Sensible Syndication Suggestions?

February 6, 2007 10:01 AM

What's the best way to get my weekly comic strip syndicated?

I've been doing my strip Grumbles for the last 2 1/2 years, but end up doing a lot of work for publication in just 1 newspaper. I guess that's the definition of a labor of love.

Does anyone have any marketing suggestions? So far I have sent promotional postcards to the major alt-newsweeklies (the market for this strip, I think...), as well as a tasteful, and hopefully not too obtrusive mass email to editors and art directors of that same select list. I'm guessing the next step involves cold calls, but would appreciate any suggestions from any marketing geniuses out there.

Thanks in advance.

posted by jpburns to work & money (6 comments total)

IANAC: Maybe revamp your site a little. The comics are a little too small to read easily (I wear glasses but I'm really young so I imagine people out there agree with me) and it's silly to have to load the page then load the comic--most users are quite lazy.
posted by shownomercy at 10:10 AM on February 6, 2007

Have you approached Creators Syndicate? There are some agents who handle cartoonists, but you may have to do legwork to find them. You should contact the editor of the newsaper you are published in and see if they can provide you with a marketing contact for whomever provides other cartoons they run.
posted by parmanparman at 10:21 AM on February 6, 2007

If by "major alt-weeklies" you just meant a handful, you should send something (a sample postcard's great.) to everyone in this directory.

I prefer to contact the editors instead of just the art directors, but that varies. You should also send out promotional stuff around once a year. They get a lot of submissions and there's a lot of turnover.

Finally, 2 and 1/2 years and already in one publication is great in the alt-comics business.
posted by BigFatWhale at 10:43 AM on February 6, 2007

Might I suggest that syndicated dead tree comics as a viable means of self expression is totally played? If I were in your shoes, I'd zig instead of zagging, and continue to explore ways to self publish and promote. Your lulu.com compilations are a great first step. The old standby of t-shirts, thongs and coffee mugs via Cafe Press would be worth looking into.

What about buying ad space on lefty web sites? It would seem that there's a large untapped audience you could be reaching there. Send them to your site, and ask them to support the continuing publication via purchase of merch.

Do you have traffic stats from your web site? A forum to interact with your readers would be a great way stay energized as well as to gauge interest in converting the strip to other media (bumper stickers, rear window decals, etc.). Perhaps Criminal Records could be approached, they had loads of indie pubs for sale last time I was there.

In a nutshell, I'm advising you to "productize" your strip. I hope to see your Kirbyesque stylings while driving on Ponce soon!
posted by Scoo at 11:13 AM on February 6, 2007

As far as I've seen, the best way to get your weekly strip syndicated is to make it a daily strip.
posted by solid-one-love at 11:26 AM on February 6, 2007

Thanks everyone.

(By the way, BigFatWhale, that's where I got my list to begin with, but thanks).
posted by jpburns at 12:15 PM on February 7, 2007