How to Start an Online Magazine

Although an online magazine doesn't require the outlay of a print magazine (print runs for color glossy publications are very expensive), it's still a complex venture. At the start, it's wise to keep your goals modest.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Know your subject. It's easiest to ensure quality contributions if you have the knowledge to analyze them.
2. Think about finances. Even if you start modestly, making the magazine a side project in your life, you'll probably need to spend money for articles; for artistic help; and for site design, server space and maintenance. If you want to make the magazine a real business, you've got to think about a marketing budget; office supplies, phone bills and mailing costs; research costs; any staff salaries; and legal and business help.
3. Work with other people, especially if you want to make your magazine a business, as opposed to a hobby. Work out the practical and financial details of your partnership.
4. Consider how to make a profit. Possibilities include attracting advertising, charging for access, or publishing as a nonprofit and getting grants and donations.
5. Consider the legal aspects of publishing. Be willing to pay for expert advice.
6. Decide how frequently you will publish. Regular, scheduled updates will keep your readers coming back to your site.
7. Decide what rights you will buy from your contributors (both text and visual).
8. Design your site or hire a designer.
9. Learn how to maintain the site yourself (how to substitute new articles for old) or hire someone to maintain it.
10. Start collecting material for your first issue.

Tips & Warnings

• Start small, perhaps as a one-person "zine." Choose a simple, readable site design and a doable schedule of issues (twice a month, for example). Concentrate on getting high-quality articles and building a following among a core audience. Then you can expand.
• Or consider starting out as an e-mail newsletter, which is much simpler to put together than a Web site.
• Agreeing to nonexclusive electronic rights to the articles you publish will get you the broadest range of contributions, since the authors will be free to republish their work elsewhere in print or on the Internet.
• Don't think you'll make money - or break even, for that matter. Start the magazine because it's what you want to do.