Comic Forum: what is it good for?

[Fabio Ciccone]

I've been thinking about creating a forum for Magics & Barbarics, but I wonder: what is a comic forum actually it good for? Does it really attract new readers? Does it make readers more happy? Does it worth the trouble?

[Datachasers]

well i use mine to throw stuff up to link to - and i make annoucements there ( woo the comic is delayed ) ect

--- although its fun to listen to the crickets chirping from lack of use those -

[Phact0rri]

I've been thinking about creating a forum for Magics & Barbarics, but I wonder: what is a comic forum actually it good for? Does it really attract new readers? Does it make readers more happy? Does it worth the trouble?

I have a small base of readers (not to give numbers blatently but not more 1k). So I don't have one. I feel that its more to let readers talk about the comic, and let the creator talk to the readers. So depending on the size of your comic, and how active your reader base is (like if they talk to you via email in a large number or live journal or myspace, comicsspace or what ever) it would serve as good for them to congregate. Or even a good place to tell them whats going on, what are you doing or what not.

However, usually in most cases in a smaller newer comic, a tagboard works better than a full blown forum.

[Garneta]

I made one basically just so I'd have an easy place to post the comic storyline as I wrote it out in prose form...Probably could've waited for that though, as I'm only partway through Chapter One of getting that done. A forum certainly won't attract any new readers, but if you want one to become more active, maybe try posting some contests or bonus artwork or something.

[Dr Neo Lao]

It depends on the tone of the comic. Some comics inspire a lot of commentary whilst another comic with the same number of readers might not have any comments at all.

This is one of the reasons tagboards are so popular - they're simple to set up and use but are prone to spammage. This is also the reason a lot of (independently hosted) comics are moving over to blog-based software - to allow easy commenting.

You may find it better to be part of a larger forum (such as getting a sub-forum here on the CG forum) rather than getting a stand-alone forum, that way the people who post on your forum have other things to do as well (depending on the forum). For example, if your comic uses similar things to D&D (sorry, haven't read your comic) and you happen to already be a member of an active D&D forum then you could ask the admin of that forum to give you a sub-forum there.

[Joel Fagin]

I have a bit of an article/tutorial/whatever on forums and how they work. You can find it here...

http://www.between-worlds.com/tutorials ... back.shtml

- Joel Fagin

[Jackhass]

Mine never took off or amounted to anything...the more popular my comic got the deader it got too. Not sure why.

I've had much better results putting a blog fans can comment on up on my site. I would recommend that as the best fan-interaction option.

[Jeffy]

A forum is incredibly useful. It will increase your readership, make women (and only women) more interested in you, better your artwork and writing ability and make your food last longer in the fridge.

[Jekkal]

It sorta depends where the comic's forums are and what sort of community they foster. In my case, I piggybacked off the forums of a pair of siblings who do comics, mostly to eliminate a registration hurdle I thought I would have between fans of their comics and my stuff.

It seems to've worked okay, even though my forum is 'buried' in the hierarchy compared to theirs. Seeing the level of activity I get makes me feel better, and it even gives me ideas sometimes.

[Wp]

If you're bent on having a forum, it's probably better to remove your tagboard. I've seen some tagboards suck up forum comments.

[Jaybob81]

I would say a forum is only useful A) if you have a lot of readers who pretty much fill up a blog comment box in a day or B) have a few friends who like to share links and bs with you. I have forums since they kind of come with the territory free of charge but its been about 2 years since I've dusted them off.

[Siabur]

I'm tinkering with a forum only because my web host has them preinstalled with the package. If it works I'll use them for other sites most likely.

[Boozeathon4billion]

I decided to start a forum so that I can get rid of my guestbook and comment box. I'm also posting news, pics, links, and other stuff in there which won't be on the main part of the site... so it's going to be for incentives, community building, and chatting with the few people who remember to check in on my comic regularly. I think for a forum to work though, they have to be focused at more than just the comic. With my old comic, I had topics just related to the comic and it was almost always dead.

But even when they're dead, at least you look pretty professional for having a forum and keeping it updated. I'd go with a forum over another guestbook/commentbox any day.