Do you know the times when you put in a lot of effort and time into a deviation; however it doesn’t get the attention that you think it deserves? This is a very common occurrence that deviants experience.  You would like it if people commented on your work, for example, like expressing their opinions and critiques. However you see that there are very few comments for your deviation. Do you wish that you could do something to make your user page more appealing for other deviants to have an incentive to view your art? This guide might be able to help you by informing you of some simple tips and techniques. And hopefully these tips and techniques can give deviants more of an incentive to view and comment on your art, and possibly watch you also.

1. Subscription

If you have some spare money it is recommendable to purchase the subscription service from DeviantArt. A subscription allows for a much larger freedom of activities for your user page. You can make fun polls, more visually appealing journals, interactive forum topics and much more. A subscription makes your user page friendlier and more visually appealing. This will be eye catching and attract deviants to look through your user page. However the “*” icon next to your username can also play an important role. There was a public opinion of which username icon was more appealing between the “*” and the beta testers “=”. The majority vote went for the subscription icon “*” which meant people were more inclined to visit a deviants page if they had a star by there username.

2. Adcast

If you have any spare money left they purchasing an Ad-Cast is very reward able. An Ad-cast is very easy to set up, once you have stated what the Ad-cast looks like and details, DeviantArt will do the rest and control the campaign. When the campaign starts depending on the duration for example “500 clicks” it usually lasts for 1 or 2 days. However in these few days you can receive upwards of 1500 page views a day and also over 100 watchers. Though be careful when deciding when to start your Ad Cast campaign. Make sure you have a good selection of your best art visible on your user page for example on your journal. With thousands of people flooding your user page it is your job to divert all of the deviant’s attention to your art and be an appropriate host.

3. DeviantART forums/chatrooms

The official DeviantART forums and chatrooms are where a large majority of the community gather. So if you simply write a few posts into topics that you enjoy ever day you will soon create a strong bond with the community. You can meet people very easily on the chatrooms and can be sucked into an enticing conversation. If you simply keep posting and chatting lots of people will begin to notice you. They might think “hey that guy/girl is quite cool” then soon they will be thinking “I wonder what he/she is going to contribute to this topic”. People will then start viewing your user page and viewing your art. The more post and chat the more people take notice of you and then have an incentive to visit your user page. It is up to you however, how you write your posts or chat.

4. Journals

Referring back to the subscription is recommendable so you have a more visually appealing journal. A good well-written journal on your user page will make deviants stop and read them when you visit your page. Such journal ideas could be featuring artists. Those artists might want to view your art as well. It also acknowledges the artists you admire. You can write humorous journals, which are very popular and attract many deviants. One of the most popular journal concepts is recent news from the media, which gives deviants more of an incentive to comment and express their opinions on the matter. However the main reason why journals attract a lot of attention is the “today page”. If DeviantArt was a newspaper, then the today page is the headlines news. If your journal has over 125 comments in the day it was uploaded, your journal will appear on the front page of the today page. On weekends you might need over 150 comments. With your journal on the front page, deviants will come and read it, and they might also view your user page then your art. You could achieve upwards of 1500 page views for a front-page journal in one day.

5. Deviation commenting

If your deviations are not receiving many comments then you can be the person who comments on many deviations. When you’re commenting on a deviation try to write thoughtfully and input your opinions, praise, critiques, questions accordingly. If you write a good quality comment the deviant artist will admire this aspect of you about your written communication skills. It shows that you have carefully analysed the deviation and input your thoughts. Try to avoid writing large walls of text or walls of emoticons because it will be difficult to read the comments efficiently. One-word comments most deviants will agree are discouraged. Why? Because one word comments makes you appear like a programmed machine, if you write thoughtfully it will show you are a true admirer of the deviation and the deviants work. Then maybe the deviant artist will visit your page and comment on your work to repay the kindness. However you must also make sure you reply to every comment you receive as well, it shows you care about what people say. But again do not limit the words of your comment to a few words.

