WE ARE STARTING A MAGAZINE - ARE YOU SAM?

Planning and Managing a Successful Start-Up

This is a great place to get started if you are starting a magazine. Ask your questions and reply with your experiences.

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 8:59am

New to InDesign

I'm in the midst of starting a new publication. What i'm looking for is a software i can use to help with design and layout. I've heard good things about InDesign, however i'm not very skilled in the design area. Very very eager to learn though. Is InDesign the right software for me and will i be able to learn this in time? Thanks Chris
God Bless You,

Christopher D. Williams
Postby DiscipleofChrist on 21 Mar 2006 01:30 pm (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 9:00am

Indesign

Well are you a designer already? What programs have you already used?

Post by Shima on 30 Mar 2006 12:39 am (Pulled over from original Magazine Launch Forum)

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 9:03am

No i'm not a designer. I'm new to the entire deal. I have microsoft publisher but i already know that won't work for a magazine layout. My question is, if i purchase indesign with the training and tutorials, is it a good software program for beginners? I have plenty of time to play with it and learn and very eager to as well.

I'm actually working with a designer now who already has photoshop. She suggested i look into it because in time it will be of great use after i get the hang of it.

God Bless You,

Christopher D. Williams
Post by DiscipleofChrist on 30 Mar 2006 06:37 am (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 9:05am

Okay I won't lie to you. It will be good for you as far as making changes to text or if you had something that would print over again and again that needed price changes etc like some sort of template. It would be helpful but as far as creating the design itself I would say leave it to the expert. I am working on a magazine now and I cannot stand when the client wants to change something and do it themselves its like "why did you hire me". Even if its the smallest thing like type ... type is not a small thing. Typography is really an artform .... ah ok enough of me. Get the program for the sake of learning something and to try things out but not really made for a non designer.

Post by Shima on 30 Mar 2006 09:54 am (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 9:06am

Thanks for the advice. I have another question if ya don't mind answering. I am a beginner at the publishing business, however i do have a niche in the market that will be extremely popular. I have talked to people and searched it out, which i will continue to do. I may not know much about the publishing business, but i do know about the topic. My question regards distribution. When it catches on and i get subscribers perhaps in the thousands, being in the magazine business, how do you handle mailing these publications?? Do i let the printing company do this or do i deal with the postal service myself or is there another way?? Thanks
God Bless You,

Christopher D. Williams
Post by DiscipleofChrist on 30 Mar 2006 11:03 am (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 9:07am

Christopher,

I am not sure on that question as I am just the designer and pretty much do alot of editing to. However, I believe that part is not your part as it would be so much to work with. Someone else in the forum could probably answer this question better then me. However, I will say make sure you have your logo, identity , media kit, ad pricing etc all of that designed prior to starting. It may sound crazy but I know people who just thought "Hey I am going to start a magazine" and just start without really getting their media kit etc done. Its very important its done and done professionaly otherwise it will just go down from there. I truly believe that its the design that sells more then the text at least from the startup Imagine being in front of a rack of hundreds of mags. The ones that get picked up are the ones that attract attention. That does not mean it has to be bold or certain color but good sense of type along with image make a big difference. Same goes for the interior of the magazine. Especially with lifestyle magazine they all pretty much say the same thing less or more lot of it is fluff.

Post by Shima on 30 Mar 2006 11:15 am (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)

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Permalink Reply by MagazineLaunch on April 21, 2009 at 9:08am

There are places called "lettershops" that will mail your mag for you. Also-printers do it as well, and then when you have a lot of subscribers you go with a fulfillment house and they handle the subscription database, adress changes, phone calls and mailing.

Post by borkya on 05 Apr 2006 11:34 am (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)

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Permalink Reply by Roderic Montrece on August 21, 2010 at 6:10pm

Shima is quite true. Have everything ready to go prior to launch (logo, media kit, rate card, etc.) And design is very important. Make
sure you find someone who is good but won't bleed you dry.

MagazineLaunch said:

Christopher,

I am not sure on that question as I am just the designer and pretty much do alot of editing to. However, I believe that part is not your part as it would be so much to work with. Someone else in the forum could probably answer this question better then me. However, I will say make sure you have your logo, identity , media kit, ad pricing etc all of that designed prior to starting. It may sound crazy but I know people who just thought "Hey I am going to start a magazine" and just start without really getting their media kit etc done. Its very important its done and done professionaly otherwise it will just go down from there. I truly believe that its the design that sells more then the text at least from the startup Imagine being in front of a rack of hundreds of mags. The ones that get picked up are the ones that attract attention. That does not mean it has to be bold or certain color but good sense of type along with image make a big difference. Same goes for the interior of the magazine. Especially with lifestyle magazine they all pretty much say the same thing less or more lot of it is fluff.

Post by Shima on 30 Mar 2006 11:15 am (pulled over from original MagazineLaunch.com Forum)