How To Use An Ask Blog Tumblr

Asktheblueoceangem's/Wend's Askblog Tips and Stuff!

Okay, before I answer this, I'm assuming you want to know how to make an askblog like the ones I have. This would be an askblog that gets asks and answers them using fanart that only you or your co-mod has drawn). I'm not going to cover roleplaying blogs or askblogs that don't use drawn responses.

Yeah, there's a lot of info here but honestly, it isn't that hard. I'm just a really wordy person.

Table of Contents: (These are not links btw oops)
-Choosing a Character
-Making the Blog (URL tips, Theme, Icon and Description)
-Managing Your Askblog
-Starting off Your Blog
-Tips and Managing Your Blog (Art, Answering, Tips on Posting and getting questions)

Step One: Choose a Character

Now, I guess it's just my opinion here but if you want more attention, roleplaying as a canon character is always your best bet. People don't seem to connect with OCs as well, but if you want an askblog for your OC, go for it! There's totally no problem, and I've done the same before. Just remember, you might find yourself mostly working with roleplays if anything. (but they're lots of fun anyways)

Make sure you choose a character (or characters) that you really like/feel passionate about, and that you know a lot about. Otherwise, people may start correcting you. (which isn't a bad thing, though- never be afraid to make mistakes!)

*****Do not worry about making an askblog for a character that already has an askblog made by another person. You guys could end up becoming friends through being passionate about your favorite character, but nobodys gonna arrest you for making a blog for a character that already has an askblog based on them.*****

Step Two: Make the Blog!

a) Choose a URL.

Decide wether or not you want to be able to send messages, or just make posts on your own time and only communicate via answering messages instead of privately messaging someone.

If you don't mind that you can't follow people under your askblog's name or send messages through it, make a sideblog. If you do, make a separate account, new e-mail and everything.

Now for this step the only tip and trick I have in mind is to make sure your URL is easy to remember, because I can't tell you how many times I've had to ask someone about how their URL goes. My askblogs were always short and concise, and if you're having trouble, here are some suggestions:

ask[insert character name]
[insert character]replies
ask[fandomname for character]
ask-[character]
(heck it doesn't even need ask in it but "ask" or "replies" makes people know you run an askblog.)

Try to keep hyphens to a minimum, and the best/easiest urls to remember are the ones that can be typed out as one word/name without spaces.

b) Choose a theme.

This one is totally up to you, but my favorite is the tumblr theme Redux since it's easy to edit, and so many people are familiar with it and it's easy to navigate. Also since now we're at this point this is a good time to OPEN YOUR ASKBOX AND SUBMIT BOX. I can't tell you how many people've forgotten that step!

Make sure your theme is easy to go through! You might want to consider a "Just Art Page" using a specific tag for people who only want to see your drawn work and a "Frequently Asked Questions" page.

c) Make an icon.

A good tip- if you're making an askblog, make sure your icon was made using art made by you. This is because your icon represents what your work looks like, and if you use other people's art it could end up being misleading.

(unless you have multiple mods then I guess you could fight to the death to see who gets to make the icon.)

(I don't condone fighting to the death.)

This is the standard askblog icon base-

(Some people use blue to represent the new notification color, I used red here to reference tumblr's old red notification thingy and because it's more eye catching.)

d) Description:

A quick, concise description is all you need, you don't need a novel, heck "This is an askblog for _____ and _______" is all you need, really. Another popular description base is "Hi/Greetings/Whatever/Yo, I'm ________ and _______."

You might want to add flag counters and tiny pixels to your sidebar to decorate it and make it more eye catching (and to record your progress!)

Step Three: Starting Off Your Blog:

I recommend making a promo post before anything else, with a picture of your character(s) saying "Ask Us/Me" or a small comic about how they got there, and then linking your askbox to the post itself. Make sure it is your art or a co-mods art.