6. Favoriting/ thanking

When you comment on a deviation usually favoruiting occurs afterwards. This is to show you admire the deviant artists work and you want to see it again. You can favourite artwork as much as you desire but do not overdo it. Also it is advisable to create folders in your “collect” system for favourites. This is to organize your favourite, which makes it easier for deviants to search through your favourites. Also if you (comment + favourite + collect) the deviant artist will know that you admire his/her work deeply and will visit your page to return the favour. Now if a person favourites your artwork if you want to you can visit the deviant’s user page and comment on their user comments thanking them. If you comment thanking the user for the favourite, it shows you have acknowledged their kindness. Make sure also to include a link back to the original deviation s the deviant artist knows what he/her favourited. When you thank the deviant for favoruiting your deviation, make sure to only comment once in a user comment page. When your comment falls onto the second page you can post again. If you just keep thanking them again and again you will be cramping their user comments. However remember if the deviant artist doesn’t want you to thank them, you must respect their wishes.

7. Watching

A very simple technique is if you admire the deviant artists work deeply you can watch them. Once that deviant artist knows you have watched him/her they might be inclined to return the favour and watch you in return. If you watch them you get watched that is how the saying goes. However the problem lies when your message box becomes packed full everyday with messages. Although, make sure to treat your watchers well. It is one thing gaining watchers but it is another thing keeping the watchers you have already, still watching you. When you watch someone it can be considered a promise saying “I admire your artwork I would like to see more in the future”. So always remember to interact with your watchers as much as possible through commenting and creating deviations. This will create a strong and long lasting bond. Remember these are the people who are supporting and motivating you, don’t be hesitant to ever ask for help from them.

8. Tutorials

One of the most popular types of deviants on DeviantART are tutorials. Tutorials are made to help teach people. If you make tutorials people will know that you are trying to help people at the cost of your own time. By making tutorials you will be fulfilling your small role of helping the community of deviant artists. With tutorials it is not just a piece of art to admire but it is something to refer to. So tutorials are some of the deviations with the highest favourite’s count. You can write as many tutorials as you want, because there will be deviants who are in need of help and can benefit from your tutorials. Soon enough if you keep creating tutorials, people will come to depend on you as a good source of knowledge. You can then become a center network of information doing a good to the society of deviants. Deviants who admire your work might ask questions of how you completed this process and such. There is no need to guard your artistic secrets with the exception of money. Tutorials will make you a very admirable deviant.

9. Contests

One of the most difficult feats to accomplish on Deviant Art is trying to create an efficient creative contest. Contests are one of the community’s largest interactive entertainments. Contests can gather many deviants flocking to your page who wish to take part. However before starting a contest you must think carefully about a few aspects. The first is the creativity of the contest, if you can think of a unique idea for a contest you will be praised highly for such an idea. The second is an appropriate prize, depending on the contest you have to think of a good quality prize to award the winners for their accomplishment. If you can think of great ideas for both then you are in a very comfortable position. Contest journals depending on the amount of comments can possible get you onto the front page of the today page. With the word “contest” in the journal title, many people will be attracted to your journal. Then in turn people might also view your artwork as well. Contests are special because they gather the community of deviants together to take part and test their creativity. If you successfully accomplish a contest then many deviants will admire you and wait eagerly for the next.

10. Miscellaneous Tips

Did you know that animated user icon’s have a higher chance of deviants clicking and visiting your page? The simple reason is because it is eye catching and more appealing then a flat image. Also commissions can also play a large role. If you are talented at an area of art which is very admirable then people might occasionally ask if you do commissions. If you do commissions then over time more and more deviants will visit your page asking for commissions as well. Soon enough you will be very popular because they wish to purchase your artistic skills. To treat your watchers and to entertain them, making fun and creative polls is a good idea. This is because everybody is given a vote, and with that vote they can take part in a group activity with the community of deviants. This makes your watchers feel they are apart of something.  Also posting news in the “news” section of deviant art means, you are doing your part in presenting current or old news to the community. If the news you post is popular then that’s just the icing on the cake. Finally try and imagine your deviant art user page as your humble home. Deviants are the guests visiting your home to view your artwork. Since you are the homeowner you are the host and the deviants who visit your page are your dear guests. So make sure to take care of those people kindly, and give them a warm welcome.