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Cuddlepug β This is why...NOBODY COMMENTS ON YOUR ART
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Published: 2017-11-12 17:03:43 +0000 UTC; Views: 22698; Favourites: 204; Downloads: 138
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Do you struggle to get comments on your art? Are you disappointed in the amount of engagement you get on your uploads, polls and statuses? Consider reading this article and looking at potential ways to widen your reach.
I would also love to know how many views/comments you need to receive on an upload to consider it a 'success'.
Preview: People online are self-absorbed. We're all guilty of this sort of behaviour every now and then in our day-to-day lives, but online we are actively encouraged to obsess over ourselves. Social media exists to plug us into a network of people who could be a potential audience, and within this network our own views and expressions generate the bulk of the content that is generated, with the tacit hope, and even expectation, that we will receive engagement.
There are a few easy things you can do that might just lead to more in the way of engagement:
In status updates, rather than just talking about your day, ask people to talk about their own as well
Instead of putting up a picture and just expecting a flood of comments, ask people to give feedback on a specific part of the design, or to provide an opinion about an element of the character you are unsure of
Consider creating content that requires people's input. For example, if you make a poll, try asking something that is universal and invites people to share their own experiences
When engaging with others, find ways of tying this back to your own content β what have you created that can tie into someone else's narrative?
If you use social media, know your audience. If you're trying to appeal to young people, you might want to consider using Snapchat, where 60% of its users are under 25. If you want to cultivate an audience to sell products to, consider creating a Facebook page where you can ensure your content appears on the news feeds of all those who follow you
On DeviantArt in particular, identify groups you can submit your work to in order to broaden the potential reach of your content to people with an interestΒ
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Comments: 141
Are you happy with that level of engagement or would you like more?
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I'm ok with it for right now, but I would love to build up on it later in the future.
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I wish you luck in cultivating a large audience, my friend :@)
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Thank you! I'm going to follow some of the tips you suggested. I'm also going to set up commissions as well!
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I plan on doing some work around commissions soon which might be relevant as well, so keep a look out ^^
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Lol I have no words I only have one watchwr
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But you get hilarious comments! comments.deviantart.com/1/7148β¦Β
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Wht oh......... ;-;
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o.o i never realize u thought it this way?? but thx 4 sharing this
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I don't comment on art because most of it is a rip-off. People didn't create it themselves they just copy and paste.
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I'm not entirely sure that's always the case :'O
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I love how you incorporated your own advice into creating this; not just telling us the advice but using it yourself in the reading. And it really is relatable to anyone who cares to read it (I nearly skimmed over it entirely and would have missed out!). For my first three years on DeviantArt, I had maybe three or four friends on here and up to maybe two or less comments on my works. It wasn't until I posted a freaking anime xReader that people began to notice my writing, because xReaders are all about the reader.Β
I don't really care anymore because I write for my own satisfaction, but I do prefer to have comments on my stories in place of favorites or views. Comments nowadays mean that the person cared enough to write something. If I get even one or two comments on something then I consider it a success for taking the time of somebody's day.
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Thank you, my friend. Interesting to hear that in your experience you found more popularity by 'selling out', so to speak. But the example you gave works perfectly for this, because, as you say, by putting the reader as the main character you're making your content about other people rather than yourself. Really interesting addition to the discussion, thanks!
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I actually enjoy writing this series now because it's a fun hobby, but the point is the same. I know it doesn't pertain to art, but writing is another form of it and writers don't get a lot of attention either on social media (Fanfiction.net, for those who are still on, is a nightmare full of "Update soons!" and "Cute/Fluffy/Other-Generic-One-Worded-Compliments!").Β
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I'm glad you are a writer, because I myself am a writer on DA, as you know, and can very much relate to you on that level. It certainly can be difficult to get engagement as a writer, and I plan on writing another article in the near future specifically aimed at writers with advice on how to engage. I've had a lot of success writing on DA, but it was a long road to get to this point, and I largely have to tailor content to what I anticipate people will read rather than what I necessarily want to write.
