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.
Thanks, Fort!
I don't know what goes on behind the scenes, but I'll imagine, with no difficulty, LOL, budget restrictions and a lot of volunteer time, not to mention a huge and heterogeneous readership to be served. So I am grateful to the editor and the writers for producing Swimmer and getting it to us. It's a big job.
Decals are, I think, a low-hanging fruit. Let's say $2 or $3 each to cover manufacturing and mailing cost, plus a few cents to USMS per decal. I know nothing about USMS administrative organization but doubt anyone in admin would want to receive a thousand $3 checks and mail a thousand decals. Therefore, it might be a USMS member's joyful task for, say, a year, then turn it over to next person. Any volunteers? Any conflict with how the org wants to run things? Is there a liaison with admin to work out details?
Reproducing good articles from chapter newsletters in Swimmer should pose no difficulty in implementation, as it is a matter of making the editor aware of good content. Just drop an email to Bill Volckening and ask that the material be considered. I'll add "Chapter Corner" or something equally awful to the list of potential Column material. I'd like to know what other chapters are doing, and what Masters Swimming Canada is doing as well.
Thanks, Fort!
I don't know what goes on behind the scenes, but I'll imagine, with no difficulty, LOL, budget restrictions and a lot of volunteer time, not to mention a huge and heterogeneous readership to be served. So I am grateful to the editor and the writers for producing Swimmer and getting it to us. It's a big job.
Decals are, I think, a low-hanging fruit. Let's say $2 or $3 each to cover manufacturing and mailing cost, plus a few cents to USMS per decal. I know nothing about USMS administrative organization but doubt anyone in admin would want to receive a thousand $3 checks and mail a thousand decals. Therefore, it might be a USMS member's joyful task for, say, a year, then turn it over to next person. Any volunteers? Any conflict with how the org wants to run things? Is there a liaison with admin to work out details?
Reproducing good articles from chapter newsletters in Swimmer should pose no difficulty in implementation, as it is a matter of making the editor aware of good content. Just drop an email to Bill Volckening and ask that the material be considered. I'll add "Chapter Corner" or something equally awful to the list of potential Column material. I'd like to know what other chapters are doing, and what Masters Swimming Canada is doing as well.
