|
Newspaper distribution at gas stations
I have this idea to market my real estate investment business. My idea is to start a free monthly, home seller classified ad sheet to be distributed in news racks located at gas stations. Let me make something clear. My goal is not to make this a profit center. My sole reason for doing this is to use this as a advertising tool for my real estate investing business. In fact, I plan on completely subsidizing the classified ad sheet cost with revenue generated from my real estate investment business.
The foundation of my distribution plan is to construct wooden newsracks in which the ad sheets are to be placed. My real estate company‘s advertising signs will be placed on the sides of the newsracks. I always assumed that the free publications that I now see given away at gas stations were done as a courtesy by the gas station owners and the publishers never had to pay the gas station owners for allowing them to place their newsrack at the gas stations. It quickly dawned on me that I have no basis for this assumption. My questions are this: 1. What is the typical arrangement, if any, between freely distributed classified ad sheet publishers and gas station owners? Does the publisher pay the gas station owner some sort of royalty or rent for allowing placement of newsracks on the property? If so , is there a typical formula for figuring the royalty and or rent. Any help is appreciated. |
Making profits through free newspapers....
Hi Osirus,
It's an interesting idea. I'm not familiar with how it works with the gas stations. However, I think what you need to consider is - what do the gas stations get out of it? I can think of a few ways this might work.... If the newsletter or sheet was something which seemed "valuable" to customers, then the gas station might be willing to distribute it for free, since their customers might see it as an "added bonus" for buying their gas at that station. So that's one way it might work.... This is how Nickel News works, which is distributed for free to cafes and restaurants.... Another way things could work is if the gas station charges something for it. That way, they make a small profit every time someone wants one. In this case, you might be able to sell it to the gas station, and they sell it on to their customers, with an agreement that you'll buy back any unsold copies. I'm not sure how it works in general, but those are a couple of ideas how it could work.... I hope that helps somewhat. :) - Dien Rice Discover Gordon Alexander's wise words - subscribe to the SeedZine (click here) |
You may want to check this out...
There's a book called Tabloid Marketing Magic written by a couple of people who launched a real estate business using newspapers.
Check it out here: http://www.westsounddesign.com/consumerpubs/ -Phil Gomez |
Re: Newspaper distribution at gas stations
One idea would be to create an ad section in your newspaper. Then if the gas station is not willing to distribute them for free tell them you will give them a free ad in the paper. Doesn't really cost you anything and you could get your paper in the stations that way. Then when your paper gets some exposure you will find it easier to place them in the stations. My experience dealing with convenience stores is this: they always want something in return. They have SO many people wanting to put things in their stores..... The only ones I have dealt with that didn't want something in return I personally knew the owner/manager.
Hope this helps... Ron http://www.PalmettoClassifieds.com |
Re: Newspaper distribution at gas stations
> One idea would be to create an ad section in
> your newspaper. Then if the gas station is > not willing to distribute them for free tell > them you will give them a free ad in the > paper. Doesn't really cost you anything and > you could get your paper in the stations > that way. Then when your paper gets some > exposure you will find it easier to place > them in the stations. I like the free ad thing! It is an excellent idea! My experience dealing > with convenience stores is this: they always > want something in return. They have SO many > people wanting to put things in their > stores..... The only ones I have dealt with > that didn't want something in return I > personally knew the owner/manager. > Hope this helps... Ron In your experience in dealing with conveniece stores: 1. Is there any particular tip or strategy that should be used to pitch the convenience store owner about my publication? Is it just a matter of talking to them about it? 2. Also, is there a formal agreement involved? Thank you for the previous response. |
Re: You may want to check this out...
> There's a book called Tabloid Marketing
> Magic written by a couple of people who > launched a real estate business using > newspapers. > Check it out here: > > http://www.westsounddesign.com/consumerpubs/ > -Phil Gomez Phil: Have you personally ordered and used "The Tabloid Marketing Magic" advertisied at http://www.westsounddesign.com/consumerpubs/tabloid.html ? Was it all that it promised? |
Re: Newspaper distribution at gas stations
This is my experience from the mid 80's... Some things may have changed but here's what I use to do....
Usually I would buy something from the store.... gas, drinks or whatever. Then while checking out I'd ask who the manager/owner is and when the best time to catch them is. Depending on the answer I may come back or meet with them then. It's just a judgement call. If they look too busy then don't bother them. You wouldn't believe how many people just pop in and "demand" to see them to sell them something. One trick I used and still use in business today is this: I always tried to find somebody I knew well (a friend, coworker, somebody from church, etc...) that actually knew the store owner and/or manager. And I would get my friend to call them or stop by and tell them I would be visiting them soon. That way it made my cold call a slightly warm one. Early morning and late afternoons are best. Just introduce yourself and give them your spill. See what your success rate is and adjust your presentation from there. Because you are wanting "floor" space in their establishment, like I said before you may have to offer some incentive to get it. Be patient and learn from their reactions. As far as an agreement in writing goes I would contact a lawyer. You know I hate to say that but I'm very leary of store owners. Not saying they are bad people but what if someone tripped and fell over your paper rack and sued the store and you. Regardless of what the agreement said I would carry liability insurance. That would give the store operator piece of mind and also cover you. I'm not a lawyer so always consult an atty. Hope this helps.. God Bless... Ron http://www.PalmettoClassifieds.com |
Re: Newspaper distribution at gas stations
> This is my experience from the mid 80's...
