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I am have a start-up publishing company that has 2 niche publications. Both have to do with sports the 1st is a weekly paper written about youth sports, ages 5-16 the kids that play in CYO (Catholic youth organization), PAL (Police Athletic League) and the many different youth leagues and public school leagues. Many parents and schools send in the needed articles for our publications so we have a small writing staff. The 2nd publication is a monthly magazine that concertrates on Multi Sports Events for people of all ages from youth to adults. We write about triathelons and dualathelons such as say a youth dualathon where children between the ages of 8-15 compete in an event that starts off with a 1 mile bike ride and finishes with possibly either a 1/4 mile swim or 1/2 mile jog. Both of these publications have a very large reader base but do not make alot of money because my expertise is in the publishing part of the business not in the sales advertising end. I have no experince or idea on how to sell advertising space. Also after reading a number of online articles on how many magazine and newspapers are getting out of the print media part and just staying with the online part of they publiscation, I am wondering if I should just create an online presence or work with both online and in print. Plus I really need the help in selling advertising space.

Hi Briteideas,

 

I would say to pass.  I would steer clear of this one, but you may want to consider an email newsletter using ConstantContact.  I think that a netcentric based model will be better for your bottom line and the environment.  I am a professional business planner with an MBA and many years of business planning and this industry specifically.

 

Aaron

 

I wouldn`t be too quick to jump the print ship just because major newspapers are cutting back. The major newspapers have a bad business model to begin with and they are steadily alienating readerships with their editorial points of view.

If you have a niche you can sell advertising for your publication. You just have to find the right advertisers. There are regional publications in my area (one that caters to people that live along a certain highway between two cities-how`s that for a niche?) and they run very small operations but bring in ad revenues in the low 7 figures for a quarterly publication. The trick is matching advertisers with readers.

One trick is to find publications that most resemble yours and then get their rate card. You can then see what you can charge.

Good luck.



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