Sure Jonathan...I will take it from here...
Totters_traders:
There are numerous factors when starting and running a successful magazine. I have been in the publishing biz for over 4 years now and have learned quite a bit.
Important factors you will need to consider prior to jumping into the extremely competitive magazine publishing industry:
1)Investigating the feasibility of a new publication concept is a critical step in starting a magazine. The best way to do this is to be extremely thorough with your market research which will include a very detailed search on any and all competitors. Asking yourself what will make you different from the others?
Deciding on your distribution methods are very important and of course ensuring you have a strong editorial team and graphic designers are a must!
2)Circulation Considerations (print run is a very important aspect of your profitability. It is also a very important number for your potential advertisers. They WILL want to know how many magazines are being printed, where they will be distributed and to which target demographic) You will eventually want to get an audit of your circulation done through a company like:
VAC - Verified Audit Circulation - Building Confidence in Advertising for the 21st Century
3)Establishing a Media Kit design & Ad Rates
4) Pre-selling ad space (this is a quick way to learn whether or not you will be able to get the advertisers support for your niche publication. Without the advertisers, magazines cannot survive.)
5)These days, you will also want to couple your print circulation with a strong online presence to enhance your advertisers return on investment. This way they can get potential clients from both your print run and your online version of the magazine.
So to recap, here is a short list of details that you will want to go over thoroughly prior to launching a magazine:
Marketing Research & Due diligence
Circulation Management
Content & Design
Finance & Business Management
Getting Started
Legal Considerations
Marketing & Publicity
Printing
Production
Readership & Audience
Revenue & Advertising
Web Site Solutions
If you cover your bases on the above and you have any specific questions, feel free to post them here as I would be happy to help!
Also, I have great relationships with printers across North America and would be happy to suggest a few depending on your printing needs (quantity, type of paper, binding etc.).
The magazine publishing business can be extremely rewarding but like any business start-up or entrepreneurial venture, it demands working smart and surrounding yourself with a great team!
Cheers,
Adam Toren
Owning A Mag
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