how to set up a coffee news layout ?

Hello Everybody;
What a great board. I am so glad I found it. I hope I can in someway contribute to it.

Hey Wolfdogg: it sounds like you and I are at the same stage in the game. I also want to do this on my own. I am leaning towards something between a Coffee News and a Tidbits...a shopper without the classifieds.

I was originally writing this post to address what Don is refering to in post #18but having re-read the thread it appears he has sent you a copy so you can see it is totally different thing. I happened to come across it about a month ago.

Your comment about finding the content word for word on the net brings up a good point-Copyright Infringement. I am not a lawyer but my understanding is you cannot copyright an idea. Nor can you copyright a fact. Or a quote. ( I may be a little off on the quote thing.) You can however copyright the way it is presented.

You also address the question of differentiating yourself from CN in your original post. I believe what CN has copyright protection on is not only the layout but how, that is the order, in which the information is presented: news snippets (Everybody's Talking),quotes (Quoteable Quotes) ect. IMHO one should take care not to copy to close. Just like Karunnt states in post #15. I can infer from your posts you already have a good understanding this.

In my searches I have found Coffee News, Flying Cow, The Free Weekly Jive, and The Patience News. Then there is Tidbits, The Funny Paper and hundreds of shoppers. Aside from the shoppers, all franchises or business opportunities. I would sure like to learn of any others. Especially any independents out there.

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 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.

I am in the process of looking at CN,Flying Cow and Free Jive Weekly. Did you ever start your publication?
Ed

Originally Posted by salesguync

I am in the process of looking at CN,Flying Cow and Free Jive Weekly. Did you ever start your publication?
Ed

I have not. I have been spending a lot of time researching copyright laws. Probably too much time. But I have almost everything in place. I want to go out with the best product I can. I just can't decide on what to use for the main articles. I want to do some story re-writes myself but I lack confidence in my writing skills. I have another idea for main stories but the cost would be about $60 a week. I am already at nearly $40 a week with other content I have lined up.

I have scrutinized the publications you mention. I have not called them but wonder how they can run AP and other news syndicate stories without attribution. I contacted AP to buy stories and learned you cant be a shopper or a restaurant publication and get copy from them. You must employ an editorial staff. You cant just cut and paste stuff you find on the Internet and publish it. Yet it appears that is what some do. If you look closely you will find that the CN does not do that. Take a lesson from the big dogs.

Where exactly are you in your research? Are you serious about publishing or just looking at the prospect at this point?

I have not. I have been spending too much time reading about copyright law. I have almost everything in place but still trying to decide what to use for content in main articles. I would like to do story re-writes but I do not have a lot of confidence in my writing abilities.

I would like to buy stories but that would cost around $45-$60 a week. I am already at about $35 on other content I will use.

I have not spoken with 2 of the 3 companies you mention. But I am very curious how they can run AP and other syndicate stories without attribution. The larger of the 3 does not do that. Have you spoken with all of them yet? Have you made any major decision since your post on the 1st?