I think if you can better the usability of your website you will probably see a noticable increase in your online sales. When I was looking through it at one point, it is kind of visually overwhelming (lots of text, busy background, confusing # of links) and difficult to navigate. When I redesigned the Lunch Break site last year to have the buttons in the left column with *pictures* and brief descriptions on them, where it was very clear exactly what it was I had to offer, my email inquiries and sales went up. The things I have for sale are readily visible above the fold.
My sites' traffic went up when I also stopped using things like dark backgrounds, patterned/tiling backgrounds, and went to simpler, more user-friendly designs. At the time it was kind of a "Why haven't I been doing this all along?" thing for me.
I think the TPB formats are a really good idea. I don't know anyone personally that buys comic books, but a lot of people (self included) that will buy the thicker trade paperback books and book-style mangas. It takes me about ten minutes ot read a comic book then I'm done with it, most people I know prefer to have more pages/story to read in one sitting and feel like they're a better value.
As for advertising, I've had really good luck advertising with Randy. It didn't translate to immediate income, but it did get a whole new set of people looking at my comics and art, and in the following months those people have bought books, original comics, and the other things I sell. I advertise (for free) my pet hammocks on some rat communities (NOT spam I'm a regular poster there), and I've sold a lot that way. I may experiment with advertising my Lulu bookstore directly when I finish my art book and the next volume of the comic. I think it can be great if you just know your audience.
Good luck with the cons — I'm just going to be sticking with A-Kon for the time being, and any in-town ones I feel like going to since it requires little effort. I don't enjoy them all that much even though Oni-Con did pretty well financially. The people at A-Kon have never even been direct contact with me (they must've seen I'm going on my website) and were bugging me to do panels for them. Ugh.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2006-04-15 11:57 pm (UTC)My sites' traffic went up when I also stopped using things like dark backgrounds, patterned/tiling backgrounds, and went to simpler, more user-friendly designs. At the time it was kind of a "Why haven't I been doing this all along?" thing for me.
I think the TPB formats are a really good idea. I don't know anyone personally that buys comic books, but a lot of people (self included) that will buy the thicker trade paperback books and book-style mangas. It takes me about ten minutes ot read a comic book then I'm done with it, most people I know prefer to have more pages/story to read in one sitting and feel like they're a better value.
As for advertising, I've had really good luck advertising with Randy. It didn't translate to immediate income, but it did get a whole new set of people looking at my comics and art, and in the following months those people have bought books, original comics, and the other things I sell. I advertise (for free) my pet hammocks on some rat communities (NOT spam I'm a regular poster there), and I've sold a lot that way. I may experiment with advertising my Lulu bookstore directly when I finish my art book and the next volume of the comic. I think it can be great if you just know your audience.
Good luck with the cons — I'm just going to be sticking with A-Kon for the time being, and any in-town ones I feel like going to since it requires little effort. I don't enjoy them all that much even though Oni-Con did pretty well financially. The people at A-Kon have never even been direct contact with me (they must've seen I'm going on my website) and were bugging me to do panels for them. Ugh.