Today I was checking The Errant Apprentice and Kota had posted a nice little thank you note to his readers in his rant for that days update.

So how do you thank your readers?

I'd like to say I think my readers by updating....but anyone who know how often I update 3rd Party Fantasy knows that isn't true, but I do like to make special animated episodes and take fan suggestions now and then to let people know I apreciate that they read my comic.

Anyone else have something they do to thank their readers?

this may seem small...but I read their comic and comment...not once but forever...even if the comic is not what I would normally read...I can appreciate the comic for what it is and offer helpful comments to encourage their growth...

Also I don't just read the current page and comment...I do read and comment on all the pages...at least leaving a score if a comment is not available.

I know this is small but its my little way of saying, "thank you!".
I think a lot of people do this as well.

but since my comic is rather new in the scope of things I hope to do more by getting the reader more involved...i.e. ideas, character designs, side story ideas...

Also I try to make a point of commenting on their comments...I love the banter sometimes that results...

If I could I would bake a batch of delicious cookies and have them ready to give every time...but alas...I am not a good cook.


I wonder if this thread would be better in Comic Discussion (Print & Web!)...just a thought

By continuing to produce the comics, for the most part.

i would say that i thank my readers by trying to make the comics entertaining and releasing new ones on a set schedule without resorting to filler. sometimes i type thanks for reading messages as well.

Well there are a couple of which I've actually gone to veiw their own comics but I usually don't have the time to get through all of them. (sorry for that) But I consider uploading a thank you. I mean if people showed distaste and dissatisfaction for my comics then I'd stop drawing them. Sometimes I type thank you as well.

I send my all of my readers sexy lady dancers to entertain at their house.
Plus

In spite of all the hurdles of day to day life, The story Updates on schedual, when I am not produceing, I constantly try to improve my writing and art skillz (my game) so that there is a smooth ride through the whole story.

I also set up my archives in a big scroll format on my site, and even though it has effected my view count on Drunk duck, It seems like every one is keeping up with the story alot better.
and I like the look of it in that format, plus I feel more secure that the viewer has an alternate source for the archives.



O.K., I lied about the dancers

My readers are paid in beer. Both of them.

Consistent updates, extra web site content, and occasionally I plug some people by name.

I drop by their comics and comment, and occassionally say thank you in the author's comments.

Whenever people order my trade paperback, I try to have it in the mail to them the very next day with some personal note or drawing in the book as a form of gratitude. On the webcomic side, I try to post daily on my main site (below) and provide healthy feedback if they are fellow artists that comment.

well, I don't comment on my own comic saying "thanks!" I only reply if I have some response that I feel I need to type. if I get a lot of great comments, I'll say thanks on the next update! sometimes I read my consistent readers' comics, but I'm really busy lately so... :/

I update every day without fail. I respond to all the comments in the next update, so they will be sure to see it (which might not always happen if I reply on the same page). I always look at the comics of my commenters and I try to comment. Sometimes, I really enjoy the comic and end up giving it a link at the bottom of my page. I also have a collection of games for them, and I put up a forum to encourage interaction (no takers so far, but it's there). If someone makes fanart, I upload it immediately to my fanart section and plug it along with a link on the next day's update. (I like to do fanart in return, too.) I also share some extras, sketches and things, when I have them.

The only reader of my webcomic is me... and possibly BigFish, so I just buy myself a Coke and pat myself on the back for a job well done before BigFish makes the next page.

All my readers died when a bus full of kids crashed.

But if i had any i would draw something special for them.

I try to respond to comments, but sometimes I just don't have time, and, if it's a choice between the two, getting a new page done on time is more of a "thank you" than responding to individual comments. :s At the very least I always at least try to answer questions in the next update's author's comment section.

Um, "Thank you", "Thanks", "I appreciate your comment", "Thanks for saying that", "'ppreciate it", "You're right, I am a god", "Glad you liked _________", etc., etc., etc..

