Print on Demand... When There's No Demand

Cartoonists Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the nuances of print-on-demand services. As Brad says, "It's a good place to start, but a bad place to stay." They delve into the importance of advanced planning for holiday sales. Finally, they share strategies for engaging audiences at comic conventions, covering pricing strategies and the psychology of sales, and emphasizing the importance of understanding costs and audience engagement.

Today's Show

• Print on Demand
• How to "Let Time Be Your Editor"
• Convention Pricing

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Takeaways

• Patience is key in daily struggles.
• Print on demand can be a good starting point but not a long-term solution.
• Planning for holiday sales should start well in advance.
• Engaging with audiences at conventions is crucial for building a network.
• Clear pricing and signage can significantly boost sales at conventions.
• Using loss leaders can attract customers but should be carefully calculated.
• Understanding your costs is essential for pricing strategies.
• Round numbers simplify transactions and reduce friction in sales.
• Time away from your work can provide valuable perspective for editing.
• Building a strong online presence is important for comic creators.

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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.