how to set up a coffee news layout ?

I will Research a project....find out who is doing the project now...what it looks like...where is it going....what are they charging...etc.

THEN....I will STOP THE RESEARCH....create my own Sample and....GO OUT TO THE MARKETPLACE AND SELL IT!

I've seen too many people over the years....spend an enormous amount of TIME researching a project....wondering and worrying over it.

"Are we too close to what's in the Market now?"

"Does the Main outfit have a "Design Patent" on it?"

"Do they have a "Master Copyright" or Trademark?"

"Can WE be sued by the Main Outfit because OUR preoduct is too similar to theirs?"

My advice has always been;
"GO FOR IT!" "LET WHOMEVER IS GOING TO SUE YOU...SUE YOU!"

Don Alm

For "Info Product Sellers"...learn how to "STOP REFUNDS COLD"!
http://www.midasreports.com/stoprefundscold

Actually you really don't need to do any research at all. Get a copy of the competition - all you need to know is probably on the publications itself. It is easy to find what to charge.

Get yourself a graphic designer and create a few samples. Then get a list of establishments that will agree to display your paper. Then take that list and and see if anybody will buy.

Have the local copy shop create them on their digital printer. It will be more expensive than using a duplicator but you are not paying the franchise fee or monthly 'royalty' fee either.

If after a few months it looks like it will be profitable and you like doing it then you can get a fancy duplicator, accountant etc.

Originally Posted by Adman

My advice has always been;
"GO FOR IT!" "LET WHOMEVER IS GOING TO SUE YOU...SUE YOU!"

I like how you think, Don! I'd already resigned myself to the same thought. Chances are pretty slim and hey.. got to just go for it sometimes.

Micropub, I have a thought... you sound like you're serious too. Maybe we should consider doing this together? No charging each other for anything.. just creating a project together and even working up/sharing content every week. I was actually pretty worried about providing content for the longest time, but not anymore. After getting a layout down, I now realize that I'm looking at 1 night a week of creating content. That is soooo much worth doing myself and not paying a hefty franchise price! I have a very slick website already up.. and I'm working on my paper design now... which I largely have finished too. If we got 2 or 3 different people doing 1 in different states, we could divide the content creating up.. and advertise that our paper exists in many states.

Anyway... just a thought I had just now.. haven't given it much thought myself!

Interesting idea Wolfdogg. We should at the very least trade notes. I have a website but nothing really on it yet. Today I got a few display stands delivered. I think they will work nicely. I have a pic of my paper in one I could show you.

You had mentioned in a previous post finding others who have been successful on their own. Are others in your neck of the woods doing something like this?

Content is what makes or breaks any publication. I am curious how you plan to come up with your content in one evening. Are you a writer? That would be great if you are.

Anyway...your thought is an interesting one.

I'll shoot you a pm with my ideas. I'll need to post 5 more times (4 after this) first though! It won't let me without 10 posts. Seems a bit silly.

I'll shoot you an im.

great stuff wolfdogg

if i cant get your im look for my email from your site. great job on the site dude. real nice. i definitely what to speak with you.

Regarding software, what software program would a person have to learn, or what software do you think coffee news uses to layout their publication?

If you were to do something the same as Coffee News I bet Publisher would be sufficient. But most graphics people use Indesign or Quark.

There's a couple in my area who have a "Table News" publication in towns all over Southern Oregon.

I'm looking at one now. It's 8 1/2 by 14 wide....2, 20lb sheets, teal colored, lightly laminated, folded in half, widthwise and stapled with 2 columns per page. 4 ads down the outside columns. Each ad is 1 3/4" high by 3" wide.

These sit in a triangular plastic base with a slit in the top on each table.

They get $395 for 3 mos per ad and usually get 22 ads inside....3 ads on front for $495 ea....4 ads on back for $445ea.

Advertisers who commit to 12 months get a write-up on the left-hand column of the front page.

The pieces are changed each month. They change the paper color each month to make it obvious the pieces have been changed.

They have 3 to 5 participating restaurants in each town.

Makes for a nice income. They've been operating since '01 (7yrs)

Ohhh....they use MSPublisher to create their publications.

email me your mailing addy & I'll send you a copy.

Don Alm [email protected]