How to Start a Profitable Online Magazine

In this eHow article, i'll give you all the information you need to plan, build and run a profitable online magazine. Publishing content for profit on the Internet is one of the fastest-growing areas of online business. New online magazines are being launched every day, covering every subject imaginable. Some are started by print magazine publishers moving online, some by small businesses who see value in sharing their knowledge, but most are being started by individuals with specialist expertise or a deep passion for their subject. An online magazine should focus on a well-defined subject area. Some focus on serving the business sector, while others target consumers. As with traditional print magazines, they tend to be a mix of news, opinion, feature articles, reviews, interviews and case studies. Running an online magazine is one of the simplest businesses available to entrepreneurs and small businesses. It is very easy to start publishing content on the Internet, and this is a good way to get started. Free tools like Blogger.com and WordPress.com are worth considering. But if you want to create an online magazine with a professional design, the functionality to be able to generate multiple revenue streams and the flexibility to grow over time, then you will need to look at more professional solutions. The simplest solutions with limited functionality, such as Blogger.com and WordPress.com, are free. Midrange solutions that include professional design, payment processing and flexible functionality start at around $2,000. Take a look at SubHub (www.subhub.com).

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• A name for your online magazine and a subject area
• A content plan
• A domain name
• Web hosting & web stats
• Content management platform / software
• Membership management functionality
• Payment processing
• OR a solution that covers everything

1. Planning: Choose a subject
   - Research the competition
   - Decide on a business name
   - Buy a suitable domain name
   - Decide how your online magazine will make money
   - Write a business plan
   - Create a content plan
   - Write the background content pages
   - Create the first articles (or other content - video clips, podcasts, etc.)
2. Design the Website: Sketch out the layout
   - Plan the navigation
   - Create a design
3. Build the Website: Identify the platform you will use
   - Specify the website functionality
   - Add the design to the platform
   - Add the background content
   - Add the first articles
   - Implement payment processing
   - Integrate additional functionality
4. Launch the Website: Test all the links
   - Test payment processing
   - Test subscription and renewal process
   - Go live!