Using Social Media to Promote Your Comic

Using Social Media to Promote Your Comic

I'm someone whose first-ever comic grew immensely once I started promoting it on social media

At the time of writing this post, my main series has 419K readers on Webtoon Canvas, 70K on Tapas, and frequently makes Webtoon Canvas weekly top 10 for its genre

I'm no marketing expert btw, I simply followed tips from friends who saved my life

This post is a compilation of those notes. Treat them as being part of a larger toolkit

NOTE: Updated June 2026 

The goal is audience conversion: using social media to guide people to your comic

Gaining 2M views on your Reels but your comic readership didn't increase much = goal not met

 

Disclaimers

  • These tips are largely based on North American experiences
  • Social media trends are ever-changing, so adapt accordingly
  • Some genres are easier promote than others. It is what it is
  • Your comic needs to stand on its own to attract and retain readers
  • Don't forget to take breaks to avoid burnout

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Quick Reads

I learned a lot from DogshitJay and serakatto

Their Twitter threads contain great pointers if you want a quick rundown

‼️ Note: these tweets were written in 2022, so specific algorithms may have changed ‼️

Instagram


Tiktok

Added May 2024:
Twitter

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Short FAQ

Should I pay for social media ads?

No. Unless you're willing to spend big bucks for the ads to be effective

Should I create fanart specifically to draw attention to my comic?

No. Generally, people who are interested in your fanart won't engage with your original work. They're interested in the specific character/fandom, not you

How do I get over the embarrassment of doing self-promos?

For me, I just gritted my teeth through it. My story is worth showing to other people, right?! At some point there was a Eureka! moment and it became much easier to do self-promos

Or, consider that tech bros have no problem selling existing ideas like they’re geniuses for thinking of them. Be shameless like them

Sacabambaspis | Know Your Meme

(Sacabambaspis)

Overview of Topics

  • Promotion Basics: Know your audience and choose promotional spaces wisely.
  • What to Promote: Focus on characters and emotions
  • Social Media Basics: Gotta catch people’s attention in 2 seconds
  • Bio/Profile: Keep it easy to read
  • Specific Social Media: Twitter, Tiktok, Instagram
  • Other Notes: Learn from big creators, and remember to have fun with your posts

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Promoting Basics

Fishmongers don't sell fish to other fishmongers

You're pitching to the audience

 

 

📌Where should I promote?

  • Identify your target audience and where they hang out
    • Who'll enjoy your genre the most?
      • ex) YA, shounen manga reader, hard sci-fi enthusiast
      • Tiktok, Instagram, and Youtube Shorts are usually top answers
      • But some communities are very active on Facebook and in forums
    • If unsure, ask friends or other creators
      • What comics or movies your story reminds them of
      • They might see things you miss because you’ve spent so much time on your story
  • Aim to catch the attention of readers, not other artists
    • Most readers aren’t artists
    • Speedpaints and tutorials appeal to other creators
    • Reader-created memes and recommendations hold a thousand times more weight than your own promotions
  • Creator-majority spaces aren’t effective 
    • e.g. Webtoon Canvas discord, and r/webtooncanvas subreddit
    • Fellow creators are busy making and promoting their own comics. It is what it is

 


📌How do I attract readers?

  • People want to be entertained by stories and emotions on social media
  • Include a catchy narrative hook in your posts
    • Think like a show entertainer with a mini story to tell
    • Who's the character? What's their problem? Why can't they solve that problem?
    • Ideally should be enjoyable without in-depth comic context
  • Promo posts don't have to 1:1 represent your story
    • You can highlight the silly parts, or have a lighthearted intro to your dark story, etc
    • Thirst traps are very effective, no matter the genre or language
  • Consider how fans promote their favorite series
    • ex) The Summer Hikaru Died is a horror manga but fans frequently share its out-of-context funny panels
  • Ragebaiting by pretending to be wrong/dumb, inciting anger, etc. works
    • People arguing = comments and watch time increases = engagement boost = algorithm boost
    • But consider the cost is your sanity and your image

 

 


📌What parts of my story should I promote?

  • People are usually most interested in characters and character dynamics
    • Do tailor to your genre & audience tastes
  • Memes are very effective at conveying story/character elements
    • Allows people to easily figure out if your characters are something they might be interested in
    • Memes are easily understandable and shareable with its common structure 
  • Simplify your important character dynamics to its barebones
    • ex) Underdog boy gets the girl
    • Think in terms of genre, tropes, archetypes 
  • Be specific and avoid vagueness
    • Vague: "Bob led the perfect life until a shocking incident." Yawn
    • Specific: "Bob's 14-year marriage crumbled when he walked in on his wife in bed with his octopus boss" Oh shit?
  • Other methods: Use comparable titles to introduce your story
    • "Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers" (Xiran Jay Zhao's Iron Widow. They also do their own promotions)
    • You're saying "if you enjoyed this story, you'll also enjoy mine!"
  • Nail down your comic's logline for clarity
    • “The number one thing a good logline must have, the single most important element is: irony….Irony gets my attention. It’s what we who struggle with loglines like to call the hook, because that’s what it does. It hooks your interest” -Blake Snyder
    • "A log line or logline is a brief (usually one-sentence) summary [...] that states the central conflict of the story, often providing both a synopsis of the story's plot, and an emotional "hook" to stimulate interest"

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Big fish funny face Blank Template - Imgflip

(Asian Sheapshead Wrasse)

Social Media Basics

People want to feel emotionally connected

Out of thousands of content out there, what makes yours, yours? When people think of you, what's your image? Does your post elicit any emotional response?

