Vicki - I would ask you a lot of the same questions Sammy asked and since he/she covered a bunch, I will try to ask some other questions.

Not knowing where you live, the size of the town, the kind of outdoor recreation you are talking about, nor the target audience, this is a tough assignment. But I do believe that very targeted publications have a place in most any community and can do well.

I am assuming you want to make a profit in this venture. If so, the advertising is where you`ll make the money - not subscriptions. But back to the market research issue.

Please provide more info on your local, types of recreation available, size of town/city, a little more about the project in general. I can probably give you some ideas that will help and based on what I`m reading here just in the last few days, we are building a very knowledgeable and experienced community that is full of wonderful people willing to assist you, too.

Good day - R@

Sammy and Keycon (and anybody else with ideas),

You guys are asking the questions I’ve been struggling with for the past few months. Here are the answers I’ve come up with.

I’m unsure if my publication would be online or printed – probably a combination. That’s part of what I want to find out by conducting market research. I would like to make the main publication free online and sell advertising. But I also would like to publish printed guidebooks aimed at various types of outdoor recreation, such hiking, canoeing, birding, hunting, fishing, etc.

By local, I mean about 12 counties in Northwest Ohio with the possibility of expanding into other areas in the future. Within the area, there’s a strong advertising base to draw from.

I plan to begin on my own. I have the information-gathering, writing and design skills I need. I’m learning website design. I can get somebody – maybe my husband or an accountant – to take care of the finances. My main weakness is in ad sales. I don’t even know where to begin.

My publication will be content-based with nature-related news and features and a continuously updated events calendar.

You guys even prompted me to finish my mission statement:

The mission of Nature Northwest Ohio is two-fold:

• To provide information and a comprehensive events calendar featuring nature-related recreational, historical and educational resources in Northwest Ohio which will enhance the ability of people to learn about, use and enjoy nature.
• To provide a community website where Northwest Ohioans interested in nature-related recreation, history and education can connect with each other.

 Audience:

Anyone who loves nature and outdoor recreation in Northwest Ohio. They might be residents of Northwest Ohio or visitors. They might include families, farmers, birders, hunters, anglers, boaters, gardeners, conservationists, photographers, writers, naturalists, hikers, canoeists or anybody else who enjoys outdoor recreation.

Sammy, I love the ideas you already gave me! You sure have the wheels turning in my mind.

A couple of ideas before I go off to "Sleepworking".

Create a simple postcard size survey containing up to about 10 questions. Postage paid with your address on it so you make it easy for the people who fill them out to return them to you. If you need help with the questions, let me know. But I imagine you can do this. The idea being to find out if your target audience is interested in this newsletter/magazine idea on highlighting recreational opportunities in your area. Also, ask if they would like to see this kind of info provided through an eNewsletter. If so, would they like to subscribe - if "yes", capture their email address in the survey so you can start building your initial database of subscribers. The people who do this will become your first level of "discipals" - spreading the word and possibly giving you feedback as you converse with them on an ongoing nature - if they agree for you to contact them, which I would ask to do. They will become your customer "evangelists" for your idea.

Place these survey cards in recreational businesses, i.e.: canoe shops, backpacking stores, atheltic shoe stores, hunting stores, gun shops, ...... you get the idea. Anywhere your recreational target audience shops. Get the cards out there in front of these people.

Maybe even look into some small plastic stands that could sit on the counters of these stores if the owners will let you do this. Going this route also opens the door for you to tell your story to the owners of these stores which leads to asking them if they would be interested in advertising in this venture. Make it special for them. Offer them a special deal for jumping on the bandwagon first - like a founder`s club or something. Continue to give these "believers" a good rate for a year or more. Treat these people like they are part of your "Mastermind" group. Use them for ideas and stories. Maybe some can write and will contribute to the publication.

You will gather info quickly by getting in front of your target audience. Go where they are. It does not take a huge response to get a good feel for what is the general idea of this group of people.

R@

Good infos for market research.Thanks