If you are in your teens or a young adult you could
consider stating a teen magazine. Teenagers are usually interested in romance,
education, sports and general lifestyle issues.
Such publications are popular in high schools, colleges
and universities. You also get your share of the general public interested in
such publications.
It requires huge funds to start for a regional or
national magazine. However a local publication is achievable with moderate
funds.
You need to take your audience into consideration and
develop quality content. Here are a few ideals on how to start a magazine.
Why
Magazines
There are many reasons people start magazines. The main
reason could be financial or to fuel your journalistic instincts.
Although printing a weekly or monthly publication is
challenging it is also highly lucrative. You could actually become super rich
in this industry.
Magazines are unique, entertaining, visually appealing
and focuses on people’s interests.
The
Challenges
There are serious challenges that publishers need to
overcome in print media. This is because 40% of all new magazines fail in the
first year of publication.
The reasons differ, however common difficulties include
funding, equipment, competition and proper distribution channels. You need to plan for success and future
publications.
Conduct
Research
It takes considerable research and time to achieve a
balanced publication. You need to write a business plan and conduct a survey on
consumer’s interests.
Try to develop a marketing strategy, study competitors,
purchase the right equipment and secure funding. Learn from trending magazines,
blogs and seasoned professionals.
Write
a Business Plan
Write a teen lifestyle magazine business plan. The plan
should focus on reader’s demography, distribution channels and marketing.
You need a management team, experienced staff and office
equipment. You need to determine if the publication is daily, weekly or
monthly.
Equipment
The equipment’s could be divided office and printing
machinery. Office equipment includes computers, DeskJet printer, paper scanner,
office furniture and telephone.
Stationeries are bond paper, software, staplers, cover
paper and pencils. Printing machinery include die cutting machine, plate maker,
offset printer, laminator and cutting machine.
- Computers
- DeskJet printer
- Paper scanner
- Office furniture
- Telephone
- Bond paper
- Software
- Staplers
- Cover paper
- Pencils
- Die cutting machine
- Plate maker
- Offset printer
- Laminator
- Cutting machine.
Related Post: How to Start a
Printing Business
How
Magazines Make Money
The major source of income is through advertisement.
Advertisers will only come if your publication is widely accepted with huge
circulation.
Other sources are through subscriptions, magazine sales,
paid circulation and reviews. You need to factor the costs of production such
as staff wages, printing materials and sales price.
- Advertisers
- Subscriptions
- Magazine sales
- Paid circulation
- Reviews
Funding
Funding a magazine startup is considerably difficult
because no one invests in a dream. If you have professional experience in a
successful magazine you can attract funds.
The number of publications also dictates the amount of
working capital you need. Apply for bank loans with long terms and fixed
interest rates.
Use angel investors, venture capitalists or sell startup
equity in the business. You could try a partnership arrangement or borrow from
friends and family.
- Apply for bank loans
- Use angel investors
- Venture capitalists
- Sell startup equity
- Partnership arrangement
- Borrow from friends and family.
Breakeven
Publication
To breakeven you need to circulate a certain number of
publications. Focus your publications to region, group or demography.
Narrowing the field provides advertisers specific
audiences for their products. Small magazines could breakeven with publications
that range from 10,000-50,000 copies.
A healthy 25,000
copies in circulation could attract sales in excess of $100,000. A national
magazine should sell between 100,000-500,000 copies.
How to
Attract Advertisers
A community based publication with lots of subscribers
and sales will attract advertisers. There is no short cut because advertisers
will study your sales to determine the popularity. Prepare your statistical
data and circulation figures and provide discounts for regular advertisers.
Go
Online
Build a website for your magazine and drive traffic to
the site. Add a blog to the website and post unique and quality content.
You need lots of organic traffic to your online magazine.
To build your website select a top domain name and host plan.
Use a web developer to create a beautiful and appealing
website. Invest in SEO premium templates and add lots of content, images and
resources.
How
to Start a Magazine
- Startup requires huge funding
- Develop a prototype
- Conduct a survey
- Write a business plan
- Differentiate your publication
- Build your circulation channels
- Focus on a niche/ audience
- Go digital
- Secure funding
- Sell advertisement space
- Put in place an editorial team
- Find subscribers
- Purchase the right equipment
0 comments:
Post a Comment