> Some things may have changed but here's what > I use to do.... Thank you for your advice. |
Re: You may want to check this out...
No, I have not used it myself and I didn't mean to give that impression. It was recommended by someone on this board some time ago.
It just seemed very closely aligned with your objectives, so I thought you should know about it. -Phil > Phil: > Have you personally ordered and used > "The Tabloid Marketing Magic" > advertisied at > http://www.westsounddesign.com/consumerpubs/tabloid.html > ? > Was it all that it promised? |
Here's something that WORKED years ago
"Many" yars ago I watched a guy start up a similar "Ad Paper". It was only ads in categories and the paper was sold at gas stations and convenient stores. He went on to build a huge operation and then sold it to a larger firm who let it die. But during the first few years he made a bundle using 2 techniques;
1) Sell the ad paper for 25cents and give the location 10cents on each one (15cents if it's a good location) 2) Now...here's the "trick" he used to get TONS of ads; The ads were FLAT FEE (ala EBAY) based on the price of the item AND....watch this...people did NOT have to pay for the ad UNTIL the item sold...or six weeks, whichever came first. When the item sold, the owner of the item would receive a bill for the Flat Fee. Now...one question you may have is..."What will get people to pay AFTER the item is sold?" Each ad had a "phone number" for readers to call and the ad was run UNTIL THE AD WAS PAID! SO...if someone chose not to pay for the ad...they would CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CALLS! So...to stop the calls....they paid for the ad! The system worked very successfully for years. There's a similar "Ad Paper" in the Boston area. The thing is huge and I think it's based on the same premise. You might want to check the Chamber of Comm in Boston or look in Boston Yellow Pages under "Advertising - Publications" Don Alm Some of my Proven "Ideas". |
Re: Here's something that WORKED years ago
> "Many" yars ago I watched a guy
> start up a similar "Ad Paper". It > was only ads in categories and the paper was > sold at gas stations and convenient stores. > He went on to build a huge operation and > then sold it to a larger firm who let it > die. But during the first few years he made > a bundle using 2 techniques; > 1) Sell the ad paper for 25cents and give > the location 10cents on each one (15cents if > it's a good location) Excellent idea! However, one problem I see in selling the "Ad Paper" is the competition. There are at least 4 "Ad Papers" with well established distributions, that are given away free. For this reason, I believe It would be difficult to convince somone to pay to get my publication when others are available for free. Anyways, I am leaning towards just offering the the gas stations rent for floor space. > Each ad had a "phone number" for > readers to call and the ad was run UNTIL THE > AD WAS PAID! > SO...if someone chose not to pay for the > ad...they would CONTINUE TO RECEIVE CALLS! This is a wickedly clever idea! I will put this in my bag of tricks. |
Re: Why just gas stations?
I have been doing this for two years.
We started a publication from scratch. We place them in gas stations/convenience stores.. but there are several places that are much better that give you better results: * Doctor/Dentist offices * Customer lounge at automobile dealerships * Busy restaurants * Places where people are waiting! We have over 750 locations that we "drop-off" distribute our publication...without paying a dime. The "secret" is multple streams of distribution...and FREE! Let me know if I can help. Bobby |
Can I pick your brains for info?
Thank you for your response.
> I have been doing this for two years. > We started a publication from scratch. What type of publication is it? I mean what are its primary contents...classified ads only, editorial etc? Did you already have a background in this field or did you learn as you went along? If you learned as went along, are there any resources that you would reccomend for a upstart like myself, you has no experience what so ever in publishing? > We place them in gas stations/convenience > stores.. Do you use your own newsracks or do you place them on them same newstands that all the other publications are on? What arrangement do you have with the gas stations/conveniance store owner? I mean how did you convince them to allow you to place your publication at their place of business? > but there are several places that are much > better > that give you better results: > * Doctor/Dentist offices > * Customer lounge at automobile dealerships > * Busy restaurants > * Places where people are waiting! > We have over 750 locations that we > "drop-off" distribute our > publication...without paying a dime. Did you have to ask permission to distribute your publication at any of those 750 locations? Did you have to offer them something in return? Do you hire someone to distribute them or do you do it your self? > The "secret" is multple streams of > distribution...and FREE! > Let me know if I can help. > Bobby My oringinal motivation for starting a publication was to use it as marketing tool for my real estate investing business. It will allow me to market to both home sellers and buyers more effectively than other marketing mediums. However, the more I looked into it, it dawned on me that it can be a profit center also. Any way there was a specific reason why I was focusing own gas stations. You see, I consider the gas station the ultimate "point of convergence". Most home sellers and buyers own cars and all cars have to be refueled sooner or later. Thus many several times a week potential propects must go to the gas station hince the term "point of convergence". Propects will see my newsrack, with my publication when they step inside to pay for their. There are about 60-70 gas stations in my city. I figure if I place a newsrack with my publication at all of these gas stations, then I can will achieve near 100% exposure to every prospect since they all have to gas sooner or later. That is way I am focusing. Did you see a flaw in my reason for focusing on gas stations? |
Re: Can I pick your brains for info?
