Today’s video lists seven ways to make money with your comic book or comic beyond the traditional comic book store route. As independent artists it is almost impossible to make the traditional system work for us unless a “decent size” publisher is involved.
Instead consider using alternative revenue streams and more importantly several revenue streams to fund your comic books.
The ways mentioned in the video include:
1: Advertisements
Having ads on your website or in your books is one of the best ways to make money. It isn’t the most profitable but is relatively easy to do.
2. Sponsors
Sponsors are like ads but pay more. These are hard to get but if you have a comic that has a large following and a very specific type of reader, it gives other businesses interest in being a sponsor. Really this is like exclusive advertisement where the paying company gets to put their name in the title and through out your work.
3. Digital Products
Digital products are exactly what it sounds like. Things that people can buy online or through an online store. This includes bonus content, wallpaper for computer desktop, games, etc
4. Merchandise
Merchandise are physical products that readers can purchase. This includes t-shirts, plush dolls, physical books, key chains, stickers, mouse pads, etc.
5. Subscriptions
Similar to digital products, but fans pay monthly for what ever you want them to have access to. This can include first chance to see a webcomic or pages, behind the scenes stuff, a chance to do a google hangout with the creator, or really anything people will want to get on a regular basis while paying continually (weekly, monthly, or even yearly).
6. Speaking gigs
Live events where the creator or those involved with production talk to a group of people about their work. This can include colleges, book stores, comic shops, coffee shops, etc. If you book one or two, don’t forget to bring your merchandise!
7. Freelance
An often over looked option is going freelance. This can include anything from doing sketch cards, caricatures, images for websites, designing ads, and so on.
With all these different revenue models, it is also important to