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I am commenting on this essay. Ask me a question to raise my engagement with this topic. I am a vain creature and want to talk about myself.
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Do you find favourites, views or comments the most important thing when you upload something :@)?
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Nothing less than offers of sexual favors or money can rouse me from my apathy. I have stared into Pony for too long, and it has stared back. Validation only buries me deeper in my pastel prison. They see my art, but they get to walk away, pursue new vistas; I can't stop seeing it, seeing the Mane6Mane6Mane6Mane6Mane6, even when I close my eyes. Sometimes I scream when I glimpse my hands, thinking them shredded, for they are not blunt as extremities should be. I make quiet horse noises on public transportation.
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BWaHAHAHAHAHA! Perfect response.
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Awesome article CuddlePug, I found myself identifying with quite a few of these issues early on with this site, this definitely helps one see how to receive and give positive attention on artwork and on the internet in general. Followed by some very good tips, thanks for the advice, and I hope that many others find good use in them! c:
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Thanks Pixie, always lovely to hear from you :@) Personally, when you upload, do you care more about favourites, comments or views? Or don't you really mind 
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Well starting out I was definitely fuelled by comments and favourites, like most young artists on the site, I would see them as a form of validation as per expressed in the article. As time went on, I went to do more creative stuff, I found more satisfaction with the few people who I could make conversation with and learn from through my deviations. While I do hope many people see my artwork in the moment of posting it, in the end I don't really mind the numbers, but more about if i'm satisfied with what I posted and how I can improve.Β
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You have maturity well beyond your years, I'm often in awe at the things you say and feel like I could learn a thing or two
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Aha, well thank you c: and I most definitely enjoy the conversations had with you, your articles definitely attract much of that with such interesting topics!
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I remember back in the day when I thought having lots of pageviews or lots of watchers meant you were 'popular', but it's honestly not the case. I'm not even sure why I use to care about that stuff. Now I create for myself and my clients and if people happen to like it, then that's wonderful
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That's a very mature approach to take :@) I spend a lot of time looking at stats and impact, but maybe that's because of the nature of the sort of things I upload. Do you think favourites, views or comments are most important?
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Hmm, I think for me personally it's the views. I'm more interested in people actually seeing what I've made.
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That would make sense, particularly if you're operating somewhat as a business where traffic could very well lead to sales :@)
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Exactly 
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Huh...I never thought about it that way. Thanks for sharing this advice!
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No problem, my friend. Do you spend much time looking at the views/favourites/comments on your uploads?
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Nope, I look at them very very rarely.Β
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nobody comments on my stuff but idk why ;-;
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I wish you luck in getting more people to check out your stuff :'O
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I used to get upset over stuff like this when I was a lot younger. I still get a bit frustrated now and then but I tell myself often no one is objected to give attention to my stuff. I also try to focus on the few positive responses rather than the lack of them, if that makes sense. At the end of the day I only really wanna have fun and enjoy what I do, so yeah I mind less these days.
Also, I agree and asking for feed back and taking time t interact with others helps a lot with this kinda thing. Joining grops and genuinly taking the time to notices others tends to come back.Β
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Thanks for the comment, my friend. It's good to focus on the positivity, that's for sure. DA is full of people who are fun to engage with and caring, it's just a matter of finding the right people :@)
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Mindblown. This is such a well-written piece with plenty of useful advice. Thanks for sharing it with us!
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Thank you very much, my friend. You're too kind! Do you find yourself looking much at the stats your uploads get?
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You're welcome!