> What type of publication is it? I mean what
> are its primary contents...classified ads > only, editorial etc? Osirus....it is a monthly golf publication.How did we decide that our publication would be golf related? I'd like to be able to tell you that it was because we researched every forum (like this one:) that we could find...and looked at what was already being published in my area....(we did that later)....but the initial idea came while we were trying to buy a tax preparation franchise! We had been in meetings for 3 days and I was walking through a mall (another good place to put your publication!) and I came across a magazine that caught my eye. I pick ed it up and when I got back to my hotel...I began to read it. The magazine was local....so I called the publisher up and explained that I was 600 miles away and not a competitor....and I was curious if they sold franchises or would help me start a similar publication. They weren't ready to franchise...but they had put together a "How-To-Manual" and had several people across the country publishing a similar golf magazine. I had a "gut feeling" about the publication ...isn't it funny how that "inner voice" talks to you sometimes?.... So, I bought their "How-To-Manual" for $495... Told the tax franchise folks..thanks but no thanks!...and came home. After spending a couple of days on the net, in the library and visiting a couple of golf courses ...we realized that golfers aren't afraid to spend $100 for a round of golf or $32 for a dozen golf balls ...or $400 for a driver! Our publication is not a "Glossy Golf Digest" type of publication. It's pretty basic. It's primary content is golf information from area golf courses, tips,...it's information that golfers can't get anywhere else. We even have articles/stories that are written each month by sports doctors...(and we don't pay them a penny for the articles!) I have no background in publishing.... (I was a financial consultant for 18 years) I am a 18 handicap golfer....played once a month. So, anyone reading this post is likely a better candidate than I am to publish a golf publication. Now, let me see if I can answer your other questions: Newsracks: Are expensive! They "walk off"! We had some made (50 or so), bought some from publishers going out of business....but mostly place them on the counters or coffee tables. Stay away from racks if possible. How do you convince gas stations-conveniance stores to place your publication in their business? (1) I simply walk in, smile, and ask them can I place this month's issue on their shelve! "It's about local golfers, local golf courses and community fund raising events..I notice that you have (1 or 2 or 3) a golf course right down the round...I bet you get a lot of golfers coming in." (2) if that doesn't work..I tell them that we will list them in our magazine as a distribution site...and they will get FREE publicity. (3) If that doesn't work...and I really want to be in that spot..I'll bribe them! (by placing a small ad of for their business in next months issue....I make it a point to tell them what it would cost them...so that they realize that the are getting value in exchange for their 80 inches of space. ONE VERY IMPORTANT TIP! Don't get hung up on one gas station/location. Why? Because 99 % of the time when you go in, you are not dealing with the owners. You are dealing with folks who make minimum wage...and the only way that they have any control or power over anything in that gas station...is by telling you NO! If they say no....I guarantee that if you go back 8 hours later...someone knew will be there and they will probably tell you "Yes"! Ask and you will receive! If they say NO! this month, ask again next month. Just don't get hung up on one gas station! Using a publication for a marketing tool can be very lucrative....as long as you don't forget that it is not your main forte. I also use my golf publication for my real etate investing. As a matter of fact, we were able to barter advertising space in our publication for painting, carpet, etc..... so, if you really want to take your real estate investment business to another level.... trade advertising in your publication for advertising in other publications that will reach your "Potential Buyers & Sellers" that you want want to reach... Just don't get hung up on any one source (gas station) of getting your message out. Make some offers! Bobby |
Re: Can I pick your brains for info?
