After finding out Swimmer takes 30% of our budget,I was thinking how to make it better.I think it is perhaps fine as it is now for what it does now,but if it is to help us grow...
What do you think?
Rodale had a magazine called "Fitness Swimmer' a few years ago and I thought it was excellent and I think implied that such a mag could be(almost) profitable.The current 4 in one format of "Swimming World" now seems excellent.Perhaps Swimmer should have sections:Competitive Swimmer,fitness swimmer,tri,noodlers(to be totally inclusive.)This might help with the problem of technique articles in Swimmer.The articles seem aimed for the middle and are too simple for elite swimmers and too advanced for beginners.
If you want to sell issues how about more pictures of good looking Masters swimmers in swim suits(it worked for Sports Illustrated.)
I don't find the "new product"section very helpful as it just gives what the company says.How about product testing? I expect a company would be glad to say"our goggles were the top rated by USMS-publicity for us.)If you really want to sell how about product testing on LZR vsTracer Rise,vs Nero Comp.I bet most swimmers,coaches,and parents would be interested in that.
Parents
Former Member
Starting the magazine when it was started was too early. USMS should have waited until there was an ED. Magazines are very hard to produce. This is especially true if the organization has no staff. Vivbene has some good ideas. However, "Why would some one want to read this magazine?" seems to be a question that no one asked. The magazine by Rodale supposedly went under because of the ad about the video tapes for a better sex life. It was a good magazine. I have most of the issues I got. I still go back to them to read many articles. I rarely even read 1/3 of our magazine let alone go back to old issues.
On other threads, I've questioned if a national magazine going to members is really with in the vision and mission statements of the organization and reflect the core values of the organization. I would have to say no to all. I wonder if we really have core values. What are they and where are they?
Starting the magazine when it was started was too early. USMS should have waited until there was an ED. Magazines are very hard to produce. This is especially true if the organization has no staff. Vivbene has some good ideas. However, "Why would some one want to read this magazine?" seems to be a question that no one asked. The magazine by Rodale supposedly went under because of the ad about the video tapes for a better sex life. It was a good magazine. I have most of the issues I got. I still go back to them to read many articles. I rarely even read 1/3 of our magazine let alone go back to old issues.
On other threads, I've questioned if a national magazine going to members is really with in the vision and mission statements of the organization and reflect the core values of the organization. I would have to say no to all. I wonder if we really have core values. What are they and where are they?
