question....POD or Diamond??

[suriel]

hello, I have a question about selling comics.

We have just published our stories in argentina and we are thinking in starting in USA.
so this is the question...what do you think is better to start?? POD or Diamond??

I know some things about diamond, I mean, the 60% and the good point I think is you have to print after the comics are asked for through them so it would be a safe risk, and with POD there is no risk, money speaking, but I am not so sure how many people buy through them instead of using the previews, in terms of exposure.

the good point is that printing in south america, we have low costs, so we are not so sure what to do, then any advice and experience would be very aprecciated

thanks

martin

[L Jamal]

It really depends on what your demand is. If your demand is high then Diamond is the place to be except that if you're printing the South America your shipping expenses will be extremely high.

If your sales are moderate to low (like most indy books) then POD provides a cost free alternative with shipping paid for by the consumer.

[TheDeeMan]

And sme POD's like Lulu offer distribution into online retailers like Amazon, B&N, etc. But honestly, most folks buy their comics in comic shops and at newsstands and not at Amazon. But if cost is a factor, it's better than nothing.

Dee

........
G.A.A.K: Groovy Ass Alien Kreatures. It's like "The Goonies" meets "The Invaders from Mars".
www.webcomicsnation.com/moniquem/gaak/series.php

[Scribbly]

Hi Martin,
I was asking myself the same question, and I did start bothering the guys here, with my inquiries about it from the last year, (my apologies and thanks.)

If you did publish before, no matter where, you know it is not just about printing and distribution, it is about ADVERTISEMENT as well.
And that have a creepy cost.
Printing in South America or Asia can save costs, but as Jamal pointed, the shipping expenses can be high.
However, the shipping cost could be always lower than the printing cost itself.
You should check it.
Also check for print in countries with lower money exchange costs than where you live.
You must to print almost 10K for start business and having a good price per copie with them.
And that have a cost.

POD is OK, but you can not print more than 1000 copies because the cost, just enough for show what you do, but not enough for make real business.

And you must to self distribute afterwards, ( web site and related web promo, go to Comic Conventions for promoting and sell your book.
And that have a cost.
And also that is time consuming, an extra cost: Time = money.
I truly consider the POD as the ULTIMATE TOLL for showing and promoting your comic work.
But not good enough for make real business from there, unless you are ready for to do all of the above, as the guys here do.

I presume your work have the quality enough for being published in the best publishing houses, in art and script.

From my POV the best way of start, is reaching an INDY PUBLISHER who can publish and distribute your stuff as a first step.

From Image to the smaller one who can be interested.
I meant an American Publisher, who can reach the American comic audience.
I hear somewhere that Image has a fee for charge is your work is accepted.

I think is the best way of have a real audience's feedback on your product.

Once your work is out and the Comic World has already noticed who are you, and what you can do, then as next step, Diamond.
With you precedent experience it will be more easy for them and for the audience to recognice you, and your work/product.

And as you know Diamond distribution is big, and they can reach South America and Europe as well
" 4,000 comic book shops and specialty retailers worldwide they say."
Mean is you stuff is successful, you must to have ready a load of money for print the amount of copies demanded.

As the "Guru man" here said (awe), it depends on what your demand is.

And how much money we can afford in our projects, I must to say.

Best wishes!


.

[suriel]

well, the same problem as always...money.

and I understand all the points about advertisement, and actually since we are starting, the demand is no so big, I think, but when I asked about POD was just for using their online store, not exactly their print service.
I mean, I have the idea of selling my comics as a first step through their online store, so I don't have to pay any money for printing.

which I think will the best option to start and lose the less money as possible in the beggining.

the question came because I am not so sure people use this service a lot

what do you think??

[L Jamal]

In the beginning it's always best to minimize your losses and think about the best way to get the most bang out of your money.

There are people that shop via POD, but for the most part you're going to have to cultivate and grow your own audience and send them to the POD service for your comic.

[Crestmere]

Frankly, Diamond is the thing keeping comics out of the mainstream.

But if you want to get in with comic retailers, you basicaly have to go through them.

The question is whether you think you can do well enough to get your project out there through other means.

[D.J. Coffman]

The "Diamond Delay" is the real problem with the direct market.

I suggest utilizing the web, and using small print runs to sell direct to your readers. It worked well for me.

[Crestmere]

Originally Posted by D.J. Coffman

The "Diamond Delay" is the real problem with the direct market.

I suggest utilizing the web, and using small print runs to sell direct to your readers. It worked well for me.

The "diamond is a monopolistic company that practices a lot of questionable behaviour to keep small publishers out of the market" effect is the problem.

[D.J. Coffman]

I use to think that way too, but honestly, it's business. There is a lot of CRAP in previews and a lot of CRAP turned down. But mostly all the crap doesnt sell to retailers, let alone breaking sales of 200 copies or more. For Diamond, it's bad business.

However, they do get the books to shops in a timely manner on their schedule, and it puts you right in front of that comic buying audience.

The real problem is the delay and relying on preorders-- once you're in as an independent, encouraging people in September to preorder a book that comes out in November is like pulling teeth.

A simple paypal button and you ship the books to your readers instantly is the cure. But you're leaving the direct market behind, unless you build your own mailing list of retailers to work with.

[D.J. Coffman]

Another revolutionary idea? Build your fanbase online--- then allow some of your loyal and fanatic readers to become "dealers" in their area to local comic shops, etc. Never tried, but I've had at least 15 people inquire about doing things at their local shops.

[L Jamal]

Better yet just build your online site for wholesale and retail. I'm in the midst of building in quantity discounts for Warmageddon. I don't care who you are if you want to buy 5 or more copies of any one product, I'm happy to take your money and give you wholesale pricing.

[Crestmere]

We really should try and centralize our efforts in this regard.

The real strength Diamond has is just how many titles it can sell.

If we centralize and we attract 1 fan to our retail location then that 1 fan will see and potentially think about buying a number of other books.

United we stand guys.

[The Predator]

Just an idea I got when I read this thread. Digital Webbing has a lot of visitors, right? What if there was some sort of online shop like an online previews at Digital Webbing.
like I said, just an idea.
The Predator

[Crestmere]

Predator,

There are a lot of markets for small press comics.

The issue is that there are a lot of them.

We need to focus on making one that can be a stable market that can give us a real edge over Diamond.