> I'm not considering them as a lost sale, but the other people who
> happen across the scanned work. John Q. Public was thinking of
> spending X dollars on this folio, but hey, he can get it from an
> image board for free. Boom. Lost sale. Like I said, man, I've got
> paperwork backing this claim up.
I'd be interested to see how particularly a claim like that could be
backed up, since the MPAA and RIAA have failed continuously at this angle.
Also I'm sure those image boards had some kind of do not distribute
list? (ie: like an opt-out list).
> Actually, I think there are several comics in the "Photos" section
> on the group, though they were not uploaded by me. As for a possible
> solution to the problem, yeah, I've got a few ideas. I'm just not
> sure which one to pick yet.
>
The name Skunkworks seems recognisable and familiar enough across the
community, and has a branding, I recognise any images that come up
when I am google image searching that are "Skunkworks"
You need to find a way to promote it better, the source of where you
can get/buy it from was far from prolific, I hadn't even heard of it
before, and I would have never even considered looking at buying
anything from the U.S. until I saw what they charged for shipping.
Perhaps you can strike a deal with that Second Ed place in turn for
helping promote their site through yours where they pay you for it?
I think release part and/or small/and/or censored if it's adult res
version directly on your site before anywhere else gets it will see
you a surge of traffic (or some other kind of new fresh promotional
material not yet found elsewhere), at which you can then you can
promote the physical media to buy directly from Second Ed with a
direct link to your product, I also think it would be important to
stress the low international shipping cost if you were to do this.
> I did the "send master copies/files to someone else to print" and
> got fucked over hard. I had to threaten legal action and demanded
> the retailer cease selling my material. Likewise, I got fucked over
> by a comic company (never received money for a large graphic novel, a
> stand-alone comic, or any funds from a benefit comic created to help
> pay for my eye surgery). The chances of me letting someone else
> handle that task are pretty much nil, I'd have to say.
You can also try self-publishing services, where you open a storefront
(something like lulu).
I know for film, that P2P and online sharing services (like youtube)
have been able to explode some independant works, and give them a
market penetration that would have been previously impossible for them.
You need to work out how to use it to your advantage.
> > It's not easy, but I think market research and better marketing is
> in
> > order, if what youre doing now isn't work too well, then continuing
> to
> > do exactly the same thing isn't going to work.
>
> But here's the catch; the furry stuff has been relegated to "hobby"
> status, since I am able to make a good income from my mainstream work
> without all the hassles and headaches encountered with dealing with
> the internet. I'm an old-fashioned guy. I use modern technology if
> I absolutely have to, but I prefer simpler ways. I like carburetors
> on my bikes, I like a revolver in my hand, and I like drawing things
> with pens and pencils. Maybe I'm a relic, but that's just the way
> I'm wired.
>
> Market research sounds like an interesting concept, but how much
> time does it take? I do have a fairly busy schedule, although I try
to get online and check the group as much as possible (though it's not
always a sure bet). Any suggestions?
Market research, and coming up with a strategy/plan doesn't
necessarily need to be online all the time.
And it depends... if it were to do with a film production I could
easily give advice, but with the 'furry market', it's not my forte.
> Thanks for the input and advice, though. Change is possible, I
> know, but it's hard to squeeze in sometimes when schedules are
> tight. Any ideas involving this topic would be welcome!
>
> --JMH
>
Change has to occur somewhere, otherwise you will just keep going as
you are now, and am I right to assume you do not want this?
I don't think it's feasible to try and change a whole group's
ingrained behaviour, that's why I think you need to have a better plan.
Received on Fri Oct 03 2008 - 03:52:25 CDT