A major point of this project is marketing. To market in this day and age means to hashtag, hashtag, hashtag. Along with the usual fundamentals, of course. The more posts and hashtags around Haru, the better, especially since she is not attached to a particular product (like a video game) or recognizable franchise (just yet). Part of my research includes finding a hosting site or sites, to upload my accompanying webcomic.
I am familiar with a couple of hosting sites outside of facebook, twitter and instagram. They include tumblr, and two specific webcomic sites: Line Webtoon and Smackjeeves. The latter and I go a long way back; Smackjeeves was my first introduction to webcomics. And while I have grown up quite about, I can’t say that I’ve visited Smackjeeves in quite some time. Looking at the site seriously today, it appears adequate enough. It’s updated to include forums and author profile features. What really gets me about SmackJeeves is, well, the content. A lot of the works on there are either huge fandom works (like Pokemon), very amateur-ish or flat out abandoned. Now, there’s nothing wrong with anyone being an amateur— I too am an amateur, but I’m also trying to improve and be professional. It’s hard to see that in the content on Smackjeeves. There are really good works on the site, but they have to be sought out. And they just end up moved or abandoned anyway.
Line Webtoon at first glance looks more polished and professional. I can’t explain why really but the content on there strikes me as creators who are taking their work a little more seriously. In other words, it’s Smackjeeve’s older, color and mature brother.
Not to say that I will not be posting on Smackjeeves, but my first choice is Line Webtoon. I’m also looking at Tumblr as a serious platform again but I have this habit of thinking when I stop using a certain site, I assume EVERYONE else has as well, and of course that’s not true. People are still on Tumblr, despite its reputation but I may be able to use that to my advantage. Tumblr’s interface is friendly enough but it’s webcomic themes are limited. But I am familiar with it and it’s marketing capabilities.