Today's show is sponsored by Dreamhost. The first step in owning and controlling your own work is creating a website, and Brad and Dave have relied on Dreamhost for years. Check out Dreamhost.com/comiclab to find out how you can lock in a rate of $2.59/month for three years!

Your social media profile needs to answer three questions clearly: Who are you? What do you do? And why should I care? If you're wasting time being cute, you're missing out of opportunities. Also, the NCS releases the nominees for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year, and a person hired to illustrate a children's book faces a tough question from the writer: How do we sell this thing??

Today's Show

• Branding on your social media profile
• Susan MacTaggart
• Show sponsor: Dreamhost dreamhost.com/comiclab
• UPDATE: NCS Outstanding Cartoonist nominations
• We made the book... now what?"
• Have we ever considered not doing free content?

Summary

In this conversation, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the importance of branding for cartoonists on social media, emphasizing the need for clear communication in profiles. The conversation wraps up with insights on navigating new platforms like Bluesky and the importance of straightforward messaging in promoting one's work. They discuss the evolving nature of social media presence, and the value of reliable hosting services like DreamHost. They also engage in a light-hearted personal affirmation segment and provide updates from the National Cartoonist Society. The conversation culminates in practical advice for illustrators on how to sell their work, emphasizing the importance of understanding one's role in the creative process. In this episode, Brad Guigar and Dave Kellett discuss the importance of branding in book promotion, the exploration of new intellectual properties (IP) for original graphic novels, and the value of audience engagement and product testing in the creative process. They also touch on the resurgence of physical media in a digital age, emphasizing that quality content will always find an audience.

Takeaways

• Branding is crucial for self-publishing cartoonists.
• Social media profiles should clearly state who you are.
• Consistency is more important than creativity on social media.
• Cartoonists often struggle with self-promotion due to imposter syndrome.
• Blue Sky may not have the same algorithmic restrictions as other platforms.
• Direct communication is key in branding and marketing.
• It's okay to promote your work without feeling like you're bragging. Put some of the creative thought into solving business problems.
• This change is 100% not permanent.
• You can change it tomorrow.
• We're big fans of DreamHost.
• This is the perfect opportunity for you.
• A 97-day money back guarantee.
• You are a limitless well of creativity.
• This is not your job, Jay.
• You should run as far away from him as you can.
• Your job is to use the book to promote Jay. Your job is to use the book to promote your next gig.
• Selling books, marketing books, promoting books, that's not Jay's brand.
• The responsibility of selling this book is not your job.
• This is a time management issue.
• You can use this to get to the next stage in your career.
• We have both done this with IP that the world has never seen.
• You'd better have previews and sample images that look incredible.
• People will absolutely buy that thing because they know it's good.
• People will buy your book. Absolutely.
• You can absolutely make that work.

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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.