How to record a Patreon walk-through video

How to record a Patreon walk-through video

Patreon has proven to be a game-changer for many people pursuing webcomics. However, some new patrons have difficulty navigating the Patreon...
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The best days to launch/conclude a Kickstarter

The best days to launch/conclude a Kickstarter

While recording an interview for the marvelous Story/Comic podcast, I discussed my strategy for secretly launching a Kickstarter to Patreon...
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Webcomics Confidential: ‘You have the audience you deserve’

Webcomics Confidential: ‘You have the audience you deserve’

Many of us seek a magic hashtag or "One Weird Trick" to game SEO and drive readers to our work....
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ComicLab Ep 362 — Your content is not your community

ComicLab Ep 362 — Your content is not your community

When comic creators try to market their comics, they often confuse what their comic is about with who it's for....
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Remove your first panel

Remove your first panel

If you've been a reader of Webcomics.com for a while, you know how much I loathe "magic number" advice. But...
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Key dates in the upcoming holiday shopping season

Key dates in the upcoming holiday shopping season

From Black Friday to New Year's sales, here's a guide to help you prepare your online store for the holiday...
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Webcomics Confidential: How long should it take to draw a comics page?

Webcomics Confidential: How long should it take to draw a comics page?

A person starting to do comics asked a question in a forum for creators: "How long does it take you...
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Comics Consultations

Comics Consultations

Powered by I will prepare top-down analysis of your comic-based business, including: Art and writing Social media Crowdfunding Marketing/promotion Then...
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ComicLab Ep 361 — Let’s talk about your bits and pieces

ComicLab Ep 361 — Let’s talk about your bits and pieces

When a listener asks about Kickstarter strategy, the ComicLab guys are divided! Dave favors the traditional webcomics approach. Build your...
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Reddit posting strategy

Reddit posting strategy

This is an excellent time to start an account on Reddit — or to dust off a profile you haven't...
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Kickstarter strategies that get results

Managing a successful Kickstarter campaign boils all down to planning. The time you spend in the weeks (and months) leading up to the launch can help ensure you hit your goal. So, let’s talk about Kickstarter strategies that really work well…

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by on April 5, 2018
Posted In: Crowdfunding
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ComicLab Ep 14 — Ryan North

Dave Kellett and I welcome Ryan North, two-time Eisner Award winner, creator of Dinosaur Comics and writer for Marvel Comics’ Squirrel Girl. We discuss his upcoming book, How to Invent Everything and his successful Shakespearean choose-your-own-adventure To Be or Not To Be. Along the way, we go deep on several topics involving writing — getting ideas, subconscious plagiarism, self-plagiarism, rejecting unoriginal ideas, creativity as a compulsion, juggling multiple projects, exorcising ideas, and much much more.
BUT FIRST — I explain how zinc is more precious than gold for your good health.

Show notes

  • 9:13 — How did Ryan first get into writing for comics?
  • 12:37 — Rejecting an idea if it’s not completely original
  • 16:30 — Creativity as a compulsion
  • 18:08 — Getting the idea for “To Be or Not To Be”
  • 19:10— Capturing ideas
  • 24:14 — Writing Squirrel Girl fro Marvel Comics
  • 30:06 — The “minced oath”
  • 31:51 — Avoiding subconscious plagiarism
  • 38:34 — Juggling multiple projects and how to decide which ideas get used in which projects
  • 41:57 — “Exorcising” ideas
  • 43:13 — Self-plagiarization on social media
  • 45:47 — Ideas are easy. Execution is hard.
 
by on April 5, 2018
Posted In: ComicLab, Writing
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Hashing out #hashtags

I loathe hashtags.

To me, there’s no quicker way to firmly establish your amateurishness — your desperation — than to end a social-media post with a long string of generic hashtags. There are a few exceptions. Instagram, for example, seems to make hashtags a requirement. But even then, conventional wisdom says that more than seven hashtags will get penalized by the app’s Facebook-influenced algorithm.

But as I scroll down my various social-media feeds, I realize that it’s really not hashtags themselves that bug me. Rather, it’s the unimaginative, lazy, knee-jerk way that we webcartoonists tend to apply them.

So, let’s talk about how we can up our #hashtag game.

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by on April 4, 2018
Posted In: Marketing / Social Media
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Surviving Creativity Ep 49 — The Myth of Making Your Own Hours

If you’re a creative or work-from-home professional you’ve definitely had someone tell you how lucky you are to “work in your living room” or “make your own hours” or “wear your pajamas all day”
…okay we all do that last one, but still, what the hell do they know?! NOTHING! And now there’s an episode you can direct them to the next time they suggest you don’t actually work at a “job.” PLUS — It’s the return of Brad Guigar’s version of Match Game featuring celebrity panelists Dylan Meconis, Erika Moen, Katie Lane, Javis Ray, Krishna Sadasivam and Kalid Birdsong.

by on April 2, 2018
Posted In: Surviving Creativity
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April To-Do List

Get out your calendar and start circling dates. It’s time to do a little webcomics planning.The content you are trying to access is only available to members.

by on April 2, 2018
Posted In: To-Do List
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Need help with your taxes?

Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov for quick access to helpful tax information and tools that can help them with their taxes. Here are some things taxpayers can do when they visit IRS.gov:

  • Use IRS Free File. Prepare and e-file federal taxes free with IRS Free File. Taxpayers with income of $66,000 or less can file using free brand-name tax software. Those who earned more can use Free File Fillable Forms, the electronic version of IRS paper forms. Either way, everyone has a free e-file option, and the only way to access Free File is on IRS.gov.
  • Find Out How to File Tax Returns Electronically. IRS e-file, which includes Free File, is the easiest, safest and most popular way to file a complete and accurate tax return. The fastest way to get a refund is to combine e-file with direct deposit. On IRS.gov, taxpayers can see if they qualify for free volunteer help, find software options to e-file their own taxes, or find an authorized e-file provider.
  • Get Answers to Tax Questions. The Interactive Tax Assistant tool and the IRS Tax Map answer many tax-law questions. Many IRS tools and products are also available in other languages, including Spanish.
  • Find a Tax Preparer. Taxpayers can use the Directory of Tax Return Preparers tool to find a list of tax preparers near them. Taxpayers can search based on the credentials and qualifications they want their preparer to have.
  • Check on a Refund. Track a refund using Where’s My Refund? It’s quick, easy and secure. Taxpayers can check the status of their refund within 24 hours after the IRS has received the e-filed return. Those who file a paper return can check the refund status four weeks after mailing it. Once the IRS approves a refund, the tool will give a date to expect it. The IRS updates refund status for the tool once a day, so there’s no reason to check more often.
  • Pay Taxes Online. Taxpayers will find information about the different ways they can pay their taxes. This includes electronic funds withdrawal, payment by debit or credit card, and IRS Direct Pay.
  • Use the EITC Assistant. Taxpayers who worked and earned less than $53,930 in 2017 may be eligible for the earned income tax credit. Taxpayers can use the EITC Assistant tool to see if they qualify.
  • View Account Information. Taxpayers can go to IRS.gov/account to securely access information about their federal tax account. They can view the amount they owe, pay online, or set up an online payment agreement. They can also visit this page to access their tax records online, review the past 18 months of payment history, and view tax return information for the current year. Taxpayers can visit IRS.gov/secureaccess to review the required identity authentication process.

    The IRS reminds taxpayers that they should keep copies of their prior-year tax returns for at least three years. Taxpayers using a software product for the first time may need their adjusted gross income amount from their 2016 tax return to file electronically. Taxpayers can learn more about how to verify their identity and electronically sign tax returns at Validating Your Electronically Filed Tax Return.

    IRS YouTube Videos

    Interactive Tax Assistant – English| ASL

by on March 29, 2018
Posted In: Business
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Comic Lab Ep 13 — Danielle Corsetto

We’re joined by webcomics OG Danielle Corsetto. She shares her unique perspective on Patreon, and she has some advice for last week’s question about choosing the best comic convention — TCAF! Her strategy to implement Kickstarter in the process is one you’ll want to hear. Plus, Dave Kellett asks if he should delete his Facebook account. And, finally both Danielle and Brad Guigar discuss ending a long-running webcomic.

BUT FIRST… Dave and his wife book a hotel room for an anniversary celebration, and when the front desk sends up complimentary wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries, it gives him an idea — one that involves his ComicLab co-host!

 

by on March 29, 2018
Posted In: ComicLab
3 Comments

The Kickstarter Pledge Swap

Within moments of launching your Kickstarter campaign, you will become inundated with spam. Marketers, third-party facilitators, printers… they all want to talk to you. But perhaps the most cringeworthy and pathetic of all of these is the request for a pledge swap.

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by on March 27, 2018
Posted In: Crowdfunding
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ComicLab Ep. 12 — Kickstarter tips that really work, the great Backerkit debate, and much more!

Whew! We covered a LOT of ground with this episode. First, one of our $10 backers sent in a fantastic audio question about longform comics and the continuous scroll presentation on the Web. Is it better than conventional previous-next navigation-button presentation? And that touches off a whirlwind of topics, including, but not limited to…
  • Kickstarter — Dave’s tips REALLY WORK WELL!
  • Backerkit — Brad tries to get Dave on the pro-Backerkit team, but he’s not having it
  • Dave’s hair
  • Calls to action — followers have to hear a call to action an average of seven times before they act, therefore…
  • Social-media repetitiveness isn’t as bad as you think it is, especially if you’re using…
  • The Three Cs of Social Media
THEN… a Patreon backer asks, “if you could go to only one comic convention, which one would it be?” And that touches off a discussion of best conventions for international creators, the NCS’s new policy of allowing members free table space at several conventions. the new ‘Ringo Awards and the seeming demise of the Harvey Awards.
by on March 23, 2018
Posted In: ComicLab
2 Comments

Promoting Patreon at Personal Appearances

During the recent Patreon on Tour conference in New York city, a discussion arose about promoting Patreon at personal appearances. It was tough, one creator complained, because setting up a laptop to process pledges was cumbersome — and expensive. And, it didn’t always work so well.

“Why are you bringing a computer to a show when literally every one of the attendees is walking around with their own in their pocket?” replied another creator.

Why, indeed?

Let’s talk about two ways to convert Patreon pledges at comic conventions and other personal appearances…

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by on March 22, 2018
Posted In: Conventions, Crowdfunding
2 Comments