> Osirus. . it is a monthly golf
> publication. How did we decide that our > publication would be > golf related? Out of curiosity, how many pages are each issue? Also, what are your monthly printing cost? Do you use a local printer? > I had a "gut feeling" about the > publication > . .isn't it funny how that "inner > voice" talks to you sometimes?. . I know exactly what you mean. > So, I bought their "How-To-Manual" > for $495. . Do you have their contact info? Do they have a website? Could their info apply to starting a publication about something other than golf? > Our publication is not a "Glossy Golf > Digest" type of publication. It's > pretty basic. What software do you use to create the publication? I was planning on to use Microsoft Word. It's primary content is golf > information from area golf courses, > tips,. .it's information that golfers can't > get anywhere else. Am I correct in assuming that you generate revenue by advertisements and classified ads? How do you handle payments. . cash only, check, credit card? Also how do you handle billing. . pay in advance or do you send advertisers a bill? Do you use a have a website tied in with your publication? > Newsracks: Are expensive! They "walk > off"! We had > some made (50 or so), bought some from > publishers > going out of business. . but mostly place > them on the counters or coffee tables. Stay > away from racks if possible. I figured newsracks would be expensive to build. I also realize that they can and will get stolen or "walk off" as you like to put it. However, there is a reason that I am so adamant about using newsracks. Banditsigns are by far the best way to attract home sellers; so I have been told. I have never used them myself. Banditsigns are those signs you see placed at public rights of way. They normally advertise "get rich quick" schemes, "Lose weight now", and of coarse "We Buy Houses". The only problem is that they are ILLEGAL! Just about every city has a city ordinance against them. In addition, several weeks ago, I read an article in local newspaper about how code enforcement is cracking on bandit signs in my city. I am choosing not to use this form of advertising and for that reason and others. I believe that newsrack placed at gas stations would achieve the same effect as illegal bandit signs. I can place the banditsigns on the racks themselves and since gas stations are private property; no code enforcement issues! In addition, the newsrack itself could be another profit center. I can have the newsrack constructed so that several bandit signs could placed on them and have multiple selves. Next I could charge businesses a fee for allowing them to place their own bandit signs on my newsrack and placing their own flyers inside my newsrack. I am certain that the profits from real estate investing will more than pay for the expense and upkeep of newsracks. > How do you convince gas stations-convenience > stores to place your publication in their > business? > (1) I simply walk in, smile, and ask them > can I > place this month's issue on their shelve! > "It's about local golfers, local golf > courses > and community fund raising events. I notice > that you have (1 or 2 or 3) a golf course > right down the round. .I bet you get a lot > of golfers coming in." > (2) if that doesn't work. I tell them that > we > will list them in our magazine as a > distribution site. .and they will get FREE > publicity. > (3) If that doesn't work. .and I really want > to > be in that spot. I'll bribe them! (by > placing > a small ad of for their business in next > months issue. . I make it a point to tell > them what it would cost them. .so that they > realize that the are getting value in > exchange for their 80 inches of space. Excellent script to follow. What do you mean by "exchange for their 80 inches of space." ? > ONE VERY IMPORTANT TIP! > Don't get hung up on one gas > station/location. Why? Because 99 % of the > time when you go in, you are not dealing > with the owners. I thought about this problem. Here are some solutions I think might work. 1. Call each gas station with the pretext that I urgently need to speak with the owner and arrange to me them. 2. Use the public records to find their contact info and mail them a letter. > I also use my golf publication for my real > estate investing. What is your focus in real estate investing, fixers, rentals, creative real estate etc? Visit this site: http://www.creonline.com/wwwboard/index.html It is online forum for creative real estate investing. I have other website that I frequent. If you would like links to those as well let me know. > As a matter of fact, we were able to barter > advertising space in our publication for > painting, carpet, etc. . . > so, if you really want to take your real > estate investment business to another > level. . > trade advertising in your publication for > advertising in other publications that will > reach your "Potential Buyers & > Sellers" that you want > want to reach. . That is exactly what I had in mind! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions. Gosh, it is fun and somewhat overwhelming when you have this great idea to accomplish something; yet have nothing from your previous life experience to draw from. This is why it is important to have kind individuals like you; who have "been there and done that" to draw from. Thank you |
Re: "Picked-Over Brains"
Osirus...Be careful what you ask for!
