This is not an idea for a webcomic. It’s not an idea for a plot for a webcomic, and it’s not an idea for creative technology you can use to take your webcomic to new levels. It is, however, an idea for a new1 way to market your comic and get new readers. Since I’m a bit behind schedule, that’s close enough for me to include it here.
Here’s what you do.
- Print a couple of posters. Each poster should contain between two and four comic strips, and the URL to your webcomic should be displayed at the bottom. Full color printing is preferred, at a size of A3 or something. If you don’t have a chance of printing something that size and won’t pay to have it professionally done, you could probably go with A4, too. The comic strips should be stand-alone strips and not part of a larger sequence.
- Take these posters with you around to local coffeehouses, universities, or perhaps even to large companies. Bring Blu-Tack or some very good tape.
- Now, ask the people at the front desk: I’ve noticed that your men’s restrooms2 have urinals, and that the walls behind the urinals are pretty boring to look at. Would you mind if I hang up a couple of comic strips there?
Unless the place you live has more than one person reading this blog (and what are the odds of that?), they will probably find this request so original and exciting that they’ll say yes. Congratulations, you now have a free3 advertising medium where you’re almost guaranteed that people will read your comic because they have nothing better to do when they’re standing there. And if they like it, they will look up your website after they’ve washed their hands. And it’s a win-win situation: The coffeehouse gets free entertainment for their customers or employees, too.4 Perhaps you can even work out a deal that you replace the comics at regular intervals?
The only problem is of course that you’ll only reach one sex with this tactic. In ladies rooms, perhaps one could do the same but on the inside of stall doors instead of on the walls, but I’m not sure if that would work as good: At the urinal, standing as close to the wall as possible is a good thing, while in stalls you’re at a fixed distance from the door. But hey, it’s probably worth a try. Obviously, if you want to hang something in the restrooms of the opposite sex, it’s a good idea to get an ally of that sex to do it for you.
Bonus idea: I think the urinal is a very good example, but this could probably also be done in other places where people stand still for a while with nothing better to do than stare at the wall. How about elevators? Or bus stops? I’m sure you’re creative enough to come up with a few more, too. Just make sure that you always get permission from the right people first.
45 ideas down, 55 to go.
- I think it’s new, at least I’ve never seen it before. [back]
- Since English is not my first language, it’s possible that I mix up British and American terms here. And both terms are equally confusing: A restroom or bathroom is a place where you don’t exactly go to rest or to bath. But I assume that you all understand what kind of room I’m talking about. [back]
- Except for printing costs. [back]
- Sales pitch: And it’s a technique which makes the customers stand closer to the wall! [back]
Here in Australia, all the wall space in urinals is taken up by advertising, typically for condoms. I can see lifts working though
Ah, the amazing world of culture differences. I didn’t know that, but it makes perfect sense. After all, it’s a place where people don’t really have anything better to look at, so it’s a perfect advertising spot.
Though, are ALL wall spaces over urinals taken? I’m sure it’s the case for coffeehouses and restaurants and the likes, but what about local businesses with mostly-used-only-by-employees toilets?
On a completely unrelated matter, I find it fascinating that so many Australians comment on this blog.