It is useful to think of the world of webcomics formatting as having two spectrums. The first spectrum is the continuity spectrum, with comics utilizing zero continuity from one published unit to the next (one-off comics) on the left and those with full continuity and one or more arcing storylines on the right. The second spectrum is that of physical format, with the traditional comic four-panel "strip" on the left, multi-page comics in the middle (comic "book" style), and those with open-ended or non-traditional formatting, such as the "infinite canvas" method, on the right. Nearly all webcomics can be placed somewhere along this spectrum, and it is a good idea to pick the place of a comic on both spectrums early in their creation, as it is very confusing and difficult for readers when a comic makes sudden changes in either continuity or physical format.
When creating a comic, think about whether you are making this comic for your own benefit, or if it is meant to be shared. If it is to be shared, is the sharing itself the goal, or do you want this comic to make money? Comics made simply for oneself can be very loose with publishing, using a relaxed publishing schedule, free Internet domains and whatever content the creator desires. Comics that are made for an audience and/or to make money should stick to a publishing schedule, purchase a unique Web domain, and keep the audience in mind when it comes to content.
When it comes to art, there is the traditional hand-drawn option, with the subcategories of black and white or "inked" (color) comics both still in use (such as in the black-and-white "Hark A Vagrant" and the color comic "Freakangels"). Hand-drawn comics are inherently unique, but often take more time than other methods and require an image scanner for digitizing. Other methods include watercolor and ink, digital drawing using programs such as Adobe Illustrator ("Questionable Content"), photo-comics ("A Softer World"), interactive comics ("I Am A Rocket Builder"), image collage comics ("megaGAMERZ 3133T") and repeated image comics ("Dinosaur Comics").
When it comes to content, the audience should again be considered before beginning to write. If this is a comic created solely for oneself, content can be very open-ended and experimental, while content should be consistent if writing for an audience. Consider whether your comic will be more comedy or drama, and what amount of each will be present in the content. Though webcomics can truly be about anything, there are some established subgenres, including the video gaming comic ("PVP," "Penny Arcade"), the life-based comic ("Overcompensating," "The Devil's Panties," "Something Positive"), the joke-based comic ("XKCD," "Wondermark"), the erotic comic ("Oglaf"), the art-centric comic ("Perfect Stars"), the long-story comic ("Lackadaisy," "Dresden Codak," "Scenes from a Multiverse") and the absurdist comedy ("The Adventures of Dr. McNinja") among others.