I had this posted on the other forum and figured I'd drop a link up to it here as well. I've got a number of articles on marketing up on my sites and I posted a new one over on MatNastos.net at Marketing and Distribution Tips for Indie Comic Book Publishers | The Official Mat Nastos Website if anyone is interested. It was originally sent to Hal Jones when he emailed me a number of questions about targeting your audience, marketing and distribution as an indie comic publisher.

-M

Actually.... that's some pretty awesome stuff! Thanks for pointing us in the right direction.

lol yeah Mat's got a pretty good grip, trust me.

Cary said

lol yeah Mat's got a pretty good grip, trust me.

well, that's a loaded weapon, right there.

Thanks for this information!!

Just stumbled upon this. Great info here. It all makes a lot of sense. Thanks Mat!  

Thanks a lot for the post.... it gave me a couple ideas on selling more of my paintings.... as well as my comics haha....

Mat, I found your article very supportive of indie publishing and the main point at the very end: get the comic done and then get the site up and running with ready to purchase product. That basic advice is simple and straightforward to anyone who wants to start/build/increase their sales via the internet. But I have one cavet: In addition to doing what you recommended, shouldn't you have also included the face-to-face selling that is done at comic conventions? I think an indie publisher should work the smaller cons first before even trying to penetrate the big dogs (San Diego, New York, WonderCon for example). That's my plan for next year to help generate sales and recognition of my comic series, character, as well as self-promotion. I'll post something when I go out and put it into action.

ptahhotep said

I think an indie publisher should work the smaller cons first before even trying to penetrate the big dogs (San Diego, New York, WonderCon for example).

Why?

Not why bother with cons, because that's where you can really clean up. I mean why should you limit yourself to smaller cons? Why not take advantage of the increased traffic at the larger cons, sometimes exponentially bigger than the smaller ones? You can get a decent priced Artist's Alley table, set up as you would anywhere else, and reap the benefits of the extra traffic and exposure. Seems like a no brainer, especially when most cons these days want desperately to appear "Indy Friendly" and will bend over backwards to help Indy creators out.

But that's just me.

Cary

I was saying that because many small/self publishers may not have the resources to attend the big cons such as San Diego.  I was my thinking that by going to the smaller ones first, the indie publisher could gauge and test out marketing, promotion plans at these venues. Then they would be better able to formulate a strategy for the big cons.  All I am saying is use the smaller cons to build convention experience and as a way to present new products or promotions.

Well, I can see your point, at least somewhat. But you also have to take into account that a lot of people may feel incredibly discouraged after hitting the smaller shows. Small shows have fewer people and less chance to sell, depending on what you're pushing of course. I'd say choose the middle of the road for a tune up. Shows like Heroes are pretty indy friendly and they are great places to meet like minded folks doing the same thing you are.

We had a booth at MegaCon in Florida this year and even though we had blast down there we only sold about 5 copies of our first book: Great Lakes Guardians #1. With the cost of flights, hotels, food & beer, we certainly didn't make any money!

At Pittsburgh Comicon last weekend we sold 20 copies. Maybe its because Pennsylvania is closer to the Great Lakes, who knows?

Anyway thanks for the great advice, Mat!