In this era of webcomics, Social Media is a powerful tool with so many uses. From advertising to community discussion, it can be a great resource for a creator. But as great as it is, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out the most effective way to utilize it. And on top of that, it feels like the entirety of the social media landscape changes almost every couple years, making it difficult to keep up with. Especially when you’re already dedicating so much time making your webcomics! So lets dive into ways you can make your social media presence work for your comic in a sustainable, manageable way.

What goes into having an online presence, especially in today's ever-changing environment?

EVERYTHING! Just kidding. That is not sustainable. Or manageable. Don't do that.

Rather, focus on a few platforms that are easy for you to use and manage. Find where your audience is and put focus there. You don't have to be on every platform. Social media is a tool and you need to use the right tool for the job. And every platform has a different "recipe" for success, so if you aren't comfortable with a recipe of a certain platform, don't feel like you need to use it. The more comfortable you are and the easier you find it to maintain, the better you will do.

What impact does having/curating a social media do for our presence?

Your social media presence is what strangers on the internet see of you and how they come to identify you as a person or creator. If your content is solely your art, then that is how you will be recognized and people will know the art more than the creator. Alternatively, you can choose to offer more personal glimpses into your life and share more about the creator. Many people enjoy learning about the person behind the webcomic and personality can be a selling point for gaining new readers.

The important thing is to curate based on what you feel comfortable sharing and what is sustainable for you.

Remember to use internet safety in what you choose to post. Parasocial relationships and similar issues are common in today's world and can be detrimental to parties involved.

What are some strategies you would employ to get your work across? Or are there any things you've seen that you would avoid that would hurt your work?

Make connections! Genuine connections! Get to know other creators and make friends and have fun. When you're having fun, people can tell and that is a huge attractant for readers and non-readers alike. UNLEASH THE PASSION! Use social media to share your passion! Share your wins and your progress. Positive content tends to bring positive interaction and creates a good cycle!

The flip side of that is to not view everyone as competition. You are not in competition with the world and having such an outlook can lead to miserable experiences online, burnout and more. Many social media users tend to actively avoid negativity on their feed, and the more negative posts and such you share, the more likely people may be to avoid your content.

The biggest thing to remember is that there is a balance to everything, and social media is no exception. Make sure you are finding what works for you and using it to your advantage.

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Episode Release Date: July 11, 2023

Episode Credits:

Renie Jesanis (@renieplayerone) - she/they, kateblast.com

Megan Davison (@star-berrymint) - she/her, sorceryshenanigans.com

Jay Brown - he/they, inkblotapp.info/

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The Intro "DO IT (feat. Shia LaBeouf)", and the Outro "It's Good To See You Again!!", both by Adrianwave, have been used and modified in good faith under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Licensed. Edits include: Fade IN/OUT, and a repeat added to the beginning of "It's Good To See You Again!!". For more information on this creative commons use, please reference https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.