My first edition was 8 pages. We are currently doing 32 pages and will probably be doing 64 by the end of the year. Our monthly printing costs vary depending on amount of color used... We tried to use a local printer...but the cost was prohibitive! We are presently using a printer 300 miles away. What software do we use to create the publication? We use a PC & a program called Pagemaker. Printers and Graphic people talk a entirely different language.....they use MacIntosh Computers and programs like Quark. Personally, I'm not sure that I would use Word. Once I found a printer I would ask what they prefer (They may have older equipment) Advertisements is the fuel that makes the publication go. Payments accompany the ads....no payment...no ads. Advertisers that contract for 6 months or 1 year are billed 15 days BEFORE the issue is printed. Again....no payment....no ad. We have a website...but have not been able to keep it updated as we would like....I know, I Know, I know....we do not want to even consider trying to muddy the waters by selling space on our website. Our market is local....not global. I really do not care to spend $$$$ so that someone in Australia or England can view my publication. My market is local..and especially if you are using your publication to market your real estate business. As far as newsracks are concerned....we have a guy in our area that has a publication (That wasn't generating enough avertising revenue...so he started calling on local business and sold them on the idea of letting HIM put a multi-tier rack in their business. He gets them to sign a contract.....He then charges $25 a month for other folks (like me) to place their publications in his rack. The problem is the initial cost of the racks.... and you mentioned "I am certain that the profits from real estate investing will more than pay for the expense and upkeep of newsracks."....if you start implementing this marketing approach next week.... your expense is 80 gas stations X $100 or $150 =$8,000-$12,000...and when you start to write that check....how much profit from the real estate investing side have you realized? Osirus....understand...I am not lecturing... I am simply saying that if you start any publication there are hidden costs that you cannot begin to imagine....and spending BIG BUCKS buying/building racks is a luxury that a lot of smaller publications cannot afford... especially when most publications fold in the first two years. (Remember "GEORGE" magazine, the idea of JFK, Jr,) Can't you just imagine a board room room of yuppies sitting around with their Starbucks expressos saying, "Dude...we spent a gazillion dollars on these magazine racks..If we just had that money back..we could draw at least one more paycheck!" Let me give you another scenario... Before you start your publication...look around your area. I'll bet my $100 against your $10 that there is at least 2-3 other publications that you could call and say... Hi! my name is osirus and I publish a magazine called, "Osirus' Trading Post" ....would you be interested in placing an ad in our publication advertising your magazine...in exchange for us placing the same size ad in yours? In the past 12 months ,I've placed my real estate investing ad in telephone directories, Real Estate publications, Senior Magazines, etc.... Anywhere that I could find a publication that would reach the folks that I am trying to reach.. I place my "We Buy Houses" ad....and believe me, it's much easier than walking into a gas station and finding your racks missing, or full of flyers that cover your publication, or broke because the Coca Cola route drive stacked drinks on them! I think that we are both saying the same thing... only in a different way. Try the racks...let me know how they work in your area. If you are not careful you will find yourself majoring in minor activities ...instead of what you really would like to do....making offers on properties! Email me your mailing address & I'll be glad to send you a copy of our publication. Make some $$$ today! Bobby |
Re: "Picked-Over Brains"
> Osirus...Be careful what you ask for!
> My first edition was 8 pages. > We are currently doing 32 pages and will > probably be doing 64 by the end of the year. > Our monthly printing costs vary depending on > amount of color used... > We tried to use a local printer...but the > cost was prohibitive! We are presently using > a printer > 300 miles away. 300 miles away! Gosh! I live in North Central Florida. Thats like me driving a trip to Miami once a month! Do you have someone go pick the publications or does the printing company arrange for delivery? > What software do we use to create the > publication? > We use a PC & a program called > Pagemaker. > Printers and Graphic people talk a entirely > different language.....they use MacIntosh > Computers and programs like Quark. > Personally, I'm not sure that I would use > Word. I have heard Pagemaker mentioned several times during my research into this project. However, why not use Word? Although, I have never used them before, Word seems to have all the features needed to produce the publication I envision. I can anchor pictures to the screen and make the text flow around it. I can create newspaper like columns with a few mouse clicks. Also, I can overlay text on top of graphics. In addition, I can set things up as a template. This allows me to do the work once of setting up the layout of the publication not having to start from scratch the next time I need to publish. Lastly, I know Word and use it daily. Are there critical, need to have, features and abilities in Pagemaker that will make production more easy and efficient? > Once I found a printer I would ask what they > prefer (They may have older equipment) Are saying that you must modify your publication to fit their equipment? > Advertisements is the fuel that makes the > publication go. > Payments accompany the ads....no > payment...no ads. > Advertisers that contract for 6 months or 1 > year are billed 15 days BEFORE the issue is > printed. > Again....no payment....no ad. Excellent policy to have! > We have a website...but have not been able > to keep it updated as we would like....I > know, I Know, I know....we do not want to > even consider trying to muddy the waters by > selling space on our website. > Our market is local....not global. > I really do not care to spend $$$$ so that > someone in Australia or England can view my > publication. I understand, however you may be cutting yourself out of potential profit centers. 