Can you feel the difference between:

  • Caption A: I haven't drawn in a while, but I had some #coffee and was able to #draw this! I hope you enjoy
  • Caption B: ARGGHHHAHA BAJA BLAST THIS

Don't chase virality though, that's a shortcut to burning out and giving up altogether

This is another job you're taking on, with a lot of tests and trials. Be realistic with your time, energy, and expectations

 

 

🧵 Keep These in Mind

  • Ensure your stuff is mobile-friendly. Smartphones are many people's default device
  • People have short attention spans. You have only 1-2 seconds to catch someone's interest
  • People generally do not click off a platform they’re already in.
    • So you have to give them a taste of your comic first
    • Make the experience effortless + irresistible, and show them it’s worth their time to go to your actual comic
  • Be an active user and engage with others
    • Helps you build stronger connections with your followers and other creators
    • Replying to comments increases your algorithm's reach
  • Short, to-the-point captions are usually better
  • Our brains lock onto human faces instantly
    • Try starting your posts with a character face close-up to hook attention
  • Pretty art is dime a dozen these days. People want to feel like they can sit at the table with you, so invite them in
  • Showing your face is optional. Some people do like seeing how their fav creator looks, and some brands only reach out for a collaboration if there’s a face to your account
  • Social media platforms each have their own posting and humor cultures. If you use them frequently, you'll catch the differences
    • ex) People will not engage with you on Twitter if you use a bunch of hashtags like it’s Instagram
  • Keep an eye on algorithms and trends
    • As much as it sucks, accept that not all of your posts will perform well, sometimes for long periods
    • The algorithm is not for us
    • The algorithm can change at any time
  • Identify when your target audience is most active
      • Teenagers tend to be active after school. Adults after work
      • If you and your target audience are both in the US, aim for your timezone
      • Sometimes, unfortunately, it's completely random
          • Just because an Instagram post did super well at 7PM, it doesn't mean your next post at 7PM will perform the same
      • Avoid mentioning competing platforms in your posts
        • Use words like "the photo app," "the clock app, "p@tr30n"
        • Social media platforms want to keep users on their own platform as much as possible, and don't want you to direct them elsewhere
      • Have a clear goal for a post and guide your audience towards it in the descriptions.
        • ex) "MyComic is free to read on Webtoons" or "Preorders open for these keychains!"
        • But sometimes it's better to write descriptions as if you aren't the creator, but a fan
          • People get more curious when they see others enjoying a thing, rather than the creator asking for attention
      • Consistency is key: keep reminding people about your comic's existence. Most need multiple exposures before diving into your work
      • When returning from a hiatus: one tactic is to prepare multiple low-effort throwaway” posts that basically feeds algorithm, until it’s trained to notice you again
        • Either posting a throwaway before the main post for a while / or posting multiple throwaways in row

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      🧵 Bio/Profile

      • State clearly who you are and what you make
        • ex) "Creator of MyComic"
      • Have a direct link to the comic or a linktree/carrd
        • Make it easy for people to find what they want
          • People who clicked are already interested, so prioritize clarity and ease of access over flashy design
        • Your comic should be reachable in 2 clicks or less
        • Avoid too many visuals, text, or links
      • Prioritize links based on importance
        • ex) If you want to grow your Patreon the most, have the very first link be to Patreon, the second for Webtoon, etc.
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      🧵 Types of Posts

      For attracting new readers

      • Photo Panels
        • One or two panels per photo slide for easy mobile reading
        • Share panels that can tell a mini-story by themselves so new viewers can appreciate 
      • Short Videos (7 sec or less)
        • Grab attention within the first 1-2 seconds before people scroll away
        • Watch completion rate is important. As in, do people usually watch all of the clip or do they scroll away after 3 seconds?
        • Start with a strong narrative hook via text and/or visuals
          • Convince the viewer that the rest of your video is worth their time
        • Should be shareable and relatable, even without knowing comic context

      For building readership loyalty

      • Update Day post
        • People get busy, and not everyone receives update alerts
        • Behind-the-scenes post
          • If a screenshot, try showing a part of your art program's UI, like traditional artists taking sketchbook photos with a pencil nearby
          • Short videos or photos of your workspace, sketches, etc. Extra character art and details that aren't in the comic, or may be easily glossed over

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        ‼️ Note: keep in mind that specific algorithms may have changed since I wrote this post ‼️

