This essay looks at the process of converting information to sales, using web comics as a basis of comparison.

Why put a book online? That’s simple. People like Seth Godin and Cory Doctorow have established that giving away the online edition will result in sales of the print edition. If you read on, you’ll find both print and online comics publishers and cartoonists have found the same thing to be true. Putting content online is a form of advertising, and, in this case, I have advertising supporting my advertising… so if the information’s trying to be free, just this once, let’s let it.

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