engines, especially webcomic virgins, but also just people searching for the same kinds of things you are interested in (and thus would rant about and comic about).

Dotty · Post by **Dotty** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:37 pm

I really gotta figure out how to add rants under my comics. Unfortunately, I'm really F'ing stupid and have a slow time learning html.

Nicotine · Post by **Nicotine** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:38 pm

TdotOdot2k wrote:I really gotta figure out how to add rants under my comics. Unfortunately, I'm really F'ing stupid and have a slow time learning html.

(you could read up on tables...my whole site it tables, I created it in two days

. http://www.htmlgoodies.com/tutorials/ta ... 9821#table )

MrEff · Post by **MrEff** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 12:44 pm

TdotOdot2k wrote:I really gotta figure out how to add rants under my comics. Unfortunately, I'm really F'ing stupid and have a slow time learning html.

The easiest thing to do is to create a .txt document (NotePad) and label it with the same date as the comic Por Ejemplo: Comic = 20050708.gif , NotePad = 20050708.txt

If done correctly it should appear right below that days strip

Hope this helps...

-MrEff-

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:12 pm

Generally keeping them isn't as much of a problem, so long as you update frequently. When my schedule became less frequent, visitors did go down. I'm sure some of them stopped reading it, but the case was also probably that they were checking less often knowing that I only would update maybe twice a month. Site extras don't really keep people reading your comic- only your comic will do that. My advice is to update frequently. It doesn't even really have to be on a set schedule, but definately frequently.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:16 pm

Make a good product, and then update said product as often as you can. And if possible, do it on a set schedule. Like already mentioned, extra features don't really pull in more readers. Extras are fun, but what good is frosting if you have no cake to back it up?

Kalle B · Post by **Kalle B** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:17 pm

I'm going to go with Nicotine on this one: irregular updates = big no-no.

For me personally, irregular updates is the only thing that can make me give up on a webcomic that i like, short of the webcomic itself losing in quality. But I'm hardly a sufficient statistical basis (err... is that the correct term?).

/Kalle the half-a-B

DJMayhem · Post by **DJMayhem** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:23 pm

1. Post Regularly.
2. Consistent work/writing
3. Improving art
4. Somewhat decent site design (some extras do help)
5. Forums for the fans (Tagboard is optional)
6. find your niche/group
7. Find a forums that has your target audience and introduce (not spam) yourself there.
8. Don't start any bullsh-t with people.
9. Keep making your comic. Most people give up within the first 6 months.
10. Have fun.

There's my tips as a webcomics reviewer.

Nicked · Post by **Nicked** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 1:56 pm

viewtopic.php?t=62400

Had some good advice.

Dr Legostar · Post by **Dr Legostar** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:35 pm

yeah, updating regularly is the key, in fact when i look my stats, there is a sharp decrease in visits over the weekends, cause i don't update on saturday or sunday. Also having a good product is important, but you know, that's sorta secondary to being consistant.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:41 pm

Actually, I remember when I used to update every day- including the weekends. The weekens are just a slow time, regardless. Some people don't have internet unless they're at school/work, or they're out doing weekend stuff.

Oh yeah! Another key to keeping readers: make sure you don't jump shark. Read through your own stuff every now and again.

Dutch! · Post by **Dutch!** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 2:42 pm

Also, maintain a story or characters that people are likely to enjoy coming back to. Not everyone will, but keep with the updates on a regular basis and your audience will begin to find you.

Cope · Post by **Cope** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 3:32 pm

Bribery and blackmail, primarily.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:13 pm

I don't get fans. Nice people who link me out of nowhere get them for me.
And I don't keep them, I chase them with increasingly lousy art.
Yeah. I'm so underground.

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:26 pm

I'm not sure what to tell you, I've been trying to figure out how to lure them in myself.

Advertising on the webcomic list helped me boost from around 100 to 150 daily hits. Some decent word of mouth advertising knocked me up to about 250. But I seem to be leveling off at 230-250 hits a day.

How to get above that? No idea. Fan art helps, collaborations help, prostitution helps...what it does. It gives me cash on the side to focus on doing the strip.

I'm thinking of doing some gurrilla marketing in my community.

Aside from that, just keep working it. Tighten up your writing, create stuff that makes you laug, makes other people laugh, and makes them want to pass it along to friends. That's probibly the best way.

Stick to your schedule too...nothing loses fan base like neging on your promise to produce a strip X times a week.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:36 pm

Risky wrote:Ask Joel Fagin.

Wow. I have a rep'.

I have a tutorial on attracting readers (see footer) but I haven't finished it's twin on keeping the little bleeders. I think I'll try and get it done this weekend now that it's come up so... Don't mind me. I'll just sit on the sidelines with a notebook.

- Joel Fagin

Mimo · Post by **Mimo** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:40 pm

Slutty characters

Anywherebuthere · Post by **Anywherebuthere** » Fri Jul 08, 2005 4:42 pm

mimo wrote:Slutty characters

And let's not forget fanservice.

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So....how do you get and keep fans?

So....how do you get and keep fans?

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