Let’s face it, with the big guys such as Marvel and DC hogging up the spotlight in every major comic con, it’s very hard to get noticed by anyone. So what can you do to make yourself stand out? Here are a few things you can do to make you a memorable sight.
- Hold a Twitter Contest. Twitter has been revolutionizing the way we send information in the past year. One of the best ways to reach out to people who are already attending the event is contacting them via Twitter with a little incentive. Use a popular hashtag (#) such as #comiccon or #SanDiegoComicCon depending on which con you will be attending. Make sure you give people a good reason to come over to your table such as, “The next 5 people to stop by booth xyz, will get a free autographed sketch by the artist.”
- Make a Trailer and Share it. You have a comic book series or graphic novel but no one knows about it so why would they read it, right? Nowadays people are more visual especially with sites like Hulu, YouTube and Vimeo. So before they have the desire to pick up the book, entice them by making a short video that sums up what your comic book is all about. For example, check out what Bob Heske’s Bone Chiller Comic Book Trailer to see how awesome it would be if you have your own trailer. Also, once it’s been edited don’t forget to share it with friends via MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. Do this before, during and after the convention.
- Keep Me Posted. Are you going to be there? Speaking at a panel? Holding a contest? Let me know. You can easily access your Facebook and Twitter accounts via mobile phone during the convention Heck, you can update both at the same time using a 3rd party app such as ping.fm. Don’t be afraid to communicate with people. The more we see what you are doing, the more you are fresh on our minds.
- Do a Live Steaming. Oh, how I (along with a few thousand people) would love to go to certain con (aka San Diego Comic Con) but I just can’t get myself to the west coast. So what are you going to do about it? Show me how’s it going but streaming live via UStream.tv, a free live interactive broadcast service that allows anyone with an Internet connection and a camera to engage with their audience immediately.
- Invite Bloggers. The world hasn’t been the same ever since “blogging” became an amazing way of sharing information. Seek out bloggers in the industry and asked them to stop by your booth to show them your latest product. Bloggers are always looking for something new to write about and most likely would need a follow-up story for the con. Make their job easier and show them what you have to offer.
I would to see these ideas to be put into good use the next time I go to a comic book convention along with tips I wrote last year for the San Diego Comic Con. I’ll be waiting for my invite as well…;)
