where to advertise - what do you read?

[Andy Hamilton]

We are thinking of the next step with the magazine, namely where we can let people know about it. Any ideas where we could reach the best market for us possible?

[wulf]

What do I read? Mainly the Internet...

However, as an RHS member, I do get their monthly Garden magazine. Since self-sufficiency has a large growing stuff to eat component (and a general appreciation of all manner of plants, edible and inedible, cultivated and natural) you might catch their attention and get a couple of lines somewhere in that magazine.

Wulf

[ina]

I really only read the Sunday Herald! Plus magazines like that from the beekeepers' association, Grassland farming, Living Earth...

Ideally you should get some national papers interested to run an article on the website, mentioning the start of a new magazine, and get your advertising free that way! Or do something on the radio along those lines. You've done that before, haven't you? Any contacts left?

Ina

[glenniedragon]

I rather like the idea of national press, if you stick to the mags/papers in the same genre then you may be preaching to the converted so to speak, IMO, in the national press people may be more likely to try a small change if you appear 'mainstream', and those of us out there who know about you will find you I'm sure!

kind thoughts
Deb

[glenniedragon]

Just noticed there's a organic food fair in september in Bristol. Maybe an add in the local paper then may reach some 'outsiders' or if you know any producers or shops near the venue there that might let you put up a poster or something,.....

Kind thoughts
Deb

http://www.organicfoodfairs.co.uk/

[Shirley]

organic life, free range, the green parent, organic gardening, juno, mother, friends of the earth, greenpeace, smallholder mag, are just some that i've read!

It might be worth looking at small regional publications - readers might want to spread their wings and look at things from further afield... the green diary in Aberdeenshire is one.

You could do some publicity flyers (cheapest and recycled obviously) that you could leave in health food shops/green shops etc - if you do it online we can all do this in our local area - sharing the workload!! I've just received some publicity postcards from greenchoices.org - perhaps something like that would be a good idea.

little things we can all do if given the go ahead is to advertise at the bottom of each email we send.

[Tigerhair]

Yes, Andy, as Shirlz said, I think we'd all be prepared to do our bit - for example, I'd be happy to put an advert up at work and I have friends on loads of websites, so can spread the word that way - for free too! :)

[Moorf]

A good place to start is local organisations such as Womens Institute, RHS, and then perhaps gardening / horticultural colleges, a garden centre chain, organic shops, health shops, you could profile areas using Mosaic (socia-demographics yada yada).

The cheapest way to reach out is using press releases - distributed to national, regional and local papers and radio stations. I have had much succes for my clients with releases and have myself managed to get onto Radio 4 (a scary live interview), national newspapers and regional press using a good, well written release.. happy to help out if needed.

Will your publication be free to read and therefore funded by advertisers, or are you intended to put a price on the hardcopy?

Interesting times for you !!

Moorf

[Chickenlady]

Another couple of ideas for your press release:

Kitchen Gardener
CAT magazine
Resurgence mag
Permaculture mag

Great advice from everybody so far - you shouldn't need to pay for advertising.

[LSP]

Have I missed the boat again? Had trouble logging in.

Not sure (but it's only my humble opinion) that we need a 'full-size' magazine with binding and all that costs a lot of money to produce.

Would Andy and co. consider a freebie two-page (simply folded over) newsletter making eight sides of space to be handed out at farmers' markets and other appropriate venues instead?

It might attract more advertising if advertisers know there is a possibility of better take-up if this is free (at least for, say the first three issues). I might be wrong. Personally I just despair at the amount of paper we get thrown at us. Why do they make weekend newspapers with about 20 different sections that you never get to read in any case?

I would prefer a small, lightweight, collection of papers with good information that I would keep for reference. If you keep the theme seasonal, chances are readers would want to keep getting subsequent issues. Then charge a small price to cover mailing costs, etc.

As for a title, I like the 'Ghandi-an' idea of 'Living simply that others might simply live' that kind of theme.

LSP

[Wombat]

G'Day LSP,

I think you make good points and I agree about the Ghandiesq title but I'm afraid it's taken by a very large and glossy mag called Simply Living (or something like that). Probably have a team of copyright lawyers as well!

Nev

[LSP]

Happy Chinese New Year Wombat!

You're joking! a glossy mag called 'Simply Living'?

I do like the concept of the magazine called 'Idler'. Apparently nothing much gets said and/or done.

Best,

LSP

[Wombat]

Thanks LSP - Kung hee fat choy!

Nev

[LSP]

Yay! A cosmopolitan Aussie. Great!

Some people object to the 'Fat' in 'Fatt Choy'. But it means prosperity and for me I like to think that prosperity is not limited to one's money/cash wealth.

best,

LSP

[Wombat]

A fair point - I suppose we each have an idea of what prosperity means to us and it not neccesarily monetary!

Nev