Also, make sure to tag it as such for maximum recognition-

#[insert fandom name] #[insert character] #[insert additional character that is in post] #[your tag for drawn responses here] #[out of character if your post is ooc]

Fun Fact: Only the first five tags of your post will make it to the tumblr radar/those specific tags. Make sure they're tags like that, then ramble your heart out.

Don't be afraid to ask for a promo from friends if they can help! (just don't pester them too much)

Managing Your Askblog and Other Tips:

I lost a follower, did I do something wrong?

Losing followers hurts, but it may just be that someone deleted their blog, accidentally unfollowed you (stupid mobile!) or they don't agree with how you represent your character(s)/ they're not in your fandom anymore. This is fine. It's better you have loyal followers that care about what you say than people who are there and willing to scrutinize you at any moment. It's best that people who don't agree silently unfollow.

Also try to be a *little* mature while you answer stuff ooc; avoid using lol xD randomspeak too, it's a big turn off nowadays. (of course, you can do that if you'd like. Just my observations and it's your blog, yanno?)

Don't yell at your followers too if you disagree with them, you'll get offended here and there but try to keep calm and just block the person if it ends up being really bad. That's just a tip, though; retaliating often leads to more harm than good.

What Should I Post?

I honestly can't tell you what to post, but this is what I've seen successful askblogs post: ask answers, submissions, silly posts, and occasional Out of Character Posts. Of course, you do you!

Reblogs are fine, but try to keep them at a minimum- you're an askblog putting out original content (or at least your own fanwork), not a reblog blog! Try to keep that stuff on your main if possible.

If something happens to you and you can't update, do your best to notify your followers about this.

Tips on getting questions?

At the start, two things may happen. You may get overwhelmed with questions, or you may get little to none at all. This is also fine. There's no harm in sending yourself your own questions via anon to get yourself started, and there's no problem if you can't answer everyone. You are not obliged to answer everyone, in fact, think of it as a request blog as well; you're an artist, not a drawing machine. Answer when you can!

Tips on answering?

Keep captions concise, a sentence or two at most unless you're telling a story. Try not to advertise or put long, paragraph-like ooc mod notes on in-character answers too, keep those in the tags if possible! (but don't write an essay in there if you can.) As for ask answers, try not to just answer something in a way people expect it.

Say someone says "What's your favorite food." Don't just have the character sit there in a static pose and say "Oh uh ______" and be done with it in one panel. Make a scenario, or a story, something to engage your audience. Try making gifs, or practice gesture poses! Visual gags are also your friend, because people are bound to ask about them in the future.

On Art and Writing

You think you're not a good artist? Make the blog anyways. No digital equipment? Do it anyways. Don't be afraid to experiment as well!

Seriously, askblogs are an amazing way of practicing your art skills! It gives you a drawing prompt and feedback from the community to encourage you to keep drawing.

I was like other beginner askbloggers once, admiring artists too and their askblogs, and let me tell ya, my art was, well, wasn't the best compared to my standards now. Just look at this:

(Yeah I was in the SP Fandom two years ago, go figure.) But that was my first ask answer post. Look at my more recent asks:

Point is, just do it! It might take awhile to make a "popular" blog but with patience you're bound to improve.

Fun fact: The post where the SP one is from got over 90 notes the first day, primarily because it was considered funny. This is proof that writing can triumph art as well- but honestly, everyone is a good artist; people who think they aren't just need to sharpen their skills and realize that their art is rad, and they need to give it a chance.

Askblogs are a great way to interact with other people and have fun in your fandom community.

Don't let anything stop you, I've seen both digital and traditional artists succeed. Just make sure you get good camera quality and your handwriting is legible when you answer asks traditionally! (digitally, if handwriting is an issue, just type it out and edit it in.)

Oh yeah some vocab/acronyms you need to know-

AU- Alternate Universe
M!A- Magic Anon
OOC- Out of Character

That's about it! Remember, this is all in good fun- don't worry too much, and remember to take this guide with a grain of salt! Happy askblogging!