What is the best way to start a magazine publication?

Question

developing a local magazine in a industry that I worked in and feel I can get some advertisement responses for monthly circulation

Answer 1

A Business Plan is the tool you need to make thing work.

It seems you have an expertise that may work for content in a magazine. I would look for a person like yourself that has expertise in magazine production instead of content. The pairing with a partner that can fill gaps in your knowledge will help your success.

Take that set of skills and create a business plan. Go to the Small Business Administration and get help with the plan and with financing as well.

Answer 2

Start small, get a desktop publishing program and go to town. Put out a sample magazine first and have at least enough articles photos, etc to have a 3 month backup of magazines. Operate on the cheap until you see how this goes over. Put most of your investment into the sales advertising, but make your sample and first 3 months of issues of a superior written quality. Dont worry too much about charging for circulation at first, give the magazine away if it can up your circulation, as circulation equals more advertising sales. You could have free "get acquainted" issues.

You have to show that you can produce results for your advertisers in a short time span. I dont know your industry, but is it something where discounts can be applied for coupons or codes in your magazine? Some will advertise with you if your magazine is of such a quality that it becomes a status to have it, or your articles are of such help, everyone must have it.

Above all, ask your advertisers for input, "what kind of articles would you like to see in this magazine?" "What kind of articles would your customers like to see in this magazine?" What do you think about....?" Have some ideas to offer them. Project optimism and enthusiasm.

This will be a ton of work at first, but if the magazine takes off, you can start hiring writers and photographers and managers to take alot of this off your hands.

I think your project can really go, if you work it well. Remember there is a lot of written junk out there, your magazine will never last if you dont love the idea of the magazine itself over the idea of making money off of it. I wish you the best, and hope you are one that makes it!!

Answer 3

Start with a lot of money.