Robert Khoo: The Importance of Community and Why You Should Start Treating Them Better

The Penny Arcade Forums are massive. With over XX,XXX members, XXX moderators and XXXX million threads and counting, it is considered one of the largest and most cohesive online communities in existence. In their 10-year history, subcultures have grouped, lexicon has been created and even full splinter forums have emerged — a full accounting of events would fill a book in its own right.

But what it eventually distills to is why the forumers go there. Some would argue based on observations that they all collectively hate Penny Arcade, but they're there because the forums add value to their experience. The forums are a service we provide our readers – it’s a place where they have a voice amongst people with a common interest. It’s a place where they contribute, listen and learn, and above all else, it’s a place where they connect with their peers. 

Log in to read the entire post.

Six-Month Check-up

So, how is Webcomics.com doing after six months of operating on a subscription model?

Well...

If, when I started this exercise in January, you would have forced me to guess how many members we'd have by the end of the year, I would have given you a number that we surpassed long ago. It's a big enough number for me to tell you that this site will continue for the foreseeable future as a subscription site. It's a number big enough for organizations like Reed Exhibitions and Transcontinental to give Webcomics.com members significant discounts. And it's a number that has risen every month since we launched.

Moreover, the subscribers are all serious, professionally minded cartoonists. After all, who's going to drop a $30 subscription if they're not pretty serious about doing this professionally, right?

As a result, the Private Forum is jam-packed with serious cartoonists sharing their experiences and offering valuable advice, peer review, and support. It's one of the best things about the site.

Robert Khoo has contributed a monthly column to the site that has shared tremendous insight on several business aspects of webcomics. And in May Mr. Khoo had a Q&A session with Webcomics.com members that provided a unique look into the way he approaches webcomics business.  The opportunity to talk business with a man with his knowledge and experience is priceless.

Scott Kurtz, likewise, has spearheaded efforts to drive members forward in their creative endeavors, with several posts and workshop efforts in which he has critiqued the work being offered by members for review. His raw, no bullshit approach to coaching has been a crucial part of the success of the site.

Webcomics.com itself has consistently updated with new posts on the main site four-days-a-week with an Archive Dive on Fridays. The topics have covered business, technology, art, writing, long-form, short-form, and just about every aspect of webcartooning there is.

Oh, yeah... then there were the benefits.

• Transcontinental became the official offset printer of Webcomics.com, offering a 10% discount to all members. This alone has a potential savings of hundreds of dollars.
• Formz offered a 15% discount on convention displays.
• BannersNStands offered $79 off retractible banner stands.
• Reed Exhibitions offered 15% off special Webcomics Pavilion tables for their inaugural C2E2 show in Chicago.
• And more members-only benefits are on the way.

It's important to note that each one of these benefits had the potential to save members at least twice their subscription cost. In other words, members who availed themselves of any of these benefits saved enough money to cover their subscription cost and put some extra money in their pockets to boot.

In short, Webcomics.com has become a successful, thriving, supportive community of serious webcartoonists with tons of helpful advice and information as well as discounts and benefits.

It's not the right choice for everybody, but for some webcartoonists, it's very right.

The Lagniappe

This post was kindly submitted by Tyler James.

Though the Louisiana French word may be unfamiliar, we've all experienced the lagniappe. The word refers to a small, unexpected gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of purchase. It's the proverbial 13th donut that comes with the baker's dozen. And it is incredibly powerful.

Log in to read the entire post.



Webcomics.com at Comic Con International

Experience Webcomics.com live at Comic Con this year!

Scott Kurtz, Robert Khoo and I will be answering all of your webcomics questions in a no-holds-barred lightning-round session. Here are the details.

Saturday, July 24

5:00–6:00 Webcomics.com Lightning Round: Join the forces behind Webcomics.com -- Scott Kurtz (PvP), Robert Khoo (Penny Arcade) and Brad Guigar (Evil Inc) -- for a primer on webcomics from all aspects: creative, technical and business. Each panelist will answer in thirty seconds or less -- without repeating previous points -- so expect a fast-paced tour of the subject from start to finish. Room 8

 Of course, if you'd like to say hello -- or if you're looking for a copy of the How To Make Webcomics book -- you can find me at Booth 1228. I'll be exhibiting alongside two other co-authors of the book, Dave Kellett and Kris Straub. And Scott Kurtz will be exhibiting nearby in booth 1235. So if you already own a book that you'd like to get signed, this is an excellent opportunity to catch all four of us.

Some of you have inquired about a Webcomics.com meet-up. Due to the excruciating logistics involved in trying to host a large group of people in San Diego during Comic Con, this is going to be impossible. But please feel free to use the Private Forum to arrange any informal meet-ups -- before, during or after the show.

Log in to read the entire post.



Friday Archive Dive: In Praise of the Free Sample

Today's Archive Dive comes from April 8, 2009: In Praise of the Free Sample.

You've managed to secure a table at a comic convention. You've got your shirts and other merchandise prepared, your banners made and your tools for sketches ready. Sounds like you're set, right? Well yes, but you could do more. Many people who have no idea what your comic is about, and they're going to ask you. And you will try to tell them, but they still will not know. Luckily, there's a way to let them know everything without boring them to death.

Log in to read the entire post.