Social Media Good
The other day on UUDD’s Twitter account I followed Octopus Tree House. I don’t recall precisely why. I believe we were expanding our network and I found them through our friend Brian / The Underfold. Sometimes on Twitter if you follow someone they follow you back and even take a peek at your work. Shortly after we get a message from OctopusHouse:
I reply:
They respond quickly:
My kind of people: Fearless and inventive. I follow the link on their Twitter page which leads to purchasable prints of their art. Their posters are mainly cartoony renditions of villains from Star Wars. The villains have big eyes and big heads, but tiny bodies. I see a picture of little Darth Vader squatting and using a magnifying glass on a mini mouse droid (I think it’s that squeaky droid that Chewie growls at on the Death Star). His lightsaber lays inconsequentially on the ground beside him. They call it “The Front Yard.” CUTE.
I get an idea for one-upmanship.
A little while later I get a message in my Etsy account from Paul and Jess (the lovely people behind Octopus Tree House). The post office made them write on the envelope and they’re worried the prints are damaged and assure me they will certainly replace them if that is the case. They are very apologetic. It’s sweet. I tell them: “We all good.”
Kind messages with the Octopus Tree House logo show up on our comics. Sopes in particular loves comments; it’s his favourite thing about the comic.
Some time passes and they message me again:
I get the print that night at my door. Look at what I find inside:
#touched. The tweets Paul, Jess and I exchanged initially were tiny, but the impact the exchange created was huge. Social media can be a grueling place at times especially if it’s mixed with promoting yourself. You send out your work and your thoughts into the social abyss and sometimes nothing comes back. Remember this story when you get frustrated with social media and doubt its potential (as I have in the past).
I’m going to hang these by my computer next to the framed prints of our first comics and the hand-carved wood art of Bruce Lee. I like surrounding myself with images that inspire me.
Hey Paul and Jess: I just blogged about Octopus Tree House. Deal with THAT.
Love always,
2D / Sean / Up Up Down Down
:) We’re happy you like it and we’re very happy our note and exchange made such an impact on you. We wouldn’t do business any other way. Ordering things online is fun and it’s always fun when you get something extra you weren’t expecting, amirite?
Cheers and continue being awesome folks and cranking out hilarious comics and posts. They make our day jobs that much more bearable.
Your new loyal readers,
Paul & Jess
Awww. You guys gonna get married now? :P
Their prints are awesome, and this is nice.
I’m not sure about the polygamy laws in our respective nations, but what Johnny Law can’t catch he can’t enforce
What a touching story! UUDD is about adventure, friendships and romance.
this post is way too touchy feely for me.
GET A ROOM.
the prints look pretty good though.
Surprisingly, you guys followed me on Twitter first and I looked at your website. You quickly became one of my favorite webcomics of all time. Second only to the great Penny-Arcade and you replaced Questionable Content for that 2nd Place spot. It’s hard to be PA and I still remain saddened that your audience isn’t bigger. But I will remain loyal and represent you as much as possible, even to my measly amount of followers/friends/subscribers.
I would say Social Media is awesome, and if it wasn’t for things like Twitter, I would have never known Upup-downdown existed, other than the Konami Code.
that is high praise.
thank you.
Thanks for all your support, you’re quite awesome too! With readers such as yourself, we’ll definitely continue to grow. :-D