Be Popular!... if you dare...
There is a huge difference between making a lot of views and becoming popular. You can even be popular in Go!Animate even if you don't make much animations. But... you have to make sure you are being popular for the right reasons...
Being popular, in any case, is not something that can be obtained in a couple of days time. It takes much more than that. And, bear in mind that staying popular requires from you a big effort too. If you "disappear" for a couple of months, it'll take you some time to come back to your previous "popular" status...
But first things first... How do you become popular?
Tip 1. Make things easy for them to remember you!
Say you just joined Go!Animate. You had to choose a username. You wanted to be "Wolverine", but it was taken. So you end up being "Wolvie98"... and you chose a nice picture of a wolf as your user-pic.
Alright. Not bad. We all like wolves, and that picture you are showing is very good, but... are you sure people are going to remember you? Maybe they'll remember "Wolvie", but... they'll be damned if they remember it was 98, or 99 or 95... It can be very obvious to you. Maybe you were born in 1998, or something like that, but for the rest of the users, it is just a number. And if another user comes around and names himself Wolvie96, people won't find the difference between you two.
Alright. Not bad. We all like wolves, and that picture you are showing is very good, but... are you sure people are going to remember you? Maybe they'll remember "Wolvie", but... they'll be damned if they remember it was 98, or 99 or 95... It can be very obvious to you. Maybe you were born in 1998, or something like that, but for the rest of the users, it is just a number. And if another user comes around and names himself Wolvie96, people won't find the difference between you two.
So remember these tips, regarding your username and pic:
- Don't choose an username too long. People will end up calling you something shorter, because after all... we are all lazy.
- Don't include numbers in your username, unless it is absolutely necessary. And I can't think a reason why you have to include numbers in your username.
- Try to find an original name. But if it is as original as to get people confused because it is no way to pronounce it, or there is no vowels, or there is no way to remember...
- Use a normal font. Don't use those Alt fonts. They don't show well in all browsers and even if they do, other users are not going to write your name as it shows, so... why bother?
- Don't change your username. If you do, people are not going to recognize you, and by the time you want to come back to your old name, it might be taken, and you won't be able to return to it. So think carefully about your name, because you should stick to it if you want to become popular.
- Make your pic original. Use something that can be easily seen at a small size. Remember your pic is shown in every comment, but at a smaller size than the one featured in your Public Page. If it is a picture you made yourself you will have a truly original pic. I recommend that.
Tip 2. Don't expect them to come to you.
Do you really think that making a good animation and sit and wait for fans to come is going to work? Do you have any idea how many new and existing users create an animation each day? I don't either, but I am sure it is quite a lot! So, how do you expect them to find out about you?
There are different ways to be noticed. I recommend the slowest path... why? Because I feel it is the one that truly works.
"The slowest path? But I want to be popular now!". Well, you can try visiting any user you come along, and leave a "Watch my animations, dude!" to each of them. I tell you what: you'll get bored very soon. And you won't get that many positive answers, anyway. The slowest path, on the other hand means that you become known little by little, but... you'll get a loyal fan base.
And how do you that? Well, let me use another user's words to explain what I mean. This is part of a comment by CoadyTNP at Go!animate: "When people see you leaving awesome comments and specifics about what you liked about their videos, they tend to fan you more often because they want you to come watch their videos" (http://goanimate.com/thread/94403). That is what you have to do: Go and make yourself noticeable. If you watch an animation, don't forget to write a comment. A nice comment. Maybe you have watched a lot of vids before but... if you haven't left any word behind you... how are they suppose to know you have watched their videos? Or even worse, how are they suppose to know you exist? You have to become "visible". You need to make people like you. And people will like you if you tell them they're work is good, or even if you don't like it, you offer some kind of help or constructive criticism. Just going over there and asking them to become a fan is not enough. They might become a fan because they feel obliged, but probably they won't remember who you are if you never show in the comment section of their animations. There is the risk of ending having a lot of fans and yet not receiving the amount of views and/or "likes" and "recs." you truly deserve.
But that risk is much reduced if, now and then (more often than not if you're starting in Go!Animate) you stop by their animation and offer nice reviews or helpful advice. They will remember your name, and when your name shows up, they'll be bound to watch your animation, and they will want to be nice if you have been nice to them. If you haven't, then they'll leave a comment on the same level as yours. So, it pays to be polite and nice. And it isn't that difficult.