As to answer your question: I only look at stats just from time to time to see which one is the most popular deviation. Aside from that, I only upload deviations for fun ^^
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This is a tough subject to tackle, if not because we are forced to actually acknowledge our own narcissism, but also because it poses excellent questions as to why we really pursue our given talents and share them freely with the world. Like when a child, proud of a picture they drew of the family, rushes to show their parents, and the praise and subsequent hanging on the fridge fuels the desire to produce and share more. Of course we love the attention and praise, but in a way I think we like relating to others more because it gives a sense of fulfillment. Maybe, in a way, it is a sense that you are cared for and you can show your own appreciation and care by continuing to engage with even more people by showing them something you have made. Or perhaps I'm reaching?
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I featured this comment for the thought-provoking questions it raises. Excellent point about running to show people a picture you've made as a child. It helps validate what we're doing to have others compliment it.
Do you pay much heed to stats on your uploads?
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Oh, thank you. I'm glad at least what I said was thought-provoking, and hopefully others might take something from it.
As far as watching my upload stats, there was a time that I did, but I find now I don't pay particular attention. I do notice I have far less interaction than I once did as a pony artist, but it doesn't bother me like I feared it would. It all just registers as tiny blips on my notification radar that eventually are forgotten. Although it is mostly because these notifications are, like you said, "just faves" and very rarely comments or part of any meaningful conversation. But then, I also have withdrawn a lot over the last few years. It is nice to see some of my original work favorited every so often, and now that I think on it, it does make me smile to see, but I don't actively seek views or favorites any more. There is also the other end of that, where I still get to see lovely work from my peers, but I find I have interacted less with it in my online silence. That is something I've been forced to think about now after reading your article.Β
Part of my withdrawal was burnout, because I sought this sort of mass validation too much, and lost sight of the reason why I liked to share my art. When I was little, art was my only form of escape; a therapy in a sense. And when my art evolved into something that was only a source of monetary gain and stress, I lost my passion for it. It has taken a long time to recover from that, and I'm not entirely sure I have, but I am much better off mentally because I've placed it back on hobby status. I enjoy drawing again. I do still share, although less frequently. But now most of my time is devoted to sharing art for my friends and our shared interests, notably Wildlings and D&D. These communities offer me the sort of socialization I love, and I don't have to cross post to ten different social media sites and stress over exposure to get that. I just get to sit comfortably in my room or on a friend's couch in my pj's, and this is probably the happiest I have ever been in my life. Sure I'm not a big artist, and sure I pay my bills working in a restaurant instead of being that big name I wished I could be, and I'm 100% glad for that.Β
One of the things a lot of artists fear, I think, is failure in the aspect that if they aren't able to sustain themselves on art alone, then they aren't a real artist. That couldn't be further from the truth. That is another facet to this stress over lack of exposure and interaction online. Being drowned out by competition, and panicking that you'll never amount to anything. That's not true. Even if no one vocalizes that they find meaning in your work, it is still worth making.Β
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This is a wonderful reply. For me, seeing this sort of well thought-out engagement is exactly what I enjoy when I write, and is largely why I keep uploading to DeviantArt. Thanks for validating what I do.
It is interesting that you experienced burnout.Β I admire you for moving away from ponies in many respects - I still write about the topic a bit, but the passion that was once there has been lost in recent years, for sure. It's so wonderful you enjoy your hobby again now. I also love that you support the Wildling species, I know Rannarbananar Β appreciates it. By throwing off those oppressive social media shackles you do seem a lot happier. This is an encouraging comment and I hope everyone who clicks through to this piece will see it.
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Nice articleΒ
Thank's for the advice sweetie ^~^
i'll keep this in my mind for sure o3o
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Thank you, Iuliana, it's always great to hear from you! When you upload, do you pay much attention to stats like comments/favourites/views?
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Honestly,I don't really pay much attention to those,but it's nice when you see someone liking your art
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I certainly get a little burst of joy whenever I see someone has commented or favourited <3
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Of course I do the same,it's a really nice feeling,to know someone likes what you made :3
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Yeah, that was good advice. Although I do believe you can get away with talking about yourself if you make it interesting.
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