1. Increase your ad rates and justify the increase with the added value of having a website linked to their classified ad. 2. Give advertisers a webage to display their goods with pictures and charge an additional fee. 3. Give charge people to place banner signs on your webpage. 4.Use the web to completely automate the ad taking and billing. This will leave you more time to pursue other things 5. Advertisers can use your Website in all their other marking thus driving more traffic to your website. Now that I think about it.... this might be more complicated and involved than I thought;-D I do not know enough about website builiding to do any of this. This means I would have to learn or hire someone to do it for me! But I do believe that it is well worth the effort. > My market is local..and especially if you > are using your publication to market your > real estate business. > As far as newsracks are concerned....we have > a guy in our area that has a publication > (That > wasn't generating enough avertising > revenue...so he started calling on local > business and sold them on the idea of > letting HIM put a multi-tier rack in their > business. > He gets them to sign a contract.....He then > charges $25 a month for other folks (like > me) > to place their publications in his rack. > The problem is the initial cost of the > racks.... > and you mentioned "I am certain that > the profits from real estate investing will > more than pay for the expense and upkeep of > newsracks."....if you start > implementing this marketing approach next > week.... > your expense is 80 gas stations X $100 or > $150 > =$8,000-$12,000...and when you start to > write I want my newsracks to look good! So figure $13000-$15000 :-D > that check....how much profit from the real > estate investing side have you realized? > Osirus....understand...I am not lecturing... > I am simply saying that if you start any > publication there are hidden costs that you > cannot begin to imagine....and spending BIG > BUCKS buying/building racks is a luxury that > a > lot of smaller publications cannot afford... > especially when most publications fold in > the > first two years. It is funny? You made me rethink me distribution plan from one of your previous post. I will focus on putting my publication at the freebie sights that you posted about before. None-the-less, I still believe in the newsrack at the gas station idea. However, as you pointed out, it is cost prohibitive to do all at once. Therefore, I will take the incremental approach and gradually approach each gas station over time. This way I am not having to write one large check but a bunch of smaller checks. > Let me give you another scenario... > Before you start your publication...look > around your area. > I'll bet my $100 against your $10 that there > is > at least 2-3 other publications that you > could call and say... > Hi! my name is osirus and I publish a > magazine called, "Osirus' Trading > Post" ....would you be interested in > placing an ad in our publication advertising > your magazine...in exchange for us placing > the same size ad in yours? This goes back to the bartering thing you mentioned? > In the past 12 months ,I've placed my real > estate > investing ad in telephone directories, Real > Estate > publications, Senior Magazines, etc.... > Anywhere that I could find a publication > that would reach the folks that I am trying > to reach.. > I place my "We Buy Houses" > ad....and believe me, it's much easier than > walking into a gas station > and finding your racks missing, or full of > flyers > that cover your publication, or broke > because the > Coca Cola route drive stacked drinks on > them! I see your point. > I think that we are both saying the same > thing... > only in a different way. > Try the racks...let me know how they work in > your area. > If you are not careful you will find > yourself majoring in minor activities > ...instead of what you really would like to > do....making offers on properties! > Email me your mailing address & I'll be > glad to send you a copy of our publication. > Make some $$$ today! > Bobby I will take you up on that offer! |
Re: Why not use Word
I had to address this point. As background, I currently work as a technical writer and when I started in this position, our team used Word exclusively. We now use FrameMaker (not PageMaker, although I am equally familiar with both) exclusively and, in all seriousness, our productivity has doubled over the days when we used Word.
> I have heard Pagemaker mentioned several > times during my research into this project. > However, why not use Word? Although, I have > never used them before, Word seems to have > all the features needed to produce the > publication I envision. I can anchor > pictures to the screen and make the text > flow around it. I can create newspaper like > columns with a few mouse clicks. Also, I can > overlay text on top of graphics. In > addition, I can set things up as a template. > This allows me to do the work once of > setting up the layout of the publication not > having to start from scratch the next time I > need to publish. Lastly, I know Word and use > it daily. If you really want to use Word, you can. But you will probably only do it once. After that, you will either give up on publishing or find a way to use something else. Why? In a word: stability. MS Word is notoriously un-stable. Yes it has lots of features, but it's features either do not work well or do not work well with each other. Certain features (like master documents and numbering) have been broken for several versions with no sign that they will be fixed in the future. Plus, while many people say that they "know" Word, in fact very few know how to set up a document properly, using consistently applied styles and a minimum of manual formatting. Most people waste an inordinate amount of time formatting documents in Word because the document was not set up properly from the beginning -- and even then, Word sometimes pulls a "gotcha." (I don't know if this point applies to you, but I'll mention it here because it is SO common.) Also, even if you do get a document to look the way you want on your computer, it's an entirely different thing to have it appear that way on someone else's computer (particularly your printer's). Most likely, if you give a printer a Word doc to print, it will come back to you looking very different from what you thought. Neither FrameMaker nor PageMaker (nor especially Acrobat PDFs) have this problem -- in fact, most documents created with those programs look the same even when the computers are different platforms. (Alternately, as I implied, you could get around this problem to some degree by converting your Word file to an Acrobat PDF file. I know a lot of printers accept PDF files now.) As a last stab, Microsoft Press actually uses FrameMaker to publish many (most?) of it's books. Best, Phil |
