Starting a Magazine

ondigital

Hi, I would like to start a magazine but don't know where to begin, I know I can contact Business Link.

Thank You. :j

Savvy_Sue

If it's not too personal a question, WHY would you like to start a magazine? There's very little money to be made that way, as far as I can tell, and by that I mean it's easy to LOSE a lot of money.

You're right that Businesslink is an excellent place to begin for information on starting a new business. They may not have specific advice on your niche, but they'll point you to the questions you need to answer!

ondigital

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

If it's not too personal a question, WHY would you like to start a magazine? There's very little money to be made that way, as far as I can tell, and by that I mean it's easy to LOSE a lot of money.

You're right that Businesslink is an excellent place to begin for information on starting a new business. They may not have specific advice on your niche, but they'll point you to the questions you need to answer!

Hi Sue, over the years, I feel I have learnt alot about computers and wanted to share what I've learnt. I would like to write guides for different things to do with computers. I have tried to contact current magazines but they would not speak to me. So I thought to myself, why not release a magazine and get a small group of staff to write guides and tips as well.

Thank You.

paulwf

I know next to nothing about publishing but IMHO a good place to start would be by blogging. It will cost you nothing and you'll get to see whether or not you can churn out article after article day after day. It also has the advantage of giving your magazine a following in advance if it works out...I've seen several books and magazines start out as blogs.

BTW there are plenty of reasonably sized mags that run on a skeleton staff with articles by freelancers. Small will be the operative word for your "small group of staff".

How do you intend to get the mag published? Have you a background in advertising sales? Do you know about print contracts? Are you prepared to pay to get shelf space? Logistics will be more important than being able to write articles.

Savvy_Sue

I think Paul makes some good points. But I seriously question whether there is a need for what you propose: DH always browses the computer 'comics' when we are in the supermarket, and there seems to be a good range with articles even I could understand if I put my mind to it!

[Deleted User]

I would suggest blogging, as Paul said. My ex started up a literary magazine/journal thing as a sideline to his website, and on the first copy he lost a LOT of money, despite having contacts in the industry, an audience virtually guaranteed to buy, lots of author friends to review etc etc. He was using lulu and createspace as a printing medium as well, so he wasn't even paying for the actual physical copies. The magazine was in a niche that, well, didn't exist before, and it still attracted very little attention. He's going for a second copy (he's stubborn XD) and I suspect he'll lose money on that as well.

Even if you succeed in making a little money, think how much you'd need to pay freelancers, let alone a small staff! Best thing is to try free mediums like blogging first, and see if you can build up a reputation. You should also research the publishing industry extensively. I've only looked into the novel side of things, but even a toe-dipping into that reveals massive problems you'd run into with a magazine.

Still, good luck whatever you decide to do.

motorguy

ondigital wrote: »

Hi Sue, over the years, I feel I have learnt alot about computers and wanted to share what I've learnt. I would like to write guides for different things to do with computers. I have tried to contact current magazines but they would not speak to me. So I thought to myself, why not release a magazine and get a small group of staff to write guides and tips as well.

Thank You.

This is an incredibly expensive, bad idea. There are any amount of magazines out there developed by established publishers already. Also there have been many hundreds that fell along the way, costing their publishers a lot of money when they crash.

I would seriously look at blogging. There is money to be made via advertising links, and if you are reviewing items / developing how to guides, you could use affiliate links to get revenue.

IF the blogging were to take off, you could then look at developing e-magazines / physical magazines once you have experience and a following.

googler

ondigital wrote: »

Hi Sue, over the years, I feel I have learnt alot about computers and wanted to share what I've learnt. I would like to write guides for different things to do with computers. I have tried to contact current magazines but they would not speak to me. So I thought to myself, why not release a magazine and get a small group of staff to write guides and tips as well.

Thank You.

There's already general PC magazines, every time Microsoft brings out a revision of its operating system, there's a rash of magazines which tell you how to use it. There's web development mags, internet mags, all sorts.....

Many of these already have hints and tips within.

What Unique Selling Point would yours have?

nzmegs

Look into setting up a really good website to show off your writing skills. You can get freelance writers to contribute. I am a writer myself and do all my work online. To be honest, print magazines are not exactly the way of the future. You can still have a good quality magazine style website for a small cost. As a sideline you can be earning money from links to other websites and and advertising. it can be lucrative as long as you keep the information fresh and interesting. if you are not very technical then it is easy to get an expert to set the website up for a one-off fee.

XxXfashionqueenXxX

But I think its easier to be known by being in a shop in full display then being on the web as a nobody

WhiteHorse

ondigital wrote: »

Hi Sue, over the years, I feel I have learnt alot about computers and wanted to share what I've learnt. I would like to write guides for different things to do with computers. I have tried to contact current magazines but they would not speak to me. So I thought to myself, why not release a magazine and get a small group of staff to write guides and tips as well.
Thank You.

Don't want to rain on your parade, but ... the computer 'how to' guides market is saturated.

Print publishing is also probably the fastest way to lose money ever devised.