I apologize for the lack of content in recent weeks. Before Thanksgiving, my mind was wrapped in happy thoughts of vacation. Since December started, however, my mind has been preoccupied by thoughts of a surgical procedure that has been scheduled for next week. Whatever attention I have left has been claimed by the day job. The extent of my thinking about comic books has been torn between the vain attempt to not come up with any new stories and final production details on the graphic novels going to print in the spring. Marketing just isn’t holding my interest at the moment.
I recognize this bundle of justification as the excuse it is and would not ordinarily offer it – except that I don’t want people to think that I got discouraged. Sidelined, yes. Discouraged, no.
It is fair to say that I have done a lot of thinking lately, but I have not come to many conclusions. But while I am waiting for that to happen, I thought that you might be interested in some things that other people are saying on the same topics. After all, a lot of people have noticed that the marketing and distribution system is not optimized in any of the print markets – books, comics and role playing games.
Comics meets microtargeting sounds an awful lot like an early prototype of my catalog idea. I should probably get in touch…
10 Things to consider before self-publishing. This is the kind of thing that can never be said enough. It is difficult enough to create and attempt to be recognized without having to listen to people whine about how their unrealistic goals aren’t being met. If you are not willing to learn what the frequent pitfalls are, you deserve to fall into them.
A scene that celebrates itself has nothing to celebrate. I thought this was an excellent piece of harnessed rage. I just wish he’d fleshed out some of his points.
Rethinking conventions. There’s some good math in here and it mirrors what I’ve been thinking about larger, superhero-oriented conventions.
Want a recommendation? This kind of connector site is an example of one of those niche services that are likely to spring up between readers and creators as the distribution/marketing space mutates.
Speaking of which, Seth Godin’s The Domino Project is aimed at optimizing that interface.
Neal Stephenson is also doing something interesting with The Mongoliad. Why? Because he can. Which is really the key insight, here.
I’m not sure what to think about the idea that marketing isn’t currently a science, but will have to be in order to keep up. It sounds right.
9 strategies to make your ideas more successful comes close, though.
Copyright and the economy of webcomics is a 52 page pdf. Make of that what you will.
I like the idea of an exclusive members only sales site, but it really only works if demand exists first.
Finally, 17 alternatives to PayPal. If only because it’s worth knowing what the options are.
Tags: audience, personal note