Book Cover Hot Seat — Ultimate Suburban Fighter
This is the second in a short series of critiques that will focus on book-cover design. There’s still time to sign up if you’re interested. The content you are trying to access is only available to...
View ArticleStart planning holiday merchandise now!
Merry Christmas — and Happy New Year! Set down the sunblock, and step away from the pool. It’s time to start planning for December and January. I know it’s hard to get into the spirit, but this is the...
View ArticlePreparing for the holidays
Back in July, I have you a heads-up to start planning holiday merchandise. Well, surprise! It’s November! In case you need to catch up, here are a few thoughts… The content you are trying to access is...
View ArticleShipping Update — USPS Rate Hike and Holiday Deadlines
Shipping through the United States Postal Service will get a little more pricey in 2018 — by about 2-4%. But that hike will still be lower than the price increases planned by both UPS and FedEx. Those...
View ArticleUSPS — New Rule on International Shipping
International shipping can be expensive. As a result, many creators opt for the relatively cheap First Class Mail when shipping original art to buyers and crowdfunding backers. However, this month a...
View ArticleHitch It / Ditch It — Costume Shop
This is the second of the current Hot Seat critique series. If you want to participate, there’s still time. Otherwise, I’ll move on to a new critique topic. This one is a Hitch It / Ditch It. I’ll...
View ArticleKickstarter strategy — The Add-On
Forget the Stretch Goal. The Add-on is where it’s at! I was a huge fan of this strategy before, and now that I’m using Backerkit, I’ve been able to use it to tremendous advantage. Whenever a...
View ArticleBonjoro
I hated Bonjoro. I discovered it during the recent Patreon video conference, Hang Time. They were pushing it hard, and I decided to give it a shot. Bonjoro is an app that you can pair with Patreon that...
View ArticleHoliday shipping deadlines
If you have merchandise to ship that might be somebody’s gift, be aware that holiday shipping deadlines are looming. Here’s what you need to know… The content you are trying to access is only available...
View ArticleHoliday shipping deadlines
It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the winter holiday season, but here we are. If you’re shipping merchandise with an expectation of having it there before the holidays, here are some deadlines to...
View ArticleHow to manage commissions
Offering commissions can be a great way to add an income stream to your business. It can also be an effective Patreon reward. But managing expectations and communicating clearly with clients and...
View Article“I want that on a T-shirt!”
The accusation was puzzling. An artist tweeted that bots had been developed to seek comments like “I want that on a shirt.” Then, they would swipe the art and — of course — slap it on all sorts of...
View ArticleA new strategy for the much-maligned calendar
For years, I’ve advocated against printing calendars to sell to readers. The logic is very simple. You have an incredibly narrow window in which to offer this merchandise, and after that window closes...
View ArticleCanceled Comic Convention? Time to get Creative!
Are you worried about the revenue you may be losing because most of the upcoming convention season is being canceled? Since 2013, I’ve been arguing that comic conventions are losing propositions for...
View ArticlePrepare for a post-Media-Mail future
As reports of the impending demise of the United States Postal Service swirl around us, we should start considering how this is going to affect one of the central pillars of the “webcomics business...
View ArticleMailbag: Shipping tips
Q: Are there any recent articles or tips on mailing/postage? The reason I ask is I have merch I need to mail. I’ve never had this much stuff to mail out at one time before, but my local post office […]...
View ArticleStart planning holiday merchandise NOW
Merry Christmas — and Happy New Year! Set down the sunblock, and step away from the pool. It’s time to start planning for December and January. I know it’s hard to get into the spirit, but this is the...
View ArticleHoliday shipping deadlines
It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the winter holiday season, but here we are. If you’re shipping merchandise with an expectation of having it there before the holidays, here are some deadlines to...
View ArticleUSPS shipping delays hamper holiday deliveries
If you’re getting complaints from customers who have ordered merchandise from your store that has yet to be delivered, you’re not alone. You can find plenty of company in the Complaints against the...
View ArticleNavigating the UK Bureaucracy of VAT Collection
Due to Brexit, the United Kingdom has separated from the European Union’s procedure for collection Value Added Taxes (VAT) for items shipped into the country. It was a move that sent a ripple of...
View Article