        Specific Social Media

        Twitter Basics

        • Hardest to grow a following organically
          • Most followers will come from outside sources. Such as deciding to follow you after reading your comic
        • Tweets are mainly spread via Retweets a.k.a. community word-of-mouth
        • Your pinned tweet should contain info on who you are, what you do, and your important links
        • Great for befriending other creators IMO, as it's a casual public talking space
          • No need to slide into someone's DMs, which can feel too intimate, to have a short conversation
          • Someone's talking about a shared interest or posted pet pics? Hop right into the conversation
          • Follow-backs are common within the same creative sphere
            • If your name/handle indicates that you're a creator, other creators are more likely to follow you
              • ex) MyName @ making comics
            • Good for getting industry behind-the-scenes information
            • Contracted creators talk about their tips, working conditions, resources, non-NDA contract information, etc. the most on Twitter

           

          Twitter Posting

          • ⚠️‼️ARTIST’S GUIDE TO USE TWITTER*‼️⚠️ thread
          • Don't use hashtags, unless it's trending in the sidebar
            • 1 or 2 hashtags is enough. More than that looks like spam
          • Incorporate keywords into your tweet instead. Your tweets can still be found that way
          • Use short, clean captions. Like a short sentence, a word, or even just an emoji
            • Your artist captions are part of the aesthetic/vibes
            • Generally avoid including links in first tweet. Add via a thread
          • Retweet previous tweets to share them again and boost visibility
          • When posting comic pages, first image of your thread should be eye-catching and simple.
            • Can post the most interesting page/panels first, and them the actual story in order in thread 
            • Caption the thread like 'comic premise (1/# of thread)
            • Add link to your comic at end of thread, if you have one

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          TikTok Basics

          • TikToks are frequently reused for Instagram Reels or Youtube Shorts
            • I use Snaptik to download without the floating logo
            • Most Instagram/Shorts trends originate from Tiktok
            • What fails on Tiktok may do well on Instagram, and vice versa
          • Works with the free video editing app Capcut (edit: no longer free :( )
            • Many TikTok meme templates are done via this app
          • Not all of your posts will be shown to all of your followers
            • People mainly stay in the For You tab, and rarely venture into the Following tab
            • The goal is to get your videos pushed onto For You tab
              • by having people engage with you in the Comments & by increasing Watch Rate & sharing or bookmarking 
          • Aim for a casual approachability rather than polished professionalism
            • e.g. videos of your comic panels taken on your phone
            • complex animations not necessary, unless you really want to make em
          • Tiktok changes its algorithm frequently :(

          TikTok Posting

          • The first 3 seconds are vital
          • Use 5 hashtags or less, related to your comic
          • Can use the description box to direct people & for better SEO
            • ex) MYCOMIC is free to read on Webtoon #manga #horrorcomics

           

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            Instagram Basics

            • Switch to a Creator account for follower and post analytics
            • Reels is the best way to reach new audiences
              • What fails on Instagram may do well on Tiktok, and vice versa
            • Meta's free Creator Studio (a.k.a. Business Suite) lets you schedule post, analyze the best time to post, see all comments, etc
            • Trending sounds have an arrow symbol next to their names

            Instagram Posting

            • In Stories, you can use the Link stickers to guide people to your comic/store/etc
            • Add trending sounds to your photo posts, and they also show up under Reels
            • Hashtags are now more about categorizing your work
              • There isn't a Recently Posted section anymore
              • Make sure the hashtags are related to your comic genre and your intended audience. Otherwise can attract uninterested or hostile people
              • Generally, 3~5 hashtags per post
            • Can use online hashtag generators for finding similar hashtags
              • Don't repeat the same hashtag combos for every post, can negatively affect your algorithm
            • For aggressive growth, aim for a post every 2~4 days
              • See how that schedule does for you and adjust as needed
              • Posting every day may fatigue yourself, your followers, and attract more spam bots
              • I sometimes post once a month and it blow up, so can be random

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            Other Platforms

            Reddit

            • Find a subreddit for your genre and audience
            • Read posting rules. Many subreddits may delete your post or ban you for self-promotions, except on specified days
            • Creator-centric places like r/webtooncanvas can be filled with creators who rate-bomb you, so tread carefully
              • Readers in webcomic subreddits don't always represent general readership opinions and interests
              • r/comics is geared towards 4-panel comedy shorts
            • Much like Twitter, Reddit is a very community-driven place

            Youtube Shorts

            • Doesn't feel as punishing as Instagram or Tiktok, which might penalize your posts if you don't upload constantly
            • If making Reels or Tiktoks, might as well post here too

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            Other Notes

            • Webtoon Canvas social media team encourages tagging them in your posts
              • Their accounts are generally followed by other creators, so it can be a great place to find creator friends
            • Follow big comic creators who are great at promoting their own stuff & analyze what you can learn from their methods
            • Make creator friends so you can uplift each other & occasionally vent about the struggles of self-promotions
            • Don't forget to maintain your existing community of supporters, not just gain new ones
              • ex) livestreams may not bring in new readers, but will strengthen the community's bond with you
            • Have fun with your posts! Not every post needs to be for promotions

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