So you've got an online comic. You are getting more than just your immediate family to stop by the site each day. In fact, you might even go so far as to say you have fans.

Well my friend, perhaps you are ready to turn those fans into customers. But how? What do I sell? What do they want to buy?

Hopefully this guide will help you navigate the tricky waters of Internet commerce without being dashed on the rocks by the siren's song of "easy money".

The first thing to consider is "When should I start merchandising?" Well, personally I like to see a number of comic strips equal to the creators age (minimum) before seeing a "Buy a Shirt" link. If you're twenty years old, I want to see a minimum of twenty strips before I see a store link. I think it is an all too common mistake for an online comic to post one strip, and right next to it is a link to their "company store". Seriously. This smacks of a "get rich quick" mindset and generally raises red flags in my mind. Is this guy here to make cartoons, or sell swag? Plus I believe it is a huge mistake to merchandise too early since you will essentially be putting forth very early stages or your artwork/logo/characters. Unless you have a VERY defined style already that is not likely to evolve, I find it had to justify putting out goods that will eventually have no resemblance to your creation. Hell, I've been doing this for a little over three years now and I'm only just now getting comfortable with putting my "style" on a T-shirt or mug.

Ok, so you're ready to take the plunge. What next?