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
Sounds like the magazine is loosing money. Cost of printing/postage..and a limited subscription as its a specialty magazine. I liked "Fitness Swimmer" to a point where it got too slanted to "speed swimmers" and not 'fitness" swimmers. Keeping a balence is important but hard to do as there always will be a "need for speed" as thats the sport of swimming Olympics ect. Not us "Mrs. Elmer Fudds" with our strapped swim caps. and hair care issues.. Lol. I would suggest moving the mag to a online mag with a sign in for paying subscribers. a pdf type file can allow subscribers to print out the mag if they want to save articles. "Teaser" articles can be released for those who are not subscribers.. Less print cost and postage. You will have to have adds positioned on the page all around the page really as the revenue will be needed. One big advantage is that the time lag between what happens and the article can be smaller as you are not waiting to send the mag to the printer. So you will be more recent with articles, and you can get online input , articles pictures from authors world wide which is important and quickly get them up on the mag so it should be intresting .
Sounds like the magazine is loosing money. Cost of printing/postage..and a limited subscription as its a specialty magazine. I liked "Fitness Swimmer" to a point where it got too slanted to "speed swimmers" and not 'fitness" swimmers. Keeping a balence is important but hard to do as there always will be a "need for speed" as thats the sport of swimming Olympics ect. Not us "Mrs. Elmer Fudds" with our strapped swim caps. and hair care issues.. Lol. I would suggest moving the mag to a online mag with a sign in for paying subscribers. a pdf type file can allow subscribers to print out the mag if they want to save articles. "Teaser" articles can be released for those who are not subscribers.. Less print cost and postage. You will have to have adds positioned on the page all around the page really as the revenue will be needed. One big advantage is that the time lag between what happens and the article can be smaller as you are not waiting to send the mag to the printer. So you will be more recent with articles, and you can get online input , articles pictures from authors world wide which is important and quickly get them up on the mag so it should be intresting .