Re: "Picked-Over Brains"
> 300 miles away! Gosh! I live in North
> Central Florida. Thats like me driving a > trip to Miami once a month! > Do you have someone go pick the publications > or does the printing company arrange for > delivery? They will deliver. > I have heard Pagemaker mentioned several > times during my research into this project. > However, why not use Word? Although, I have > never used them before, Word seems to have > all the features needed to produce the > publication I envision. I can anchor > pictures to the screen and make the text > flow around it. I can create newspaper like > columns with a few mouse clicks. Also, I can > overlay text on top of graphics. In > addition, I can set things up as a template. > This allows me to do the work once of > setting up the layout of the publication not > having to start from scratch the next time I > need to publish. Lastly, I know Word and use > it daily. Then use word....just make sure that it is no problem for the printer. > Are there critical, need to have, features > and abilities in Pagemaker that will make > production more easy and efficient? > Are saying that you must modify your > publication to fit their equipment? Nope! ...but just as you've stated earlier...your prference is Word....your printer may have a preference. > Excellent policy to have! > I understand, however you may be cutting > yourself out of potential profit centers. You are correct..ad rates are a funny subject... and it's hard to compare apples & oranges... and ad selling, while not rocket science, is an educational process. I'm not knocking web link advertising...but I haven't lost a sale because I didn't offer a link to their website. > 1. Increase your ad rates and justify the > increase with the added value of having a > website linked to their classified ad. > 2. Give advertisers a webage to display > their goods with pictures and charge an > additional fee. > 3. Give charge people to place banner signs > on your webpage. > 4.Use the web to completely automate the ad > taking and billing. This will leave you more > time to pursue other things > 5. Advertisers can use your Website in all > their other marking thus driving more > traffic to your website. > Now that I think about it.... this might be > more complicated and involved than I > thought;-D I do not know enough about > website builiding to do any of this. This means I would have to learn or hire someone to do it for me! But I do believe that it is well worth the effort. time + effort = $$$$ > I want my newsracks to look good! So figure > $13000-$15000 :-D > It is funny? You made me rethink me > distribution plan from one of your previous > post. I will focus on putting my publication > at the freebie sights that you posted about > before. None-the-less, I still believe in > the newsrack at the gas station idea. > However, as you pointed out, it is cost > prohibitive to do all at once. Therefore, I > will take the incremental approach and > gradually approach each gas station over > time. This way I am not having to write one > large check but a bunch of smaller checks. If I had to start all over again, I probaly would re-think and change just one element of my marketing approach....simply from angle that I didn't consider before...... > This goes back to the bartering thing you > mentioned? Cash is so impersonal....trade red Rome apples for yellow delicious apples! > I see your point. > I will take you up on that offer! Will get it out to you today....will include my phone number...call me if I can help! Bobby |
Re: Phil...That's What I Meant...Yea, That's The Ticket! (DNO)
|
Why the docs look different
> Also, even if you do get a document to look
> the way you want on your computer, it's an > entirely different thing to have it appear > that way on someone else's computer > (particularly your printer's). Most likely, > if you give a printer a Word doc to print, > it will come back to you looking very > different from what you thought. As far as I can figure, the biggest reason the documents generated in Microsoft products look different is the printer driver. Change the printer driver on an existing document and see how it looks on the screen. It will look different. After the printer driver, the next reason it looks different is any body's guess. That is, sometimes, even with the same printer driver and default page and printer set ups, the document can still look different, although, only slightly. One possible reason could be the slight variation in OS version numbers for the same Main Version. Win98 build 1.0000002 vs Win 98 build 1.0000003. Mayhaps it is just another one of those things we have grown to accept (under pain and torment) from the beast that is Microsoft. :o) Michael Ross |
Re: Why not use Word
> I had to address this point. As background,
> I currently work as a technical writer and > when I started in this position, our team > used Word exclusively. We now use FrameMaker > (not PageMaker, although I am equally > familiar with both) exclusively and, in all > seriousness, our productivity has doubled > over the days when we used Word. Thank you for your explaination! I guess I will go get pagemaker! It is funny that up until about two years ago I never used Word even though I had it. All of my word proccesing needs were simple and straight forward. Thus I never needed the bloated features of Word. The only reason I switched to word was because I needed the macro making abilities of Word to force a square peg into a round hole so to speak. I used Word to create macros that took text copies of newspaper ads and transformed them into delimited text files so that I could import them into my database. |
Re: "Picked-Over Brains"
> If I had to start all over again, I probaly
> would re-think and change just one element > of my marketing approach....simply from > angle that I didn't consider before...... What might that change of your marketing approach be? |
Re: "Picked-Over Brains"
> What might that change of your marketing
