How to Support an Online Comic

Gone are the days of the of the patron of the arts: someone who footed the bill so an artist didn't have to work a day job to afford to create. The patron supported the artist monetarily, sometimes provided social introductions as well as arranged for shows and acted as a public relations agent. Instead, most webcomic artists are self-funded, working at least one job, if not two or more to pay the bills, while carving out time for their comic work in their spare time. As a reader and fan, there are ways to show your appreciation to the artist both monetarily and otherwise.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Donations
   
   The simplest, most direct way of supporting an online comic and its artist is to make use of those conveniently placed donation buttons featured on many pages. While some creators offer incentive items like wallpapers or sketches in return for donations, others are able to increase production if donations reach a particular level for the month. Still, those are gifts in appreciation of the dontation, not actual goods sold.
2. Merchandise
   
   T-shirts are probably the most common form of merchandise that webcomics produce. Whether through a print on demand service, preorders or a self-funded store, T-shirts not only allow the artists to make a small amount of money, but—when you wear them—afford a modicum of exposure. Other frequent finds in online comic stores can range from hats to key chains, mouse pads to prints of strips or commissioned art.
3. Publications
   
   The heart and soul of the webcomic is the strip itself—the story being told—so the compiling and printing is more of a direct extension of the work than T-shirts or even sketches. In the spirit of added value, many printed versions (the equivalent of trade paper backs among the traditionally printed serials) will have anecdotal extras or additional strips or stories included in the volume, so not only can you curl up with old favorites you remember from the archives, but often new material as well.
4. Linking
   
   Money isn't everything, though advertising can cost a bundle. Word of mouth is the best advertising there is, and on the web, links can do everything from advertise to increase a page's ranking in search engines. If you have a blog or other website that you can post links on, great! Even better is to post one of the artist's eye-catching banners if they make them available.
5. Feedback
   
   All art is experiential. The artist experiences the creation of the work, but in many cases the art does not reach its culmination until it is experienced by someone else. In more traditional circles, the artists see the appreciation in the form of gallery attendance and sales. But the web is an anonymous gallery and even a comprehensive stats meter cannot take the place of feedback from a reader. Make use of the comment feature or a forum, or even email the artist directly. Artists' egos are fragile ones, but getting a comment on a past or present strip makes me feel like I've just won the lottery.
6. Volunteer
   
   Keeping in mind that webcomics are frequently one-person operations, if you are a fan and have a particular skill set and some available time, you may be able to best support the strip by volunteering with certain duties. If there is a forum that you spend time on anyway, offer to be a moderator. If you like making banners and your artist doesn't have any, make some up in standard sizes to help promote the comic. Sending fan art, cosplay pictures, or even guest strips are also ways to help out your favorite artist.