Later,
Chip

I try to get my readers to do things for the comic, such as Suggestions... Fan Art, What do you think of... but they usually don't respond.

I'd read their fanmail and such, if I ever got fan mail, and I was maybe thinking of a contest, if my readers weren't so... in the closet about it. Those are some of the things I WOULD do.

But every now and then, when I see someone comment I've never seen before (Trust me, it's not hard to keep a record,) I check out some of their comics. Although I'm very busy, and absent minded, so I might forget to KEEP checking out some if their comics.

I try to comment back on their comics, and I always thank them in my authors notes.

Me commenting on comics = views/more comments

Me not commenting on comics = No views/comments.

D:

I thank my readers by continuing my comic and acknowledging them for being wonderful fans. If a comment asks a question or says something more detailed, i'll definitely respond to that question.

Like this:

I reward my readers by... um... doing more pages??????

Actually, I do like making special treats for my readers, such as the binary-encrypted riddle at the beginning of Chapter 5, which I believe only one person has figured out (that is, among those who have emailed me). My fillers are generally more than just fillers. I never put "Thanks for 200,000 hits!!!!". I like to make the fillers fun or humorous.

My favorite filler is the traditional April Fool's Day page, which has always been my favorite page of the year to do. This last year, I did a rather authentic-looking movie poster . ...that is, if you can ignore the huge disclaimer at the bottom.

Seriously, I appeal to my readers by basically talking about what I do with the comic and what I'm trying to teach myself to do with each microscopic improvement I make to my style. For example, the coloring has suddenly shifted dramatically, and I kind of took a filler page to highlight the fact that, "Hey, I just learned how to color!".

And I like hiding things in the story. Little hints to things that happen later in the story and references to the obscure. It always makes my day when I get that one person who understands my lame jokes.

I always feel incredibly awkward when replying to comments/compliments -- I never know how to respond unless someone is asking me a direct question!

So, I usually just thank my readers in my Author's Notes for their support, and maybe if they're really nice, I'll slip them some fanservice for christmas. XD

I like to blab with commenting readers. But I think there's also this unwritten rule of "real webcomic artists" that says you should keep yourself above extensive mingling in the comments section. Like, no one wants to see you blab too much.

mlai
I like to blab with commenting readers. But I think there's also this unwritten rule of "real webcomic artists" that says you should keep yourself above extensive mingling in the comments section. Like, no one wants to see you blab too much.

Hmm, I didn't know this. I have a habit of trying to respond to anyone kind enough to say something on my comic. Perhaps I should cut down and answer only the more relevant ones.
Not that I would classify myself as a "real" webcomic artist, though I try to do it on my blog for the next update.

Other than that I offer them a chance to place ads at the end of my comic and I give fan art at times.

I always respond to the comments in the next update, and I usually check out the commenter's comic, if they have one :)

I put all my readers INTO the comic ;)

I thank them normally... I continue to update... i read their stuff in return... I fanart or cameo art their characters just like my latest BLTR page!

I love my readers... because of them, my comics are alive!

mlai
I like to blab with commenting readers. But I think there's also this unwritten rule of "real webcomic artists" that says you should keep yourself above extensive mingling in the comments section. Like, no one wants to see you blab too much.

If that's the rule, then I'd rather be considered "not a real artist". That's just silly. Remember when most print comics still had lettercolumns? When was that ever considered unprofessional? I appreciate absolutely ALL the feedback I get, and I try to make sure people know I do.

I would really love to have a bunch of readers, that weren't afraid to mark my mistakes, that's why everytime I get a comment I try to post a thx reply, and if I change something I read on feedback, I give credit.

And if someday I reach this point, I would love to have a fan art/fic section.

I don't have very many readers yet, but I do try to read their work. I appreciate all my readers greatly. Especially Midge (he's commented on all my pages!). I thank all the other people that have given me praise or criticism by PM. I may have to become more vocal though, I can sometimes be a quiet guy sitting in the corner when it comes to my artwork.