In other words... It is you who has to start looking for fans, but don't do it by simply asking/demanding other users to become your fans, use your brain. Comment on their animations, and if you like them, tell them so. And then, send them a message (not in the animation's page, but on the animator's page) telling the user, again, how much you liked his/her animation, and how happy would make you if they watch your animations or even become a fan.
Tip 3. Make the best animations.
You can be popular in Go!Animate because you are "trolling" everyone. That'll make you popular for a very short time, as the Staff will soon take care of you.
You can be popular also because you always start fights in forums. If the staff won't take care of you, it would not really matter, because people won't be interested in watching your animations anyway...
You can be popular in Go!Animate because you are complaining all the time...
All the above are ways to become popular. Or maybe unpopular. It doesn't matter. They are not the reasons you should have to make it into Go!Animate "Hall of Fame". You should become a popular user because of your exceptional animations and your nice and helpful manners...
What? You are not nice and you have no intention whatsoever of being helpful? Well, at least make great animations. Otherwise, go to YouTube, you might find yourself at home there...
You can be popular also because you always start fights in forums. If the staff won't take care of you, it would not really matter, because people won't be interested in watching your animations anyway...
You can be popular in Go!Animate because you are complaining all the time...
All the above are ways to become popular. Or maybe unpopular. It doesn't matter. They are not the reasons you should have to make it into Go!Animate "Hall of Fame". You should become a popular user because of your exceptional animations and your nice and helpful manners...
What? You are not nice and you have no intention whatsoever of being helpful? Well, at least make great animations. Otherwise, go to YouTube, you might find yourself at home there...
And exactly how do you that? How do you make a great animation? Check it at the Make a Top Animation Tips!
Tip 4. Maintain a loyal fan base.
Remember this: a solid and faithful fan base is the key to get your animations rolling. You need an active community behind you, users who are waiting for your next animation to come out, and who aren't shy on commenting and recommending, or even sharing your animation in Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Network.
But... how do you manage to build such a fan base? The answer is not easy. But remember this: they are going to treat you with the same care and attention that you show them. That means that if you make the effort of watching their animations and you comment and recommend them, it is most likely they will do the same for you.
If you help your fans to improve their animations, and even if you need them to help you with simple tasks, they will feel they are important to you. And that's how it is: they are a crucial part in your road to popularity.
Some users probably think they are so good they don't need to go out and ask for fans. I for instance, never really asked for anyone to become a fan. But that's not because I think I am "above" those tasks. It is that I don't want to force anyone to fan me. So... how do you get fans? Simple. Once again: comment on other people's animations, be nice and helpful, comment on forums, be an active member of the Go!Animate community!
You may say "There are some users who are very popular and they rarely comment on forums or on other users!". Well, it may be. But they are doing things difficult. They are relying solely on the quality of their animations. If you are equally good as they are, you can try that approach... otherwise, keep your fans happy.
Some things fans need:
But... how do you manage to build such a fan base? The answer is not easy. But remember this: they are going to treat you with the same care and attention that you show them. That means that if you make the effort of watching their animations and you comment and recommend them, it is most likely they will do the same for you.
If you help your fans to improve their animations, and even if you need them to help you with simple tasks, they will feel they are important to you. And that's how it is: they are a crucial part in your road to popularity.
Some users probably think they are so good they don't need to go out and ask for fans. I for instance, never really asked for anyone to become a fan. But that's not because I think I am "above" those tasks. It is that I don't want to force anyone to fan me. So... how do you get fans? Simple. Once again: comment on other people's animations, be nice and helpful, comment on forums, be an active member of the Go!Animate community!
You may say "There are some users who are very popular and they rarely comment on forums or on other users!". Well, it may be. But they are doing things difficult. They are relying solely on the quality of their animations. If you are equally good as they are, you can try that approach... otherwise, keep your fans happy.
Some things fans need:
- Answer to their messages.
- If you watch one of their animations, let them know you did. If you didn't like the animation, at least say hello.
- Don't release too many animations. They won't be able to follow you. After all, you are not probably their only idol.
- Don't abuse of the broadcast system. Use it only to say important things.
- Give them, now and then, some special treat. Choose a few and give them a "sneak preview", or do a tribute animation... Use your imagination on how to surprise your fans.