Friday Archive Dive: Robert Khoo on the Webcomics Business Model

Today's Archive Dive marks Robert Khoo's first column for Webcomics.com. The date was Jan. 14, and the introduction went like this:

For those that don't know, my background is primarily in management consulting. It was a career filled with two-week stints in hostile environments that, in short, needed to figure out how to achieve X with the means of Y. Even though I specialized in enterprise technology, each segment was a little different and each company had their own way of doing things. In order to cope with these variances within tight timetables, every consultant had these very broad-stroke models beat into our heads to help understand how  certain industries ticked. Businesses are businesses, but there are certain base-layer truisms across the board, often portrayed as simplified charts or graphs that give an easy-to-understand perspectives that, although usually fitting no single company, gave you an understanding on what the landscape was.

From those experiences I've been permanently wired to think that way. Everything I see has structure. There's always some sort of system, and no matter how organic the scenario, I immediately compartmentalize it into something that I can base my thinking and learning on. 

That said, I figured I'd be a good exercise for my initial piece to give the webcomic space a go, as we could base future discussions and discourse on it. By no means is it the end-all, be-all snapshot of the industry, but it's a solid starting point in which to gain perspective from. You guys are paying for this stuff, so I'll try to use as many hard numbers as I can to give you a good idea of what category you may fall into. I'll also preface this by saying again, not everyone will fit into this paradigm, as there are always exceptions to any ecosystem.

Here we go.

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Endorsements on Webcomics.com

As we near the end of the first year of Webcomics.com, I'd like to take a moment to talk about endorsements -- both from me and from members. It's an issue that has been raised throughout the year, and I think it's important that you know some of the inner workings of the site -- and the reasons behind why things happen as they do.

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Best of Webcomics.com in 2010

It's popular to do a wrap-up at the end of the year, looking at all of the highlights of the past twelve months. For Webcomics.com, there are too many to count. These stand out in my mind, but feel free to add your own in the Comments.

January

Webcomics.com annouces that it will become a subscription-only Web site. Over two-hundred comments are generated, most of which express outrage, and many of which predict the imminent failure of the site.

The first of many Hot Seat-style critique threads is started -- this one on banner ads.

Robert Khoo posts his first column.

Scott Kurtz holds an intervention for webcartoonists.

E-mail addresses for press releases.

Webcomics.com announces its first exclusive benefit: Discounted tables at C2E2.

February

Robert Khoo explains how to read a contract.

Random workshop: Punchline critique.

Glossary of contract terminology.

What is my time worth?

Reviews of e-Commerce sites.

Dissecting the Bluewater Comics contract.

Opt-in RSS aggregator to allow members to follow other members' work

March

Dave Kellett on preserving original art.

CPA database/directory.

Using the F-word.

How to permanently access Webpages after they've gone dead.

Speed coloring.

April

Finding the source of a Web traffic spike.

Another exclusive member benefit: 10%-off printing with Transcontinental.

What can you expect in your first year?

iPad analysis.

May

Member Diana Stoneman creates a work-around for foum avatars.

Washington Post announces its "Next Great Cartoonist" contest. A detailed analysis of its Terms and Conditions is offered at Webcomics.com. The Post alters its Terms and Conditions three days later.

Exclusive member benefit: Retractible banners.

Universal Press Syndicate's Aquisition Editor, John Glynn, offers his first contributing piece for the site, an in-depth discussion on improving your writing.

Long form: Art vs Writing.

iPad / iBooks: How to submit your site.

June

Exclusive member benefit: Formz displays.

The benefits of Wibiya are discussed.

In a two-part series, Robert Khoo answers every last question asked to him by Webcomics.com members.

In another multi-part seies, Scott Kurtz fields members' questions.

Creative Commons vs Copyright

Work-for-Hire contracts explained.

DrunkDuck acquired by WOWIO - and what it means.

Daily, color, long-form comics.

Scott Kurtz critiques volunteers' comics.

July

Merchant Services (Accepting credit cards on your site or at conventions).

The first of several Art 101 posts -- this one about body proportions.

Web hosting compared.

E-mail subscriptions.

Are Webcomics dead?

August

Scraping booth barnacles.

Tipes on storing merchandise at home.

Collecting sales tax at conventions.

Member Jeff Zugale contributes a termendous piece titled: Cartoonists: Your Product is Worthless and I Can Prove It.

Logo Design Hot Seat

Mark Waid is (not) evil: The Harvey Awards and the ensuing debate

Rethinking ad space.

Do you really have a business plan?

Longform strategies.

September

Member Mary Cagle contributed an awe-inspiring coloring tutorial.

Webcomics.com opens a new forum for Critiques.

Line weight.

"What a waste of time..." (Dealing with criticism.)

Plateaus.

Directory of volunteer lawyers for artists.

15%-off purchases at Blue Line Pro.

DPI

Was Zuda a failure?

October

ISBNs -- everything you need to know.

Web vs Print ... vs App?

Christmas Cards... the time is now.

CMYK vs RGB.

Scanning and coloring lineart.

November

Instructions on making a PVC banner stand.

Using the subconscious to boost creativity.

One year after winning Amazon.com/Universal/Andrews McMeel Comic Strip Superstar contest, Dana Simpson is interviewed about what's been going on with "Girl."

"How come there aren't more full-time webcartoonists?"

December

The One-and-Only Membership Drive Post

Lay out your book in ten minutes flat

Creating a Favicon

Page Bleeds

Net Neutrality: A few thoughts before the FCC ruling

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Hot Seat: Banner Ads

Next week, we're going to workshop a few of your ads. So if you have an ad that you'd like some feedback on, please post it here (or post a link to it). We're talk about what you're doing right and discuss where improvements can be made. Submit any kind of ad -- leaderboard, skyscraper, square -- and try to find ways you can get the most for your ad dollar.

I might not be able to hit every one, but I'll try to select a representative sample that will have take-away information for everyone.

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New Years Resolutions: 2011

I tried this last year, and, to be honest, I think it was a flop. Looking back, I wonder whether I did a very good job of communicating the concept.

See... here's the problem. Everyone one makes resolutions this time of year.

And that's good.

But nobody ever makes a plan for achieving those goals.

And that's a mistake.

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