How to Start a Magazine

Starting a magazine can be the beginning of a publishing empire. Research, hard work, and good, informative writing is the foundation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide what type of magazine you want to publish. Will your subject be horses, teenage girls, working mothers, travel?

2. Check out the competition. What will set your magazine apart from the other magazines on the same subject? Is there room for one more magazine on that subject?

3. Determine your point of view. Will the magazine be technical and in-depth, or light and entertaining?

4. Find backers. You'll need investors to get the magazine off the ground. Many magazines don't make money for the first few years.

5. Lay out the magazine. What will your masthead and cover look like?

6. Go to a trade show for the publishing industry. You'll meet plenty of people who have the information you need to get the magazine going.

7. Pick a name. You'll want a name that stands out and grabs people's attention.

8. Find a printer. There are printers that specialize in printing magazines.

9. Hire writers. A magazine is only as good as its writers.

10. Go to the presses.

11. Give reviewers and important people in the subject area advance releases of the magazine.

12. Promote the new magazine. Set up a booth at a home show or similar type of event to attract new customers.

Tips & Warnings

• Magazines work anywhere from four to six months ahead, so you'll be preparing for the Christmas issue in July, August or September.
• Have enough personal money in reserve to keep your personal life from falling apart while you're building your magazine.

Who Can Help:

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[localparentmag]

on 11/24/2008 Here's a great site if you are interested in publishing a local parenting magazine in your area. Go to www.localparentmagazine.com.

[magman]

on 7/25/2008 I found a good resource for starting a magazine. The site is: www.magshoestring.com. Lots of good info and some good downloads as well!

on 11/22/2005 A good way to test out your ideas without the overhead of printing and distribution is to publish a webzine. Don't forget that there are costs associated with the Web too, though - especially if you start getting a lot of traffic.