Quick — what's the first thing you notice about a new magazine on the rack? The nameplate? The cover shot? Perhaps. But I'd argue that the first thing you notice, whether you're consciously aware of it or not, is the design.
For entrepreneurs new to magazine publishing, media kits are an indispensable marketing tool. But you may only have one chance to make an impression with any given ad buyer, so getting the design, feel and messaging of your media kit right is essential to hit the ground running with your marketing plan.
For magazine publishers looking to maximize their profitability, minimizing printing costs (without a significant drop in quality or reliability) is essential. At Picante, we've been dealing with printers for many, many years now, from small corner print shops to behemoth mega-printers and everything in between — so we wanted to share a few tips to help you avoid some common pitfalls while choosing a printer and getting your magazine ready for primetime.
Print publications face many of the same challenges the three major U.S. TV networks were forced to confront with the advent of cable. Way back when, cable TV rather suddenly began to splinter the traditional oligopoly on televised content into dozens (and now hundreds) of choices for viewers. Today, though, all media outlets — including magazines — are up against a staggering number of potential online sources of information, fun and distraction. That is the new reality, and there's no sense pining for a simpler time. The battle for eyeballs can be brutal, and to succeed magazines will have to adapt or surrender — like it or not.