> approach be? Why, the end result, of course! I chose to start a golf publication because: (1) There was not one in my area. There was a need for one. There was no competition. (2)It was a profitable niche of sophisticated, affluent buyers. (2) I enjoyed playing golf (golf is like sex.. I'm not real good at either one....but I'm not going to give either up. Now the benefits of a golf publication is: (1) I can play golf everyday, absolutely FREE! (2) I go to 25-30 golf tournaments every month, eat all the shrimp, steak, BBQ, they can cook, and flirt with a lot of very pretty woman who love to have their photo taken (Some even suggest modeling:) (3) I can wear shorts, loud Hawaiian shirts, & almost anything except a shirt & tie! BUT....My orginal reason to start a publication was so that I could advertise my own 'I Buy Houses" business for FREE! So,...If I had to do it all over again , the only thing that I would change would be that I would publish a FSBO Magazine! That way I would be talking with 100-150 folks a month that would be: (1) Interested in selling their property (2) Would pay me to help them sell the properties that I didn't want to add to my portfolio! So, osirus, learn from my misguided attempts and kill two birds with one stone.....start a FSBO publication! Bobby |
Apology and Some Tips
Osirus,
I've been thinking about my last post and I feel I should apologize. I've had some negative experiences with Word that I've let get the best of me. Let me say this: all things being equal, I do feel you're better off using PageMaker or FrameMaker than Word to do your publication. However, all things are almost always not equal. The most important thing is not which software to use, rather it's to begin taking action as soon as you can. Don't let the software you use become a bottleneck -- if you are comfortable with Word and can get your document to look the way you want with it, then get started with it (but check with your printer first to see what file type they accept). After you have some income coming in from your project, then you can consider upgrading your software. The important thing is to get moving and test your idea as quickly as is reasonable. Having said that, here are some tips if you do use Word:
Best to you, Phil P.S. -- You might get the impression from my last post that I'm against MS Word. Not so -- I think Word is fantastic for composing and manipulating text. It's a great thinking tool. However, I feel it could be much better at document formatting. |
Re: Apology and Some Tips
> Osirus,
> I've been thinking about my last post and I > feel I should apologize. I've had some > negative experiences with Word that I've let > get the best of me. No need to apologize! If fact I should be thanking you for the tips on Word. By the way, what were your neagtive experiences with word, if you don not mind me asking? |
Re: "Picked-Over Brains"
> Why, the end result, of course!
> I chose to start a golf publication because: > (1) There was not one in my area. There was > a > need for one. There was no competition. > (2)It was a profitable niche of > sophisticated, > affluent buyers. > (2) I enjoyed playing golf (golf is like > sex.. > I'm not real good at either one....but I'm > not going to give either up. > Now the benefits of a golf publication is: > (1) I can play golf everyday, absolutely > FREE! > (2) I go to 25-30 golf tournaments every > month, eat all the shrimp, steak, BBQ, > they can cook, and flirt with a lot of > very pretty woman who love to have their > photo taken > (Some even suggest modeling:) I got the impression from your use of the word "WE" your earlier posts, in this thread, that you were already spoken for. If so, I hope your significant other does not get pissed with your flirtations;-D > my own 'I Buy Houses" business for > FREE! Actually, you touched on a question of organization. Do I keep my REI business separate from your publication business? Do I have my REI business pay for ads in my publication just like any other advertiser? My personal, uninformed belief is that REI and the publishing should act and behave like to separate businesses. This way way if you have trouble with one (finacial, litigation etc) it will not nescessarily affect the other.I will have to consult professional help about this. > So,...If I had to do it all over again , > the only thing that I would change would > be that I would publish a FSBO Magazine! > That way I would be talking with 100-150 > folks a month that would be: > (1) Interested in selling their property > (2) Would pay me to help them sell the > properties that I didn't want to add > to my portfolio! > So, osirus, learn from my misguided attempts > and kill two birds with one stone.....start > a FSBO > publication! That was what I already had in mine! Except I wood also include FRBOs. Anyways why don't you start a FSBO magazine now? Would you be interested in my tenative plans on how to add value to the FSBO publication? > Bobby |
Re: Apology and Some Tips
> No need to apologize! If fact I should be
> thanking you for the tips on Word. By the > way, what were your neagtive experiences > with word, if you don not mind me asking? When I began at my current company, I inherited a manual that was about 200 pages in length, done entirely in Word. Everytime we had to print it, we consistently under-estimated how long it would take -- we would always find new things wrong with the manual like the numbering or page-breaking -- and it would be a couple hours before it was finally ready to send to our printer. Basically, the manual wasn't set up well -- it used a lot of direct, labor-intensive formatting and whenever you inserted or removed a portion of text, you had to check the whole thing page by page to ensure that it was still presentable (and usually it wasn't). It was awful. The worst part was when we finally got around to cleaning it up -- it would have been less time consuming to start over. Finally, our group switched to FrameMaker. After a little learning, we started moving the manual to the new software. It took awhile to get it in shape, but once it was set up, it was surprising how much time we had left over. Printing took five minutes max. The pages looked the same regardless of who's computer we used or what printer driver we had. You could put text in, take it out, make it dance on its head, and FrameMaker made sure everything was in it's proper place. It was downright boring (just what I wanted!). There are all kinds of stories I could give, but, really, your experience may be different from mine. I don't know why, but the questions I'm asked from others who use Word are almost always unique. You might not believe me if told you some of the things I've seen; and you may never see them yourself. (But if you do have any funky trouble, head over to www.mvps.org right away!). Best, Phil |
| All times are GMT -4. The time now is 10:01 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin Version 3.6.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.