Another Tips & Tricks…
….for you trusty readers yearning to see how I run things around here. Or you’re just bored at work and wanna read my babbling. Whatever the reason, hi! Thanks for stopping by.
If you’re a webcomic creator and looking to increase your page views and unique viewers (aren’t we all, duh?), I have 3 words/links for you:
What are those?
These are all services that allow users to share a favorite link with those gigantic communities, and offer very easy ways of doing so, like browser plug-ins you can install that will put a bar at the top with easily-accessed buttons. You can befriend other people who are also signed up and see what they like. With stumble upon you can customize your own preferences- what kind of websites you enjoy (ie: webcomics, sci-fi, circus freaks and their pets, whatever you please), and when you hit that “STUMBLE” button, it’ll take you somewhere you’ll probably DIGG (ha, see what I did there?). Kinda like Tivo for your internet browser. Now, with my lack of spare time, I use it more for OTHER people to share my work (*hint hint* *please please!*), but I have noticed that stumble upon or digg makes for my biggest 2 referrers. This is a terrific way for friends and devout readers to help out a cartoonist — by sharing the link with one of these services. The more people stumble/digg/reddit your comic, the more times it’ll be passed around and new people can discover it. And the viciously wonderful cycle continues.
Cool, what do I do?
Sign up. Get an account. Befriend your peeps. Add a “share” widget under each of your comics (easily done with wordpress). Digg/stumble/reddit your friends comics, and other sites you enjoy, see what it’s all about (there is much to discover yourself!) Join a community forum and see if there is a “digg group” or the like, you can join forces with, as I did on webcomicplanet.com. Everyone diggs everyone else’s work, and the more it branches out, the more hits you get. Easy, quick, AND worthwhile! It’s possible!
Can I help Z&F with these services?
Sure! You may have noticed many comic creators adding in a “donate” paypal button. I have debated whether or not to do this, mainly because I don’t think people have the money to give in these economic times. But, if you lovely readers and friends want to help Z&F financially, you can do so without spending money! All you have to do is digg, or stumble, or reddit my updates, as you read them (or all 3 if you feel feisty!). With the browser plug-in, this takes only a second. How does this earn me money, you ask? Well, page views, combined with my Project Wonderful Ads… The more page views I get, the more cash I earn! All because of your extra second. And, as a bonus, let me know if you digg/stumble/reddit me, I can do the same for you! What a great way to help out your fellow webcomicers, and get some help in return!
Now, group hug!
Quesetion, okay I belong to Stumble Upon, and I’ve stumbled my own comic before but I didn’t get any results. Do you have to have that widget actually on the site for it to work? You other people have to stumble your comic for you, or can you do it yourself?
I’ll try the other ones. Those widgets are already on the DD home page.
Thanks for the info.
CyberDog out.
Overall, the best way to profit from services like stumbleupon is if other people (and lots of them) stumble your page – your typical social networking process. Especially if someone respected and popular stumbles it… someone who would have a ton of friends who would be very interested in what he/she’s stumbling.
As for placing the code on DD, I’m not sure where in the HTML code would be best to place the “share” button, but you can go here to get the code (there’s many “sharing” options out there, but I use this one):
http://www.addtoany.com/buttons/
I’d say place it somewhere near the comic, at least. You do not HAVE to have a share button for stumbleupon to work, but it certainly helps to give people easy access to it.. if they do not have the browser toolbar, that is. It’s kind of a stab-in-the-dark type thing, and you may not see immediate results. Someone stumbled me at one point and I got a ton of hits, it’s faded away and back in like a wave here and there, but still makes up for most of my referrals
Hope that helps!