status: feedback needed!

[meeks]

We are quickly approaching the end of the first month of this project; I think it's been a rather promising start, and I will definitely be continuing it :) I'm happy that so many sketches have reached the first participation target within a few days of posting, and I hope to see some of them meet additional targets so I have the opportunity to work on them further and start to build a body of more finished work that can be developed into products.

To that end, I am looking for ways to both expand my audience and thank members of my existing audience for contributing. My ideas so far have been to provide higher resolution files for prompters and sponsors, to post details of cleaned-up sketches for every $x in tips, and to select a random sponsor to receive a free print when a sketch reaches any 'finished' stage. Am I on the right track? What specific things can I offer that would be appealing?

posted this week:
Faerie Wedding (rough and cleaned-up sketches)
Tin Man (rough sketch)

Tips: $30 and a plush bunny rabbit

Comments

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>We are quickly approaching the end of the first month of this project; I think it's been a rather promising start, and I will definitely be continuing it.<<

Yay!

>>I hope to see some of them meet additional targets so I have the opportunity to work on them further and start to build a body of more finished work that can be developed into products. <<

For that, you'll need to maintain interest in previous sketches as well as adding new ones. Some possibilities:

* Post a poll at the end of each month for "favorite sketch of the month." Do another round of work on that one and call for donations.

* Whenever you do a new sketch that is related (from the same story, or another story by the same author) then link back to the previous sketch(es).

* Randomly or deliberately pick a sketch to revisit on occasion. Maybe do this once a week or month.

>> My ideas so far have been to provide higher resolution files for prompters and sponsors, to post details of cleaned-up sketches for every $x in tips, and to select a random sponsor to receive a free print when a sketch reaches any 'finished' stage. <<

I like all of those ideas. I particularly like posting details. Maybe every $5 or so?

Re: Hmm...

[meeks]

* Whenever you do a new sketch that is related (from the same story, or another story by the same author) then link back to the previous sketch(es).
Oh, that's a good suggestion...*makes note to add author tags*

* Randomly or deliberately pick a sketch to revisit on occasion. Maybe do this once a week or month.
Hmm...also a good suggestion...maybe pick the one with the most pingbacks at the end of the month...

Re: Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> *makes note to add author tags* <<

I hadn't thought of this, but it's a good followup. Maybe genre tags, or some other way for people to view sketches that have something in common?

>> maybe pick the one with the most pingbacks at the end of the month... <<

I like this method of selection. It's another way to track what is possible, but slightly different from regular comments.

[eseme]

I find your work from links that the authors put up. I didn't see a donate button, and wasn't sure if anyone else was donating for any of the sketches.

So, I need to friend your LJ, clearly. But, you also need to provide updates on the projects, and communicate to authors where the funding for each sketch stands (so that they can pass it on to readers).

[meeks]

I mention every tip I get in the next status post. I also put the amount of tips received in the posts for the sketches that have them...right under the donate button for that sketch. What would you suggest to make it clearer?

[eseme]

The problem currently is that I do not follow you to get the updates.

And I visit the sketch a couple of times when it is first made, but I'm not going back to older sketches later, because I generally don't get tons more links from the authors. I tend to get the first link "Look, here's art!" and a link to the cleaned up sketch (if that happens).

So I'm not going back, and I'm not seeing donation totals. Yes, I need to follow your LJ. But I already follow a lot of people, and my LJ is at the point that if I don't check for a day there are over 30 new entries on my Friends Page. Which means I'm reluctant to follow new people...

[meeks]

Hmm...I don't really know why the authors would keep linking unless there has been an update. I can definitely sympathize with your feeling overloaded with people and projects to follow, and I don't really expect people to be interested in checking back unless there's something new to see.

That's what prompted me to think of putting up details of sketches every time a certain amount in donations is received. It would be a way to point out the donation total, and give people something more appealing to look at than changing numbers. What do you think?

Hmm...

[ysabetwordsmith]

If the link points back to the sketch page (which has the donation button) that should be okay. It might help to remind authors that this is a crowdfunded project and to mention that when they post links, since it will help their sketch if more people comment/donate.

You might notify authors if their sketch is featured, or detailed, or is getting close to a goal.

Basically if author links are a major source of traffic for this project (which makes sense) then it's important for those to meet all the artist and reader needs.

I can tell you, as an author, I don't want to have to fiddle with number updates; I have enough stuff that needs updating already. But I will post occasional links, even to older art, if you nudge me in some way -- such as directing people to a featured sketch or a detail, or "see previous sketch" if you do a new one.