Business Tutorials, Tips & Tricks, etc.

As webcomics became a viable way to build an audience and earn a living, things like SEO, social media and a great website were a great way to set yourself apart from other comics.  In fact, SEO was really good to invest in when comics were unique to the web ... Continue Reading

First of all, I'd like to welcome back Kurt to the Alliance for this discussion. Kurt was a co-founding member here in the very beginning, taking the reigns of the Pick of the Week/Month, with some great spotlights on some fantastic webcomics. He was a perfect fit for that, as ... Continue Reading

They’re out there. Passionate, dedicated, willing to support indie creators, and yet so very elusive: The Typical Webcomic Reader. As we have discussed on this site and on our podcasts, although we can easily find fellow creators quite easily on social media, finding the READERS… you know, the ones who keep up ... Continue Reading

You've been working hard on your webcomic for a while now - weeks, months, years! And all along the way, making mistakes and learning hard lessons from them. Have you ever stopped to wonder what you'd do differently, if you had the chance to go back? Chris and Dawn recently ... Continue Reading

If you've been following Dawn Griffin or myself on Facebook or Twitter at all, then you know that this past weekend was Awesome Con DC - the first comic book convention held in the Washington DC area for over 15 years! Before I begin talking about my experiences at this ... Continue Reading

Once in a while it's good for us creators to stop and reflect on how much we have grown, improved or changed. While I can definitely see a difference between the old Zorphbert & Fred comics I drew back in 2007, I think a bigger change has been how I ... Continue Reading

Hey kids! Today, I want to talk to you about sketch cards and show you how you can make your own custom cards that will, hopefully, help you stand out from the convention crowd. Sketch cards have recently taken off in popularity the last couple of years - and, as you ... Continue Reading

  They're out there. Passionate, dedicated, willing to support indie creators, and yet so very elusive: The Typical Webcomic Reader. As we have discussed on this site and on our podcasts, although we can easily find fellow creators quite easily on social media, finding the READERS... you know, the ones who keep ... Continue Reading

­­­ by Steve Ogden and Tom Dell’Aringa   In a previous article, Dawn already talked about the broken webcomic "business model" , but there might be something in all this that's even worse than a simple broken model. The web is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it's a direct route to a potential ... Continue Reading

Over the years since I started Capes & Babes and began attending conventions, I’ve been very fortunate to receive many great compliments about my table set-up. I’d like to think part of that is due to my extensive graphic design background. In any case, there’s a lot of thought and ... Continue Reading

Hey folks... earlier this month, I was attending a small, one day show in Tysons Corner, Virginia (about 30 minutes away from where I lived). I was attending the show with my good friend, Dan Nokes so, later on after the show ended, Dan and I caught an early dinner ... Continue Reading

(Byron’s note: Bear with me as this story from my childhood leads to a point for us comic creators) 1969.  It was the summer of Woodstock and Man landing on the moon.  It was the first time actors appeared nude on Broadway in a little musical called “Hair”.  It was the ... Continue Reading

Take your seats, class. If you followed directions and did your homework from our last session, you should have gathered all the specifications from your printer as well as set up all your comic files to be easily placed into an InDesign document. You may have even started a new ... Continue Reading

Even if we refer to our comic as a "WEBcomic", one of our typical goals as a cartoonist/creator is to eventually collect our comics in book-form, to sell and actually earn some profit from our endless hard work and strict deadlines. While we may have mastered Adobe Photoshop, and possibly ... Continue Reading

During our many podcasts here at Webcomic Alliance, we often talk about the importance of cultivating a relationship between you and your audience or fan base. Well kids, for today’s article, I’m going to offer a unique suggestion that will help you do just that during this holiday season. Freelance illustrators ... Continue Reading

  Zorphbert and Fred wasn't a webcomic when I started it in 2006. Actually, I had no idea webcomics were a "thing". I figured people may post them online if they, you know, wanted to give their stuff away for free. I had no clue anyone could effectively monetize their comic ... Continue Reading

It seems like webcartoonists are in a never-ending quest for more page-views - but is that an outdated goal? (More importantly - will it turn us into a fossil just by grasping it? At least it won't melt our faces off...) To answer this question, I contacted Thom and Kambrea of ... Continue Reading

Last time, as you recall, I walked you through the steps of setting up an email opt-in program to help build up subscribers to your comic as well as building a database of users to negotiate with printers and conventions.  In this second part, I’m going to go over the ... Continue Reading

  One of the many things we have to do, or should do, as independent comic creators is to manage our readers.  From the start, we should be enticing our readers to get involved in our comic.  One great way, which most of us do already, is through the comments section.  ... Continue Reading

Many of you may know that I am a graphic designer for a snack foods company, before I come home and do my “real” work. My company often exhibits at food-centric trade shows, much like we do at comic cons, promoting our brands and drawing interest in the corporate programs ... Continue Reading