I've always gone to conventions to sell art, but never before have I had a running webcomic to promote at con. Gasp, but I need to find ways to promote it now.

Aside from yelling "Hey retard read my comic!" and tossing some flyers out on the flyer table, has anyone else done some covert advertizement at convention that they'd like to share about?

Good and bad ideas alike.

Skulldog
Aside from yelling "Hey retard read my comic!" and tossing some flyers out on the flyer table, has anyone else done some covert advertizement at convention that they'd like to share about?

I've tried that...er, the flyers.
Few of them were gone. dunno if it worked

equinox
What you could do is vandalize the bathrooms by writing the URL all over the walls with a sharpie everywhere you go. That might work.

Ah, vandalize cosplayers, got it. :twisted:

Walk around with a big cardboard word baloon taped to your head...

Actually, that's not a bad idea! :lol:

.: SpANG! :.

What you need is a really big, hairy, foul smelling, filthy looking person holding a placard saying "READ THIS COMIC OR I LICK YOUR FACE"

it would work. [goes]

Stickers perhaps?

Thats pretter lo-cost advertising. Of course, you still need to get peoples attention to sticker them...

Titch
Stickers perhaps?

Thats pretter lo-cost advertising. Of course, you still need to get peoples attention to sticker them...

Actually that's a good idea..I do have sticker paper ready, I could print some spammy fun and give them out to the more talkative folks who stop by my table.

stickers rule, It just works well.

I will be stopping by skulldogs table at AWA, I've always liked his comic.

duck
I will be stopping by skulldogs table at AWA, I've always liked his comic.

You'll be in for a surprise, I'm female for one. :P

well hell... color me foolish. which is a shade of mauve i think.

mm :3 I do flyers every year. I also do business cards, and have a book with pages of my comic on hand for people to look at and get intersted - and to show to publishers and so forth just in case. XD

I write the url of the comic in school books, Books in the Library, Spray paint it on walls, and use a sharpie in the bathroom, The handicap stall because people go there when they have diareah(handlebars)

Also i gave out a few bumper stickers. it was hard covering up the real thing with white out and writing the URL on it with a sharpie but eh, whatever works right?

oh XD reminds me. I write my website URL on my sketches. I give out free sketches every year.

I spent nearly all my money last year at artist alley, but my ex girlfriend put them somewhere and I can't find em anymore.

You could always get someone to dress as one of your characters in the cosplay contest.

We've been giving out a little 4 page black and white photocopied promo comic when we're at conventions.
We always go through the whole stack, since we're basically handing them to people saying "have a free promo comic!" to which most passerbys will say "free? I'll take it!"

I saw both Skulldog's and Anystars booth. Both were set up really well. And both had a lot to offer, wish I had more money though. my 60 bucks to go to con with did not last like at all.

I was only able to buy a little bit of art (and I got one peice of anystars) but it was still nice to see them all.

I noticed badges were doing well (leasat I thought they were, my friend bought 4 of them)

but I also note that free stuff helps.

Best thing to do...
Print out your comic and sell it(have the url in there).

yeah...XD I'm going to print out a collection of art pieces and a comic for next year (artbok for sure, not quite sure if I'll have the comic done enough by then)

And thanks for dropping by, and very much for buying something from me, duck~ :D I..I'm not sure I remember you XD;; Which piece did you purchase?

It was only a print, but a lolita like girl come out of a flower. my funds was very limited.

oooh, ok :3 I think I know which one.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/28995433/
This one, I think? X3

quite correct. I'm gonna be hanging it on my wall sometime soon.

I've done a couple of cons now specifically advertising my webcomic, I've done a number of things.

1) Business cards with your URL for your comic on them. These should be free, make lots.

2) Bookmarks/card handouts with a sample of artwork, a snappy catch phrase and the URL of the comic. These were also free, also, make lots.

3) Created some 'ashcan' samples of the comic to sell and also to let people have a look at the artwork and get a sense of the story. Didn't sell as many of these, but they were very helpful for 'the pitch'. Sold them for about 4$

4) Had stickers and magnets with artwork from my comics and the URL plastered on them. Cute stickers or graphicy stickers seem to sell the best. I was selling the stickers at 6 for a 1$. I sold a lot. The strategy behind them is that they aren't QUITE free. A lot of people just chuck freebees. They are more likely to keep something they paid even a little for.

5) Did sketches and put a business card in with each one.

6) The biggest, and probably best selling tool was TALKING. I did an amazing amount of chatting people up. A lot of artist alley peeps don't do this. I was really amazed since, you know, engaging people helps you sell them stuff and it makes a personal connection. This makes them more likely to check your stuff out if they think you're nice and friendly. :)

I'd like to have buttons next year. Those were super cool. My neighbour at Sakura con had them.

I also got involved in the panels at the con, which is helpful cuz you can plug to a captive audience. ^^ *cough* Did I say that? Heh.

I didn't talk to artists much, I dunno why I got shy.

question: how does one get a table/booth at a comic con? Do you sign up for it? or is it by invitation?

depends on the con, in went to portcon in maine for a couple years by signing up as a guest, you have to do a panel of course.

I tried something that worked fairly well.

Colleges. I hung up flyers with the little rip off tabs at the bottem with my web addy on it. I got a mild response from those (before faculty ripped em down)And if I mention my comic on campus now people are like OH! You're THAT guy.