May 5, 2007: Online Comics Day

This year's theme: Spreading the word.

I don't want to interrupt the story for a special comic, so I wrote this special page instead. There is a special strip over at my other comic, Spiky's World, though.

Spreading the word... Every webcomic creator who is just starting out knows that that's maybe the hardest part. OK, drawing a comic isn't easy (I'm still not good at it and I've been doing it for four years now ;)). Writing a comic isn't easy. Sticking to an update schedule isn't easy at all. But all those can be done with enough willpower and perseverance, I think.

No, the hardest part is getting known. If the creators like their own comic, chances are that there are other people out there who would like it too -- if only they knew of its existence. How to be found?

Many people already read webcomics. They may find this newly created comic because the creator posted on a webcomic-related forum, or got the comic listed on a webcomic list, or advertised on another webcomic. Or they might simply find it because they searched for it -- knowing that webcomics exist, and using a search engine with relevant keywords to find a new one that caters to their interests.

All these things worked to me, to some extent.

There are also many possibilities for webcomic creators to get to know other webcomic creators. There are forums where webcomic creators meet. There are places like ComicSpace (I'm here, by the way). If this new webcomic creator we're talking about is an outgoing person, it might be easy for them to make friends in the webcomics communities. Maybe even get linked from a well-known webcomic.

This does not work so well for me. I am not exactly an outgoing person.

But you know what has happened over the years? Sure, I am getting new readers from webcomic lists and from advertisements (ProjectWonderful has been wonderful indeed). Or sometimes, from places where I posted and was not too shy (for a change) to have my webcomic in my signature. But as my archives grew bigger and my readership grew stronger, I began getting new readers from places where I never posted. I went to see where they came from. I saw that readers are spreading the word. They link to my comic from their own webcomics. They post about my comic in their blogs. They post about my comic on forums. They are telling other people that they like what I created, and that they think it is worth reading. Even people who have never heard of the existence of webcomics read those blogs. Or those forums. And may decide to check out my webcomic. And by doing so, find other online comics, too. And if they find one they particularly like, they might tell their friends about it. Or post on their own blog.

I am amazed that this has begun to happen for my comic. And I have to say a big Thank You to all of my readers who are actively spreading the word.

Keep it happening. If you are reading this, chances are that you already have a list of favourite webcomics. Tell a friend about them. List them in your blog. There are so many great webcomics out there, just waiting to be discovered! Help spread the word.

To do my part today, I have started a thread in my forum, listing (and linking) my favourite webcomics, and asking other posters there to do the same.

Long text, and I'm not good with words -- especially when it's not my native language. If you spot a mistake, I'll be happy if you let me know about it, so I can correct it. My email address is at the bottom of this page :)

There's also a special comic strip at Spiky's World, where I'm talking about how much feedback means to me.

The advertisers below are most likely webcomics. Check them out, they deserve it :)

Your ad could be here, right now.