Dave and Brad share proven strategies for building your audience on Substack. Also: What are the best approaches for dummy lettering — lettering that's supposed to be unreadable?

TODAY'S SHOW

• How to get new sign-ups on Substack
• UPDATE: Get your exclusive ComicLab pin at Dave Kellett's booth (#1228) during Comic-Con International
• UPDATE: The National Cartoonists Society's Reuben Awards will feature TWO live ComicLab shows
• UPDATE: ComicLab's social-media videos
• Dummy lettering

SUMMARY

The hosts discuss Substack and how to bring in new subscribers. They emphasize that the strategies for growth on Substack are similar to those used on other platforms, such as Mailchimp. They recommend using the embeddable sign-up widget and creating a compelling landing page with a "hero post." They also discuss the importance of pinning posts and keeping the sign-up form visible. Overall, they highlight the need for consistent sharing of high-quality work and engaging with the audience. In this part of the conversation, Brad and Dave discuss the use of pop-ups on websites and the importance of offering incentives to encourage sign-ups. They also emphasize the power of confidently promoting your work and using Substack Notes to engage with the community. Brad shares his strategies for maximizing content across different platforms and encourages planning and goal-setting. They also mention their upcoming appearances at San Diego Comic-Con and the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Awards Week. Finally, they explore the topic of creating unreadable but clear signs in comics and the use of fake alphabets. They provide tips on how to create believable alien or fantasy languages that reinforce the mood of the species or world.

TAKEAWAYS

• Strategies for bringing in new subscribers on Substack are similar to those used on other platforms
• Use the embeddable sign-up widget and create a compelling landing page with a hero post
• Pin important posts on the landing page and keep the sign-up form visible
• Consistently share high-quality work and engage with the audience. Consider the use of pop-ups on your website, but be mindful of the timing and presentation to avoid a bait-and-switch feeling.
• Offer incentives, such as free e-comics, to encourage sign-ups and engage with your audience.
• Confidently promote your work and communicate why it's good, using the language of Pride and Joy.
• Utilize Substack Notes as a social media platform to share your posts and engage with the community.
• Maximize your content by repurposing it across different platforms and embedding it in blogs or websites.
• Plan and set goals for your content creation and promotion, and aim for consistency and efficiency.
• Join industry events like San Diego Comic-Con and the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Awards Week to network and showcase your work.
• Being able to laugh at oneself is important in podcasting and in life.
• Creating unreadable but clear signs in comics can add an otherworldly element.
• When creating fake alphabets, it's important to consider the mood and characteristics of the species or world.
• Starting with basic shapes and visual systems can help in creating believable alien or fantasy languages.
• Lettering can reinforce the mood and world of a comic.

QUOTE OF THE SHOW

"Nothing says delicious like lettuce that's been sitting next to a thousand-degree oven for hours on end and then brought to your door by a stoner." — Dave Kellett

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Brad Guigar is the creator of Evil Inc and the author of The Webcomics Handbook. He is available for personal consultations. Dave Kellett is the creator of Sheldon and Drive. He is the co-director of the comics documentary, Stripped.