Starting a magazine requires numerous steps. Below you will find some of the most important stages:
- Content – prior to beginning your research pertaining to what type of company to set up (S-corp, LLC, etc.), you need to determine what topics your magazine is going to address. Successful magazines provide information that subscribers and newsstand buyers want or need.
- Is your magazine going to:
- Share articles that no other magazine is providing ?
- Or do you plan on writing about articles which are currently addressed by existing magazines?
- If you are the first magazine launch to discuss certain topics, you have a great advantage of capturing a good portion of the intended audience.
- Should there be existing competition in the category of content you will be discussing it is critical to distinguish your magazine from others.
- Content Consistency:
- One significant factor to help build a following of new readers is to have “content consistency”.
- Identification & Characteristics of Audience:
- You need to identify what your audience’s interests are and what drives them.
- What are the specific hot topics and challenges your reader is trying to address?
- Is your audience looking for leisurely reading or hunting for possible solutions or latest trends?
- After you have decided exactly what the audience is looking for, you need to have specific “features or columns” which are ongoing.
- Example: If you are creating a magazine that discusses the latest mobile phone trends, it would be a wise strategy to always include a permanent feature or column covering this topic.
- Magazine Production, Format, & Design – after you have resolved the content direction of the magazine, you’ll need to pick a magazine format and size.
- What will the magazine dimensions be and what quality of paper should be used?
- Magazine printers can share samples of different magazine formats and sizes so that you’ll have a better idea which formats would work well.
- How many pages are you planning to print and how many total copies?
- Quality of inside and cover paper, quantity of pages, and copies are significant factors which affect the price quote you’ll receive from the magazine printer.
- After you’ve determined the composition and quantity of the magazine, design needs to be coordinated.
- Magazine Business Model – you’ve squared away all the details pertaining to content, magazine production, format, and design but you now need to determine the business model for your magazine.
- Paid – subscription model
- Controlled model
- Both models are ad driven
- Circulation & Distribution – the driving force of magazine advertising effectiveness is greatly affected by the quality of the circulation and distribution.
- Subscription program – regardless of whether you choose a paid or controlled business model, you could develop a subscription program for in-home delivery.
- Newsstand Distribution – magazines could benefit by being available on newsstand racks.
- Hotel Distribution – magazines can be distributed to hotel common areas as well as inside the rooms.
- Public Place/Waiting Room Distribution – magazines can be distributed to Doctor offices and other public place locations.
- Revenue Opportunities – publishers can sell advertising space within the magazine and also on their websites.
- Print Advertising – print advertising is still strong and well. There is a significant audience interested in reading topics of interest within a printed magazine.
- Digital Advertising – there are many publishers who have also increased their efforts in developing digital advertising.
- In many cases, Print & Digital advertising is sold together.
- Magazine Launch & Execution – this article touches upon the main areas of concern when considering to launch a new magazine but please note that there is an abundance of information and knowledge one needs to be familiar with prior to heading into this venture.
- On your own – you could try to handle all areas of responsibility which would be a significant undertaking.
- Hire own staff:
- A typical magazine staff could consist of the following individuals:
- Publisher/General Manager
- Editor and Writers
- Creative Director and Designers
- Production Manager
- Advertising Director and Sales Staff
- Circulation and Distribution Staff
- Outsource certain or all functions:
- Benefits:
- One of the main arguments that favor outsourcing is that you could hire specialists/experts with the necessary experience at a lower cost than hiring your own staff.
- Experts within the publishing industry can help you avoid pitfalls.
- CircSense is your Solution – we will guide you through the challenges of starting and launching a new magazine.