No, I don't mind people making suggestions; it's just that I've already looked into those options.
Right now I'm making changes which are slow to show results.
(1) Get back on the convention circuit in a major way. My original business plan was based on a minimum of ten conventions per year. Auto trouble cut me back beginning in 2002, and that's hurt badly. I've got to invest the time and money to coax the machinery to and from these events, or find cheaper transport for myself and my goods.
(2) Diversify my stock. Adding the T-shirt line has helped a lot- in fact, without the shirts convention appearances wouldn't be possible anymore. I'm also looking into WLP mousepads and other merchandise that can be printed in small runs and sold profitably.
(3) Simplify ordering. I've just applied to begin accepting credit cards again, with a service I can integrate into the WLP website. I expect to find out if I'm accepted Monday or Tuesday.
(4) Convert WLP's comics from old format to TPB format. This began with converting Bootleg into a 64-page format and putting all WLP's comics projects into it; in the next year or two, this intermediate step will lead to straight TPB publishing.
As for advertising, I'm seriously considering that- if I can find webcomics willing to take ads for WLP. My experience, though, is that advertising is money thrown into the garbage in the hopes that the garbageman will bring more money back later. The best ads have ever done WLP is to bump up sales by just barely the cost of the ads.
And a website reorg is definitely in the works; I've dragged my feet on it for so long because of exploring one electronic payment option after another, only to have all of them fall through.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-04-15 11:23 pm (UTC)Right now I'm making changes which are slow to show results.
(1) Get back on the convention circuit in a major way. My original business plan was based on a minimum of ten conventions per year. Auto trouble cut me back beginning in 2002, and that's hurt badly. I've got to invest the time and money to coax the machinery to and from these events, or find cheaper transport for myself and my goods.
(2) Diversify my stock. Adding the T-shirt line has helped a lot- in fact, without the shirts convention appearances wouldn't be possible anymore. I'm also looking into WLP mousepads and other merchandise that can be printed in small runs and sold profitably.
(3) Simplify ordering. I've just applied to begin accepting credit cards again, with a service I can integrate into the WLP website. I expect to find out if I'm accepted Monday or Tuesday.
(4) Convert WLP's comics from old format to TPB format. This began with converting Bootleg into a 64-page format and putting all WLP's comics projects into it; in the next year or two, this intermediate step will lead to straight TPB publishing.
As for advertising, I'm seriously considering that- if I can find webcomics willing to take ads for WLP. My experience, though, is that advertising is money thrown into the garbage in the hopes that the garbageman will bring more money back later. The best ads have ever done WLP is to bump up sales by just barely the cost of the ads.
And a website reorg is definitely in the works; I've dragged my feet on it for so long because of exploring one electronic payment option after another, only to have all of them fall through.