Building an audience around your art or writing is a very difficult feat. For some it may take years, while others it takes little to no time at all. How have y'all built up your audience? Is it the sites you post on, or the content you post? Or is it something else entirely? I have found it particularly hard to find an audience that likes my original art. Most of them come from fanart.
If I have an audience, I have no idea who they are. I never wrote with the intention of gaining an audience, I just wrote what I wanted to write because I was passionate about my ideas and didn't want them to fade. If I grew an audience than that was just a plus. However, when posting something, I was smart about it. I did my research and figured out where would be the best place to put it where it would last. I wasn't thinking where the best audience for it was, but if I did some more research I could find the best place to put it for the audience I'm shooting for. There's a place for everything.
I think either fanart or a unique art style pulls people in the most. I don't have the latter, so I guess my followers are all from fanart. Which isn't really a bad a thing for me since that's what I like making anyways.
I don't currently have an audience for my OC art but I used to. Back on my old dA account I managed to get a small audience that genuinely seemed to care about my characters and art of them but the art block hit and I abandoned that account. I don't recall ever putting effort into 'marketing' them. I just drew them lots and lots. And did little mini comics and art memes that showed their personalities. I think that if people know the characters personalities or motivations they find it easier to care about them? One day I'll start drawing my ocs as much as I used to. Just not just now.
I haven't been posting my art for long now, but I seem to be gathering a few people that like my art quite a bit. I guess time will tell if I will gain an audience.
