What's the Best Business Model for Comics?

This week, Brad and Dave talk about the best business model for longform webcomics — and why putting your comic online for free is still the strongest way to build a sustainable career. Also: Kickstarter’s late-pledge and pledge-manager tools, the difference between market research and mirror research, and how to keep going when your first posts get nothing but crickets.

ON THIS WEEK'S SHOW...

• Dave’s backyard skunk problem may or may not require Super Soakers
• What’s the best business model for longform webcomics?
• Why fear of theft can stop creators from building an audience
• Why free-to-read comics remain the best foundation for a comics business
• “First comes the crowd, then comes the funding”
• Why readers who enjoy your work online are often first in line to buy the book
• How delayed access and early-access posts fit into a Patreon strategy
• Why exclusive side stories can work better than paywalling your main archive
• Avoiding physical rewards on Patreon and Substack
• Dave will be at San Diego Comic-Con booth 1228 with free ComicLab pins (use the super-easy mnemonic: 1BAT) 
• Kickstarter late pledges and Pledge Manager are bringing in real money
• Why charging shipping closer to fulfillment can be safer
• Market research vs. mirror research
• How to estimate Kickstarter shipping more accurately
• What to do when you start posting online and get “crickets”
• Why seven posts is not enough time to expect traction
• Reframing early work as building an archive for future fans
• Social-media advice for giving readers a reason to engage
• Why success in comics is a marathon, not a sprint

You get great rewards when you join the ComicLab Community on Patreon

• $2 — Early access to episodes
• $5 — Submit a question for possible use on the show AND get the exclusive ProTips podcast. Plus $2-tier rewards.

If you'd like a one-on-one consultation about your comic, book it now!

Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.